What the Bible says...
Summaries and References
The series of articles on What the Bible Says is useful as
an introduction to some of the basic teachings of the Bible. These
articles are designed for people who see the Bible as a source of
truth. If you are skeptical about the teachings of the Bible, this
may not be the place for you to start. Some Christians believe that
everything in the Bible is literally true. They may be suspicious of
the New Church approach to the Bible, which involves looking for
hidden, spiritual meanings. In this series of pamphlets, I have
explained many key New Church teachings using the literal meaning of
the Bible as my only authority. My hope is that Christians who have
placed their trust in the plain teachings of God's revelation will be
able to see the truth there while retaining their trust in God's
Word.
Each of the articles in the series addresses at least one key New
Church teaching that is in conflict with an "orthodox"
Christian view. The list below shows the main point of each article
and an orthodox dogma it exposes. In addition, I have included
some introductory references for those who want to read what
New Church teachings says on each subject.
Note: The links to New Church teachings in this document will
open a new window in the Kempton Project web site, which contains all
Swedenborg's Theological Writings. Where a series of passages is
referenced, the hyperlink will take you to the first passage in the
series. You will be able to continue reading by pressing the button
for the next number at the top of the reading window. To return
here, return to this window, which should remain open.
- Orthodox Dogma: If you just
believe, God will overlook all your sins. God punishes unbelievers,
even if they are caring, good people.
- What the Bible actually says: God's mercy
involves helping us become better people. God is willing to forgive
everyone, and is more concerned how we live than with what we
believe.
- References from New Church teachings: Heavenly
Secrets 8393, 9443-9454,
True
Christian Religion 611-614
- Orthodox Dogma: God is Three
Persons. Jesus is Son of God, a separate Person from the Father.
- What the Bible actually says: God is One
Person: Jesus Christ. The Father is the Soul, the Son is the Body,
and the Holy Spirit is the Activity of the One Divine Person.
- References from New Church teachings: True
Christian Religion 81-133, Doctrine
of the Lord 29-36, 45-46,
55-60,
- Orthodox Dogma: Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God the Father in heaven.
- What the Bible actually says: The Father is in Jesus, not beside Him. Sitting "at the right hand" means having all the power of God.
- References from New Church teachings: True
Christian Religion 136, Apocalypse Explained 298.
- Orthodox Dogma: The Holy Spirit is
the Third Person in the Trinity.
- What the Bible actually says: The Holy Spirit
is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. It is the regenerating and
enlightening influence of Jesus Christ, not of some third person.
- References from New Church teachings: True
Christian Religion 138
- Orthodox Dogma: We are saved
instantly just by believing that Jesus died for our sins. We don't
need to put any effort into our salvation.
- What the Bible actually says: Faith alone is
not enough. We must actively resist evil, while acknowledging that
the effort to resist comes from God.
- References from New Church teachings: Doctrine
of Life 92-107, True
Christian Religion 596-600
- Orthodox Dogma: We are saved
instantly as soon as we believe in Jesus, without effort or good
works.
- What the Bible actually says: Regeneration is a
gradual process taking many years, involving effort, love, good
works.
- References from New Church teachings: Heavenly
Secrets 4063, True
Christian Religion 601-614.
- Orthodox Dogma: Celibacy is better
than marriage.
- What the Bible actually says: Marriage love is
heavenly, spiritual, holy, pure and clean.
- References from New Church teachings: Married
Love 155-156
- Orthodox Dogma: There is no
marriage after death.
- What the Bible actually says: Genuine marriage
is spiritual and lasts forever.
- References from New Church teachings: Married
Love 27-54, Heaven
and Hell 366-386
- Orthodox Dogma: The husband is the
head of the wife.
- What the Bible actually says: Husband and wife
are equals before God.
- References from New Church teachings: Married
Love 125-127
- Orthodox Dogma: Heaven is a place
of praise and relaxation.
- What the Bible actually says: Heaven is a place
of usefulness.
- References from New Church teachings: Married
Love 207, Heaven
and Hell 387-394
- Orthodox Dogma: The world was created in six days.
- What the Bible actually says: The Bible explains how we become a new creation of God
- References from New Church teachings: Heavenly Secrets Chapter 1.
- Orthodox Dogma: Adam and Eve were actual people.
- What the Bible actually says: Adam and Eve were symbols of the Lord and His Church.
- References from New Church teachings: Heavenly Secrets Chapters 1-3.
- Orthodox Dogma: The books that belong in the Bible was properly determined by men sitting in councils many centuries after Christ.
- What the Bible actually says: The books that belong in the Bible are determined by the fact that each book of God's Word contains God's words to us in the literal meaning and contains truths about the Lord Jesus Chirst and His kingdom in the deeper meaning.
- References from New Church teachings: Heavenly
Secrets 10325.
- Orthodox Dogma: Blood means death;
Jesus saved us by dying a bloody death.
- What the Bible actually says: Blood means Life
and Truth; Jesus saves us by giving us life and truth.
- References from New Church teachings: True
Christian Religion 132, Heavenly
Secrets 9127
- Orthodox Dogma: God punishes
people, bad things are a result of His will.
- What the Bible actually says: The Lord wills
only good, but permits bad things for the sake of our freedom.
- References from New Church teachings: Divine
Providence 275-284
- Orthodox Dogma: Repentance is feeling convicted that one is a sinner, and believing that Jesus' death takes away all punishment for sin.
- What the Bible actually says: Repentance involves knowing what sin is, examining oneself, confessing or acknowledging one's sins, asking the Lord for help, resisting the sin and living a new life.
- References from New Church teachings: True Christian Religion 502-566.
- Orthodox Dogma: Angels are a
superior race, created before humans
- What the Bible actually says: Angels are people
who have died and gone to heaven.
- References from New Church teachings: Heaven
and Hell 311-317
- Orthodox Dogma: God the Father is
angry with sinners and condemns them to hell.
- What the Bible actually says: God is always
loving and merciful--the anger is just an appearance.
- References from New Church teachings: Brief
Exposition 60-63, Heavenly
Secrets 588, 1093,
2447.
- Orthodox Dogma: This planet will be
destroyed by wars and disasters, and Jesus will appear in the clouds
to save the true believers.
- What the Bible actually says: Jesus comes as
the Spirit of Truth, bringing about spiritual change.
- References from New Church teachings: True
Christian Religion 753-791.
- Orthodox Dogma: True believers will
be caught up in the air when Jesus comes.
- What the Bible actually says: Jesus' coming
will elevate our minds to a higher level, not our bodies.
- References from New Church teachings: True
Christian Religion 753-791.
- Orthodox Dogma: After death a person will remain asleep in the ground until the end of the world, when the body will rise.
- What the Bible actually says: We rise into the spiritual world immediately after death, and never assume our earthly bodies again.
- References from New Church teachings: Heaven
and Hell 453-460, Last
Judgment 14-27.
- Orthodox Dogma: Satan was created
as an angel, then rebelled.
- What the Bible actually says: Satan is all of
the people in hell working as a unit.
- References from New Church teachings: Heaven
and Hell 311-317.