It is related in the gospel of John that a certain ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus by name, came to Jesus, evidently for instruction, and was told by him that "except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God;" and also, "that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." To Nicodemus, steeped in the learning of the times, these tremendous statements of the Master were incomprehensible at first, as indeed they were to the great mass of his own people; and, yet, a few faithful followers did catch the meaning of what the Master taught, and they in turn began to impart the Word to those willing to hear. Thus a higher and more glorious hope was born, and a new era established in the world.
In time, however, superstition, dogma, and materialistic philosophy began to obscure the plain truth of the gospel, and the vitality of its message seemed almost lost. Conformity to doctrine and creed was given as great, if not a greater, place than consecration to loving service; and it could be said, as in an older day, that faith was again separated from works, and belief had superseded demonstration. In due course, when it seemed as if the old concept of life as a mystery, and all existence as being bounded by the cradle and the grave, were again likely to prevail, under the providence of God it was given to a pure and consecrated woman, Mary Baker Eddy, to reveal anew the truth. This wonderful revelation, which is a restatement of primitive Christianity, she called Christian Science; and to distressed humanity, yearning for deliverance from its woes, it says in the manner of Jesus, "Ye must be born again." A patient and sincere study of this Science will disclose how this regeneration may be accomplished, and indicate the steps that we as individuals must take in thus being born anew.
Jesus said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing;" and this vital truth, which is substantiated by the whole of Christian Science practice, spiritually interpreted means that all reality is in Spirit; that God is Spirit, and man and the universe are purely spiritual; that everything opposed to or unlike God, Spirit, is unreal, illusory, and destined to pass away. When this grand fundamental verity is realized by mankind, in however small a degree, in that solemn moment spiritual birth begins.
