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Matthew 8

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1 καταβαντι G2597 G5631 V-2AAP-DSM δε G1161 CONJ αυτω G846 P-DSM απο G575 P EP του G3588 T-GSN ορους G3735 N-GSN ηκολουθησαν G190 G5656 V-AAI-3P αυτω G846 P-DSM οχλοι G3793 N-NPM πολλοι G4183 A-NPM

2 και G2532 CONJ ιδου G2400 G5628 V-2AAM-2S λεπρος G3015 A-NSM ελθων G2064 G5631 V-2AAP-NSM προσεκυνει G4352 G5707 V-IAI-3S αυτω G846 P-DSM λεγων G3004 G5723 V-PAP-NSM κυριε G2962 N-VSM εαν G1437 COND θελης G2309 G5725 V-PAS-2S δυνασαι G1410 G5736 V-PNI-2S με G3165 P-1AS καθαρισαι G2511 G5658 V-AAN

3 και G2532 CONJ εκτεινας G1614 G5660 V-AAP-NSF την G3588 T-ASF χειρα G5495 N-ASF ηψατο G680 G5662 V-ADI-3S αυτου G846 P-GSM ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM λεγων G3004 G5723 V-PAP-NSM θελω G2309 G5719 V-PAI-1S καθαρισθητι G2511 G5682 V-APM-2S και G2532 CONJ ευθεως G2112 ADV εκαθαρισθη G2511 G5681 V-API-3S αυτου G846 P-GSM η G3588 T-NSF λεπρα G3014 N-NSF

4 και G2532 CONJ λεγει G3004 G5719 V-PAI-3S αυτω G846 P-DSM ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM ορα G3708 G5720 V-PAM-2S μηδενι G3367 A-DSM ειπης G2036 G5632 V-2AAS-2S αλλ G235 CONJ υπαγε G5217 G5720 V-PAM-2S σεαυτον G4572 F-2ASM δειξον G1166 G5657 V-AAM-2S τω G3588 T-DSM ιερει G2409 N-DSM και G2532 CONJ προσενεγκε G4374 G5628 V-2AAM-2S το G3588 T-ASN δωρον G1435 N-ASN ο G3739 -ASN προσεταξεν G4367 G5656 V-AAI-3S μωσης G3475 N-NSM εις G1519 P EP μαρτυριον G3142 N-ASN αυτοις G846 P-DPM

5 εισελθοντι G1525 G5631 V-2AAP-DSM δε G1161 CONJ τω G3588 T-DSM ιησου G2424 N-DSM εις G1519 P EP καπερναουμ G2584 N-P I προσηλθεν G4334 G5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτω G846 P-DSM εκατονταρχος G1543 N-NSM παρακαλων G3870 G5723 V-PAP-NSM αυτον G846 P-ASM

6 και G2532 CONJ λεγων G3004 G5723 V-PAP-NSM κυριε G2962 N-VSM ο G3588 T-NSM παις G3816 N-NSM μου G3450 P-1GS βεβληται G906 G5769 V- PI-3S εν G1722 P EP τη G3588 T-DSF οικια G3614 N-DSF παραλυτικος G3885 A-NSM δεινως G1171 ADV βασανιζομενος G928 G5746 V-PPP-NSM

7 και G2532 CONJ λεγει G3004 G5719 V-PAI-3S αυτω G846 P-DSM ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM εγω G1473 P-1NS ελθων G2064 G5631 V-2AAP-NSM θεραπευσω G2323 G5692 V-FAI-1S αυτον G846 P-ASM

8 και G2532 CONJ αποκριθεις G611 G5679 V-AOP-NSM ο G3588 T-NSM εκατονταρχος G1543 N-NSM εφη G5346 G5713 V-IXI-3S κυριε G2962 N-VSM ουκ G3756 P T-N ειμι G1510 G5748 V-PXI-1S ικανος G2425 A-NSM ινα G2443 CONJ μου G3450 P-1GS υπο G5259 P EP την G3588 T-ASF στεγην G4721 N-ASF εισελθης G1525 G5632 V-2AAS-2S αλλα G235 CONJ μονον G3440 ADV ειπε G2036 G5628 V-2AAM-2S λογον G3056 N-ASM και G2532 CONJ ιαθησεται G2390 G5701 V-FPI-3S ο G3588 T-NSM παις G3816 N-NSM μου G3450 P-1GS

