IN the fourth chapter of his epistle to the Galatians, Paul makes this statement: "Thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Here Paul states a great fact. Yet how few of us realize this! Most of us have been taught that this inheritance refers only to a future world; that if we are good here on earth we shall receive our reward after we have passed through the experience called death. There is, however, nothing in the context to lead us to these deductions. Paul speaks of the freedom and redemption which the coming of the Christ brings to mankind. He does not talk of a future state, but of the living present.
As one reads carefully Paul's statement and the accompanying passages, the questions arise: Is this of any practical use to me now? Does it bring any hope and help to my present condition of sin, ill health, and lack? The answer most emphatically is, Yes. Paul says we are heirs through Christ. On page 583 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy defines "Christ" as "the divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error."
It is clear, then, that it is through the understanding of the Christ that we can realize our true position as heirs of God, and so come into our inheritance of good. It is significant that our Leader uses the words "which comes to the flesh," because they show clearly the practicality of the mission of the Christ. There is nothing vague about them. "The divine manifestation of God" comes to us where we seem to be at the moment, believing perhaps in sin, disease, sorrow, poverty, and destroys the incarnate beliefs of material sense.
