Chapter II
Atonement And Eucharist
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections
and lusts. – PAUL.
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel. – PAUL.
For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the
kingdom of God shall come. – JESUS.
Divine oneness
18:1
ATONEMENT is the exemplification of man's unity
ATONEMENT is the exemplification of man's unity
with God, whereby man reflects divine Truth, Life,
and Love. Jesus of Nazareth taught and demonstrated
man's oneness with the Father, and for this we owe him
endless homage. His mission was both in-
dividual and collective. He did life's work
aright not only in justice to himself, but in mercy to
mortals, – to show them how to do theirs, but not to do
it for them nor to relieve them of a single responsibility.
Jesus acted boldly, against the accredited evidence of the
senses, against Pharisaical creeds and practices, and he
refuted all opponents with his healing power.
Human reconciliation
18:13
The atonement of Christ reconciles man to God, not
The atonement of Christ reconciles man to God, not
God to man; for the divine Principle of Christ is God,
and how can God propitiate Himself? Christ
is Truth, which reaches no higher than itself.
The fountain can rise no higher than its source. Christ,
Truth, could conciliate no nature above his own, derived
19:1
from the eternal Love. It was therefore Christ's purpose
from the eternal Love. It was therefore Christ's purpose
to reconcile man to God, not God to man. Love and
Truth are not at war with God's image and likeness.
Man cannot exceed divine Love, and so atone for him-
self. Even Christ cannot reconcile Truth to error, for
Truth and error are irreconcilable. Jesus aided in recon-
ciling man to God by giving man a truer sense of Love,
the divine Principle of Jesus' teachings, and this truer
sense of Love redeems man from the law of matter,
sin, and death by the law of Spirit, – the law of divine
Love.
19:12
The Master forbore not to speak the whole truth, de-
The Master forbore not to speak the whole truth, de-
claring precisely what would destroy sickness, sin, and
death, although his teaching set households at variance,
and brought to material beliefs not peace, but a
sword.
Efficacious repentance
19:17
Every pang of repentance and suffering, every effort
Every pang of repentance and suffering, every effort
for reform, every good thought and deed, will help us to
understand Jesus' atonement for sin and aid
its efficacy; but if the sinner continues to pray
and repent, sin and be sorry, he has little part in the atone-
ment, – in the at-one-ment with God, – for he lacks the
practical repentance, which reforms the heart and enables
man to do the will of wisdom. Those who cannot dem-
onstrate, at least in part, the divine Principle of the teach-
ings and practice of our Master have no part in God. If
living in disobedience to Him, we ought to feel no secur-
ity, although God is good.
Jesus' sinless career
19:29
Jesus urged the commandment, "Thou shalt have no
Jesus urged the commandment, "Thou shalt have no
other gods before me," which may be ren-
dered: Thou shalt have no belief of Life as
mortal; thou shalt not know evil, for there is one Life, –