Easter: Forgiveness or Freedom?

Our Easter message. What did Easter achieve? Examining the fundamental difference between the doctrine of the Swedenborg and the mainstream Christian church, and why so many of those who believe salvation is a free gift of God still doubt God’s love for them.

“Redemption and the passion on the cross must be thought of as two distinct events; otherwise men’s minds will ground like a ship on sandbanks or rocks and sink, steersman, captain, crew and all, that is to say, it will go astray in all matters which concern salvation from the Lord.” (True Christian Religion, paragraph 127)

Something I read on REDDIT a few days ago, which is typical of the many posts I see:

“… I’ve been doubting my salvation and I just don’t feel right. I feel distant from God, maybe I’m not trying hard enough to get closer to him. I’m not sure maybe I’m overthinking and need more faith but I want to be hungry for God again not to be ashamed anymore so please pray for me.”

We examine Psalm 22. and especially the disparity between verses 1 and 24:

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?” (Psalm 22:1)

“For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard.” (Psalm 22:24)

“God never turns away His face from man, and never rejects man from Himself; … He casts no one into hell and is angry with no one. … , God is Good Itself, Love Itself, and Mercy Itself; … [which] cannot do evil to anyone, and … cannot reject man from itself; because this is contrary to the very essence of mercy and love, thus contrary to the Divine Itself.” (Heaven and Hell, paragraph 545)

The Lord recommends that we become love, because the only way to enter into the presence of love is to become love ourselves.

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8)

But BEWARE! FREEDOM FROM SIN does not mean we will never do anything wrong, it just means we are not BOUND to sin. We have been given power over it. But we still do things wrong. So, learn from it and determine to do better next time. Even so, we still have no need to fear God because of it.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:55-58)

And Jesus said,

But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! (Luke 12:5)

WHO SHOULD YOU FEAR? Not God! Not the devil! Rather, fear yourself!

Recorded on Sunday 9 April 2023.