Why are good, religious people so hard for God to bring to salvation?
Good, religious people are hard for God to bring to salvation because they are so good and so religious that they see no need for any salvation. Yet they still need it, just as Cornelius did. Their devotion and generosity do not remove their need to hear the way of salvation.
Les explains that the hardest person for God to bring to salvation is the good, religious person. They are so good and so religious that they see no need for salvation, yet they need it. Cornelius is the example: he prayed, gave alms, and God said his prayers and alms came up as a memorial. But he still had to send for Peter to tell him what he ought to do. Les notes Cornelius called the angel 'Lord' only as a term, not from a personal relationship.