738. He is called 'a son of six hundred years' here because, as shown already, 'son' means intellectual truth. He is not however referred to as a son in verse 11 below because there the subject is his temptation as regards things of the will.

9239. EXODUS CHAPTER 23.

TEACHINGS ABOUT CHARITY AND FAITH

People speak of believing in God and of believing the things that come from God. Believing in God is faith which saves; but believing the things that come from God is faith which by itself, without belief in God, does not save. For believing in God implies knowing those things and doing them, whereas believing the things that come from God implies knowing but not yet doing them. Those who are truly Christian know and do them, and in that way believe in God, whereas those who are not truly Christian know them but do not do them. The Lord calls the latter 'foolish' but the former 'wise', Matthew 7:24, 26.