Romans 10:1-4
10 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.[b] As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
I was getting a haircut a couple of weeks ago and when the barber discovered I was a pastor, he had all kinds of questions for me:
- Was the Bible changed?
- Did Jesus really die?
- Why do Christians like Jews but not Muslims? Are we not all worshipping the same God?
- If you believe in God sincerely, is that not the most important thing?
It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere. This is something that lots of people believe. It is the idea that all religions are mostly much the same with some minor differences and if you are sincere with your faith, then that is what is pleasing to God. If this is true then why would Paul be bothered that his friends are still Jews? They are still being faithful to God and still love and worship him. Why would that matter?
However, the truth is the opposite of this, all religions are mostly different with some minor similarities.
Hinduism: Believes in many gods but also a single god who has many forms. Liberation (moksha) from the cycle of rebirth is achieved through dharma (righteous living) and various paths including devotion, knowledge, or meditation.
Buddhism: Does not believe in God. Enlightenment and freedom from suffering are attained by emptying yourself and overcoming attachment and desire.
Islam: Believe in one God as revealed through the prophet Muhammad and the Quran. Submission to Allah and following the Quran potentially leads to paradise in the afterlife, should God decide to offer it.
Judaism: This is an ethnocentric faith, meaning that you are born into the faith and are part of a chosen people who follow God’s covenant and commandments.
In every religion we pursue God but in Christianity God pursues us. For others salvation comes through our effort, but in Christianity it comes through Christ‘s sacrifice.
The equation for faith is Jesus + 0 = everything.
It is tempting to add something to the equation to get what we want. We want financial breakthrough and so we look to Jesus + religious practices. We want peace and so we choose Jesus + control. We want joy, so we look to Jesus + liberalism. However, whenever we add it subtracts from what Jesus would give to us. Everything that God has for you is found in Christ alone. It is Jesus + 0 = everything.
Paul was desperate for the Jews to know Jesus because he is the only way to salvation. He describes their passion as ‘misdirected zeal.’ They are sincere but are sincerely wrong. We are not able to earn our way there by good works or by following certain patterns of behaviour. We do not have to lose ourselves, we find ourselves. Religious practices are not our hope of salvation, it is a gift. It is all found in Christ.