9 και G2532 CONJ γαρ G1063 CONJ εγω G1473 P-1NS ανθρωπος G444 N-NSM ειμι G1510 G5748 V-PXI-1S υπο G5259 P EP εξουσιαν G1849 N-ASF εχων G2192 G5723 V-PAP-NSM υπ G5259 P EP εμαυτον G1683 F-1ASM στρατιωτας G4757 N-APM και G2532 CONJ λεγω G3004 G5719 V-PAI-1S τουτω G5129 D-DSM πορευθητι G4198 G5676 V-AOM-2S και G2532 CONJ πορευεται G4198 G5736 V-PNI-3S και G2532 CONJ αλλω G243 A-DSM ερχου G2064 G5736 V-PNI-2S και G2532 CONJ ερχεται G2064 G5736 V-PNI-3S και G2532 CONJ τω G3588 T-DSM δουλω G1401 N-DSM μου G3450 P-1GS ποιησον G4160 G5657 V-AAM-2S τουτο G5124 D-ASN και G2532 CONJ ποιει G4160 G5719 V-PAI-3S

10 ακουσας G191 G5660 V-AAP-NSM δε G1161 CONJ ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM εθαυμασεν G2296 G5656 V-AAI-3S και G2532 CONJ ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S τοις G3588 T-DPM ακολουθουσιν G190 G5723 V-PAP-DPM αμην G281 HEB λεγω G3004 G5719 V-PAI-1S υμιν G5213 P-2DP ουδε G3761 ADV εν G1722 P EP τω G3588 T-DSM ισραηλ G2474 N-P I τοσαυτην G5118 D-ASF πιστιν G4102 N-ASF ευρον G2147 G5627 V-2AAI-1S

11 λεγω G3004 G5719 V-PAI-1S δε G1161 CONJ υμιν G5213 P-2DP οτι G3754 CONJ πολλοι G4183 A-NPM απο G575 P EP ανατολων G395 N-GPF και G2532 CONJ δυσμων G1424 N-GPF ηξουσιν G2240 G5692 V-FAI-3P και G2532 CONJ ανακλιθησονται G347 G5701 V-FPI-3P μετα G3326 P EP αβρααμ G11 N-P I και G2532 CONJ ισαακ G2464 N-P I και G2532 CONJ ιακωβ G2384 N-P I εν G1722 P EP τη G3588 T-DSF βασιλεια G932 N-DSF των G3588 T-GPM ουρανων G3772 N-GPM

12 οι G3588 T-NPM δε G1161 CONJ υιοι G5207 N-NPM της G3588 T-GSF βασιλειας G932 N-GSF εκβληθησονται G1544 G5701 V-FPI-3P εις G1519 P EP το G3588 T-ASN σκοτος G4655 N-ASN το G3588 T-ASN εξωτερον G1857 A-ASN εκει G1563 ADV εσται G2071 G5704 V-FXI-3S ο G3588 T-NSM κλαυθμος G2805 N-NSM και G2532 CONJ ο G3588 T-NSM βρυγμος G1030 N-NSM των G3588 T-GPM οδοντων G3599 N-GPM

13 και G2532 CONJ ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM τω G3588 T-DSM εκατονταρχω G1543 N-DSM υπαγε G5217 G5720 V-PAM-2S και G2532 CONJ ως G5613 ADV επιστευσας G4100 G5656 V-AAI-2S γενηθητω G1096 G5676 V-AOM-3S σοι G4671 P-2DS και G2532 CONJ ιαθη G2390 G5681 V-API-3S ο G3588 T-NSM παις G3816 N-NSM αυτου G846 P-GSM εν G1722 P EP τη G3588 T-DSF ωρα G5610 N-DSF εκεινη G1565 D-DSF

14 και G2532 CONJ ελθων G2064 G5631 V-2AAP-NSM ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM εις G1519 P EP την G3588 T-ASF οικιαν G3614 N-ASF πετρου G4074 N-GSM ειδεν G1492 G5627 V-2AAI-3S την G3588 T-ASF πενθεραν G3994 N-ASF αυτου G846 P-GSM βεβλημενην G906 G5772 V- PP-ASF και G2532 CONJ πυρεσσουσαν G4445 G5723 V-PAP-ASF

