22
וְעָשִׂיתִי אֹתָם לְגֹוי אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ בְּהָרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמֶלֶךְ אֶחָד יִהְיֶה לְכֻלָּם לְמֶלֶךְ וְלֹא [כ= יִהְיֶה] [ק= יִהְיוּ]־עֹוד לִשְׁנֵי גֹויִם וְלֹא יֵחָצוּ עֹוד לִשְׁתֵּי מַמְלָכֹות עֹוד׃
Yechezchial 37:22
True Christian Religion # 354
354. (iv) However numerous the truths of faith are and however varied they appear, they are made one by the Lord, who is the Word, the God of heaven and earth, the God of all flesh, the God of the vineyard or the church, the God of faith and light itself, truth and everlasting life. The truths which make up faith are varied and to human sight appear different. For example, some are concerned with God the Creator, others with the Lord the Redeemer, others with the Holy Spirit and the way God works, others with faith, and charity, others with free will, repentance, reformation and regeneration, imputation, and so on. Yet they all make one in the Lord, and are made one by the Lord in human beings, like many branches on one vine (John 15:1ff). For the Lord links together scattered and divided truths, so to speak, into a single form, so that they present the appearance of being one and function as one.
This can be illustrated by a comparison with the limbs, viscera and organs in a single body: despite their variety and their apparent difference to our sight, still the person whose whole form they compose is only aware of them as a single unit, and when he uses them all in action, he acts as if with a single unit. It is much the same with heaven: although it is divided into countless communities, yet it looks like one in the sight of the Lord. I showed above that it looks like one person. It is much the same with a kingdom, which although divided into many administrative districts, provinces and towns, still acts as one under the guidance of a king endowed with righteousness and judgment. The reason why, by the Lord's doing, the truths that make up faith and make the church truly a church behave in the same way, is that the Lord is the Word, the God of heaven and earth, the God of all flesh, the God of the vineyard or the church, the God of faith, and light itself, truth and everlasting life.
[2] It is evident in John's gospel that the Lord is the Word, and thus all the truth of heaven and the church.
The Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, John 1:1, 14.
It is evident in Matthew that the Lord is the God of heaven and earth.
Elsewhere:
Jesus said, All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth, 28:18.
The Lord is the God of all flesh, in John:
The Father gave the Son power over all flesh, 17:2.
The Lord is the God of the vineyard or the church, in Isaiah:
My beloved had a vineyard, 5:1-2.
In John:
I am the vine and you are the branches, 15:5.
The Lord is the God of faith, in Paul:
Having righteousness, which is from faith in Christ, from faith in God, Philippians 3:9.
The Lord is light itself, in John:
He was the true light, which enlightens everyone who comes into the world, 1:9.
Elsewhere:
Jesus said, I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness, 12:46.
The Lord is truth itself, in John:
Jesus said, I am the way, truth and life, 14:6.
The Lord is everlasting life, in John:
We know that the Son of God came, so that we might Know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true in His son Jesus Christ. 1 He is the true God and everlasting life, 1 John 5:20.
[3] It needs to be added that worldly affairs prevent people from acquiring more than a few truths to make up faith. Still, if anyone approaches the Lord and worships Him alone, he is enabled to get to know all truths. As soon, therefore, as every true worshipper of the Lord hears some truth of faith previously unknown to him, he immediately sees, acknowledges and accepts it. The reason is that the Lord is in him, and he is in the Lord. Consequently the light of truth is in him, and he is in the light of truth, for, as was said above, the Lord is light itself and truth itself.
The following experience can support this. I saw a spirit who in the company of others appeared simple, because he had acknowledged the Lord alone as God of heaven and earth, and had established his faith by means of a few truths taken from the Word. He was carried up into heaven to join the wiser angels, and I was told that there he was as wise as they were; in fact, he uttered numerous truths, entirely as if of himself, of which he had previously been totally ignorant.
[4] The state of those who are to come into the Lord's new church will be similar. This is the same state as is described by Jeremiah:
This shall be the covenant which I shall make with the house of Israel after these days. I will set my law in their midst, and I will write it upon their heart. Nor shall they any more teach a man his companion, or a man his brother, saying, get to know Jehovah 2 ; for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest of them, 31:33-34.
That state will also be as described by Isaiah:
A shoot will come forth from the stock of Jesse. Truth will be the belt around his thighs. Then the wolf will stay with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid. The sucking child will play on the hole of the viper, and the weaned child will thrust his hand on the den of the basilisk. For the earth will be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea. On that day the nations will seek the root of Jesse, and peace will be his glory, [1, 5,].
Poznámky pod čarou:
1. The first edition reads strictly '... came into the world, so that we might know the truth. And we are in the truth in Jesus Christ.' But the author's copy has been corrected in keeping with the original Greek.
2. Corrected from 'the Lord' in the author's copy.
John 12
1
Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2
There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6
This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7
Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8
For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
9
Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10
But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11
Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
12
On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
14
And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
15
Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
16
These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
17
The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
18
For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
19
The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
20
And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21
The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22
Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
23
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
25
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
27
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28
Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29
The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30
Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33
This he said, signifying what death he should die.
34
The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
35
Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
37
But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
38
That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39
Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
41
These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
42
Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43
For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
44
Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45
And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47
And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
49
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50
And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
