Editing Swedenborgianism (section)

=== Regeneration as a spiritual battle ===
New Church adherents believe that man is born with free will, and his ability to choose between good and evil originates from his spiritual equilibrium between heaven and hell. Hell influences humans to do evil, and heaven influences them to do good. This freedom from inherent control from one side or the other frees humans to think rationally which can lead to spiritual reform by acknowledging evil in oneself, ceasing to do evil and avoiding it.<ref>HH, n. 589–590, 597–598.</ref> This choice is spiritual because every thought and action influences the soul and mind.<ref name="HH, n. 599">HH, n. 599.</ref>

Man's salvation is heavily affected by spiritual forces. Truly good works join a person with angels, and evil joins them with evil spirits.<ref name="HH, n. 599" /> When divine truth is accepted and one has an evil desire, temptation (conflict) results. Although one must resist temptation, it is really a combat between God and the devil (or hell).<ref>TCR, n. 596.</ref> Thus, "He who thinks that he fights from himself against the devil is enormously deceived."<ref>AC, n. 1813.</ref>

Both Salvation and Condemnation are results of moral choices, based on intentions. Good acts are only considered good when evil is removed, that is to say they are done out of love for God (not for profit or honour, or any other earthly thing), otherwise they are only externally good and internally evil. Goodness comes only from God, who can conquer temptation (a continuous, lifelong process).

Remission of sins is their removal after repentance. Swedenborgianism detests the notions of [[total depravity]], and the ''traditional'' understandings of salvation through acts, and salvation through faith alone, through grace alone. New Church theology holds that man can desire good and must identify his sinful tendencies, push them aside in place of goodwill, and move from a state of overall ignorance and evil to overall enlightenment and goodness. Man should not simply accept his sinful state and expect faith or acts alone to guarantee him a place in heaven.<ref>DL, n. 18.</ref>