Golden Text
Psalms 68:20
20Our God is a God Who sets us free. The way out of death belongs to God the Lord.
The Golden Text is from the New Life Version.
Responsive Reading
Titus 2:11–15 the (to 1st .); Philippians 2:5, 9–11 God, 12 work, 13
Titus 2:11. . . the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority.
Phil. 2:5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
9. . . God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12. . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Section 1
The Bible
I Peter 1:3–7
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Hebrews 12:1 let, 2 (to ;)
1let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
Romans 6:22 now, 23
22now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Science and Health with Key to the Scripturesby Mary Baker Eddy
45:6–10
Victory over
the grave
Our Master fully and finally demonstrated divine Science in his victory over death and the grave. Jesus’ deed was for the enlightenment of men and for the salvation of the whole world from sin, sickness, and death.
291:9–13
Mortals need not fancy that belief in the experience of death will awaken them to glorified being.
Universal salvation rests on progression and probation, and is unattainable without them.
240:19
Progress
demanded
If mortals are not progressive, past failures will be repeated until all wrong work is effaced or rectified. If at present satisfied with wrong-doing, we must learn to loathe it. If at present content with idleness, we must become dissatisfied with it. Remember that mankind must sooner or later, either by suffering or by Science, be convinced of the error that is to be overcome.
40:8–10
Divine Science adjusts the balance as Jesus adjusted it. Science removes the penalty only by first removing the sin which incurs the penalty.
265:5
Mortals must gravitate Godward, their affections and aims grow spiritual, — they must near the broader interpretations of being, and gain some proper sense of the infinite, — in order that sin and mortality may be put off.
324:4–5, 13
The purification of sense and self is a proof of progress.
Be watchful, sober, and vigilant. The way is straight and narrow, which leads to the understanding that God is the only Life. It is a warfare with the flesh, in which we must conquer sin, sickness, and death, either here or hereafter, — certainly before we can reach the goal of Spirit, or life in God.
Section 2
The Bible
Proverbs 14:12
12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Lamentations 5:21
21Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.
Jonah 1:1–3 (to :), 4, 5 (to 1st .), 7, 10, 12, 15, 17
1Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
2Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
3But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish:
4But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
5Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them.
7And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
10Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.
12And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
15So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
17Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Science and Health
233:1–2
Every day makes its demands upon us for higher proofs rather than professions of Christian power.
569:3
Every mortal at some period, here or hereafter, must grapple with and overcome the mortal belief in a power opposed to God.
19:26
If living in disobedience to Him, we ought to feel no security, although God is good.
183:21
Divine Mind rightly demands man’s entire obedience, affection, and strength. No reservation is made for any lesser loyalty. Obedience to Truth gives man power and strength. Submission to error superinduces loss of power.
291:28–31
Day of
judgment
No final judgment awaits mortals, for the judgment-day of wisdom comes hourly and continually, even the judgment by which mortal man is divested of all material error.
253:18–19, 32–2
If you believe in and practise wrong knowingly, you can at once change your course and do right.
The divine demand, “Be ye therefore perfect,” is scientific, and the human footsteps leading to perfection are indispensable.
203:24–25 (to 1st .)
Death is not a stepping-stone to Life, immortality, and bliss.
291:23–25 (to 1st .)
As death findeth mortal man, so shall he be after death, until probation and growth shall effect the needed change.
Section 3
The Bible
Psalms 107:8, 13 they, 14
8Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
13they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
Jonah 2:1, 2, 4, 7, 10
1Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly,
2And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
4Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
7When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
10And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
Jonah 3:1–3 (to 1st .)
1And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
2Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
3So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.
Psalms 139:17, 23, 24
17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Science and Health
4:3–5
What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds.
242:1–5
Spiritual
baptism
Through repentance, spiritual baptism, and regeneration, mortals put off their material beliefs and false individuality. It is only a question of time when “they shall all know Me [God], from the least of them unto the greatest.”
