Ac 1712 - As If of Ourselves

AC 1712 [2, 3]

. . . if people confirm themselves in the belief
that they can do good and resist evil
by their own powers,
and that they thus merit salvation,
in this case this idea remains attached,
and causes the good to be evil,
and the truth to be falsity.
But still it is according to order
for a person to do good as of himself;
and therefore he ought not to slacken his hand,
with the thought,
"If I can do nothing of good from myself,
I ought to wait for immediate influx,"
and thus remain in a passive state,
for this would be contrary to order;
but he must do good as of himself;
yet, when he reflects
upon the good which he does or has done,
let him think, acknowledge, and believe
that the Lord has done the work in him.

It is thus an eternal truth
that a person does not live from himself,
but that if he did not appear to live from himself
he could not live at all.