158、功德和公义唯独属于主（9715，9979节）。主的功德和公义在于祂凭自己的能力拯救人类（1813，2025，2026，2027，9715，9809，10019节）。主的公义和功德的良善就是在天堂掌权的良善，是祂的神性之爱的良善，就是祂拯救人类的能力的源头（9486，9979节）。没有人能凭自己成为公义，也没有人有权利声称自己是公义的（1813节）。那些在来世自称公义之人的性质（942，2027节）。在圣言中，主的公义和功德若归给人，这人就被称为“义”；人自己的公义和功德若归给他，这人就被称为“不义”（5069，9263节）。凡一旦从主获得公义的人就会不断从祂获得公义，因为公义从来不会变成人自己的，而是始终属于主（9263节）。那些相信教会关于唯信称义的教导之人对重生知之甚少（5398节）。
人越将一切良善和真理都归于主，不归于自己，就越有智慧（10227节）。由于真正为良善和真理的一切良善和真理都来自主，无一来自人，并且来自人的良善不是良善，所以可推知，功德不属于任何人，唯独属于主（9975，9981，9988节）。那些进入天堂的人脱去了自己的一切功德（4007节）。他们不会为自己所行的良善而思想回报（6478，9174节）。人越出于功德来思考，就越不承认一切都来自主的怜悯（6478，9174节）。那些出于功德来思考的人会思想回报和酬劳，因此，意愿功德就是意愿得到酬劳（5660，6392，9975节）。这些人不可能让天堂进入自己（1835，8478，9977节）。天堂的幸福在于对不以回报为目的而行善的情感（6388，6478，9174，9984节）。在来世，任何人不以回报为目的而行善到何等程度，幸福就在更大程度上从主流入他到何等程度；不过，一旦思想回报，这种幸福就立即消失（6478，9174节）。
不要以回报为目的而行善（6392，6478节）；对此的说明（9981节）。真正的仁爱完全不渴望任何功德（2371，2400，3887，6388-6393节）。原因在于，真正的仁爱来自爱，因而来自行善的快乐（3816，3887，6388，6478，9174，9984节）。在圣言中，“赏赐”表示在不以回报为目的而向他人行善的过程中所体验到的快乐和幸福，那些处于真正的仁爱之人就感受并觉察到这种快乐和幸福（3816，3956，6388节）。
那些为了回报而行善的人实际上爱自己，而不是爱邻舍（8002，9210节）。就圣言的灵义而言，“雇工”表示那些为了回报而行善的人（8002节）。那些为了回报而行善的人在来世想叫他人服侍他们，并且从不满足（6393节）。他们蔑视邻舍，向主自己发怒，因为他们没有得到赏赐或回报，声称他们配得赏赐（9976节）。在来世，那些将信与仁分离的人因他们的信和他们于外在形式上，因而为了他们自己所做的善行而想要功德（2371节）。关于那些将功德置于行为的人在来世的性质的详情（942，1774，1877，2027节）。在那里，他们住在低地，觉得自己似乎在劈柴（1110，4943，8740节）。因为木头，尤其皂荚木的具体含义就是为了回报所行的良善，即功德的良善（2784，2812，9472，9486，9715，10178节）。
在主的国中，那些为了回报而行良善的人就是仆人（6389，6390节）。那些将功德置于行为的人陷入试探（2273，9978节）。那些爱自己爱世界的人不知道什么叫行善却不思想回报（6392节）。
158、功德和正义只属于主（9715，9979）。主的功德和正义在于祂通过祂自己的能力拯救人类（1813，2025，2026，2027，9715，9809，10019）。属于主的正义和功德的善行是统治天堂的善行，属于主的正义和功德的善行是祂的神爱的善行，祂通过祂的神爱拯救人类（9486，9979）。没人能靠自己变得正义，也没有任何权力断言（1813）。那些声称他们自己公正的人在来世的特性（942，2027）。在圣言中，主的公正和功德被归于的人被称为“公正的”；他自己的正义和功德被归于的他自己的人被称为“不公正的”（5069，9263）。无论是谁一旦靠主变得公正将会继续靠祂而公正。因为公正从未变成人自己的，而是总是主的（3686）。相信教会教导无过失的人对重生知道得很少（5398）。
人只要把一切良善和真理都归于主，他就是明智的，归于他自己的人不是（10227）。因为是良善和真理的一切良善和真理是来自主，没有什么是来自人，因为来自人的善行不是善行，由此断言功德不属于任何人，而是唯独属于主（9975，9981，9988）。进入天堂的人扔掉了他们自己的一切功德（4007）。并且他们对自己做过的善行不会考虑回报答（6478，9174）。从功德去思考的人此时不承认一切事物是仁慈的（6478，9174）。从功德去思考的人考虑报答和报酬，由此对功德有意愿是对被报答有意愿（5660，6392，9975）。这样的人在他们自身里不能接受天堂（1835，8478，9977）。
