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only starting point for Nirvana. While we live we have a chance of correcting our errors and of adopting the truth; but when once this life comes to an end, who can say how long afterwards shall one have another such opportunity? Hence the messianic exhortation : "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Jesus truly offered the highest religion to mankind when he said :
·
THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
"Believe in the light that ye may be the children of light [Life]." Humanity has always been hankering after a perpetuation of life, and the Master declared (John, V. 24 and 26):
"Verily I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life. For as the Father hath life in him; so hath he given to the son to have life in himself." The Christos within is never wearied of proclaim
ing:
"Verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me has everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven that a man may eat thereof and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not as your Fathers did eat manna and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever."-(John, VI. 47-51).
The same note is struck when it is said
"I am the light of the World: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."-(John, VIII. 12).
The Teacher may also justly maintain
"Verily I say unto you, if a man keep my saying he shall never see death."-(John, VIII, 51).
So also:
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."-(John, X. 10),
A certain class of ascetics even maintain that physical
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