AC 2379, 2380 - Being in Heaven; Thinking Whether One Is Good

AC 2379

And brought Lot into the house to them.
(Genesis 19:10)

That this signifies that the Lord protects those
who are in the good of charity,
is evident from the representation of Lot
as being those who are in the good of charity;
and from the signification of
"bringing into the house to them," as being to protect.
To be "brought into the house"
denotes to be brought into good;
and they who are brought into good
are brought into heaven;
and they who are brought into heaven
are brought to the Lord;
consequently they are protected from all infestation
as to their souls.
That the man who is in good is as to his soul 
in society with angels,
and while living in the body is nevertheless in heaven
(although at the time he is not aware of this,
and is not able to perceive angelic joy
in consequence of being in corporeal things
and in a state of preparation).

AC 2380 [2, 4-5]

While a man remains in corporeal things,
he is in such a general
and obscure idea and perception
that he scarcely knows
whether he is in the good of charity or not;
and this for the additional reason
that he does not know what charity is,
and what the neighbor is.
But be it known who the persons in question are.
All those are in the good of charity
who have conscience
(that is, who are unwilling to depart in any degree
from what is just and fair, and good and true,
and this for the very sake of
what is just and fair, and good and true,
for this principle is from conscience),
and who from having conscience
think well of the neighbor and desire his welfare,
even should he be an enemy;
and this without any repayment to themselves.
These are those who are in the good of charity,
whether they be without the church
or within the church.
If within the church,
they adore the Lord,
and willingly hear and do
the things that He has taught. 

Be it known however
that some persons think they are not in good
when they are,
and some that they are in good
when they are not.
The reason why some think
they are not in good when they are,
is that when they reflect
upon the good in themselves,
it is at once insinuated by the angels
in whose society they are,
that they are not in good,
lest they should attribute the good to themselves,
and lest their thought should be turned
to their own merit,
and thereby
to the setting up of themselves above others.
Without this guardianship
they would fall into temptations.

As regards some supposing themselves
to be in good when they are not,
the cause of this is
that when they reflect upon it,
it is immediately insinuated
by the evil genii and spirits
in whose companionship they are,
that they are in good
(for the evil believe delight to be good),
and it is suggested that whatever good
they have done to others
for the sake of the love of self and of the world
is good that is to be repaid to them
even in the other life;
thus that they have merit above others,
whom they despise in comparison with themselves,
and indeed esteem them as of no account.
And, wonderful to say,
if they were to think differently
they would fall into temptations,
in which they would yield.