1. THE FAITH OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW CHURCH

A statement of faith, set out in both universal and particular terms, is placed at the beginning to serve as a preface to the book which follows, to be like a doorway leading into a church, and a summary presenting in a short compass what follows at more length. It is called the faith of the new heaven and the new church, because heaven, where the angels are, and the church among men form a single unit, just as the internal and external sides of the personality make up a single individual. This is why a member of the church who possesses the good of love which arises from the truths of faith, and possesses the truths of faith which arise from the good of love, is, so far as the interiors of his mind are concerned, an angel of heaven. Therefore too after dying he comes into heaven, and there enjoys happiness depending upon how far the good and truth are linked. It should be known that in the new heaven, which is at the present time being established by the Lord, this statement of faith serves as its preface, doorway and summary.

368. VII. The Lord is charity and faith in the person, and the person is charity and faith in the Lord.

It is evident from the following passages in the Word that a member of the church is in the Lord, and the Lord is in him:

Jesus said, Remain in me, and I in you. I am the vine and you are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, bears much fruit, John 15:4-5.

He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him, John 6:56.

On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you, John 14:20.

If anyone shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God. 1 John 4:15.

But the person cannot himself be in the Lord; it is the charity and faith which the Lord grants to be in a person which can, and it is these which make a human being to be essentially human. However, to throw some light upon this secret and allow the understanding to grasp it, we must study it in the following order.

(i) It is being linked with God, which affords a person salvation and everlasting life.

(ii) A link is impossible with God the Father, but it is possible with the Lord, and through Him with God the Father.

(iii) The link with the Lord is reciprocal, so that the Lord is in the person, and he is in the Lord.

(iv) This reciprocal link is created by means of charity and faith.

The truth of these propositions will become plain from the succeeding explanation.