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.

474. The Lord himself teaches in John that he is life in itself and therefore life itself:

The Word was with God and the Word was God. In him was life and the life was the light of humankind. (John 1:1, 4)

As the Father has life in himself, so he has given the Son to have life in himself. (John 5:26)

I am the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)

Those who follow me will have the light of life. (John 8:12)