Let me know if you get an answer.
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Posted on 01/05/2012 5:10:45 AM PST by DaveMSmith
An exploration of Isaiah 53, John 1; 16:26, and 17:5, 24 from a Swedenborgian perspective. The key to it all is to see that Jesus is not a separate person; He IS "the arm of Jehovah." -- 90 minute study of Scripture
The Lord wants us to approach Him out of love. We become more perfect and have freedom in our faith when we realize all goodness and truth flows from Him -- we are not the source of it. We all have uses in the spiritual world.
Swedenborg talks about visiting those of the Most Ancient Church of Adam -- it's fascinating.
Interesting.
But let me ask again: Did the concept of “community” exist prior to creation?
I don’t have an answer. Before creation was the un-created and infinite Lord — from eternity. You are asking a question about before the beginning which was without form and void.
" The natural man can hardly apprehend spiritual things, consequently those things which are of heaven. Who of this character can comprehend that spaces and times are not given in heaven, but instead thereof states? Would not the merely natural man believe that there must be mere emptiness and nothingness where there is not time and space? Hence it is evident, if the natural man concludes with himself that nothing is to be believed but what he apprehends, that in such case he casts himself into enormous errors. As it is with spaces and times, so also it is in many other things; as, for example, the natural man must needs fall into fantastic thought concerning the Divine, when he thinks from time, what the Divine had done before the creation of the world, that is, what He had done from eternity till then; nor can he be extricated from this labyrinth, until the ideas of time and space are removed; the angels, when they think of this eternity, never think of it from time, but from state. In the other life there appear two statues, partly of flesh and partly of stone, placed in the boundary of the created universe in front towards the left, and it is said of them, that they swallow up those who think of the Divine what He had done from eternity before He created the world; the swallowing up represents, that man, inasmuch as he cannot think but from space and time, cannot extricate himself thence of himself, but from the Divine, which is effected either by the dissipation of that thought, or by the removal of the ideas of time." (Secrets of Heaven 8325.)
But you have to have some sort of answer.
In comment #32, you wrote that “we are in God’s image.”
So my question is: In what sense? You must have some sense of what God “looked like” prior to creating us if you find some meaning in our having been created in His image.
I’d argue that among other ways that we reflect his image, we value community, just as He does (and always has).
Ancient Israel believed in an invisible God, which would be correct. When Moses was on mount Sinai, in Scripture it reads God addressed him then Jehovah. There are Bible commentators that believe that this is a result of two different authors!
I don't have an answer! As posted, Swedenborg warns of grave errors for all that go there. I mind his advice.
i don't follow you. God does become visible in some forms in the OT -- the burning bush, etc.
Why are labels important?
Where's the courtesy pint to theo?
Why are labels important?
Where's the courtesy PING to theo?
Anybody who disagrees with any Catholic on anything gets the label of *heretic* slapped on them to the point where it's meaningless.
Jesus is fully God and fully man.... the exact representation. John 8:24 .... for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. John 13:19 ....From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. John 8:58 .... Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”
Jesus is fully God and fully man.... the exact representation. John 8:24 .... for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. John 13:19 ....From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. John 8:58 .... Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”
Let me know if you get an answer.
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Here, in case you ever want to use it......
As if claiming that knowing Christ isn’t needed for salvation isn’t heresy.
“Jesus' teaching on the separation of the sheep from the goats is based on the works that were done during their lives, not just on their acceptance of Christ as Savior. In fact, this teaching even demonstrates that those who are ultimately saved do not necessarily have to know Christ.” [http://www.scripturecatholic.com/salvation.html#salvation-I] I would contend that is the ultimate heresy.
A works based salvation if ever there was one.
Radio Replies Second Volume - The Holy Trinity
The Blessed Trinity {Ecumenical}
A Mystery for Eternity (Reflection on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity)
On the Trinity (Angelus Address from 5/30/2010)
Mystery of the Trinity
The Trinity: More Than Just Doctrine
Origen on the Trinity: A Man Ahead of His Time
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Radio Replies First Volume - The Holy Trinity
‘We live to love and be loved,’ teaches Pope while reflecting on Trinity (absolutely beautiful!)
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Catholic Doctrine on the Holy Trinity
The Most Holy Trinity
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The Holy Trinity (excerpt from the Light of Faith by St. Thomas Aquinas)
The Concept of the Most Holy Trinity - The Relationship between the Three Persons in One God
A Brief Catechism for Adults - Lesson 3: God and the Holy Trinity
Sheed on the Trinity (Catholic Caucus)
The Father as the Source of the Whole Trinity - Greek and Latin Traditions About the Filioque
Trinity Facts
The Real Trinity
We believe in one only God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Brief Reflections on the Trinity, the Canon of Scripture, and the Protestant idea of Sola Scriptura
Why Do We Believe in the Trinity?
The Holy Trinity
Trinity Sunday (and the Trinity season)
Trinitarian Mystery
HaSheeloosh HaKadosh: The Holy Trinity
MARY’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TRINITY
The Divine Trinity
You would be a heretic to Catholic teaching not necessarily a heretic in regards to certain central Christian teachings. For example it is a heresy for a Catholic to believe that the Virgin Mary had other children it is a heresy for all Christians to believe Mary was not a Virgin when she conceived and bore Jesus Christ.
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