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Author
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Topic: New Here
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Caretaker
Advanced Member
Member # 36
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posted
http://www.watchman.org/profile/swedenborgpro.htm
Emanuel Swedenborg was born in Stockholm in 1688. Most of his life was dedicated to science. After being educated at the University of Uppsala,1 he was credited with inventions and theories in many areas of study. He designed mining machinery, a glider aircraft and an airtight stove. It is claimed that he "investigated every known science of his times" and "wrote over seventy treatises on subjects such as: 'fossils, earth's revolution;' and 'fire and colors.'"2
At the age of fifty-five, Swedenborg turned his life's efforts toward theology. He sought truth by way of meditations and "systematically opened his consciousness to inner influences."3 Through opening himself up in this manner, Swedenborg was contacted by a being who claimed to be Jesus Christ. He learned much about the spirit world through such spiritual encounters, laying the basis for Swedenborgian theology.
Salvation
Humanity's foremost problem before Jesus came was that humans lost the ability to do good. Christ's redemption restored humanity's ability "to shun evil, and to do the Lord's will in a life of holiness and righteousness."25 Since humanity now can overcome sin, they are obligated to do so. They must be "resisting and overcoming every inclination to evil, [then] he may lose his life of sin, and gain an eternal life of holiness."26 This process of shunning evil and following the Lord is the experience of being born again. It is not a one time event, but a process in which "the heart and mind become freed from evil affections and thoughts, and filled with holiness, purity, and love from the Lord."27
Humanity and Angels
The purpose for the creation of humanity is so they "may be prepared to become an angel, and thus be useful and happy in heaven for ever."28 Hence, an angel is merely a human being after death. Swedenborg arrived at this conclusion by having many conversations with angels.29 From these encounters, he discerned that they are exactly like humans, having "faces, eyes, ears, bodies, arms, hands, and feet, that they see and hear one another, and talk together, and in a word lack nothing whatever that belongs to men."30 The only difference is that angels do not have physical bodies. The identicalness of angels to humans even allows for men and women to continue to have marital love for each other after this life. Since marital love continues, there will be marriages in heaven.
Church
Swedenborg taught through correspondences that the New Jerusalem, spoken of in Revelation chapter 21, referred to a new church that was to be established on earth. Swedenborg started this new church with his own writings. This New Church was necessary because the churches in his day had become destitute. They were depicted in Revelation as false prophets, the dragon, the harlot, and the beasts. Since wickedness had perverted the Christian church, the truth needed to be reestablished. It was done so through the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg.
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I see great similarities between Swedenborg and Joseph Smith. Smith claimed spiritual truth through visits from the divine. Smith declared all churches to be apostate, and that ONLY through him could the spiritual truth be known. Smith claimed to have a visitation from both God the Father and God the Son at the same time.
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http://www.watchman.org/profile/swedenborgpro.htm
1. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are distinct persons in the Bible. This is obvious in many passages where two or more persons of the Godhead were present (when Jesus was baptized, the Father said from heaven that "this is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
2. Angels and humans are distinctly different beings in their essence.
3. Salvation is based on God's grace alone, not on our efforts.
4. There is no clear reason to accept Swedenborg's writings as revelatory. He discounts over half the Bible as from God based on his authority alone. There is no way to verify his claims on the lack of inspiration of these books, or the inspiration of his. His teachings are against what the Bible teaches, and what has been taught in Christianity through the ages. For him to enter the world's theological arena with a new theology based on his spiritual encounters with Jesus and many angels, he becomes subject to the tests of Deuteronomy 13:1-3, and he fails.
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A. The Scriptures
We believe that the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the
inspired Word of God and are therefore without error in the original writings.
We further believe that this inspiration is not in different degrees, but extends
equally and fully to all parts of the Bible: historical, poetical, doctrinal and
prophetical. We, therefore, believe in the absolute authority of the Bible in all
matters of faith and practice. John 10:35; II Timothy 3:16, 17; II Peter 1:21.
B. The True God
We believe in one living and true God who is the Creator of heaven and earth;
who is eternal, almighty, unchangeable, infinitely powerful, wise, just and
holy.
We believe that the one God eternally exists in three Persons: the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit; and that these three are one God, co-equal and
co-eternal, having precisely the same nature and attributes, and worthy of
precisely the same worship, confidence, and obedience. Matthew 3:16, 17;
Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3, 4; II Corinthians 13:14.
