239. The fact that the association of men with angels takes place by means of the natural or literal sense of the Word is also the reason why in every person there are from creation three degrees of life: celestial, spiritual and natural. A person, however, remains in the natural degree so long as he is in the world, and at that time is only in the spiritual degree shared by the angels to the extent that he possesses genuine truths; and he is in the celestial degree to the extent that he lives a life guided by those truths. Yet he does not enter into the real spiritual or celestial degrees until after death, because these two are wrapped up and concealed in his natural ideas. When therefore death removes the natural degree, the spiritual and celestial are left, and these then dictate the ideas he thinks about. These facts can establish that the Word alone is the source of spirit and life, as the Lord says:

The words which I speak to you are spirit and life, John 6:63.

The water which I shall give you will become a spring of water rising up to give everlasting life, John 4:14.

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth out of the mouth of God, Matthew 4:4.

Work for the food which lasts to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, John 6:27.