The spiritual identity of each one of God's ideas is already established in divine Mind, but to become conscious of this identity and to express it involves to human sense a process of spiritual growth or unfoldment. Divine Science reveals that man is the reflection of God, infinite Mind or Principle, and that his spiritual identity is in Mind, not in matter. Obedience to divine Principle identifies man as His spiritual idea, or reflection, for divine law is the law which governs his true being. In obedience to his divine Principle, man expresses divine qualities. Health, harmony, moral and spiritual beauty, are inherent in man; therefore, to experience and express these conditions is to manifest true manhood.
In order to realize spiritual identity it must be recognized that each and every one of God's ideas is identified in divine Mind as an individual spiritual idea. This spiritual fact is stated in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 70), where Mrs. Eddy writes, "The divine Mind maintains all identities, from a blade of grass to a star, as distinct and eternal." In the science of music each note in the scale has its own individuality, even though it is used in a great number of musical combinations. In any form of musical expression, each note must be used in obedience to the laws of music in order to produce harmony, but each retains its own individuality. Also in the science of mathematics the identity of each number is preserved, and each number has its definite place and is governed by mathematical law. But these sciences cannot adequately express the spiritual identity of man, because Spirit, God, is infinite, and man, His reflection, is expressed in infinite individuality.
The honest, clear-thinking, consecrated Christian Scientist devotes his spiritual energies to the recognition and achievement of his spiritual identity, that it may shine forth and glorify his Father-Mother God. Speaking to the self-righteous Pharisees concerning his spiritual selfhood, Christ Jesus said, "I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go." The "I" to which our Master thus referred was not the personal Jesus, but the Christ-idea, which is ever with the Father, and of which Jesus also spoke when he said, "I and my Father are one." It was his assertion of spiritual sonship which infuriated the materially minded, because they saw only the mortal Jesus.
