THERE are two statements respecting the Messianic mission so seemingly paradoxical that they are confusing until in the light of Christian Science teaching their meaning becomes clear and forceful. In the record by Matthew we have the Master's positive declaration that he came not to destroy, but to fulfil; while in the first epistle of John we read that the Son of God was manifested to men "that he might destroy the works of the devil." Yet in a single sentence Mrs. Eddy relates these statements the one to the other and gives us at the same time the purpose of the Christ-Science which she discovered. On page 261 of "Miscellaneous Writings" she tells us, "Jesus said, 'I came not to destroy the law,' —the divine requirements typified in the law of Moses,—'but to fulfil it' in righteousness, by Truth's destroying error."
Christ Jesus came not to do away with the law and the prophets, but to show men how these laws might be fulfilled in the doing away with that which had given occasion to them; that is, in the destruction of sin. Without sin, without disobedience, there would be no need of laws, for, as Paul writes to Timothy, "the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, . . . and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine." The great Teacher did set at naught man-made laws, but he was ever obedient to the great commandment in that he cast out everything that was unlike good through the recognition of the perfect man, the man unfallen and changeless, perfect as the reflection of Him who alone is good, the creator reflected in His creation.
There have been those of the medical and clerical offices who have objected to Christian Science on very much the same ground as did the critics to the Christ-healing of an earlier day. To be sure it does set aside preconceived theories and opinions as to methods of bodily and moral salvation, but it has proved beyond question in the half-century of its existence that it has come not to destroy, but to fulfil. In doing away with the works of the one evil, that which is unreal, untrue, Christian Science is fulfilling the law of Truth, for whatever is real is of Truth, hence indestructible and immortal. Christian Science teaches first of all obedience to divine law, and in their continued demonstration of this law its followers have learned that when all mankind has come under its sway, sin, disease, and death will have vanished, for, as Mrs. Eddy points out on page 340 of Science and Health, "one infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; . . . annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed."
