I agree people use the Bible to make a religion, but if they are honest and take "all the counsel of God" - "rightly dividing the Word of Truth", they will arrive at the truth of God as given, rather than scrambling verses to proof what they want it to say.
The four Gospels are plainly stated in such as the KJV Bible, at least, and Church truth is plainly stated there in the Epistles, etc. As the saying goes: 'a mind persuaded against its will, is of the same opinion still'. Some of these religionists use even the Old Testament, to try and disprove the New Testament as given by the Lord Jesus.
NO! these religionists are not 'just like me' as you charge! They are NOT "born again" saints of God by the new spiritual life given by God to those who receive His "...beloved Son": the Lord Jesus Christ. I was saved over 60 years ago and know His Word of Truth very well. I hope you will find that true also.
Every person in every belief group who believes themselves to be Christians agrees with you. "If they are honest and take "all the counsel of God", "Rightly dividing the word of truth" they will arrive at the truth God has given. " Ask a Mormon, a Jehovah's Witness, a Baptist, ... they all agree with you. If you do as God commands and honestly seek after truth you will end up holding fast to their core beliefs, why? Their core beliefs "are" "truth", and all correct interpretations of all valid data always align with the truth ... their beliefs.
The Methodology previously listed is what allows everyone from every belief group on this planet to know that they love the truth and have the truth. Everyone gets an unshakeable, unquestionable belief that their beliefs are fact, closing their eyes and ears to even considering anything else?
The "Many" on the broad path that leads to destruction is, from the context the same many who believe Jesus is their Lord, God and Savior, and who perform the same marvelous works "in His Name" that all the true Christians of the day performed. Yet ... it is the few who are saved. Everyone gets what they want using the Methodology above. You can believe anything under the sun to be absolute unquestionable truth, and indeed, God does have a hand in it, which explains how they can cast out demons, perform works of power and prophesy in His name and still be lost.
2Th 2:10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
It is because I see that everyone who uses that Methodology above fits in with verses 11-12 and not 13 that I say anything at all. I hate to see anyone on the broad path that leads to destruction go without a warning. There is hope though. Even as Paul is writing this, there were those who received a love of truth that far exceeded that of those mentioned in 10-12, ... those chosen for salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit and faith/belief in the truth. Some few ... pass the test, the many will stand before Him and hear, "Depart from Me ye who work iniquity for I never knew you." Iniquity, wickedness ...if you do not love truth enough to forsake the Methodology every person on the planet can use to hold fast to their beliefs and reject everything else, you qualify and you will get the help of God Himself to hold fast to "what you want to believe" "as" truth. It is a personal choice.