291:1–9
The suppositions that sin is pardoned while unforsaken, that happiness can be genuine in the midst of sin, that the so-called death of the body frees from sin, and that God’s pardon is aught but the destruction of sin, — these are grave mistakes. We know that all will be changed “in the twinkling of an eye,” when the last trump shall sound; but this last call of wisdom cannot come till mortals have already yielded to each lesser call in the growth of Christian character.
296:4 (only), 6–9 (to 1st .)
Progress is born of experience.
Scientific
purgation
Either here or hereafter, suffering or Science must destroy all illusions regarding life and mind, and regenerate material sense and self.
254:12
Imperfect mortals grasp the ultimate of spiritual perfection slowly; but to begin aright and to continue the strife of demonstrating the great problem of being, is doing much.
42:5
A belief
in death
The universal belief in death is of no advantage. It cannot make Life or Truth apparent. Death will be found at length to be a mortal dream, which comes in darkness and disappears with the light.
Section 4
The Bible
Luke 11:30 as
30as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
John 5:1 there, 19, 24
1there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
19Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Luke 7:11–15 he
11he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.
12Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
14And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
15And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
Science and Health
38:24–26
Jesus mapped out the path for others. He unveiled the Christ, the spiritual idea of divine Love.
429:31–3
Jesus said (John viii. 51), “If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.” That statement is not confined to spiritual life, but includes all the phenomena of existence. Jesus demonstrated this, healing the dying and raising the dead.
289:14
Death but
an illusion
The fact that the Christ, or Truth, overcame and still overcomes death proves the “king of terrors” to be but a mortal belief, or error, which Truth destroys with the spiritual evidences of Life; and this shows that what appears to the senses to be death is but a mortal illusion, for to the real man and the real universe there is no death-process.
426:16
When it is learned that disease cannot destroy life, and that mortals are not saved from sin or sickness by death, this understanding will quicken into newness of life. It will master either a desire to die or a dread of the grave, and thus destroy the great fear that besets mortal existence.
406:20–25 We
Resist to
the end
We can, and ultimately shall, so rise as to avail ourselves in every direction of the supremacy of Truth over error, Life over death, and good over evil, and this growth will go on until we arrive at the fulness of God’s idea, and no more fear that we shall be sick and die.
Section 5
The Bible
Acts 3:26 God
26God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
John 8:1, 2, 12
1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Luke 15:11–14, 17–22, 24 (to ;)
11And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
24For this my son was dead, and is alive again;
Science and Health
117:15–19
The miracles
of Jesus
Our Master taught spirituality by similitudes and parables. As a divine student he unfolded God to man, illustrating and demonstrating Life and Truth in himself and by his power over the sick and sinning.
21:25–27
Being in sympathy with matter, the worldly man is at the beck and call of error, and will be attracted thitherward.
22:3–12, 20
Moral
retrogression
Vibrating like a pendulum between sin and the hope of forgiveness, — selfishness and sensuality causing constant retrogression, — our moral progress will be slow. Waking to Christ’s demand, mortals experience suffering. This causes them, even as drowning men, to make vigorous efforts to save themselves; and through Christ’s precious love these efforts are crowned with success.
“Work out your own salvation,” is the demand of Life and Love, for to this end God worketh with you.
Love is not hasty to deliver us from temptation, for Love means that we shall be tried and purified.
Section 6
The Bible
II Corinthians 4:6, 14 he
6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
14he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
I Corinthians 15:55, 57 thanks
55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
57thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Timothy 6:11 follow, 12
11follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Science and Health
46:20–26
Spiritual
ascension
Jesus’ unchanged physical condition after what seemed to be death was followed by his exaltation above all material conditions; and this exaltation explained his ascension, and revealed unmistakably a probationary and progressive state beyond the grave. Jesus was “the way;” that is, he marked the way for all men.
487:3–6
Exercise
of Mind-
faculties
Life is deathless. Life is the origin and ultimate of man, never attainable through death, but gained by walking in the pathway of Truth both before and after that which is called death.
21:9
If the disciple is advancing spiritually, he is striving to enter in. He constantly turns away from material sense, and looks towards the imperishable things of Spirit. If honest, he will be in earnest from the start, and gain a little each day in the right direction, till at last he finishes his course with joy.