Comments for The Swedenborg Project http://swedenborgproject.org A 501(c)(3) Christian Non-Profit Corporation Dedicated to the Teachings of the First and Second Advents of Jesus Christ Wed, 14 May 2008 07:07:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on How Important is a Relationship with Jesus? by Kurt http://swedenborgproject.org/2007/12/26/how-important-is-a-relationship-with-jesus/#comment-4035 Kurt Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:21:01 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2007/12/26/how-important-is-a-relationship-with-jesus/#comment-4035 Hi Sandi, I think you have answered your own question: “This process itself is NOT sudden, but the beginning of the process is.” God is, as you note, mercy itself, and doesn’t yank our chain, but lets us develop spiritually at our own speed. As far as the thief on the cross, my assumption is that he had laid all the groundwork, in effect done all the conversion, before he came to the cross and his experience there was like the Gestalt “aha,” when everything all of a sudden falls into place and you see what you had not before. But, again, this isn’t as sudden as it may appear, but just the final step of a long-in-preparation process. I think there is a big difference between that and someone who was never interested in salvation until suddenly being confronted with death. However, I also think that since we can’t really see the inner workings of another person, we have no legitimate basis for judging their spiritual state (and are told in the teachings of the Second Coming not to try). Which has always made sense to me when I think about how hard it often is to know and judge our own motives! Hi Sandi,

I think you have answered your own question: “This process itself is NOT sudden, but the beginning of the process is.” God is, as you note, mercy itself, and doesn’t yank our chain, but lets us develop spiritually at our own speed. As far as the thief on the cross, my assumption is that he had laid all the groundwork, in effect done all the conversion, before he came to the cross and his experience there was like the Gestalt “aha,” when everything all of a sudden falls into place and you see what you had not before. But, again, this isn’t as sudden as it may appear, but just the final step of a long-in-preparation process. I think there is a big difference between that and someone who was never interested in salvation until suddenly being confronted with death. However, I also think that since we can’t really see the inner workings of another person, we have no legitimate basis for judging their spiritual state (and are told in the teachings of the Second Coming not to try). Which has always made sense to me when I think about how hard it often is to know and judge our own motives!

]]> Comment on How Important is a Relationship with Jesus? by Kurt http://swedenborgproject.org/2007/12/26/how-important-is-a-relationship-with-jesus/#comment-4034 Kurt Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:24:56 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2007/12/26/how-important-is-a-relationship-with-jesus/#comment-4034 Hi Lane, To quote Swedenborg's True Christian Religion "God is love itself and wisdom itself, and these two constitute His Essence" (n 37) and "It is the essence of love to love others outside of oneself, to desire to be one with them, and to render them blessed from oneself" (n. 43-45). My understanding, then, would be that God literally can't help Himself (not that He wants to!) - He by definition of Who He is loves everyone. So He not only loves everyone here now, but all the people that will ever exist. Hi Lane,

To quote Swedenborg’s True Christian Religion “God is love itself and wisdom itself, and these two constitute His Essence” (n 37) and “It is the essence of love to love others outside of oneself, to desire to be one with them, and to render them blessed from oneself” (n. 43-45). My understanding, then, would be that God literally can’t help Himself (not that He wants to!) - He by definition of Who He is loves everyone. So He not only loves everyone here now, but all the people that will ever exist.

]]> Comment on How Important is a Relationship with Jesus? by Sandi http://swedenborgproject.org/2007/12/26/how-important-is-a-relationship-with-jesus/#comment-4032 Sandi Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:49:59 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2007/12/26/how-important-is-a-relationship-with-jesus/#comment-4032 I have a problem with Swedenborg's denial of sudden (and deathbed) salvations. Surely, Jesus' own promise to the theif dying on the cross next to him (that they will be together in Paradise that very day) is proof that salvation can be sudden. The thief was converted during his execution! Also Paul's reply to the jailer who asked how he could be saved ("believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved") imlies sudden conversion. Paul did not say "believe and live a good life and you might be saved" but "believe .. and you WILL be saved". None of us can be good enough to be saved on our own merit, but with the right relationship with Jesus (accepting his Lordship) we are counted right with God and we begin to change by inward union with Jesus. This process itself is NOT sudden, but the beginning of the process is. It will not be complete until Heaven. It is a measure of God's mercy that a criminal who repents and accepts Jesus at death is still counted worthy of Heaven. To deny this is to retain God's justice but deny his mercy. That mercy and justice are balanced in the nature of God and in his dealings with us is what the atoning death of Jesus is all about. I have a problem with Swedenborg’s denial of sudden (and deathbed) salvations. Surely, Jesus’ own promise to the theif dying on the cross next to him (that they will be together in Paradise that very day) is proof that salvation can be sudden. The thief was converted during his execution! Also Paul’s reply to the jailer who asked how he could be saved (”believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”) imlies sudden conversion. Paul did not say “believe and live a good life and you might be saved” but “believe .. and you WILL be saved”. None of us can be good enough to be saved on our own merit, but with the right relationship with Jesus (accepting his Lordship) we are counted right with God and we begin to change by inward union with Jesus. This process itself is NOT sudden, but the beginning of the process is. It will not be complete until Heaven. It is a measure of God’s mercy that a criminal who repents and accepts Jesus at death is still counted worthy of Heaven. To deny this is to retain God’s justice but deny his mercy. That mercy and justice are balanced in the nature of God and in his dealings with us is what the atoning death of Jesus is all about.

