103. And hast not failed, signifies so far as they could. This is evident from the signification of "not failing," in reference to those who are eager for the knowledges of truth and good, as being so far as they could; for in what now follows, a life according to these knowledges is treated of. Those who are in a life according to these go forward and do not fail; but those who are as yet in knowledges alone, go forward as far as they can, but do not yet have the light of life, from which is vigor.

173. Regeneration

Anyone who does not begin to live a spiritual life-that is, who is not born anew by means of the Lord-cannot come into heaven. This is what the Lord tells us in John: "Truly, truly I say to you, unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).