329. We can tell what a useful function is from the goal of the creation of the universe. The goal of the creation of the universe is to bring about an angelic heaven; and since an angelic heaven is the goal, so is humanity or the human race, since that is where heaven comes from. It follows, then, that everything that has been created is an intermediate goal, and that the functions are useful in the sequence, on the level, and in the specific way that they relate to humanity, and through humanity to the Lord.

521. NO ONE COMES INTO HEAVEN AS A RESULT OF IMMEDIATE MERCY

Those who have not been instructed about heaven and the way to heaven, and about the life of heaven with man, suppose that being received into heaven is a mere matter of mercy, which is granted to those who have faith, and for whom the Lord intercedes; thus that it is an admission from mere grace; consequently, that all men without exception might be saved if the Lord so pleased, and some even believe that all in hell might be so saved. But those know nothing about man, that he is just such as his life is, and that his life is such as his love is, both as to the interiors pertaining to his will and understanding and as to the exteriors pertaining to his body; also that his bodily form is merely the external form in which the interiors exhibit themselves in effect; consequently, that the entire man is his own love (see above, 363). Nor do they know that the body lives not from itself, but from its spirit, and that a man's spirit is his essential affection, and his spiritual body is nothing else than his affection in human form, and in such a form it appears after death (see above, 453-460). So long as man remains ignorant of these things he may be induced to believe that salvation is nothing but Divine good pleasure, which is called mercy and grace.