There is no subject of such vital interest to humanity as that of freedom. The universal demand and endeavor is for a greater, truer freedom than is today experienced, and there is manifestly much need of some better, surer means for obtaining it than is in general use. The Bible shows clearly that man has a right to be free,—free from everything that would tend to bind and oppress him,—and it also shows how perfect freedom may be won. As a notable illustration of this we have these words of St. Paul in his epistle to the Romans: "There is . . . no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
In this connection Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes as follows in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 227): "Discerning the rights of man, we cannot fail to foresee the doom of all oppression. Slavery is not the legitimate state of man. God made man free.... Love and Truth make free, but evil and error lead into captivity."
Paul had found from pointed experience what it means to be condemned through failure to be "in Christ Jesus,"—that is, through walking after the flesh, and not after the Spirit. As we remember, there was a time when the apostle (then Saul of Tarsus) was bitterly opposed to the Master and his mission, and when as a consequence he taunted, harassed, and persecuted the Master's followers. In the eighth chapter of Acts we read: "As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison." This was indeed the time when he was condemned.