天堂的幸福在于不以报酬为目的地喜爱行善（6388，6478，9174，9984）。在来世，任何灵只要不是以报酬为目的去行善，这时来自主的幸福会由少到多地流入；当灵考虑报酬时，它会立刻消失（6478，9174）。
应该行出不以报酬为目的的善行（6392，6478）。举例说明（9981）。真正的仁爱是没有任何功绩观念的（2343，2371，2400，3887，6388-6393）。因为它来自爱，因此是来自行善的快乐（3816，3887，6388，6478，9174，9984）。“报答”在圣言中意指对他人行善不以报答为目的而得到的快乐和幸福，有真正仁爱的那些人感受和发觉到这种快乐和幸福（3816，3956，6388）。
为了报答而行善的人爱他们自己并且不爱友邻（8002，9210）。“唯利是图者”在圣言的灵意中意指那些为报答而行善的人（8002）。为了报酬而行善的人在来世渴望被服侍并且永不满足（6393）。他们轻视友邻并且对主发怒，因为他们没有得到报答，但声称他们应当得到它（9976）。在来世，信仰和仁爱分离的人把功德归于以外在形式行出的信仰和良善作为，因此是为了他们自己利益（2371）。关于那些认为善行有功德的人在来世的性质的更多详情（942，1774，1877，2027）。他们在那里住在较低的地方，他们自己似乎在砍伐木材（1110，4943，8740）。因为木材，尤其是塞伊耳相思木特别表示为功德而做的善行（2784，2812，9472，9486，9715，10178）。
为了报酬而行善的人在主的国度里是仆人（6389，6390）。认为善行是有功德的人落入诱惑里（2273，9978）。不考虑报酬，爱自己和爱世界的人不知道行善是什么（6392）。
158. From Secrets of Heaven
Only the Lord has merit and righteousness: 9715, 9979. The merit and righteousness of the Lord are that he saved the human race by his own power: 1813, 2025, 2026, 2027, 9715, 9809, 10019. The goodness of the Lord's merit and righteousness is the goodness that reigns in heaven, and that is the goodness of his divine love, the source of his power to save the human race: 9486, 9979. None of us can become righteous on our own, and none has any right to claim to be righteous: 1813. What people are like who proclaim their own righteousness in the other life: 942, 2027. The Word refers to people as "righteous" if the Lord's merit and righteousness are attributed to them, but as "unrighteous" if their righteousness and merit come from themselves: 5069, 9263. Anyone who has received righteousness from the Lord once will receive it from him continually because righteousness never belongs to us but remains constantly the Lord's: 9263. People who believe what the church teaches about justification by faith alone know very little about regeneration: 5398.