15 και G2532 CONJ ηψατο G680 G5662 V-ADI-3S της G3588 T-GSF χειρος G5495 N-GSF αυτης G846 P-GSF και G2532 CONJ αφηκεν G863 G5656 V-AAI-3S αυτην G846 P-ASF ο G3588 T-NSM πυρετος G4446 N-NSM και G2532 CONJ ηγερθη G1453 G5681 V-API-3S και G2532 CONJ διηκονει G1247 G5707 V-IAI-3S αυτοις G846 P-DPM

16 οψιας G3798 A-GSF δε G1161 CONJ γενομενης G1096 G5637 V-2ADP-GSF προσηνεγκαν G4374 G5656 V-AAI-3P αυτω G846 P-DSM δαιμονιζομενους G1139 G5740 V-PNP-APM πολλους G4183 A-APM και G2532 CONJ εξεβαλεν G1544 G5627 V-2AAI-3S τα G3588 T-APN πνευματα G4151 N-APN λογω G3056 N-DSM και G2532 CONJ παντας G3956 A-APM τους G3588 T-APM κακως G2560 ADV εχοντας G2192 G5723 V-PAP-APM εθεραπευσεν G2323 G5656 V-AAI-3S

17 οπως G3704 ADV πληρωθη G4137 G5686 V-APS-3S το G3588 T-NSN ρηθεν G4483 G5685 V-APP-NSN δια G1223 P EP ησαιου G2268 N-GSM του G3588 T-GSM προφητου G4396 N-GSM λεγοντος G3004 G5723 V-PAP-GSN αυτος G846 P-NSM τας G3588 T-APF ασθενειας G769 N-APF ημων G2257 P-1GP ελαβεν G2983 G5627 V-2AAI-3S και G2532 CONJ τας G3588 T-APF νοσους G3554 N-APF εβαστασεν G941 G5656 V-AAI-3S

18 ιδων G1492 G5631 V-2AAP-NSM δε G1161 CONJ ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM πολλους G4183 A-APM οχλους G3793 N-APM περι G4012 P EP αυτον G846 P-ASM εκελευσεν G2753 G5656 V-AAI-3S απελθειν G565 G5629 V-2AAN εις G1519 P EP το G3588 T-ASN περαν G4008 ADV

19 και G2532 CONJ προσελθων G4334 G5631 V-2AAP-NSM εις G1520 A-NSM γραμματευς G1122 N-NSM ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτω G846 P-DSM διδασκαλε G1320 N-VSM ακολουθησω G190 G5692 V-FAI-1S σοι G4671 P-2DS οπου G3699 ADV εαν G1437 COND απερχη G565 G5741 V-PNS-2S

20 και G2532 CONJ λεγει G3004 G5719 V-PAI-3S αυτω G846 P-DSM ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM αι G3588 T-NPF αλωπεκες G258 N-NPF φωλεους G5454 N-APM εχουσιν G2192 G5719 V-PAI-3P και G2532 CONJ τα G3588 T-NPN πετεινα G4071 N-NPN του G3588 T-GSM ουρανου G3772 N-GSM κατασκηνωσεις G2682 N-APF ο G3588 T-NSM δε G1161 CONJ υιος G5207 N-NSM του G3588 T-GSM ανθρωπου G444 N-GSM ουκ G3756 P T-N εχει G2192 G5719 V-PAI-3S που G4226 P T-I την G3588 T-ASF κεφαλην G2776 N-ASF κλινη G2827 G5725 V-PAS-3S

21 ετερος G2087 A-NSM δε G1161 CONJ των G3588 T-GPM μαθητων G3101 N-GPM αυτου G846 P-GSM ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτω G846 P-DSM κυριε G2962 N-VSM επιτρεψον G2010 G5657 V-AAM-2S μοι G3427 P-1DS πρωτον G4412 ADV απελθειν G565 G5629 V-2AAN και G2532 CONJ θαψαι G2290 G5658 V-AAN τον G3588 T-ASM πατερα G3962 N-ASM μου G3450 P-1GS

22 ο G3588 T-NSM δε G1161 CONJ ιησους G2424 N-NSM ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτω G846 P-DSM ακολουθει G190 G5720 V-PAM-2S μοι G3427 P-1DS και G2532 CONJ αφες G863 G5628 V-2AAM-2S τους G3588 T-APM νεκρους G3498 A-APM θαψαι G2290 G5658 V-AAN τους G3588 T-APM εαυτων G1438 F-3GPM νεκρους G3498 A-APM

