Editorial May 22, 1926 Issue

Messengers of the King

Albert F. Gilmore

The third chapter of John's first epistle opens with words of great significance to all seeking to make their way out of material sense into a more spiritual concept of Life and its expression. After calling attention to the wonderful love which the Father has for us, the apostle declares without qualification, "Now are we the sons of God." Manifestly, John's meaning as understood by Christian Scientists is that now are we, our true selves, the children of God; that is to say, man's true selfhood is the expression of God's being, is the son of God.

Paul made similar reference to man's true character. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God," he wrote to the Christians in Rome; and Christ Jesus made mention repeatedly of the fatherhood of God and of sonship with the one Father. The idea of man's sonship with God pervades the New Testament writings. Christian Scientists gain some understanding of this sonship with God, and glimpse something of its true significance. Unless one, however, make the most practical use of this knowledge, it does not become the ruling factor in one's life. Were man's sonship with God fully understood and demonstrated, how greatly it would change the meaning and trend of human experience!

In writing of mankind's failure to recognize the true sonship, in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 315), Mrs. Eddy says, "The likeness of God we lose sight of through sin, which beclouds the spiritual sense of Truth; and we realize this likeness only when we subdue sin and prove man's heritage, the liberty of the sons of God." Belief in evil and submission to its domination seemingly shut out the glorious vision of man's true character, and we fail to claim our divine heritage. Then is not our great necessity to clarify our vision and come into a clearer understanding of man's rightful position, claiming what belongs to man, who is joint-heir with Christ?

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