]]> Comment on 9a. The Death Process by Simon http://swedenborgproject.org/2007/06/08/9a-the-death-process/#comment-2832 Simon Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:07:26 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2007/06/08/9a-the-death-process/#comment-2832 Alot of interesting text, thanks. Alot of interesting text, thanks.

]]> Comment on Why am I here? What is my life’s purpose? by Diane Geanuleas http://swedenborgproject.org/2007/07/04/why-am-i-here-what-is-my-life%e2%80%99s-purpose/#comment-2730 Diane Geanuleas Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:34:41 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2007/07/04/why-am-i-here-what-is-my-life%e2%80%99s-purpose/#comment-2730 Thank you for reminding me of the reason for my life. I suppose everyone goes through dry periods when the point of it all seems remote or absent. Lovely to realize that both you and the angels assigned to help out the folks here are fulfilling their purpose in helping when we get down and don't see a reason for living. Diane Geanuleas Thank you for reminding me of the reason for my life. I suppose everyone goes through dry periods when the point of it all seems remote or absent. Lovely to realize that both you and the angels assigned to help out the folks here are fulfilling their purpose in helping when we get down and don’t see a reason for living.

Diane Geanuleas

]]> Comment on Raised a Swedenborgian: A Personal Testimony by Kurt http://swedenborgproject.org/2008/02/18/raised-a-swedenborgian-a-personal-testimony/#comment-2723 Kurt Sat, 01 Mar 2008 10:13:37 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2008/02/18/raised-a-swedenborgian-a-personal-testimony/#comment-2723 A fascinating thought! A fascinating thought!

]]> Comment on Raised a Swedenborgian: A Personal Testimony by Jim http://swedenborgproject.org/2008/02/18/raised-a-swedenborgian-a-personal-testimony/#comment-2721 Jim Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:20:50 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2008/02/18/raised-a-swedenborgian-a-personal-testimony/#comment-2721 It's probably a disadvantage to be raised a Swedenborgian. Then, there is no opportunity to discover the writings. It’s probably a disadvantage to be raised a Swedenborgian. Then, there is no opportunity to discover the writings.

]]> Comment on How Important is a Relationship with Jesus? by Lane http://swedenborgproject.org/2007/12/26/how-important-is-a-relationship-with-jesus/#comment-2630 Lane Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:11:17 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2007/12/26/how-important-is-a-relationship-with-jesus/#comment-2630 Good post! But does God really want a relationship with everyone? Calvinists would say no, but what would you say? Good post! But does God really want a relationship with everyone? Calvinists would say no, but what would you say?

]]> Comment on Do We Need Church Organizations? by Mark J. Seydel http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/#comment-2603 Mark J. Seydel Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:31:22 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2006/11/19/do-we-need-church-organizations/#comment-2603 I'm glad I came across this article. I was not aware of something called "Swedenborgian” churches. Very interesting stuff. I’m glad I came across this article. I was not aware of something called “Swedenborgian” churches.

Very interesting stuff.

]]> Comment on Knowing Jesus, Loving Jesus by peter http://swedenborgproject.org/2007/04/08/knowing-jesus-loving-jesus/#comment-2453 peter Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:03:38 +0000 http://swedenborgproject.org/2007/04/08/knowing-jesus-loving-jesus/#comment-2453 Dear Ladies and Gentlemen: What happened to meditation as a way to Christ? Swedenborg was big on meditation!?! Peter Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

What happened to meditation as a way to Christ?

Swedenborg was big on meditation!?!

Peter

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