The Precursor
April 2000
Divine Love in Human Form
IN THE WORK TRUE CHRISTIAN RELIGION it is said that "there are two things for which the Lord came into the world, and by means of which He saved men and angels, namely, redemption and the glorification of His Human" (TCR 126). Redemption was, essentially, a process of judgment, involving combat against the hells and their subjugation, and the restoration of order in the heavens (ibid.). Unless order had once again been restored to the spiritual world, nobody could have withstood the onslaught of evil -- nobody could have been saved. The glorification of the Human, though, was a separate process. It is not to be confused with redemption (ibid.). Glorification was, essentially, a process of manifestation or revelation. The Lord had assumed a Human by birth into the world, and by uniting this Human to the Divine love within, He could then show Himself in His Divine Human, in all His glory, to the people of His church. In the Coronis, or Appendix, to the True Christian Religion, it is said that "it is an absolute necessity that God should manifest Himself, and thereby cause Himself to be acknowledged, and after acknowledgement should inspire man with His Divine influence, and by this, received in the heart, lead him at length even to Himself in heaven" (Coro. 48).
So it was that the Lord not only redeemed or rescued mankind from the influence of the hells, but He also showed Himself to people, and manifested His love to them, so that they might turn to Him, and be led by Him to heaven itself.
Redemption and glorification were both gradual processes, processes which occurred throughout the Lord's life here on earth. Redemption involved a series of continual combats and continual victories, by which order was successively restored to the spiritual world. Glorification also proceeded step by step. It was a process by which the Human, from being the embodiment of Divine truth, became eventually the embodiment of Divine love. Deep within Himself, in the very depths of His soul, the Lord was pure love -- a love which reached out to all mankind. Throughout His life, all that He wanted, all that He cared for, was to save the human race -- to rescue them from evil, and to draw them to Himself. This was the fire which burnt within Him. It is said in the Arcana that "when the Lord was in the world,... He received the fire of this love in His Human, and united it to the truth there" (AC 6834).
This process of glorification, as well as the process of redemption, culminated in the Lord's resurrection from the sepulchre. On that first Easter morning, peace had been restored. The gentle influence of heaven could once again reach down and touch the hearts and minds of men and women. And men and women could turn to the Lord and worship Him in a way that had not been possible before. Through glorification, the Lord Jesus Christ was now the full and complete embodiment of God. The Divine love, which had burned within Him as His soul throughout His life -- this Divine love now shone forth. He was now Divine love itself in human form. As it is said in the Arcana Coelestia, "the Lord's Human, after it was glorified or made Divine, cannot be thought of as human, but as the Divine love in human form" (AC 4735:2).
When we think of the Lord -- when we pray to Him and when we worship Him -- how do we picture Him? We see the Lord Jesus Christ in human form, for this is how He revealed Himself. We see Him healing and teaching. In His face we see wisdom, Divine wisdom, a wisdom infinitely greater than our own. And in His face, and radiating from His whole being, we sense His sphere of love: a love of infinite gentleness and yet of infinite power, a love which reaches out to us, longing to draw us to Himself.
It is said of the angels that they are so full of love that, when they are
present, "love so pours out of them that you would believe them to be nothing but love, and this from their
whole body" (AC 6135:3). They radiate love even from their very bodies! How much more must this be so of the
Lord Himself? He is the embodiment, not simply of love, but infinite Divine love itself. We are taught that "the
Lord's very body when glorified, that is, made Divine, is nothing else" (ibid.).
Divine love descended upon Him during His life in the world, until, on Easter morning, He rose as Divine love itself
in human form. He showed Himself in all His glory, He showed us His love, so that we might turn to Him, follow
Him, and be saved.
This is the message of Easter. This is the Gospel. The Lord loves us. He loves us from the very depths of His soul. He loves us with all His words and all His actions. He is filled with love, a love that reaches out to us, to save us.
We must respond to this love. We must learn about the Lord, learn about
Him in His Word. We must follow Him, obeying His commandments in all things of life. The Lord loves us. We must
love Him in return, and follow Him throughout our lives, to the gates of heaven itself. The Lord Jesus Christ is
our Savior and our God.
Unless otherwise noted, all events are at the church building. Classes for those in high school and for younger children are available upon request.
The Reading Discussion group meets normally twice a month. We are currently reading from the Old and New Testaments during our sessions. There is no advance reading, but please bring a Bible with you.
Wednesday, Apr. 5 Pastor's Council. 7:30pm.
Saturday, Apr. 8 General Doctrinal Class. 7:30pm. Subject: The Sacred Scripture. Suggested reading is HD 249-255 [New Jerusalem & Its Heavenly Doctrine]. Refreshments: Dinah.
Sunday, Apr. 9 Divine Worship. 11:00am. Holy Supper Service. Usher: Max. Sunday School: Helene. Sunday School Subject: Please see Jane Blair for details. Flowers: Dinah.
Tuesday, Apr. 11 Reading Discussion Group. 7:30pm. Bring along a Bible. No advance reading.
Wednesday, Apr. 19 Trustees' Meeting. 7:30pm.
Saturday, Apr. 22 Easter Doctrinal Class. 7:30pm. Subject: The Lord is the Word. Suggested reading is HD 263 [New Jerusalem & Its Heavenly Doctrine]. Refreshments: Jane.
Sunday, Apr. 23 Easter Service. 11:00am. Flower Offerings. Recitation: Liturgy 105 p. 200. Usher: Max. Sunday School: Shirley. Sunday School Subject: Please see Jane Blair for details. Flowers: Jane. Easter Day Potluck Lunch. 1:00pm. Endrede's. Please contact Endrede and let her know your plans.
Tuesday, Apr. 25 Reading Discussion Group. 7:30pm. Bring along a Bible. No advance reading.
Saturday, Apr. 29 Women's
Guild Rummage Sale. 9:00am.
Church Governance Study Website
A new General Church website has been established for the current Study of Church Governance. The address is: www.newchurch.org/governance.
