The Danger of Being Sincerely Wrong!
10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Paul states again in chapter 10 of Romans that his deep desire is for his fellow Israelites to be saved. He observes that though they are deeply zealous, their zeal is misguided. Their zeal was to establish their own way of becoming right with God. This passage is a good reminder that though zeal or excitement can be a good thing, if it isn't directed at something true it is not a good thing.
For instance, there are many false religions that people believe in and are zealous for. But if the religion is not based on the truth, it is not a good thing. Paul points out the Jews were indeed very religious, but they completely rejected God's Son Jesus, who was the way, the truth, and the life.
This teaches us sincerity does not always equal truth. One can be sincerely wrong. We have seen this with many cults, where people were zealous for a charismatic teacher, but never did a "truth check" on what they were teaching. This is why it is so important to know WHAT you believe and WHY!
While I would like to believe that all roads lead to God, and I am never disrespectful of people of different religions, I cannot in good conscience say all religions are the same. Why? Because if one person says 1 plus 1 equals 2, and another says 1 plus 1 equals 3 can we all agree to disagree. No! Agreeing to disagree fundamental truth would cause a lot of problems in world. And in fact someone might argue to get the truth wrong about God and how to get right with him may be more disastrous than getting this simple math problem wrong. After all it has eternal consequences.
Christianity says in effect ... belief in Christ plus nothing equals everything. Meaning we do not need to add anything to what Jesus has done for us. If salvation is a gift and it is truly free, than to say we have do something to earn it is a complete contradiction. If we could earn our own righteousness, then Christ died for nothing. Therefore any religion that teaches if we do x,y and z we will be saved is diametrically opposed to what Jesus taught. I might sincerely believe 1 plus 1 equals 3 but I would be sincerely wrong.
If you are a Christian take time to really think about and understand what you believe and why. If you are not a Christian investigate what all the religions teach and why. Compare them and contrast them. Remember Christianity is based on a person, Jesus Christ. Jesus made truth claims about himself and God and either they are true not. The one thing they cannot be is mildly true.
Paul states again in chapter 10 of Romans that his deep desire is for his fellow Israelites to be saved. He observes that though they are deeply zealous, their zeal is misguided. Their zeal was to establish their own way of becoming right with God. This passage is a good reminder that though zeal or excitement can be a good thing, if it isn't directed at something true it is not a good thing.
For instance, there are many false religions that people believe in and are zealous for. But if the religion is not based on the truth, it is not a good thing. Paul points out the Jews were indeed very religious, but they completely rejected God's Son Jesus, who was the way, the truth, and the life.
This teaches us sincerity does not always equal truth. One can be sincerely wrong. We have seen this with many cults, where people were zealous for a charismatic teacher, but never did a "truth check" on what they were teaching. This is why it is so important to know WHAT you believe and WHY!
While I would like to believe that all roads lead to God, and I am never disrespectful of people of different religions, I cannot in good conscience say all religions are the same. Why? Because if one person says 1 plus 1 equals 2, and another says 1 plus 1 equals 3 can we all agree to disagree. No! Agreeing to disagree fundamental truth would cause a lot of problems in world. And in fact someone might argue to get the truth wrong about God and how to get right with him may be more disastrous than getting this simple math problem wrong. After all it has eternal consequences.
Christianity says in effect ... belief in Christ plus nothing equals everything. Meaning we do not need to add anything to what Jesus has done for us. If salvation is a gift and it is truly free, than to say we have do something to earn it is a complete contradiction. If we could earn our own righteousness, then Christ died for nothing. Therefore any religion that teaches if we do x,y and z we will be saved is diametrically opposed to what Jesus taught. I might sincerely believe 1 plus 1 equals 3 but I would be sincerely wrong.
If you are a Christian take time to really think about and understand what you believe and why. If you are not a Christian investigate what all the religions teach and why. Compare them and contrast them. Remember Christianity is based on a person, Jesus Christ. Jesus made truth claims about himself and God and either they are true not. The one thing they cannot be is mildly true.
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