THERE are probably few chapters in the Bible more pregnant with helpful meaning to the student of Christian Science than the eighth chapter of Romans; and it would be impossible to estimate the number of people to whom a right understanding of the wonderful statement of the Apostle Paul, "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death," has brought release from what appeared to be inveterate disease or sin.
Every healing in Christian Science may be said to consist in the canceling of some phase of false, material, so-called law by that "law of the Spirit of life" which was exemplified in every act and word of the Master. Because Jesus' allegiance was wholly to Spirit, because he never for one moment admitted as real the flesh or its asserted claims, he proved that he was the servant of God, as well as the Son of the Highest, and could therefore speak with authority to all that was unlike good. This absolute conformity to divine Principle and to the demands of righteousness conferred upon him a corresponding understanding of spiritual power; for none knew better than he that the individual becomes like unto that with which he identifies himself.
In endeavoring to explain the possibility of immunity from the so-called laws of sickness and sin, the following illustration came to thought. Suppose that some foreigner had come to the United States, and, believing that in the new country he could enjoy a greater measure of freedom than he had in the old, became an American citizen. Then suppose some one came to him and said: "Why, you are still a foreigner; you speak a foreign language; you eat foreign food; and, to a large extent, you observe foreign customs. You are still under the dominion of your former country, and you must serve it at this time." If he were ignorant he might believe this to be so; but if he were sufficiently enlightened on the question, he would say: "No, I am not a foreigner. I am an American, because I have renounced my allegiance to the foreign country to which I once belonged, and have pledged it to the United States." And, if necessary, he could make his appeal to the Government of the United States; and the Government would substantiate his claim.
