In the Christian Science Bible Lesson October 27, 2014 Issue

Redeemed from punishment

For the Lesson titled: "Everlasting Punishment" from October 27 - November 2, 2014

Steve Warren

Need punishment be everlasting? In the Golden Text of this week’s Bible Lesson from the Christian Science Quarterly, titled “Everlasting Punishment,” the Psalmist assures us that the Lord has “delivered my soul from the lowest hell” (Psalms 86:13). And in the Responsive Reading, which follows, we are assured that the Lord does not “afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men” (Lamentations 3:33). The notion of everlasting punishment falls before the truth that God has “redeemed my life” (Lamentations 3:58).

What, then, does last forever? Answer: the Lord’s goodness, mercy, and truth (see Psalms 100:5, citation 1). Such a loving God doesn’t punish us according to how much we’ve sinned. On the contrary, He removes transgressions far from us (see Psalms 103:12, cit. 2). Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy sets out the plain truth: “God, Spirit, alone created all, and called it good. Therefore evil, being contrary to good, is unreal, and cannot be the product of God” (p. 339, cit. 2).

Science and Health also explains how transgressions can be avoided: “Let unselfishness, goodness, mercy, justice, health, holiness, love—the kingdom of heaven—reign within us, and sin, disease, and death will diminish until they finally disappear” (p. 248, cit. 6).

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