Doc. of Life (Dick) n. 2

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2. Every one who reads the Word perceives that religion has relation to life, and that the life of religion is to do good; and while he reads he acknowledges this. In the Word are the following passages:

Whosoever ... shall break the least of these commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever doeth and teacheth them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

I say unto you, except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt. v 19, 20.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matt. vii 19, 20.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matt. vii 21.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? . . . and in thy name done many wonderful works? But then will I profess unto them, I never knew you depart from me, ye that work iniquity.... Matt. vii 22, 23.

Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock.... But every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. Matt. vii 24, 26.

Jesus said, A sower went forth to sow ... some seed fell on the hard way-side. . . some upon stony places ... some among thorns ... and some on to good ground.... He that was sown on good ground is he that heareth the Word and giveth heed to it; who thereupon beareth fruit and bringeth forth, one a hundred fold, another sixty fold, and another thirty fold. When Jesus had said these words He called out, saying, Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Matt. xiii 3-9, 23.

The Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father . . . and then He shall reward every man according to his works. Matt. xvi 27.

The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Matt. xxi 43. When the Son of Man shall come in His glory ... then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory ... And He shall say to the sheep on His right hand, Come, ye blessed ... inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me to eat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer Him, When saw we thee so? But the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily, I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me. Then shall the king speak in like manner to the goats on His left hand;

And because they have not done such things, He shall say, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Matt. xxv 31-46.

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance ... And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Luke iii 8, 9. Jesus said, Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Every one that cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them ... is like a man who built a house, and laid the foundation on a rock ... But he that heareth, and doeth not is like a man, that without a foundation built an house upon the earth. Luke vi 46-49.

Jesus said, My mother and my brethren are these who hear the Word of God, and do it. Luke viii 21.

Then shall ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord open unto us; but He shall answer and say to them, I know you not whence ye are... Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. Luke xiii 25, 27.

This is the judgment (A.V. condemnation), that light is come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil, hateth the light ... lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, since they are wrought in God. John iii 19-21.

And they that have done good shall come forth unto the resurrection [of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection] of judgment (A.V. damnation). John v 29.

We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth. John ix 31.

If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them. John xiii 17.

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me ... and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him ... And I will come unto him, and make my abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings. John xiv 21, 23, 24. Jesus said, I am the [true] vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit He will purge it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John xv 1, 2

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John xv 8.

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.... I have chosen you ... that ye should bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. John xv 14, 16.

The Lord said to John, Unto the angel of the Church of Ephesus write;

I know thy works ... I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Repent and do the first works; or else I will remove thy candlestick out of his place. Rev. ii 1, 2, 4, 5.

Unto the angel of the Church in Smyrna write; I know thy works. Rev. ii 8, 9.

To the angel of the Church in Pergamos write ... I know thy works ... Repent. Rev. ii 12, 13, 16.

Unto the angel of the Church in Thyatira write ... I know thy works, and charity . . . and thy later works to be more than the first. Rev. ii 18, 19.

Unto the angel of the Church in Sardis write ... I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, but art dead. I have not found thy works perfect before God ... Repent. Rev. iii 1, 2,3.

To the angel of the Church in Philadelphia write ... I know thy works. Rev. iii 7, 8.

Unto the angel of the Church of the Laodiceans write ... I know thy works . . . Repent. Rev. iii 14, 15, 19.

I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from, henceforth ... saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. Rev. xiv 13.

A book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged according to those things which were written in the book, all according to their works. Rev. xx 12.

Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every one according to his works. Rev. xxii 12.

It is likewise written in the Old Testament:

Recompense them according to their work, and according to the doing of their own hands. Jer. xxv 14.

...Jehovah, whose eyes are open upon all the ways of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Jer. xxxii 19. I will punish him according to his ways and reward him his works. Hosea iv 9.

Jehovah hath dealt with us according to our ways, and according to our works. Zech. i 6;

and in many places it is written that men should do the statutes, commandments and laws; as,

Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments; which if a man do, he shall live in them. Lev. xviii 5.

Ye shall observe all my statutes and my judgments, to do them. Lev. xix 37; xx 8; xxii 31.

Blessings are pronounced, if they do the commandments, and curses if they do them not. Lev. xxvi 4-46.

The Children of Israel were commanded to make to themselves a fringe on the borders of their garments ... that they should remember all the commandments of Jehovah to do them. Num. xv 38, 39

and in a thousand other places.

That works are what make a man of the Church, and that he is saved according to them, the Lord also teaches in parables; and many of these imply that they who do good are accepted, and they who do evil are rejected, as in the parable concerning

The husbandmen in the vineyard. Matt. xxi 33-44.

The fig-tree which did not yield fruit. Luke xiii 6-9.

The talents and pounds with which the servants were to trade. Matt. xxv 14-31; Luke xix 13-25.

The Samaritan who bound up the wounds of him that was wounded by robbers. Luke x 30-37. The rich man and Lazarus. Luke xvi 19-31.

The ten virgins. Matt. xxv 1-12.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

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