“Brothers, truly my heart’s pleasure and supplication to God on behalf of Israel is for [it] to be saved. For I testify to them that they have zeal to God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to the righteousness of God. For Christ [is] the end of Law for righteousness to everyone that believes” (Romans 10:1-4).
Israel (i.e.,Tolerant Calvinist): Keep your self-serving prayer to yourself, thanks. Strangely twisted logic here. You think that I am NOT regenerate just because immediately and inevitably upon regeneration (2 Corinthians 4:3-6) I did not have a perfect view and submission to the righteousness of God revealed in the gospel? Well, contrary to your uncharitable prayer I was NOT establishing my own righteousness, but was merely being imperfectly submitted to His.
However, Paul, I am more perfectly submitted to His righteousness NOW. I suppose you would say that I believe that I was regenerated while I remained ignorant of the righteousness of God. Well, fine, whatever you say. I am certainly NOT going to get all extreme and begin judging my imperfect knowledge and zeal as self-righteous dung and trash like you did in Philippians 3:8. Not even going there, Paul. Nor am I going to follow your lead in judging others unregenerate who had similar struggles that I had with imperfect submission to Christ and His righteousness. That would be imperious, impatient, and downright mean.
They may eventually progress into a more perfect understanding and submission to Christ as the end of Law for righteousness, like I me. But these zealous yet “ignorant” ones (as you call them) possess imperfect knowledge and don’t need your cold-hearted-perfectionistic prayer. Paul, you ought to emulate James White, Douglas Wilson, and John Piper by approaching them as muddled believers. Then — and ONLY THEN — will you possibly get a hearing and convince them to grow into a more orthodox or a more perfectly knowledgeable and submitted position. Something along these mature and charitable lines.
Agrammatos 