23 και G2532 CONJ εμβαντι G1684 G5631 V-2AAP-DSM αυτω G846 P-DSM εις G1519 P EP το G3588 T-ASN πλοιον G4143 N-ASN ηκολουθησαν G190 G5656 V-AAI-3P αυτω G846 P-DSM οι G3588 T-NPM μαθηται G3101 N-NPM αυτου G846 P-GSM

24 και G2532 CONJ ιδου G2400 G5628 V-2AAM-2S σεισμος G4578 N-NSM μεγας G3173 A-NSM εγενετο G1096 G5633 V-2ADI-3S εν G1722 P EP τη G3588 T-DSF θαλασση G2281 N-DSF ωστε G5620 CONJ το G3588 T-NSN πλοιον G4143 N-NSN καλυπτεσθαι G2572 G5745 V-PPN υπο G5259 P EP των G3588 T-GPN κυματων G2949 N-GPN αυτος G846 P-NSM δε G1161 CONJ εκαθευδεν G2518 G5707 V-IAI-3S

25 και G2532 CONJ προσελθοντες G4334 G5631 V-2AAP-NPM οι G3588 T-NPM μαθηται G3101 N-NPM αυτου G846 P-GSM ηγειραν G1453 G5656 V-AAI-3P αυτον G846 P-ASM λεγοντες G3004 G5723 V-PAP-NPM κυριε G2962 N-VSM σωσον G4982 G5657 V-AAM-2S ημας G2248 P-1AP απολλυμεθα G622 G5731 V-PMI-1P

26 και G2532 CONJ λεγει G3004 G5719 V-PAI-3S αυτοις G846 P-DPM τι G5101 I-NSN δειλοι G1169 A-NPM εστε G2075 G5748 V-PXI-2P ολιγοπιστοι G3640 A-VPM τοτε G5119 ADV εγερθεις G1453 G5685 V-APP-NSM επετιμησεν G2008 G5656 V-AAI-3S τοις G3588 T-DPM ανεμοις G417 N-DPM και G2532 CONJ τη G3588 T-DSF θαλασση G2281 N-DSF και G2532 CONJ εγενετο G1096 G5633 V-2ADI-3S γαληνη G1055 N-NSF μεγαλη G3173 A-NSF

27 οι G3588 T-NPM δε G1161 CONJ ανθρωποι G444 N-NPM εθαυμασαν G2296 G5656 V-AAI-3P λεγοντες G3004 G5723 V-PAP-NPM ποταπος G4217 A-NSM εστιν G2076 G5748 V-PXI-3S ουτος G3778 D-NSM οτι G3754 CONJ και G2532 CONJ οι G3588 T-NPM ανεμοι G417 N-NPM και G2532 CONJ η G3588 T-NSF θαλασσα G2281 N-NSF υπακουουσιν G5219 G5719 V-PAI-3P αυτω G846 P-DSM

28 και G2532 CONJ ελθοντι G2064 G5631 V-2AAP-DSM αυτω G846 P-DSM εις G1519 P EP το G3588 T-ASN περαν G4008 ADV εις G1519 P EP την G3588 T-ASF χωραν G5561 N-ASF των G3588 T-GPM γεργεσηνων G1086 N-GPM υπηντησαν G5221 G5656 V-AAI-3P αυτω G846 P-DSM δυο G1417 A-NUI δαιμονιζομενοι G1139 G5740 V-PNP-NPM εκ G1537 P EP των G3588 T-GPN μνημειων G3419 N-GPN εξερχομενοι G1831 G5740 V-PNP-NPM χαλεποι G5467 A-NPM λιαν G3029 ADV ωστε G5620 CONJ μη G3361 P T-N ισχυειν G2480 G5721 V-PAN τινα G5100 X-ASM παρελθειν G3928 G5629 V-2AAN δια G1223 P EP της G3588 T-GSF οδου G3598 N-GSF εκεινης G1565 D-GSF

29 και G2532 CONJ ιδου G2400 G5628 V-2AAM-2S εκραξαν G2896 G5656 V-AAI-3P λεγοντες G3004 G5723 V-PAP-NPM τι G5101 I-NSN ημιν G2254 P-1DP και G2532 CONJ σοι G4671 P-2DS ιησου G2424 N-VSM υιε G5207 N-VSM του G3588 T-GSM θεου G2316 N-GSM ηλθες G2064 G5627 V-2AAI-2S ωδε G5602 ADV προ G4253 P EP καιρου G2540 N-GSM βασανισαι G928 G5658 V-AAN ημας G2248 P-1AP