[2] We become wise to the extent that we attribute everything that is good and true to the Lord and not to ourselves: 10227. Since everything that is genuinely good and true comes from the Lord and none of it comes from us, and since anything good that does come from us is not really good, it follows that none of us has merit; only the Lord has merit: 9975, 9981, 9988. The people who enter heaven rid themselves of any sense that they have earned it: 4007. They do not think about getting a reward for the good things they have done: 6478, 9174. The more we think in terms of what we deserve, the less willing we are to admit that everything is from the mercy of the Lord: 6478, 9174. People who think in terms of the credit they deserve are thinking about being rewarded and receiving something in return, so their desire for credit is actually a desire to be paid back: 5660, 6392, 9975. People like this cannot let heaven into themselves: 1835, 8478, 9977. Heavenly happiness consists in a heartfelt desire to do good without any intention of receiving something in return: 6388, 6478, 9174, 9984. In the other life, to the extent that we do what is good without looking for a reward, bliss from the Lord flows into us in ever greater measure, but that bliss evaporates as soon as we think about getting something in return: 6478, 9174.
[3] We are to do what is good without looking to receive something in return: 6392, 6478. Some biblical passages that illustrate this: 9981. True caring is completely devoid of any desire for credit: 2371, 2400, 3887, 6388-6393. The reason is that true caring comes from love and therefore from a delight in doing what is good: 3816, 3887, 6388, 6478, 9174, 9984. "Reward" in the Word means the delight and bliss we experience in helping others without looking for any reward; people who devote their lives to true caring feel and perceive this delight and bliss: 3816, 3956, 6388.
[4] When we do good for the sake of some reward we are actually loving ourselves and not our neighbor: 8002, 9210. Spiritually understood, "hired servants" in the Word means people who do what is good for the sake of some reward: 8002. These people do what is good only in order to get something in return; in the other life they want others to serve them and are never satisfied: 6393. They despise their neighbors, and are angry at the Lord himself because they have not received their reward but say they deserve it: 9976. In the other life, people who have inwardly separated faith from caring want credit both for their faith and for the good actions that they have done, even though they did them only for show and therefore for the sake of themselves: 2371. More about what people are like in the other life if their actions were intended to earn them merit: 942, 1774, 1877, 2027. They are in the lower earth 1there and seem to themselves to be sawing wood: 1110, 4943, 8740. This is because one particular meaning of wood, and especially acacia wood, is good that is done for a reward: 2784, 2812, 9472, 9486, 9715, 10178.
[5] In the Lord's kingdom, people who have done good for the sake of reward are servants: 6389, 6390. When people who want credit for their actions are spiritually tested, they fail: 2273, 9978. People who devote their lives to loving themselves and the world have no idea what it is to do good with no thought of getting something in return: 6392.
Repentance and the Forgiveness of Sins
Footnotes:
1. In Swedenborg's geography of the regions of the spiritual world, the lower earth is an area for good people who are nevertheless strongly attached to false ideas. He describes it as surrounded below and on all sides by the hells themselves; the people there are unwittingly subject to the negative influence of the hells. Yet from above it enjoys support from and contact with angels and heaven. In this underground realm, and particularly in pits within that realm (to which biblical mentions of "the pit" correspond), people undergo a process called "devastation" (see note 2 in Last Judgment 35) to disabuse them of their false notions. This involves sometimes lengthy, painful, shattering experiences, but afterward the people who undergo them are lifted up into heaven with a great sense of consolation and relief. See Secrets of Heaven 4728, 4940-4947, 7090; Heaven and Hell 513 and its note a; Revelation Unveiled 845[2]. [JSR]
158. Not translated.
158. FROM THE HEAVENLY ARCANA.
Merit and justice belong to the Lord alone, Arcana Coelestia 9715, 9979. The merit and justice of the Lord consist in this, that He saved the human race by His own power, Arcana Coelestia 1813, 2025-2027, 9715, 9809, 10019. The good of the Lord's justice and merit is the good that reigns in heaven and this good is the good of His Divine Love by virtue of which He saved mankind, Arcana Coelestia 9486, 9979. No man can of himself become justice, nor claim it to himself by any right, Arcana Coelestia 1813. The quality of those in the other life who claim justice to themselves, Arcana Coelestia 942, 2027. He is called just in the Word, to whom the justice and merit of the Lord are ascribed; and he is called there unjust to whom self-justice and self-merit are ascribed, Arcana Coelestia 5069, 9263. He who has become just from the Lord once, is just from Him continually; for justice never becomes a man's own, but is the Lord's continually, Arcana Coelestia 9263. Those who believe in justification [as taught] in the Church, know little of regeneration, Arcana Coelestia 5398.
