Commentary

 

249 - Newness of Life

By Jonathan S. Rose

Title: Newness of Life

Topic: Salvation

Summary: What the Bible calls newness of life is not just a matter of changing our behaviors but of gaining a new heart and a new spirit.

Use the reference links below to follow along in the Bible as you watch.

References:
Romans 6:1, 4
Isaiah 65:17; 66:22
Jeremiah 31:31
Leviticus 3:1, 14, 17, Leviticus 3:23, Leviticus 3:26, Leviticus 3:33, Leviticus 3:40-41
Ezekiel 11:16; 18:30; 36:25
John 3:3
Romans 12:1-2
2 Corinthians 4:16; 5:17, 10
Galatians 6:12
Ephesians 4:17, 24
Colossians 3:5, 9-11
Titus 3:1-5
Revelation 21:1-5
Isaiah 62:1-2

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Spirit and Life Bible Study broadcast from 12/30/2015. The complete series is available at: www.spiritandlifebiblestudy.com

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Scriptural Confirmations #48

  
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48. 20. For the nation and kingdom that will not serve Thee shall perish, and the nations shall be utterly wasted (Isaiah 60:12). Of the Lord.

Then shall they build the wastes of eternity, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall renew the waste cities, the desolations of a generation (Isaiah 61:4). There throughout the whole chapter the coming of the Lord is treated of.

The whole of Isaiah, chapter 62, treats of the New Church, which is called Jerusalem.

Thou shalt no more be termed forsaken; and thy lands shall not be termed a waste (Isaiah 62:4). The New Jerusalem is treated of throughout the chapter.

(The cities of thy holiness are become a wilderness, Zion is become a wilderness, and Jerusalem a waste, and all our desirable things are become a waste (Isaiah 64:9-10).)

Behold I create new heavens and a new earth so that the former things shall not be remembered nor come upon the heart. But be ye glad and exult forever in that which I create: behold I will create Jerusalem an exultation and her people a gladness, so that I will exult over Jerusalem and be glad over My people. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, but dust shall be the serpent's bread. They shall not do evil, nor destroy in all the mountain of My holiness (Isaiah 65:17-25). Concerning the New Church.

Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and exult in her all ye that love her; be glad with gladness for her, that ye may suck and be satisfied from the breast of her consolations, that ye may press out and be delighted from the splendor of her glory. For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make, shall stand before Me, so shall stand your name and your seed (Isaiah 66:10-11 seq., 22).

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.

The Bible

 

Isaiah 62

Study

   

1 For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns.

2 The nations shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of Yahweh shall name.

3 You shall also be a crown of beauty in the hand of Yahweh, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall your land any more be termed Desolate: but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for Yahweh delights in you, and your land shall be married.

5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons shall marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you.

6 I have set watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day nor night: you who call on Yahweh, take no rest,

7 and give him no rest, until he establishes, and until he makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

8 Yahweh has sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, "Surely I will no more give your grain to be food for your enemies; and foreigners shall not drink your new wine, for which you have labored:

9 but those who have garnered it shall eat it, and praise Yahweh; and those who have gathered it shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary."

10 Go through, Go through the gates! Prepare the way of the people! Cast up, cast up the highway! Gather out the stones! Lift up a banner for the peoples.

11 Behold, Yahweh has proclaimed to the end of the earth, "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your salvation comes. Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.'"

12 They shall call them The holy people, The redeemed of Yahweh: and you shall be called Sought out, A city not forsaken.