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The Words of Jesus of Nazareth
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Don't be amazed that I say you must be born again.
Truly, I tell you this: unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God. Except you are born of water and the Holy Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of Spirit is spirit. The wind blows where it wishes, and we hear the sound it makes; but we cannot tell from where it comes, or where it will go. So it is for everyone that is born of the Spirit.
Consider these examples: No one weaves a piece of new cloth into an old rotting garment, for the new which is woven in will just pull the old cloth apart, and the tear will be made worse. Neither do you put new wine into old wine barrels. The old barrels might burst, the new wine run out, and the investment would be lost. Instead you put new wine into new barrels; and both are preserved.
How is it that, with so much learning, you still aren't familiar with the most basic truth? If I have told you such things, using earthly examples, and you fail to understand, how will you understand if I tell you of heavenly things?
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Whoever believes in him is not condemned; but whoever does not believe stands condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of God's only Son.
I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though they die on this earth, will live again. They will be give eternal life and not perish! I have told you so, many times: If you believe you will see the glory of God.
My mission is to accomplish the purpose of him that sent me, and to fulfil his work; and this is God's will: That you come to truly believe in the Messiah, whom the Father has sent.
Hear this story: A man had two sons. One day the younger son said to his father: "Father, give me my part of the inheritance." So the father gave him his share.
Not long afterwards this same son gathered his possessions, and journeyed to a far country. There he wasted his wealth in reckless living. When his last penny was gone, a terrible famine swept across the land. He was destitute and without friends.
Finally he found work tending pigs. In his desperation, he was about to eat the corn husks that he was given to feed the pigs; when, coming to his senses, he thought: My father's servants have more than enough bread to eat, with much left over; while I am about to eat pigs' food, in order not to perish! I will go back to my father, and will say: 'Father, I have sinned against you and heaven. I am no longer worthy to be called your son, but let me at least be one of your hired servants.'"
With this plan in mind, he rose from the dust, and began the long trip back to his father.
When he was still a great way off, his father saw him, and having compassion on him, ran out to meet him and embraced him tenderly.
The son began: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son."
But the father didn't let him finish his confession. He turned to his servants and said: "Bring out my best clothes, and dress my son. Put my signet ring on his hand, and my finest shoes on his feet. Bring our fattest calf from the field, and kill it, and let us eat and be merry. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and now is found." In a few hours there began a great celebration.
Towards evening his older brother returned from working in the field; and as he came near the house he heard the music and dancing. He called one of the servants, and asked: "What is the meaning of such celebration?"
The servant replied: "Your brother has come home; and your father has killed the fattest calf, because he has returned safe and sound."
At this the brother became very angry, and refused to go in to the banquet; so that his father came out, and begged him to come in.
But he answered: "Behold all these years I have served you, never breaking one of your commandments; yet you never offered me parties to celebrate with my friends. Now my wandering brother returns, who has no doubt wasted his inheritance on prostitutes, and you kill the prized calf to celebrate."
The father said: "My son, you have always been with me, and you know that all that I have is yours. It is right that we celebrate, and give thanks; for your brother was dead, and is alive again, was lost, but now is found."
Except you be converted, and become as a little child, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. The Son of Man is come to save those that are lost: for it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that even the least among you should perish.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that whosoever believes in him should not die but have everlasting life. Do you believe this?
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These are the very words of Jesus of Nazereth. Taken originally from the Bible , and arranged here by subject as they appear in Lee Cantelon's book "The Words" (c) 1997. [www.thewords.com]
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The_Words
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