Page:The Swedenborg Library Vol 3.djvu/215

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THE SYMBOL OF REGENERATION.
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Baptism is a symbol of man's regeneration from the Lord by the truths and goods of faith. Not that regeneration is effected by baptism, but by the life thereby signified, into which life all Christians should enter who are in possession of the truths of faith in consequence of possessing the Word. (A. C. 2707.)

It is evident how falsely they think who believe that evils or sins appertaining to man are wiped away, as filth is washed from the body by water; and that they were cleansed as to the interiors who were formerly washed by water according to the statutes of the Church; and also that they are saved at this day by being baptized. When yet washings formerly only represented the cleansing of the interiors, and baptism signifies regeneration. Waters denote the truths of faith by which man is cleansed and regenerated; for by them evils are removed. Baptism is for those who are within the Church, because they have the Word containing the truths of faith by which man is regenerated. (A. C. 9088.)

He who does not know that water signifies the truth of faith, will be unable to understand many passages in the Word; as what is signified by this, that unless a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John iii. 5): They who understand by water in this passage nothing else but water, believe that the water of baptism is that by which man is regenerated; when yet water contributes noth-

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