1. THE TRUE CHRISTIAN RELIGION

Containing THE UNIVERSAL THEOLOGY OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW CHURCH

THE FAITH OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW CHURCH

This faith is presented at the outset in its general and in its particular form. It is so presented that it may serve as a preface to the whole work which follows, as a gateway, as it were, by which entrance is made to a temple, and as an epitome in which the subsequent details are duly summarized. It is said to be "The Faith of the New Heaven and the New Church" because heaven, where angels are, and the Church, in which men are, act as one like the internal and the external with man. Hence it is that the member of the Church, who is in the good of love from the truths of faith, and in the truths of faith from the good of love, is an angel of heaven as to the interiors of his mind. Thus he enters into heaven after death, and there enjoys happiness according to the degree in which those principles are united in him. It should therefore be known that this faith in its summary form is the index and gateway of the new heaven now being formed by the Lord.

725. VII. THOSE WHO WORTHILY APPROACH THE HOLY SUPPER ARE IN THE LORD, AND HE IN THEM; CONSEQUENTLY, CONJUNCTION WITH THE LORD IS EFFECTED BY THE HOLY SUPPER.

It has already been shown in several chapters that those worthily approach the Holy Supper who are in faith in the Lord and in charity towards the neighbor; that the truths of faith cause the Lord's presence; and that the goods of charity, together with faith, bring about conjunction. It follows, therefore, that those who worthily approach the Holy Supper are conjoined with the Lord; and those who are conjoined with the Lord are in Him, and He in them. That this takes place with those who approach worthily, the Lord Himself declares in John, in these words:

"He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him" John 6:56.

That this is conjunction with the Lord, He also teaches elsewhere in the same Gospel:

"Abide in me, and I in you. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit" John 15:4-5; and Revelation 3:20.

Being in conjunction with the Lord is the same as being among those who are in His body; and those constitute His body who believe in Him, and do His will. His will is the exercise of charity according to the truths of faith.

355. V. FAITH WITHOUT CHARITY IS NOT FAITH, AND CHARITY WITHOUT FAITH IS NOT CHARITY, AND NEITHER HAS ANY LIFE EXCEPT FROM THE LORD.

The present day Church has separated faith from charity by declaring that faith alone, without the works of the law, justifies and saves; and also, that charity cannot be united with faith, because faith is from God, while charity, so far as it finds expression in works, is from man. That the Church would adopt such a position never entered the mind of any of the apostles, as is evident from their epistles; but this separation and division was introduced into the Christian Church when they divided the one God into three persons, and ascribed to each equal divinity. It will be shown in the succeeding section that there is no faith without charity, and no charity without faith, and that neither has life except from the Lord; but here, in order to prepare the way, proof of the following propositions will be presented:

(1) A man can acquire faith for himself;

(2) And also charity;

(3) And further, the life of both;

(4) But nothing of faith, or of charity, or of the life of both, is from man, but from the Lord alone.