In the Christian Science Bible Lesson April 7, 2014 ISSUE

'Really free!'

For the Lesson titled “Are Sin, Disease, and Death Real?” from April 7 - 13, 2014

Mary Trammell
canyon and river

For me, this week’s Bible Lesson answers the question “Are Sin, Disease, and Death Real?” in a very practical way. Just before reading it, I’d found out that—through my own clerical error—I’d managed to miss an important deadline and inconvenienced several very special friends. They were all most understanding, but I was so put out with myself that I could hardly think clearly to get started on correcting the error. But the message of this Lesson soon settled on my thoughts with healing comfort.

You can imagine what a relief it was to read the Apostle Paul’s jubilant announcement in the Golden Text: “Christ has set us free! This means we are really free” (Galations 5:1, Contemporary English Version). It was his way of telling the church members in Galatia that they were no longer considered sinners under the old Mosaic law, but that the new law of Christ had freed them to be the cherished sons and daughters of God.

As I soaked up the rest of the Lesson, which expands on the theme of freedom from sin, as well as disease and death, I was able to forgive my misstep—and move on. Section 1, for instance, begins with thanking God “who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies” (Psalms 103:2–4 , citation 1). And the Contemporary English Version’s rendering of verses 3 and 4 offers a direct counter to the supposed triumvirate of sin, disease, and death: “The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, and protects us from death.”

Section 2 explores the deceptive nature of what appear to be sin and disease by relating how God teaches Moses to confront two forms of evil. First instructing Moses to throw his shepherd’s rod on the ground, where it turns into a snake, God tells him to grab the snake by the tail, usually considered the most dangerous way to handle a snake. Moses obeys—and sees the snake morph harmlessly into a rod again. Then, Moses’ hand suddenly becomes infected with an extreme case of leprosy—and just as harmlessly returns to its normal healthy condition (see Exodus 4:1–4, 6–8 , cit. 6). Mary Baker Eddy, commenting on this Bible account in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, explains, “The illusion of Moses lost its power to alarm him, when he discovered that what he apparently saw was really but a phase of mortal belief” (p. 321 , cit. 7).

After giving further convincing examples of the illusory nature of sin, disease, and death—including Jesus’ resurrection of Lazarus from the dead—the Lesson closes with the triumphant declaration that “there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” And not only that. We’re all adopted into God’s family as “joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:1–21 , cit. 15). We’re really and forever free from sin, disease, and death!

About the author

Christian Science practitioner and teacher Mary Trammell earned her MA and PhD in English literature and Bible history, and coauthored The Reforming Power of the Scriptures.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
The Touch of Class
Challenges overcome
April 7, 2014
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit