AC 2979 - The Regeneration of the Spiritual Person

AC 2979 [2-3]

With the regeneration of the spiritual man
the case is this:
He is first instructed in the truths of faith,
and then he is held by the Lord in the affection of truth.
The good of faith, which is charity toward the neighbor,
is at the same time instilled into him,
but in such a way that he is scarcely aware of it;
for it lies hidden in the affection of truth,
and this to the end
that the truth which is of faith
may be conjoined with the good which is of charity.
As time goes on,
the affection of truth which is of faith increases,
and truth is regarded for the sake of its end,
that is, for the sake of good,
or what is the same, for the sake of the life,
and this more and more.
Thus is truth instilled into good,
and when this takes place
the man absorbs into himself the good of life
according to the truth that has been instilled;
and so he acts or seems to himself
to act from good.
Previous to this time,
the truth of faith was principal,
but afterwards the good of life becomes so.

When this is the case the man is regenerate;
but he is regenerate according to
the quality and the amount of the truth
that has been instilled in good;
and when truth and good act as one,
he is regenerate according to
the quality and the amount of the good:
such is the case with all regeneration.
Regeneration is effected to the end
that man may be received into heaven.
Heaven is nothing else
than the marriage of truth and good,
and of good and truth . . ..