The Bible

 

Genesis 1:2

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2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Commentary

 

#163 Awakening in His Likeness

By Jonathan S. Rose

Title: Awakening in His Likeness

Topic: Salvation

Summary: We look at the image and likeness of God, and ponder whether there are ways to grow in that image and likeness.

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

References:
Genesis 1:26-27; 5:1-3
Psalms 18:25-26
2 Samuel 22:26
Matthew 5:8, 7
Genesis 1:26
Psalms 17:15, 1-15

Play Video
Spirit and Life Bible Study broadcast from 12/11/2013. The complete series is available at: www.spiritandlifebiblestudy.com

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Heaven and Hell #539

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539. All the power in the spiritual world belongs to benevolent truth and none whatsoever to malevolent falsity.

The reason all power belongs to what is good and true is that the essential divine nature in heaven is divine good and divine truth, and all power belongs to the Divine. Malevolent falsity has no power because all power belongs to benevolent truth, and there is no benevolent truth in malevolent falsity. This is why all the power is in heaven, and none in hell. Everyone in heaven is focused on what is true for the sake of the good, and everyone in hell is focused on what is false for the sake of what is evil. This is because no one is let into heaven until she or he is focused on what is true for the sake of good, and no one is cast into hell until she or he is focused on what is false for the sake of what is evil. In support of this, see the chapters where I dealt with our first, second, and third states after death (491-520); and on benevolent truth possessing power, see the chapter on the power of heaven's angels (228-233).

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for the permission to use this translation.