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A pure heart and humble mind were far more important to gaining salvation at the time of Christ than any knowledge of the scriptures. In fact, the greatest barrier to receiving everlasting life, it seems, had absolutely nothing to do with any lack of knowledge of scriptures. Tragically, and rather ironically, it was actually an attitude of pride in one's knowledge of such scriptures, the same attitude that the religious leaders of His time manifested, and which the people followed, that led to the utter loss of the Jewish people in failing to recognize Christ at His First Coming (90:1) Consider, who was it at the time of Christ that attained unto everlasting life? For the most part they were the poor, the lowly, the sinners who would turn humbly to Him. Knowledge of the scriptures was not a factor. Weakness, ignorance, and lack of capacity did not hinder souls from attaining unto Him. For the child is weak, ignorant, and without capacity, and Christ clearly states that we must become like the child in order to enter the Kingdom. This is not to infer that we are to become ignorant or weak. Christ was referring to the condition of the child's heart and mind. The child's heart is pure, and their mind is free from any pride, for the child knows in its very being that it is weak and utterly dependent on others for its very life. We too must know, that in the presence of God, no matter who we are, no matter what our knowledge, our attainments or our capabilities, we too are as children, weak and ignorant. Like the child, we must know this (90:2) Even possession by a devil, the scriptures tell us, was not a barrier to Christ's divine love. He simply cast them out (90:3) No, nothing came between the seeker and his Desire at Christ's First Coming, nothing caused the people to turn away and reject Him, nothing confounded those who had heard His message, except lack of humility and purity of heart - spiritual qualities which the Father has always, and will always desire, for His children (90:4) The same qualities required of humankind at the First Coming will be required at the Second Coming
(90:5)
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