C. God the Father
We believe in God the Father, Creator and Sustainer of all things, perfect in
holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself
mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; that He
sent His Son into the world; that He saves from sin and death all who come
to Him through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Genesis 1:1; Psalms 7:9;
Matthew 5:48; John 3:16; Acts 13:17-25; Acts 14:15-17; Acts 17:24-28.
D. The Person and Work of Jesus Christ
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, that He was conceived of the Holy
Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and is fully God and fully
Man. We believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be sin, and made a curse for
us, dying in our place that we might be forgiven. We believe that He died not
only for our sins, but also for the sins of the entire world. We believe that He
was raised from the dead in bodily form and that He ascended into heaven,
where He sits at the right hand of God the Father interceding for us.
We believe in the personal, bodily, imminent and pre-millennial return of our
Lord Jesus Christ for His Church and His subsequent millennial reign over
restored Israel and the kingdoms of the world. Luke 1:30-35; 2:7; John 1:1-4;
Romans 9-11; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-19; Hebrews 1:1-3; I Peter
3:18; I Corinthians 15:3-7; Hebrews 7:25; Acts 1:11, 15:14-17; I
Thessalonians 4:13-18; I John 2:2.
E. The Holy Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit is not merely an influence, but a divine Person;
that He is the source and power of all acceptable worship and service and is
our abiding Counselor and Helper. We believe that the baptism of the Holy
Spirit occurs at the moment of conversion and is that act whereby believers
are united with Christ as part of His body; that the Holy Spirit permanently
indwells all believers in Christ; that He will never depart from the Church nor
from the weakest believer; that by His indwelling the believer is enabled to
live a godly life. John 14:16,17; 16:13-15; Acts 1:8; 5:3,4; Romans 8:9; I
Corinthians 6:19; 12:13; Galatians 5:22,23.
F. The Fall of Man
We believe that man, although created as an innocent being in the image of
God, fell from his high and holy estate through Adam's act of disobedience. As
a result, sin entered the human race, leaving mankind subject to the wrath of
God, spiritually dead, inherently corrupt, and incapable of pleasing God apart
from a work of divine grace. Thus all men are hopelessly lost apart from the
salvation which is in the Lord Jesus Christ. Genesis 1:27; 3:6-24; Romans
5:12, 19; Ephesians 2:13; Romans 3:8-18.
G. The Way of Salvation
We believe that, due to universal death through sin, no one can enter the
kingdom of God unless born again; that salvation is only by grace through
faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and that all who receive the Lord
Jesus Christ through faith are declared righteous by God and thereby become
children of God.
We believe the Scriptures teach that regeneration, or the new birth, is that
act of God by which the Holy Spirit imparts a new nature and a new spiritual
life, not before possessed, and the person becomes a new creation in Christ
Jesus. The mind is given a holy disposition and a new desire to serve God, the
dominion of sin broken, and the heart transformed from a love of sin and self
to a love of holiness and God.
As the believer walks in the power of the Holy Spirit, these new realities
become evident in a life characterized by holiness, compassion and zeal.
Ephesians 2:1-10; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Hebrews 9:22; John 3:1-18; II
Corinthians 5:17; I Peter 1:18, 19.
H. The Church
We believe the true Church of Jesus Christ had its historical beginning at
Pentecost, that it is composed of all true believers in Jesus Christ, is the body
and bride of our Lord, and is distinct from Israel.
We believe that since there is spiritual unity of all believers in Jesus Christ, it
is our duty to love one another fervently, endeavoring at all times to keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
We believe that the purpose of the church in the world is to glorify God
through worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of the ordinances,
fellowship, the exercise of our gifts and talents, and the proclamation of the
gospel both in our community and throughout the world. Acts 2:1, 41-47;
Romans 12:5; I Corinthians 12:12, 13; I Corinthians 10:32; Ephesians 1:22,
23; 4:3-6; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 3:14-15.
I. The Ordinances
We believe the ordinances of the Church are two in number and constitute a
scriptural means of public testimony for the church in this age. One is that of
believer’s baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and the
other is the Lord’s Supper. Matthew 26:27-30; I Corinthians 11:23-30;
Matthew 28:19; Acts 16:30-33.
