Editorial February 22, 1908 Issue

TRANSFORMATION

Annie M. Knott

In the first chapter of the book of Genesis we read that God made man in His own image and likeness. In Christian Science we understand this to refer to the ideal man as distinguished from the false and unreal mortal concept, which holds man to be material and mortal. In the chapter on Genesis, in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, the whole subject of man's being and his relation to God is treated scientifically and conclusively, no other part of our text-book, perhaps, offering to the student a richer reward in spiritual illumination. Mrs. Eddy shows what the divine model must of necessity be, and elsewhere she says that we must have "perfect God and perfect man,—as the basis of thought and demonstration" (Science and Health, p. 259).

In the Bible we find distinct evidence of the existence of differing documents from which the book of Genesis was compiled, and in the fifth chapter is the statement that "Adam begat a son in his own likeness, after his image." The mortal concept here takes the place in mortal thought of the divine model. It is startling when we consider how this false concept has been held through all the centuries of human experience. Mortals have gone on tracing the likeness of their children to themselves, determined to see their "own image," whether foul or fair, in the mental and physical conditions of their children. Who among them has ever thought of looking for the likeness of the one perfect Father,—infinite Mind,—and of directing every effort toward the realization of the divine likeness or model? And yet it was to this end that Christ Jesus wrought in his healing ministry; to this end he taught each follower that he must be "born again," not after a material and mortal concept,—the Adam-likeness,—but born into conscious likeness to Spirit, God. After him came Paul, urging the necessity for "the new man, which after God [after the divine model] is created in righteousness and true holiness;" indeed he says that "in Christ Jesus" nothing avails but "a new creature." Christian Science has come to tell us how this teaching may be demonstrated in its entirety, and it gives us a wonderful sense of security to know that at no point does it diverge from the path marked out by the great Teacher, but that it goes fearlessly forward to the realization of universal salvation from sin, disease, and death.

Jesus said that unless a man be "born of the Spirit" he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Paul said, "They that are in the flesh cannot please God;" hence the necessity that "the old man"—the false mortal concept—be "put off, and Christian Science teaches how this is to be done. It shows us that we must "die daily," as Paul says, to the belief in a life and a mind separate from God,—a model unlike the perfect Father. It shows us how we may trace mans likeness to God in the overcoming of all belief in the reality of power of evil,—a stupendous but glorious task in which God worketh with us "to will and to do of his good pleasure." which means nothing less than our perfection.

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