Drawing Close To Jesus Series

The worshippers of these gods strongly resisted the message of Jesus Christ. They did not want people to hear about Jesus being the only Way, the Truth, and the Life. They did not want to hear about the message that Jesus was the only way to salvation, to heaven. They were not interested in the lifestyle of purity and holiness that accompanied being a disciple of Jesus. They did not want people to experience the baptismal fires of the Holy Spirit.

Instead, they wanted Rome to continue following the teachings of the gods and goddesses. While it is true that these old gods demanded worship and sacrifice, they also allowed one to live quite capriciously. One could worship Zeus and still live according to their carnal desires. More than one of the pagan services included rituals that would lead to drunken orgies, drug induced hallucinations and sexual immorality. One could worship both the gods and never experience true holiness of heart and life.

Against all of this perversion came the true message of Christianity. Jesus taught that God so loved the world that He had sent His Son to bring redemption. Jesus taught that humans could once again be one with God, with themselves, with others and with nature. Jesus taught humans could be transformed from the inside out through the power of God's Holy Spirit. Jesus taught that humans could be free from the penalty of sin and the power of sin. Jesus taught that humans could be free to love God, themselves and one another.

At first, very few of the pagan religions were concerned about the message of Jesus and the Early Church. Christianity was seen as some new fad that soon would disappear in a few months and years. However, as Senator and Historian, Tactius, shares with us that it wasn't long until the leaders of Rome began to look at the Early Church with great earnestness. For instead of fading away, the message of Jesus was spreading and with that advancement so to was the Empire changing.

The Roman government began to wonder if these "Christians" and their message were subversive to Roman law and politics. (IT WAS) They began to wonder what Jesus' message of Redemption, Grace and Forgiveness would do the fabric of Roman society. What would Jesus' message do to the worship of all the gods and especially to the worship of Caesar as most high god? Could worship of Caesar and Jesus co- exist?

Caesar had proclaimed himself to be the god of gods and lord of lords. Every Roman citizen was to give Caesar their ultimate allegiance and worship. Worshiping the other gods and goddesses were allowed, but ultimately one must bow the knee to Caesar, to Rome. So, what would it mean if the citizens of Rome began to hear and believe in the Lordship of Jesus? What was Rome to do with a group of people who proclaimed that it was Jesus Christ who was the Savior of the World? Rome had prided itself on bringing Pax Romona (ultimate peace) to its people and now this Jesus was being proclaimed as the one who would bring ultimate peace to the world and its people.