A man is wise so far as he ascribes all goods and truths to the Lord, and not to himself, Arcana Coelestia 10227. As all good and truth which is good and true, are from the Lord, and as nothing is from man; and as good from man is not good, it follows that merit does not belong to any man, but to the Lord alone, Arcana Coelestia 9975, 9981, 9988. Those who enter heaven put off all merit of their own, Arcana Coelestia 4007; and they do not think of reward on account of the good they have done, Arcana Coelestia 6478, 9174. Those who think from the idea of merit, so far do not acknowledge that all things are of mercy, Arcana Coelestia 6478, 9174. Those who think from the idea of merit, think of reward and remuneration; for the desire to acquire merit, means desiring to be remunerated, Arcana Coelestia 5660, 6392, 9975. Such persons cannot receive heaven in themselves, Arcana Coelestia 1835, 8478, 9977. Heavenly happiness consists in the affection of doing good without having any regard to remuneration, Arcana Coelestia 6388, 6478, 9174, 9984. So far as any one in the other life does good without any regard to remuneration, so far the feeling of blessedness, in an increasing ratio, flows in from the Lord: and when remuneration is thought of, this feeling is immediately dissipated, Arcana Coelestia 6478, 9174.
Good ought to be done without any regard to remuneration, Arcana Coelestia 6392, 6478; illustrated, Arcana Coelestia 9981. Genuine charity is without any idea of merit, Arcana Coelestia 2343, 2371, 2400, 3887, 6388-6393; because it flows from love, and thus from the delight of doing good, Arcana Coelestia 3816, 3887, 6388, 6478, 9174, 9984. By reward in the Word are meant the delight and the feeling of blessedness experienced in doing good to others without any respect to reward; and this delight, and this feeling of blessedness, are felt and perceived by those who are in genuine charity, Arcana Coelestia 3816, 3956, 6388.
Those who do good for the sake of reward, love themselves, and not the neighbour, Arcana Coelestia 8002, 9210. By hirelings in the Word, are meant in the spiritual sense those who do good for the sake of reward, Arcana Coelestia 8002. Those who do good for the sake of remuneration, in the other life desire to be waited upon [by others], and are never contented, Arcana Coelestia 6393. They despise the neighbour, and are angry at the Lord Himself, because they do not receive a reward, saying that they have merited one, Arcana Coelestia 9976. Those who have separated in themselves faith from charity, in the other life, ascribe merit to faith, and also to the good works which they have done in an outward form, thus for the sake of themselves, Arcana Coelestia 2371. Further statements concerning the quality of those in the other life who have placed merit in works, Arcana Coelestia 942, 1774, 1877, 2027. They are there in the lower earth, and appear to themselves to cut wood, Arcana Coelestia 1110, 4943, 8740; because wood, and particularly shittim wood, signifies specifically the good of merit, Arcana Coelestia 2784, 2812, 9472, 9486, 9715, 10178.
Those who have done good for the sake of remuneration, in the Lord's Kingdom, are subservient [to others], Arcana Coelestia 6389, 6390. Those who place merit in works fall in temptations, Arcana Coelestia 2273, 9978. Those who are in the loves of self and of the world, do not know what it means to do good without any regard to remuneration, Arcana Coelestia 6392.
158. FROM THE ARCANA COELESTIA.
Merit and justice belong to the Lord alone (n. 9715, 9979). The merit and justice of the Lord consist in His having saved the human race by His own power (n. 1813, 2025, 2026, 2027, 9715, 9809, 10019). The good of the Lord's justice and merit is the good which reigns in heaven, and is the good of His Divine love from which He saved the human race (n. 9486, 9979). No man can of himself become justice, nor claim it by any right (n. 1813). The quality of those in the other life who claim justice to themselves (n. 942, 2027). In the Word, the man to whom the justice and merit of the Lord are ascribed, is called "just;" and the man to whom his own justice and merit are ascribed, "unjust" (n. 5069, 9263). Whoever is once just from the Lord, will be continually just from Him; for justice never becomes man's own, but is continually the Lord's (n. 3686). They who believe in the justification taught in the church, know little of regeneration (n. 5398).
