Inevitably, the thoughtful student of the fourth Gospel is deeply impressed with the statements made by Jesus regarding the mental nature of existence. In the familiar passage, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent," eternal life is stated as found in knowledge of God and of Christ Jesus. But, knowing is a mental state, a condition of thought. Thus eternal life is posited as a state of consciousness, a mental experience.
Jesus also declared, "He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." Here again life is described as a mental process, believing—a state of consciousness. To be sure, "believeth" here is used in its deeper sense, with the connotation of knowing, that is, of having full conviction based upon understanding as to the truthfulness of one's conclusions. This believing is buttressed by Jesus' assurance that it would even overcome the claim of death which mortal mind, so called, may have pronounced upon its victim. And the Master repeated the same conviction in the succeeding verse: "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." This forthright declaration also implies the type of believing which connotes absolute assurance of continued existence. It is spoken with authority, without hesitation or qualification. Belief in Christ Jesus, that is to say, knowledge, understanding, of him and his relation to God, enables one to escape from belief in the experience called death and from the belief held by some that existence terminates with the grave. Mrs. Eddy refers to the Master's words thus (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, pp. 429, 430): "Jesus said (John viii. 51), 'If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.' That statement is not confined to spiritual life, but includes all the phenomena of existence." Significant statement, implying that understanding of Christ Jesus in his relation to God frees one from all the restrictions of mortal existence, even from belief in the necessity of death! Sickness and sin are thus destroyed, all limitations and all the beliefs that culminate in the experience of death set aside; and man, perfect and deathless, appears in the freedom native to the sons of God.
On page 485 of Science and Health the same great truth is stated with equal directness: "Not death, but the understanding of Life, makes man immortal." The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science clearly saw also that the gaining of immortality, of the immortal sense of man, was purely a mental process, a state of consciousness attainable through faithful devotion to the precepts of Christ Jesus. Moreover, since Life is God, the problem resolves itself into attaining to knowledge of God. What could be more definite? Are we utilizing our understanding of the words of the Founder of Christianity and of our Leader? Are we obeying their precepts? If so, we are laying hold of life eternal. How important, then, that these admonitions be not neglected!
