The Swedenborgian Religion and the Bible

2018-11-14

I know of a town where everyone who lived there was a member of the Swedenborgian religion. I was not a Christian when I encountered this town, but I always remembered this peculiar town where only a handful of last names were present, hearing of ghost stories there and the like. Looking into their religion, it is obvious that it departs from Biblical teaching in many ways, and that a cloud of darkness hovers over it.

They Deny the Trinity

According to their website, they are modalists: “Christ is not seen as a separate entity, but as reflective of the multiple consciousness that is the oneness of God. There are not three divine beings comprising the trinity, but one Divine Nature in which the three aspects of God are present.” [1] The Bible clearly says that Jesus Christ is God, yet distinct from God the Father: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Read more here about the Trinity.

They Believe in Works Salvation

On another website, they say that “The New Church teaches that every person is saved (chooses heaven) who acknowledges God and lives according to the Ten Commandments.” [2] On the same website, they say, “Those who have cooperated with God in this life by striving to become better people, find themselves in a heavenly way of life in the next.” They also say that salvation is “progressive.”

The Bible says that we are born again, and saved forever. The Bible says that “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). If you believe on Jesus Christ, you have eternal life now; there is no process to receive eternal life. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

They Believe Marriage is Forever

As the Mormons, they believe marriage continues after death. Their website says, “Genuine marriage does not end with death, but continues to eternity.” [2] The Bible tells us that marriage terminates at the death of one of the spouses:

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. (Romans 7:2-3)

Jesus also taught:

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. (Matthew 22:28-30)

They Believe in Salvation Outside of Jesus Christ

They say on their website: “The Lord welcomes good people from every religion into heaven.” [2] Jesus, on the other hand, said right before His death: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). The Bible also says concerning Jesus, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Read more about the exclusive nature of salvation by faith in Christ here.

They Believe that the Second Coming of Christ Has Already Came

They say that:

One of Swedenborg’s premises is that the Second Coming has taken place - and in fact still is taking place. The Second Coming is not an actual physical appearance of the Lord, but rather His return in spirit and truth that is being effected as a present reality as the New Church. The information revealed to Swedenborg, he felt, is a continually-occurring Second Coming in that the new information enables a new perception of the Word of God. [1]

The Bible tells us that Jesus will physically return to the earth: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7). Every eye would not be able to see Him at an instance of His coming if He were not really going to physically return.

They Believe that Jesus Did Not Redeem Us from Sin

They claim: “Nor did Christ come to redeem us from original sin. Rather, His mission was that of revealing the nature and reality of the spiritual life, and to provide a living example of it.” [1]

The Bible tells us that Jesus came to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). He says, “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee” (Isaiah 44:22).

Conclusion

Emanuel Swedenborg was a false prophet, whose visions and dreams reinterpreted what the Bible says in a more “spiritual” way. As with any false religion, the false prophet with his false scriptures always trump the Bible, and this religion is no different. It changes the nature of God, the gift of salvation, and literal return of Christ, which are all damnable heresies.

God the Father sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. On the third day, He rose from the dead. The moment we believe, we receive eternal life. Our Lord Jesus Christ will return again and receive us all to Himself at a time appointed. Believe the simple truth that Christ must save you; we are sinful and cannot save ourselves. The Bible tells us, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:30-31). The best part is that once we are saved, we have passed from death unto life. This is good news. Until we are saved by trusting in Christ, we can never be able to live for God as He requires.

References

[1] Tenets of Swedenborgianism. https://swedenborg.org/beliefs/tenets-of-swedenborgianism/. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
[2] About the Bryn Athyn Church. https://brynathynchurch.org/about/. Retrieved November 14, 2018.