Man is so far wise as he ascribes all goods and truths to the Lord, and not to himself (n. 10227). As all good and truth which are good and truth are from the Lord, and nothing is from man, and as good from man is not good, it follows that merit belongs to no man, but to the Lord alone (n. 9975, 9981, 9988). They who enter heaven put off all merit of their own (n. 4007). And they do not think of reward for the good they have done (n. 6478, 9174). They who think from merit so far do not acknowledge all things to be of mercy (n. 6478, 9174). They who think from merit, think of reward and remuneration, and therefore to will to merit is to will to be remunerated (n. 5660, 6392, 9975). Such persons cannot receive heaven in themselves (n. 1835, 8478, 9977). Heavenly happiness consists in the affection of doing good, without an end of remuneration (n. 6388, 6478, 9174, 9984). In the other life so far as anyone does good without an end of remuneration, so far happiness inflows with increase from the Lord; and it is immediately dissipated when remuneration is thought of (n. 6478, 9174).
Good is to be done without an end of remuneration (n. 6392, 6478); illustrated (n. 9981). Genuine charity is without anything meritorious (n. 2343, 2371, 2400, 3887, 6388-6393). Because it is from love, thus from the delight of doing good (n. 3816, 3887, 6388, 6478, 9174, 9984). "Reward" in the Word, means the delight and happiness in doing good to others without an end of reward, and this delight and happiness is felt and perceived by those who are in genuine charity (n. 3816, 3956, 6388).
They who do good for the sake of reward, love themselves and not the neighbor (n. 8002, 9210). "Mercenaries," in the spiritual sense of the Word, mean those who do good for the sake of reward (n. 8002). They who do good for the sake of remuneration, in the other life desire to be served, and are never contented (n. 6393). They despise the neighbor, and are angry at the Lord Himself, because they do not receive a reward, saying that they have merited it (n. 9976). They who have separated faith from charity, in the other life make their faith, and also the good works which they have done in an external form, thus for the sake of themselves, meritorious (n. 2371). Further particulars respecting the quality of those in the other life who have placed merit in works (n. 942, 1774, 1877, 2027). They are there in the lower earth, and appear to themselves to cut wood (n. 1110, 4943, 8740). Because wood, especially shittim wood, signifies the good of merit in particular (n. 2784, 2812, 9472, 9486, 9715, 10178).
They who have done good for the sake of remuneration, are servants in the Lord's kingdom (n. 6389, 6390). They who place merit in works, fall in temptations (n. 2273, 9978). They who are in the loves of self and of the world, do not know what it is to do good without a view to remuneration (n. 6392).
158. (Ex Arcanis Caelestibus.)
Quod soli Domino meritum et justitia (Arcana Coelestia 9715, 9979).
Quod meritum et justitia Domini sit, quod ex propria potentia salvaverit genus humanum (Arcana Coelestia 1813, 2025-2027, 9715, 9809, 10019).
Quod bonum justitiae et meriti Domini sit bonum quod regnat in caelo, et quod id bonum sit bonum Divini Amoris Ipsius, ex quo salvavit genus humanum (Arcana Coelestia 9486, 9986 9979?).
Quod nullus homo possit ex se justitia fieri, nec illam sibi ullo jure vindicare (Arcana Coelestia 1813).
Quales illi in altera vita qui sibi justitiam vindicant (Arcana Coelestia 942, 2027).
Quod in Verbo "justus" dicatur cui addicitur justitia et meritum Domini, et quod "injustus" cui justitia propria et meritum sui (Arcana Coelestia 5069, 9263).
Qui semel justus a Domino, continue justus erit ab Ipso; nam justitia nusquam fit propria hominis, sed continue Domini (Arcana Coelestia 3648 9486?).
