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There are very many people in this world who are
carrying their own burdens. What did Jesus say to
such religious people?
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Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
(Matthew 11:28)
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free. (John 8:32)
If the Son therefore shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)
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Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot
see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). When
the Bible says, "For God so loved the world," how
far does this "so" reach? God loved the world so
much that He handed over to the world His beloved
only begotten Son so that we might come to
believe without any effort on our own part. He
made it so easy for us to believe, but when I think
of all the many people who aren't able to go to
heaven precisely because it's so easy, it sends my
head swimming.
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Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in Thy name? and
in Thy name have cast out devils? And in
Thy name done many wonderful works? And
then will I profess unto them, I never knew
you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
(Matthew 7:22-23)
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Countless people build up their store of good deeds
and enthusiasm, but in the end, God will tell them to
depart from Him, and He will drive them far away.
Why do you think this is? These people will have
missed one important fact, one very simple truth.
When a child is born, does it contribute to the process
in any way? What does a child do as it is born
from its mother's womb? Is the child's effort or
strength needed? Nothing at all is required of the
child, is it? The only strength that is needed is that
of the mother. The child can do nothing. It may kick
around a bit while it's in the womb, but it doesn't have
the strength to help in the course of its own birth.
What does all this show us? God established these
laws to govern the process of human birth. We also
become children of God in much the same way,
and the Bible tells us that this isn't possible through
man's strength.
If thou be righteous, what givest thou Him?
Or what receiveth He of thine hand? Thy
wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and
thy righteousness may profit the son of
man. (Job 35:7-8)
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. . . all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. . .
(Isaiah 64:6)
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Our own righteousness is like old rags. No matter
how good we may be in human terms, we can't
attain God's standards. Such goodness is only necessary
within human society; it has nothing to do
with being born into the kingdom of God. Neither
human effort nor human strength is needed when
an individual is born as a son of God.
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