March 16, 2019

THE HOLY SUPPER (pt. 3)

The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
Emanuel Swedenborg
Doctrinal Series
THE HOLY SUPPER
(pt. 3)


When man partakes of the bread, which is the body, he is conjoined to the Lord by the good of love to Him from Him; and when he partakes of the wine, which is the blood, he is conjoined to the Lord by the good of faith in Him from Him.

But it is to be known that the conjunction with the Lord by the Sacrament of the Supper, is effected with those alone who are in the good of love and faith in the Lord from the Lord. With these there is conjunction by the Holy Supper; with others there is presence, but not conjunction.
(The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 213)

March 15, 2019

THE HOLY SUPPER (pt. 2)

The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
Emanuel Swedenborg
Doctrinal Series
THE HOLY SUPPER
(pt. 2)


How conjunction is effected by [The Holy Supper] is not understood by those who do not know the internal or spiritual sense of the Word, since they do not think beyond the external sense, which is the sense of the letter.

It is known from the internal or spiritual sense of the Word, what is signified by the "body" and "blood," and by the "bread" and "wine"; and also what is signified by "eating."

In the spiritual sense,

• The Lord's "body" or "flesh," and the "bread," signifies the good of love.

• The Lord's "blood" and the "wine," the good of faith.

• "eating" is appropriation and conjunction.

The angels who are with the man who goes to the Sacrament of the Supper, understand those things in no other way, for they perceive all things spiritually.

Hence it is, that the holiness of love and the holiness of faith then flow into man from the angels, thus through heaven from the Lord, and hence conjunction is effected.
(The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 211-212)

March 14, 2019

THE HOLY SUPPER (pt. 1)

The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
Emanuel Swedenborg
Doctrinal Series
THE HOLY SUPPER
(pt. 1)



The Holy Supper was instituted by the Lord, that by it there may be conjunction of the church with heaven, thus with the Lord: therefore it is the most holy thing of worship.
(The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 210)

March 13, 2019

BAPTISM (pt. 6)

The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
Emanuel Swedenborg
Doctrinal Series
BAPTISM
(pt. 6)



Let those therefore who are baptized know, that baptism itself does not give faith nor salvation, but it testifies that they may receive faith and be saved, if they are regenerated.

Hence may be seen what is meant by the Lord's words in Mark:
He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned (16:16).
"He who believeth" is he who acknowledges the Lord, and receives Divine truths from Him through the Word; "he who is baptized" is he who is regenerated by the Lord by means of those truths.
(The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 207-208)

March 12, 2019

BAPTISM (pt. 5)

The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
Emanuel Swedenborg
Doctrinal Series
BAPTISM
(pt. 5)



Baptism was instituted to be a sign that a man is of the church, and as a memorial that he is to be regenerated; for the washing of baptism is nothing else than spiritual washing, which is regeneration.

All regeneration is effected by the Lord, through the truths of faith, and a life according to them.

Baptism therefore testifies that the man is of the church, and that he can be regenerated: for in the church the Lord is acknowledged, who alone regenerates, and there also is the Word, which contains the truths of faith, by which regeneration is effected.

This the Lord teaches in John:
Except a man be begotten of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (3:5).
"Water" in the spiritual sense is the truth of faith from the Word; "the spirit" is a life according to that truth; and "to be begotten" is to be regenerated thereby.

Since everyone who is regenerated also undergoes temptations, which are spiritual combats against evils and falsities, therefore by the water of baptism these also are signified.

As baptism is for a sign and memorial of these things, therefore, man may be baptized as an infant, and if not then, he may be baptized as an adult.
(The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 202-206)

March 11, 2019

BAPTISM (pt. 4)

The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
Emanuel Swedenborg
Doctrinal Series
BAPTISM
(pt. 4)



Since everyone who is regenerated also undergoes temptations, which are spiritual combats against evils and falsities, therefore by the water of baptism these also are signified.
(The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 205)

March 10, 2019

BAPTISM (pt. 3)

The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
Emanuel Swedenborg
Doctrinal Series
BAPTISM
(pt. 3)

The Lord teaches in John:
Except a man be begotten of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (3:5).
"Water" in the spiritual sense is the truth of faith from the Word; "the spirit" is a life according to that truth; and "to be begotten" is to be regenerated thereby.
(The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 204)