30 ην G2258 G5713 V-IXI-3S δε G1161 CONJ μακραν G3112 ADV απ G575 P EP αυτων G846 P-GPM αγελη G34 N-NSF χοιρων G5519 N-GPM πολλων G4183 A-GPM βοσκομενη G1006 G5746 V-PPP-NSF

31 οι G3588 T-NPM δε G1161 CONJ δαιμονες G1142 N-NPM παρεκαλουν G3870 G5707 V-IAI-3P αυτον G846 P-ASM λεγοντες G3004 G5723 V-PAP-NPM ει G1487 COND εκβαλλεις G1544 G5719 V-PAI-2S ημας G2248 P-1AP επιτρεψον G2010 G5657 V-AAM-2S ημιν G2254 P-1DP απελθειν G565 G5629 V-2AAN εις G1519 P EP την G3588 T-ASF αγελην G34 N-ASF των G3588 T-GPM χοιρων G5519 N-GPM

32 και G2532 CONJ ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτοις G846 P-DPM υπαγετε G5217 G5720 V-PAM-2P οι G3588 T-NPM δε G1161 CONJ εξελθοντες G1831 G5631 V-2AAP-NPM απηλθον G565 G5627 V-2AAI-3P εις G1519 P EP την G3588 T-ASF αγελην G34 N-ASF των G3588 T-GPM χοιρων G5519 N-GPM και G2532 CONJ ιδου G2400 G5628 V-2AAM-2S ωρμησεν G3729 G5656 V-AAI-3S πασα G3956 A-NSF η G3588 T-NSF αγελη G34 N-NSF των G3588 T-GPM χοιρων G5519 N-GPM κατα G2596 P EP του G3588 T-GSM κρημνου G2911 N-GSM εις G1519 P EP την G3588 T-ASF θαλασσαν G2281 N-ASF και G2532 CONJ απεθανον G599 G5627 V-2AAI-3P εν G1722 P EP τοις G3588 T-DPN υδασιν G5204 N-DPN

33 οι G3588 T-NPM δε G1161 CONJ βοσκοντες G1006 G5723 V-PAP-NPM εφυγον G5343 G5627 V-2AAI-3P και G2532 CONJ απελθοντες G565 G5631 V-2AAP-NPM εις G1519 P EP την G3588 T-ASF πολιν G4172 N-ASF απηγγειλαν G518 G5656 V-AAI-3P παντα G3956 A-APN και G2532 CONJ τα G3588 T-APN των G3588 T-GPM δαιμονιζομενων G1139 G5740 V-PNP-GPM

34 και G2532 CONJ ιδου G2400 G5628 V-2AAM-2S πασα G3956 A-NSF η G3588 T-NSF πολις G4172 N-NSF εξηλθεν G1831 G5627 V-2AAI-3S εις G1519 P EP συναντησιν G4877 N-ASF τω G3588 T-DSM ιησου G2424 N-DSM και G2532 CONJ ιδοντες G1492 G5631 V-2AAP-NPM αυτον G846 P-ASM παρεκαλεσαν G3870 G5656 V-AAI-3P οπως G3704 ADV μεταβη G3327 G5632 V-2AAS-3S απο G575 P EP των G3588 T-GPN οριων G3725 N-GPN αυτων G846 P-GPM

   

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Divine Providence # 330

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330. To show how vicious belief in predestination is, at least as predestination is commonly understood, I need to pick up these four propositions and support them.

(a) Any predestination but predestination to heaven is contrary to divine love, which is infinite. I explained in the book on Divine Love and Wisdom that Jehovah or the Lord is divine love and that this love is infinite and is the essential reality of all life, as well as that we are created in the image of God after the likeness of God. Since (as already noted [328]) we are all formed by the Lord in the womb in this image after this likeness, it follows that the Lord is the heavenly Father of us all and that we are his spiritual children. "Father" is in fact what Jehovah or the Lord is called in the Word, and "children" is what we are called in the Word. So it says, "Do not call your father on earth your father, for one is your Father, the one who is in heaven" (Matthew 23:9). This means that he alone is our Father in respect to our life, while our earthly fathers are fathers only as to the clothing of life, the body. This is why no one is called father in heaven but the Lord. We can also see in many passages of the Word that we are called his children and are said to have been born from him if we have not inverted that life.

