"In the regeneration"

Every human being needs regeneration—to be born anew. However high-minded or idealistic one may be, there is still the element of mortality to be eradicated that the immortal self—God's image— may emerge without a taint of earthliness. Salvation from all evil depends upon regeneration, upon purification of the human self. With regeneration comes freedom to express intelligence and the dominion over human experience that accompanies it.

The spiritual power to heal as Christ Jesus commanded his followers to do requires regeneration. And according to his instruction to Nicodemus, who saw that Jesus' works proved his unity with God. the new birth rests upon moral as well as spiritual purification. Jesus said to this inquirer, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." ^{John 3:5;}

Moral purification—being "born of water"—calls for the cleansing of the senses, for the bringing of the physical senses into obedience to moral law. Spiritual purification—being "born... of the Spirit"—is a higher step and calls for the understanding that the physical senses are false consciousness and no part of the real man, God's creation. Jesus said further to Nicodemus, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

Often a healing in Christian Science is delayed because regeneration has not appeared to the patient to be necessary. He is perhaps satisfied to declare that man is spiritual but unwilling to prove this declaration by living the truths he utters. But more is required than the mere acknowledgment that man is God's perfect child. In "Miscellaneous Writings" Mary Baker Eddy says, "A little more grace, a motive made pure, a few truths tenderly told, a heart softened, a character subdued, a life consecrated, would restore the right action of the mental mechanism, and make manifest the movement of body and soul in accord with God." ^{Mis., p. 354;}

People who wonder why their complete healing does not come are often unwilling to admit that they are a long way from living up to the declarations which they are making of man's perfection. They may acknowledge that man in Science is loving while they are not loving their fellow human beings; they may be indifferent to some people and delighted with others. The regenerated Christian is warmly interested in everyone, always willing to be helpful.

The truths of Christian Science should not be administered only on occasions, as one might take a pill or resort to an operation. These truths must be worked out humbly and gratefully minute by minute. Spiritual facts of man's sinless, fearless, loving perfection have to permeate thought and control it consistently if Science is to be effective and healing is to be accomplished.

Over and over Jesus taught the need of regeneration: in the Sermon on the Mount, in many parables, in his rebukes to hypocritical mortals. A purified human selfhood always denotes progress out of carnality, the belief of a fleshly self; and it illustrates the coincidence of the human and the divine wherein humanity approximates reality.

Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus correlates with his instruction to his disciples when he said, "Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." ^{Matt. 19:28:} Power over evil was to be the reward for their having forsaken all and followed the Christ-example.

If the progress of a student of Christian Science seems slow regardless of dedicated efforts to prove the truth of God's government, a deeper search for the reason of delay is needed. Mrs. Eddy realized this need, and she says, "Christian Science, full of grace and truth, is accomplishing great good, both seen and unseen; but have mortals, with the penetration of Soul, searched the secret chambers of sense?" ^{Mis., p. 292.}

The material senses, which constitute the belief of a mortal self, are the stronghold of the delaying action of evil. There we find the false traits and beliefs that resist the spiritual truths which heal. Genuine regeneration, based upon the fact of man's spiritual perfection, causes one to detect and reject the subtle impulses of lust, fear, resentment, and the like, which may be lying back in the unconscious mortal thought and hiding God's idea.

The power of divine Mind, of Love and Truth, supports every effort one puts forth to be born anew. When "the secret chambers of sense" are cleansed of every lurking evil, nothing can delay the proof of man's health and purity. Regeneration will have finished its work, and one will be free.

Helen Wood Bauman