Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 9312

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9312. 'And do all that I speak' means an obedience springing from faith and love. This is clear from the meaning of 'doing the things I speak' as leading a life in accord with the things the Lord has taught in the Word; for the things which Jehovah speaks are what the Word teaches, and so what the Lord - who is the Word, John 1:1, 2, 14 - teaches. Leading a life in accord with those things implies an obedience to them that springs from faith and love. An obedience springing from faith and love is a living obedience since it has life springing from faith and love within it. Such obedience may be likened to any human deed. Within a human deed nothing has life except love and faith; all else with any life receives it from them and in accord with them. For the life of love and faith is life derived from the Lord, who is life itself; this life is heaven's life and the life of all who will become angels. The situation with obedience is the same as with a human deed.


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