J. The Security of the Believer
We believe that those who have by faith trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior are eternally secure and can never lose their salvation. We further
believe it is the privilege of all believers to be assured of their salvation; that
this assurance rests not in themselves, but in the promises of God; that the
Scriptures teach that such as are truly regenerate, being born of the Spirit,
will not utterly fall away and finally perish, but are kept by the power of God
unto the day of salvation. We also believe that the doctrine of eternal
security should lead to a life of love, gratitude and obedience to God. John
6:39; 10:27-29; Philippians 1:6; I Peter 1:3-5; I John 2:19; Romans 11:29.
K. Sanctification
We believe the Scriptures teach that sanctification is the means by which,
according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness and that,
as we practice our faith and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, the fruit of
the Spirit is manifested in our lives. Galatians 5:22, 23; Colossians 3:8-12; II
Corinthians 3:18; John 17:17; I Peter 3:18; I Thessalonians 3:12, 13;
Ephesians 5:26; I Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 10:25.
L. Future Reward and Punishment
We believe that at the moment of death, believers pass immediately into the
presence of Christ and remain there in joyful fellowship with Him until the
resurrection of the body at His second coming, after which they will be
forever with the Lord in glory. We also believe that at the moment of death,
the unsaved descend to Hell where they are kept under punishment until their
bodies are raised at the final judgment, after which they will suffer everlasting
conscious punishment separated from the presence of the Lord. Acts 17:31;
Matthew 25:31-46; II Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; Revelation 20:11-15;
John 14:1-3; 3:16; II Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 21:1-5.
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A Servant of Christ,
Drew
1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..
Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002
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Harry
New Member
Member # 1510
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by helpforhomeschoolers:
Well Harry:
Welcome to the board, but you should know that we here believe that we are the church and our theology is based on the writings of God in the Holy Bible; and we believe that HE (JESUS CHRIST) IS coming again in PERSON!
This was written by Swedenborg
I foresee that many who read the Memorable Relations annexed to the chapters in this work will believe them to be inventions of the imagination.
But I affirm in truth that they are not inventions, but were truly seen and heard; not seen and heard in any sleeping state of mind, but in a state of full wakefulness.
For it has pleased the Lord to manifest Himself to me, and to send me to teach those things which will belong to His New Church, which is meant by "the New Jerusalem" in the Apocalypse.
For this purpose He has opened the interiors of my mind or spirit, whereby I have been permitted to be in the spiritual world with angels, and at the same time in the natural world with men, and this now during twenty-seven years.
Harry ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Posts: 6 | Registered: May 2003
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helpforhomeschoolers
Advanced Member
Member # 15
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posted
Well Harry:
Welcome to the board, but you should know that we here believe that we are the church and our theology is based on the writings of God in the Holy Bible; and we believe that HE (JESUS CHRIST) IS coming again in PERSON!
Posts: 4684 | From: Southern Black Hills of South Dakota | Registered: Jun 2002
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Harry
New Member
Member # 1510
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posted
Hello,
My name is Harry. I am new here.I am a member of the New Church. My church's doctrine is base on the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg.I hope the name Swedenborg doesn't upset people here.
1688 Born in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 29.
1699-1709 Attended Uppsala University.
1710-1715 First journey abroad, to England and the Continent.
1716 First publications by Swedenborg in the magazine Daedalus.
1716 Appointed Assessor in the Royal College of Mines.
1718 Ennoblement of Swedberg family with name changed to Swedenborg. Assumption by Swedenborg of seat in House of Nobles of Swedish Diet.
1720 Publication of Swedenborg's first book, a philosophic work titled Principles of Chemistry.
1729-1734 Writing and publication of his most important philosophical works in three volumes, titled Philosophical and Mineralogical Works.
1735-1744 Period of intensive study, writing, and publication on the nature of human existence, particularly as regards the concept of the soul.
1743-1744 First transcendent experiences, visions or dreams, in Holland and England.
1745 "Call" to become a revelator, London, England.
1747 Resignation from the Swedish Board of Mines to allow time for theological writing.
1747-1758 Writing and publication of the twelve-volume Arcana Coelestia, Swedenborg's first major theological work.
1759-1761 Incidents of the Stockholm fire, the Dutch ambassador's receipt, and the Queen's secret illustrating Swedenborg's clairvoyance.
1769-1771 Heresy trial at Gothenburg, Sweden, involving state church accusations against Swedenborg's theology.
1771-1772 Publication of the two-volume True Christian Religion in Amsterdam, Holland, his last major theological work.
1772 Death in London, England, at age 84, on March 29.
Harry
Posts: 6 | Registered: May 2003
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