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.

221. 5. The exteriors of the Temple in Jerusalem, as well, represented the types of good and truth that exist in the Word's literal meaning. The Temple represented heaven and the church just as the tabernacle did, although the Temple meant the heaven where the spiritual angels are, while the tabernacle meant the heaven where the heavenly angels are. Spiritual angels have wisdom because of the Word. Heavenly angels have love because of the Word.

The Lord himself teaches in John that in its highest meaning the Temple at Jerusalem stood for the Lord's divine-human manifestation:

"Break this temple in pieces and I will raise it in three days. " He was speaking of the temple of his body. (John 2:19, 21)

When something means the Lord it also means the Word, because he is the Word.

Since the interiors of the Temple represented the inner parts of heaven and the church, and the inner parts of the Word as well, its exteriors in turn represented and meant the outer parts of heaven and the church, and the outer parts of the Word as well, which belong to its literal meaning. We read of the exteriors of the Temple that they were built of whole, uncut stone, with cedar on the inside face; all the walls were carved on the inside with angel guardians, palm trees, and open flowers; and the floor was overlaid with gold (1 Kings 6:7, 29-30). All these details stand for the outer parts of the Word, which are holy aspects of its literal meaning.

483. If We Had No Free Choice in Spiritual Matters, the Word Would Be Useless and Therefore the Church Would Be Nothing

It is recognized throughout the Christian world that broadly speaking the Word is the law, or the book of the laws we must live by in order to be blessed with eternal life. Surely, the statements in the Word to the effect that we should do good and not evil and should believe in God and not idols occur more often than any others. The Word is full of commandments and exhortations of this kind, with blessings and promises of reward for those who follow them and curses and threats against those who do not. What would be the purpose of all these statements if we had no free choice in spiritual matters, that is, in areas that concern salvation and eternal life? They would be empty statements that serve no use. If we held fast to the idea that we have no power and no freedom in spiritual things, and thus were removed from any power of will in that respect, Sacred Scripture would seem to us like a blank piece of paper with no letters on it, or a sheet of paper on which a whole pot of ink had been spilled, or just serifs and dots without letters - a volume entirely without meaning.

[2] There should be no need to confirm this from the Word; but the church of today has plunged into mindless folly in regard to spiritual matters and has cited a number of passages from the Word in support of its view (although the passages have been interpreted falsely). Therefore I feel obligated to quote some passages that command us to do and believe. They are the following.

The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of it. (Matthew 21:43)

Produce fruits worthy of repentance. The axe is already lying against the root of the tree. Every tree, then, that does not produce good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire. (Luke 3:8-9)

Jesus said, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and yet you do not do what I say? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them is like someone who has built a house on the rock; but those who hear and do not do are like someone who has built a house on the ground without a foundation. " (Luke 6:46-49)

Jesus said, "My mother and siblings are those who hear the Word of God and do it. " (Luke 8:21)

We know that God does not hear sinners, but if people worship God and do his will, them he hears. (John 9:31)

If you know these things, you are happy if you do them. (John 13:17)

Those who have my commandments and do them are the ones who love me, and I will love them. (John 14:21)

In this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit. (John 15:8)

You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. I have chosen you so that you will bear fruit and your fruit will remain. (John 15:14, 16)

Make the tree good. A tree is recognized by its fruit. (Matthew 12:33)

Produce fruits worthy of repentance. (Matthew 3:8)

The one sown in good ground is one who hears the Word and bears fruit. (Matthew 13:23)

Those who are reaping a harvest receive their reward and gather fruit for eternal life. (John 4:36)

Wash yourselves; purify yourselves. Remove the evil of your doings; learn to do good. (Isaiah 1:16-17)

The Son of Humankind will come in the glory of his Father, and then he will render to all according to their deeds. (Matthew 16:27)

Those who have done good things will depart into a resurrection of life. (John 5:29; )

Behold, I am coming quickly and my reward is with me, so that I will give to all according to their work. (Revelation 22:12)

Jehovah, whose eyes are opened in order to give to all according to their ways. He treats us according to our works. ([Jeremiah 32:19;] Zechariah 1:6)

[3] The Lord also teaches the same thing in his parables, many of which involve the theme that those who do good things will be accepted and those who do evil things will be rejected. For example, the parable of the vinedressers in the vineyard (Matthew 21:33-44); and the parable of the talents and minas, with which people traded (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-27).

Likewise about faith Jesus said, "Those who believe in me will not die to eternity" but will live (John 11:25-26). "This is the will of the Father, that everyone who believes in the Son has eternal life" (John 6:40). "Those who believe in the Son have eternal life, but those who do not believe in the Son will not see life; instead God's wrath remains upon them" (John 3:36). "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that everyone who believes in him would not perish but would have eternal life" (John 3:15-16). And further, "You are to love the Lord your God with your whole heart and your whole soul and your whole mind. And you are to love your neighbor as yourself. The Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40). But these are only a handful of passages from the Word, like a few cups of water from an ocean.