[2] We can tell from this that divine love is in all of us, the evil and the good alike, and that therefore the Lord who is divine love must treat us with as much love as an earthly father treats his children--with infinitely more love, in fact, because divine love is infinite. Further, he can never withdraw from anyone, because everyone's life comes from him. It does seem as though he withdraws from evil people, but it is the evil who are withdrawing: he is still lovingly leading them. So the Lord says, "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you. Who among you will give a stone if his son asks him for bread? If then you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in the heavens give good things to those who ask him?" (Matthew 7:7-11); and again, "Because he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust" (Matthew 5:45). It is also recognized in the church that the Lord intends the salvation of all and the death of none.

This enables us to see that predestination to anything but heaven is contrary to divine love.

[3] (b) Any predestination but predestination to heaven is contrary to divine wisdom, which is infinite. It is through its divine wisdom that divine love provides the means by which we can all be saved; so to say that there is a predestination to anywhere but heaven is to say that divine love cannot provide the means of salvation. Yet we all do have the means, as just explained, and these come from divine providence, which is infinite.

The reason some of us are not saved is that divine love wants us to feel heaven's happiness and bliss in ourselves. Otherwise it would not be heaven for us; and this feeling cannot happen unless it seems to us that we are thinking and intending on our own. If it were not for this appearance, nothing could be given to us, and we would not be human. This is the reason for divine providence, which is the result of divine wisdom stemming from divine love.

[4] Still, this does not negate the truth that we are all predestined to heaven, and none to hell. This truth would be negated, though, if the means of salvation were lacking. However, I have already shown [326, 329] that we are all given the means of salvation, and that the nature of heaven is to provide a place there for all who lead good lives, no matter what their religion may be.

We are like the earth. It brings forth all kinds of fruit: this ability is what makes it the earth. The fact that it brings forth bad fruit does not negate its ability to bring forth good fruit; though it would negate it if it could bring forth only bad fruit. We are also like an object that changes the light rays that strike it. If we offer only ugly colors, that is not the fault of the light. The light rays can also be changed into attractive colors.

[5] (c) It is an insane heresy to believe that only those born in the church are saved. People born outside the church are just as human as people born within it. They come from the same heavenly source. They are equally living and immortal souls. They have religions as well, religions that enable them to believe that God exists and that they should lead good lives; and all of them who do believe in God and lead good lives become spiritual on their own level and are saved, as already noted [326].

Someone could point out that they have not been baptized. But baptism saves only people who have been spiritually washed, that is, regenerated. Baptism serves as a symbol and reminder of this.

[6] Someone could point out that they do not know the Lord, and that apart from the Lord there is no salvation. But no one is saved because of knowing about the Lord. We are saved because we live by his commandments. Further, the Lord is known to everyone who believes in God because the Lord is the God of heaven and earth, as he tells us in Matthew 28:18 and elsewhere.

Particularly, people outside the church have more of a concept of a personal God than Christians do; and people who have a concept of a personal God and lead good lives are accepted by the Lord. Unlike Christians, they believe in God as one in both person and essence. Further, they think about God as they lead their lives. They treat evils as sins against God; and people who do this are thinking about God as they lead their lives.

Christians get the commandments of their religion from the Word, but not many of them actually take any commandments of life from it.

[7] Catholics do not read it, and Protestants who believe in faith separated from charity pay no attention to what it says about life, only to what it says about faith. Yet the whole Word is nothing but a theology of life.

Christianity is found only in Europe. Islam and other non-Christian religions are found in Asia, the Indies, Africa, and America; and there are ten times as many people in these latter parts of the world as there are in the Christian part of the world--and relatively few of these latter people make their religion a matter of their lives. What could be more insane than to believe that these and only these individuals are saved, and that the others are damned, that heaven is ours by right of birth and not by conduct of life? That is why the Lord says, "I tell you that many will come from the east and from the west and will recline with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of the heavens, while the children of the kingdom will be thrown out" (Matthew 8:11-12).

[8] (d) It is a cruel heresy to believe that any member of the human race is damned by predestination. It is cruel, that is, to believe that the Lord, who is love itself and mercy itself, would allow such a vast number of people to be born for hell, or that so many millions would be born damned and doomed, that is, born devils and satans. It is cruel to believe that in his divine wisdom the Lord would not make sure that people who lead good lives and believe in God would not be cast into the flames and into eternal torment. After all, the Lord is the Creator and Savior of us all. He alone is leading us, and he does not want anyone to die; so it is cruel to believe and think that such a multitude of nations and people are by predestination being handed over to the devil as prey under the Lord's own guidance and oversight.

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