1. True Christianity

Containing a Comprehensive Theology of the New Heaven and the New Church

The Faith of the New Heaven and the New Church

THE faith of the new heaven and the new church is stated here in both universal and specific forms to serve as the face of the work that follows, the doorway that allows entry into the temple, and the summary that in one way or another contains all the details to follow. I say "the faith of the new heaven and the new church" because heaven, where there are angels, and the church, in which there are people, act together like the inner and the outer levels in a human being. People in the church who love what is good because they believe what is true and who believe what is true because they love what is good are angels of heaven with regard to the inner levels of their minds. After death they come into heaven, and enjoy happiness there according to the relationship between their love and their faith. It is important to know that the new heaven that the Lord is establishing today has this faith as its face, doorway, and summary.

267. 13. Because of the Word, Even People Who Are outside the Church and Who Do Not Have the Word Have Light.

No connection to heaven is possible unless somewhere on earth there is a church where the Word exists and where the Lord is known through that Word. This is because the Lord is the God of heaven and earth - without the Lord there is no salvation. (For the Word providing a connection to the Lord and association with angels, see 234-239 above.) It is enough if there is one church where the Word exists. Even if this church consists of comparatively few people, still the Lord is present throughout the world by means of the Word, since heaven is connected to the human race through the Word.

368. 7. The Lord Is Goodwill and Faith within Us; We Are Goodwill and Faith within the Lord

People of the church are in the Lord and the Lord is in them. This is clear from the following passages in the Word:

Jesus said, "Live in me and I [shall live] in you. I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who live in me and I in them bear much fruit. " (John 15:4-5)

Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in me and I in them. (John 6:56)

On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me and I am in you. (John 14:20)

If any confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them, and they live in God. (1 John 4:15)

We ourselves cannot be in the Lord, but the goodwill and faith that are in us from the Lord can. These two make us essentially human.

We can shed some light on this mystery to disclose it to the intellect if we explore it in the following sequence:

a. Our partnership with God is what gives us salvation and eternal life.

b. It is impossible for us to have a partnership with God the Father. What is possible is a partnership with the Lord, and through the Lord, with God the Father.

c. Our partnership with the Lord is reciprocal: the Lord is in us and we are in the Lord.

d. This reciprocal partnership comes about through goodwill and faith.

The truth of these points will become clear from the following explanation.