Title: Even Our Nature Can Change

Topic: Salvation

Summary: We look at scriptural teachings about change, particularly about overcoming fear. Jesus' transformation showed us that fundamental change is possible.

Use the reference links below to follow along in the Bible as you watch.

References:
Leviticus 26:3-6, 36-40
Job 11:14
Isaiah 11:6; 17:2; 65:17, 24
Jeremiah 30:10, 12, 17; 46:27
Ezekiel 34:25
Hosea 2:18
Micah 4:1, 3-4
Zephaniah 3:13
Mark 5:2, 15
Revelation 7:17; 21
Isaiah 62:1; 65; 66:22
2 Corinthians 5:17
Galatians 6:15
2 Peter 3:9, 11-13
Revelation 2:17; 3:12

1005. That 'requiring your blood with your souls' means that violence done to charity will punish itself, 'blood' meaning violence, and 'souls' people who do violence, is clear from what comes before and after, and also from the meaning of 'blood' in the contrary sense, as well as from the meaning of 'soul' in the contrary sense. First from what comes before in the previous verse referring to the eating of blood, which, as shown, meant profanation, and from what comes after in the next verse referring to the shedding of blood, it is consequently clear that the subject here is the state and the punishment of one who mixes holy things with unholy. It is further clear from the meaning of 'blood' in the contrary sense, in that 'blood' in the genuine sense means that which is celestial and in reference to a regenerate spiritual person means charity - which constitutes the celestial in his case - but in the contrary sense means violence done to charity, and therefore that which is contrary to charity, namely all hatred, all revenge, all cruelty, and especially profanation, as becomes clear from the places in the Word that are quoted in 374, 376. Finally it is clear from the meaning of 'soul' in the contrary sense, in that in the Word 'soul' means life, in general, and so everybody who lives, but also means, since a person's life is by nature what he himself is, any individual who does violence. This may be confirmed from many parts of the Word, but for the moment let solely the following from Moses do so,

He who eats blood, I will set My face ¹ against the soul eating blood, and I will cut him off from among his people, for the soul of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it upon the altar, to make atonement for your souls, for the blood itself will make atonement by reason of the soul. Leviticus 17:10-11, 14.

Here 'soul' stands for life in three different senses, as it does many times elsewhere. The fact that violence done to charity will punish itself will be clear from what follows.

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