IN THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BIBLE LESSON April 26, 2010 Issue

SALVATION NOT PUNISHMENT

OLENE CARROLL

WHEN THE subject "Everlasting Punishment" appears twice a year in these Christian Science Bible Lessons, it may for a fleeting moment portend a week of reading about sin and suffering to some people—even a touch of guilt. But then the Golden Text pops up—upbeat, positive, and comforting.

This week is no different: "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (II Cor. 6:2). The Apostle Paul wrote those words in a letter to the Corinthians. But they were not his words. Centuries before, through the prophet Isaiah, God had given "the servant" the mission of bringing salvation to the children of Israel by seeking out and delivering them (see Isa., chap. 49). But when the offer of salvation was rejected by the Jews, it was promised to the Gentiles. Paul's audience would have recognized themselves as the Gentiles in that prophecy, and Paul as the servant, through his words behold and now—those sit-up-and-take-notice words that Paul added twice

In the book of Titus it's revealed that it was God's love that brought salvation. This provided much-needed comfort for Titus, who was managing churches on the island of Crete. Cretans had a reputation of being liars and cheats. But holding to this message, Titus watched brash behavior melt away through "the kindness and love of God our Saviour" (Titus 3:4, Responsive Reading).