Zeal Without Knowledge
Darkness to Light: Part 19
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Romans 10: 1-3
I grew up having a zeal for being a good kid. I had a zeal for doing the right things, wearing the right clothes, and following all the rules. I took pride in the church and school I went to. I took pride in thinking that our church was the best; we had it all together, and we didn’t do all the naughty things that other so-called “Christians” did. Our women wore hats, we only sang Psalms and read from the KJV bible, and we didn’t have cable TV. I thought we were really righteous people, that we had “The Truth”.
I was zealous for our way of life and for living according to the church's teachings, but I did not have a saving knowledge of God. I could tell you what all the letters represented in the acrostic TULIP, who Arminius was, and why he was a false teacher, but I didn’t know the gospel. I didn’t know how to be saved or understand repentance and faith. I did not know Christ.
Dear reader, is this you? Do you try hard to be a good person? Do you follow all the teachings of your church but not have a saving knowledge of God?
No amount of holy living can save you! “Yes,” you may say, “I know I can’t work for my salvation; it is all given by God.” You are correct; you can provide nothing for your salvation except the sin that made it necessary1. But, dear reader, you are compelled to go to Christ now! Fall on your knees, repent, and place your faith in His finished work immediately! Do not sit back and say, “Oh, the Lord must do it,” “It must be given,” “I will wait upon the Lord”. Unconverted reader, these are dangerous excuses not to put your faith in Christ. When you die, will you say to the Lord, “I was waiting for You to save me, but You never did… it’s not my fault…” The Lord may then say to you, “I have provided My one and only Son to be humiliated, beaten and crucified for your sins, and yet you have rejected my immeasurable gift because you would not believe”
Unconverted one, I pray this will not be you. Flee to Christ now!
"O Lord, in your infinite mercy, I come before You, a wretched sinner, begging for Your grace. Wash me clean with the blood of Christ, and grant me true repentance. Renew my heart and mind, that I may live solely for Your glory. I confess my many sins and plead for Your saving power to enter my life, transforming me from the inside out. Let me not rely on my own works but solely on Your righteousness to secure my salvation. Guide my steps and strengthen my faith that I may walk in Your ways throughout my days. Amen."
“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”
Jonathan Edwards