AC 2526, 2531 - Receiving the Lord

 AC 2526

. . . good is good from innocence;
and truth is truth from good;
and when these are in their order,
there is then all ability.

AC 2531 [3]

In the Lord's Word are Truths themselves;
but in its literal sense are truths
which are accommodated to the understanding
of those who are in external worship;
whereas in its internal sense are truths
accommodated to those who are internal men;
that is, to those who are angelic as to doctrine
and at the same time as to life.
Their rational is enlightened therefrom
to such a degree
that their enlightenment is compared
to the brightness of the stars and the sun
(Dan. 12:3; Matt. 13:43).
Consequently it is plain how important it is
that interior truths be known and received.
These truths may indeed be known,
but by no means received,
except by those who have love to the Lord,
or faith in Him;
for as the Lord is the Divine good,
so He is the Divine truth;
consequently He is doctrine itself,
since whatever is in the doctrine of true faith
looks to the Lord,
and looks also to the heavenly kingdom and the church,
and to all things
of the heavenly kingdom and the church.
But all these are His,
and are the intermediate ends through which
the last end, that is, the Lord, is regarded.

That the Lord is doctrine itself as to truth and good,
and thus that it is He who alone
is regarded in doctrine, He teaches John:

Jesus said, I am the way, the Truth, and the Life.
(John 14:6, 7)

where the "Way" is doctrine,
the "Truth" all that is of doctrine,
and the "Life" the good itself
which is the life of the truth.
And that love to Him or faith in Him is what receives,
He also teaches in John:

His own received Him not;
but as many as received Him,
to them gave He power to be the sons of God,
even to them that believe on His name
who were born,
not of bloods,
nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man,
but of God.
(John 1:11-13)

Those are "born of God"
who are in love and from that in faith.