9241. But the situation with assurance and confidence, as faith itself is called, is that people ruled by self-love and love of the world, that is, by evils and the falsities that arise from them, cannot possess that faith since their heart is not turned towards God, but towards self and the world. But those governed by charity towards the neighbour and love to the Lord can possess such faith since their heart is turned towards the Lord. This is also what the Lord teaches in John,

As many as received Him, to them He gave power to be sons of God, to those believing in His name, who were born, not of blood ¹ , nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man (vir), but of God. John 1:12-13.

'People born of blood, the will of the flesh, and the will of man' are those who are ruled by evil and falsity that spring from self-love and love of the world; and 'people born of God' are those who are governed by the good of charity and faith that come from the Lord, see 5826.

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