Swedenborgianism—What is it?
Swedenborgianism, considered a cult, is also known as The New Church and the Church of New Jerusalem. Swedenborgianism is based on the teachings and writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, who was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1688. Sometime around 1750, Swedenborg said God appeared to him in a vision and appointed him His messenger for a new revelation. God, and other spiritual beings, purportedly continued to appear to Swedenborg.Swedenborg taught that God may be called whatever name an individual wants to assign, that the Holy Spirit is not God, the Trinity does not exist, and that Jesus Christ's death did not atone for sin. He said salvation can be acquired through sincerity of whatever belief a person chooses and eternity will be a solely spiritual experience based on how well you lived.
Biblical Christianity reveals to us that the One True God is the only God (Exodus 3:13–15; Isaiah 43:10); all other so-called gods are idols man has created (Exodus 20:4–5). The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is a full member of the Trinity—therefore God (Acts 5:3–4). The other members of the Trinity are Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14) and the Father (Philippians 1:2). Of course, the central doctrine of biblical Christianity is Jesus' atonement for our sin (1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2) and our opportunity for salvation is tied to our belief in that atonement and Jesus' resurrection (John 14:6; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4). Having a body is part of our eternity either in heaven or hell (Revelation 22).
Swedenborgianism shares some ideas with Christianity, but is heretical, confusing, sometimes a bit silly, and most definitely not biblical.
What is syncretism? How do some people try to blend religious or other thought systems?
What is a biblical view of eclecticism?
Is there a difference between religion and spirituality?
There are so many different religions; how do I know which one is right?
Is it true that Jesus is the only way to heaven?
Truth about Religion
