347 As for the manner in which faith is formed,this happens by our
turning to the Lord, learning truths from the Word, and living by
those truths.
First of all, faith is formed by our turning to the Lord,because faith that
is real, that is, faith that brings salvation, is faith from the Lord and faith
in the Lord. It is clear from the Lord’s words to the disciples that faith is
fromhim: “Live in me and I [shall live] in you, because without me you
cannot do anything” (John 15 : 4 , 5 ). As for faith being a faith inthe Lord,
see the many passages cited above, §§ 337 – 338 , which show that we have to
believe in the Son. Given that faith is faith from the Lord and faith in the
Lord, you could say that the Lord is faith itself, for its life and essence exist
in the Lord and come from him.
[ 2 ] Second, faith is formed by our learning truths from the Word,
because faith in its essence is truth. All the elements that constitute faith
are truths. Faith, then, is nothing but an array of truths shining in our
mind. Truths teach not only that we need to have beliefs but also in
whom to believe and what to believe.
Truths need to be taken from the Word, because all the truths that
make a contribution to our salvation are there. These truths are gen-
uinely effective because they have been given by the Lord and have been
engraved on the entire angelic heaven. As a result, when we learn truths
from the Word, without our knowing it we come into contact and asso-
ciation with angels.
Faith without truths is like a seed without a kernel. If you grind it,
you get nothing but chaff. Faith made of truths is like a seed from the
harvest. If you grind it, you get flour. To put it briefly, truths are essen-
tial components of faith. If faith does not contain truths, it is merely like
the sound of idle whistling. When faith contains truths, it is like the
sound of the call to our salvation.
[ 3 ] Third, faith is formed by our living by those truths,because a spiri-
tual life is a life that follows truths. Truths are not actually alive before
they exist in actions. Truths dissociated from actions are just thoughts. If
they do not become part of our will, they are not inside us; they are only
on our threshold. Our will is our true self. Our thinking reflects our true
self only to the extent that it is connected to our will.
People who learn truths and do not live by them are like people who
scatter seeds on top of a field but do not plow them under—the seeds
become swollen by the rain and split into empty husks. People who learn
truths and do them are like people who sow and plow the seeds under.
singke
(singke)
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