One of the great blessings which Christian Science brings to this age is its teaching, based on a true understanding of the Bible, that once one has acknowledged and forsaken sin, he need not be plagued by it any more, because God is infinite Love, the source of all comfort, forgiveness, redemption, and healing.

The experience of the Apostle Paul, as recorded in the book of Acts, is illustrative of this truth. For years he persecuted the Christians mercilessly, believing that by so doing he could stop the progress of their work. He continued in this persecution until through spiritual enlightenment and the healing of his blindness he saw his mistake and perceived that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, who had brought the way of salvation for all mankind. Then he turned rightabout-face and exerted every energy to spreading the gospel of God's ever-present kingdom.

Paul was just as enthusiastic in helping the Christians as he had formerly been in persecuting them. He wasted no time in self-condemnation; he did not spend endless days in remorse; instead, acknowledging that his former actions were due to false education and misunderstanding, he hastened to change his course. He preached the truths which Christ Jesus had brought to humanity, not only to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles, even as far as imperial Rome. Paul also repented for having sanctioned the stoning of Stephen, but he did not condemn himself eternally. Rather did he go forward, assured of divine appointing and anointing from that day on.

Mary Baker Eddy, in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," writes (p. 5): "Sorrow for wrongdoing is but one step towards reform and the very easiest step. The next and great step required by wisdom is the test of our sincerity,— namely, reformation."

A student of Christian Science became involved unintentionally in a serious injury to another's personal feelings. The student's motives were innocent, but later circumstances made it appear that what had been done was not only wrong, but harmful to the other person. The student was completely engulfed in self-condemnation as well as condemnation from others, and there seemed to be no relief in sight from this mental agony. The suggestion even came that the suffering for this error would continue and would be justified, even though her motives in the beginning had been without evil intent. Turning to the concordances to our Leader's writings, the student was led to look up everything on the forgiveness of sin. Two important sentences are included in the third tenet of The Mother Church. It reads (ibid., p. 497): "We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts."

The student began to realize that once an error is seen for what it is, a lie, and separated from the individual, either oneself or another, its claim to existence ceases, because it has nothing to which to attach itself; then man, as God's expression, or reflection, is seen to be free, sinless, progressive, intelligent, and cannot be made to suffer. She also saw that self-condemnation is but a phase of the belief in a mortal selfhood, a selfhood apart from God. The real and only man, God's pure, sinless idea, cannot commit sin, because in God's universe there is no sin or error of any kind. However, acknowledging this fact is not sufficient; we must demonstrate it in our daily living.

Release from the merciless self-condemnation came for the student when she realized that God's children, being the reflection of divine Mind, Love, Principle, could see only the truth and could not be tempted to condemn. From then on it became clear that keeping one's peace with God in any situation is the important thing and that condemnation from another cannot harm one if he proves man's thoughts to be in line with divine Principle. Incidental to this better understanding, a friendly attitude was restored between the persons involved.

Many centuries ago Jesus' disciples, in spite of the fact that they had been so greatly blessed by his instruction, were tempted to believe that his mission had failed and that all that he had taught them of eternal Life was powerless when it came to saving himself. In despair Peter announced to his brethren, "I go a fishing," and the disciples said, "We also go with thee" (John 21: 3). It was a sorrowful group that launched out into the deep. However, when Jesus appeared to them the following morning and told them to cast their net on the right side of the ship, they immediately saw their error, or their sin if you will, and obeyed their Master's voice, with heartening results. They wasted no time in self-condemnation, endless self-examination, and remorse, but at once joyfully obeyed and were blessed. Indeed, although three times during his trial Peter had denied knowing Christ Jesus, an error which we might think would be unforgivable, it was he to whom Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." It was Peter whom the Master designated to take charge of the little flock of Christians and carry on the healing, redemptive mission which had been started.

Surely this is a great lesson for us all. There is no sin or error that is unforgivable and beyond healing. Once the sin is seen and acknowledged, we can release ourselves from any suffering from it, since it never really belonged to us as God's children anyway.

Let us then also be compassionate, kind, and loving to those who we think have erred in some way or other. Let us not take upon ourselves the task of judging, but, as Jesus instructed us, let us "judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). Let us know and, above all, demonstrate that God's man is sinless, pure, free, and intelligent. This not only will free our neighbor from condemnation, but also will lift our thought to see that we ourselves can demonstrate freedom from all evil.

Mrs. Eddy writes in her book "Unity of Good" (p. 6), "Sooner or later the whole human race will learn that, in proportion as the spotless selfhood of God is understood, human nature will be renovated, and man will receive a higher selfhood, derived from God, and the redemption of mortals from sin, sickness, and death be established on everlasting foundations."