Quod qui credunt justificationem in ecclesia, parum sciant de regeneratione (Arcana Coelestia 5398).
Quod homo tantum sapiat, quantum addicit omnia bona et veri Domino, et non sibi (Arcana Coelestia 10227).
Quia omne bonum et verum, quod est bonum et verum, est a Domino, et nihil ab homine; et quia bonum ab homine non est bonum, quod inde sequatur quod nulli homini meritum, sed soli Domino (Arcana Coelestia 9975, 9981, 9988).
Quod illi qui intrant caelum, exuant omne meritum sui (Arcana Coelestia 4007).
Et quod non cogitent de remuneratione propter bona quae fecerunt (Arcana Coelestia 6478, 9174).
Quod qui cogitant ex merito, tantum non agnoscant omnia esse misericordiae (Arcana Coelestia 6478, 9174).
Quod illi qui cogitant ex merito, cogitent de mercede et remuneratione; quare velle mereri est velle remunerari (Arcana Coelestia 5660, 6392, 9975).
Quod tales caelum in se non recipere possint (Arcana Coelestia 1835, 8478, 9977).
Quod felicitas caelestis consistat in affectione faciendi bonum absque fine remunerationis (Arcana Coelestia 6388, 6478, 9174, 9984).
Quod in altera vita quantum quis bonum facit absque fine remunerationis, tantum influat beatum cum augmento a Domino, et quod id statim dissipetur cum cogitatur de remuneratione (Arcana Coelestia 6478, 9174).
Quod bonum faciendum sit absque fine remunerationis (Arcana Coelestia 6392, 6478; illustratum, Arcana Coelestia 9981).
Quod genuina charitas sit absque omni meritorio (Arcana Coelestia 2340, 2373, 2400, 3887, 6388-6393) 2343, 2371?: quia est ex amore, ita ex jucundo faciendi bonum (Arcana Coelestia 3816, 3887, 6388, 6478, 9174, 9984).
Quod per "mercedem" in Verbo intelligatur jucundum et beatum in benefaciendo aliis absque fine mercedis, et quod id jucundum et beatum sentiant et percipiant illi qui in genuina charitate sunt (Arcana Coelestia 3816, 3956, 6388).
Quod illi qui bonum faciunt mercedis causa, semet ament, non proximum (Arcana Coelestia 8002, 9210).
Quod in Verbo per "mercenarios" in sensu spirituali intelligantur qui bonum faciunt propter mercedem (Arcana Coelestia 8002). 1Qui bonum faciunt remunerationis causa, quod in altera vita velint serviri, et nusquam contenti sint (Arcana Coelestia 6393).
Quod contemnant proximum, et irascantur Ipsi Domino, quod non mercedem recipiant, dicentes quod meruerint (Arcana Coelestia 9976).
Qui apud se fidem separaverunt a charitate, quod in altera vita faciant fidem, et quoque bona opera, quae in externa forma fecerunt, ita propter se, meritoria (Arcana Coelestia 2373 2371?).
Quales porro sunt in altera vita, qui meritum posuerunt in operibus (Arcana Coelestia 942, 1774, 1877, 2027).
Quod ibi sint in terra inferiore, et sibi appareant lignum secare (Arcana Coelestia 1110, 4943, 8740): ex causa quia "lignum" in specie significat bonum meriti, imprimis "lignum schittim" (Arcana Coelestia 2784, 2812, 9472, 9486, 9715, 10178).
Quod illi qui bonum fecerunt remunerationis causa, in regno Domini sint servitia, (Arcana Coelestia 6389, 6390).
Qui meritum ponunt in operibus, quod succumbant in tentationibus (Arcana Coelestia 2273, 9978).
Quod qui in amoribus sui et mundi sunt, non sciant quid sit facere bonum absque remuneratione (Arcana Coelestia 6392).
Footnotes:
. 1 Qui pro "Quod qui"
(XII.) DE PAENITENTIA, ET REMISSIONE PECCATORUM.