WHAT, precisely, did Paul mean when in his second letter to the church in Corinth he exclaimed, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation"? These significant words follow a statement also of great import. Repeating a sentiment uttered prophetically by Isaiah centuries before, the apostle declared that God said, "I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee." And in recognition of the ever-presence of the divine power the apostle affirms that the present is the time for the expected salvation, the accepted time, the time of welcome.
The nature of the salvation which the Christ brings to mortals, and which God, speaking first through Isaiah and again through Paul, promised not only to the children of Israel but to the Gentiles as well, is fully revealed in Christian Science. And, moreover, not only does Mrs. Eddy set forth the nature of this salvation promised now, in the living present, "the accepted time," but she makes equally clear the means whereby this spiritual liberty may be gained.
From the beginning of human history mortals have been eager to free themselves from the restrictions, the fears, miseries, and hardships, of human experience; but they have not known how to accomplish the desired end. They have not understood God, Life, and His manifestation, man. And because of this lack, they floundered in a sea of uncertainty until Christ Jesus and Christian Science revealed the way of salvation for all. So forceful is the example of the Nazarene, and so complete is the final statement which our God-inspired Leader has given us in Christian Science, that we are enabled to begin to work out our salvation immediately upon gaining even a slight understanding of spiritual Truth.
