AC 4766 [1-2, 4]
And I, whither do I come?
(Genesis 37:30)
That this means Where now is the church
is evident from the representation of Reuben
as being the faith of the church in general;
and as Reuben says of himself,
"and I, whither do I come?"
it means "Where now is the faith of the church,"
or what is the same, "Where now is the church?"
That there is no church
where the heavenly Joseph is not
(that is, the Lord as to Divine truth,
specifically as to the Divine truth
that the Lord's Human is Divine,
and that charity is the essential of the church
and consequently the works of charity)
may be seen from what has been shown in this chapter
concerning both these truths.
If this Divine truth
that the Lord's Human is Divine
is not received,
it necessarily follows that a trine should be adored,
and not one;
and also that half of the Lord, namely, His Divine,
should be adored, but not His Human;
for who adores what is not Divine?
If also this Divine truth is not received
both in doctrine and in life --
that love toward the neighbor, or charity,
and consequently the works of charity,
are an essential of the church,
it necessarily follows
that it is of the church to think what is true,
but not to think what is good;
and thus that the thought of the people of the church
may be in contradiction and opposition to itself;
that is, may think what is evil
and at the same time may think what is true;
thus may by thinking evil be with the devil,
and by thinking truth be with the Lord;
when yet truth and evil do not at all agree, for
"No servant can serve two lords,
for either he will hate the one and love the other."
(Luke 16:13).
When faith separate establishes this,
and also confirms it in life,
no matter how it may speak of the fruits of faith,
where then is the church?
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
AC 4766 - Where Then Is the Church?
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