Christ Jesus the perfect Christian, used his knowledge of God for humanity's redemption from sin, disease, and death. He used it for his own ascension beyond the material concept of existence, by which he refused to be bound. Redemption from all evil is still the purpose of Christianity. The spiritually consecrated Christian is not an inactive member of a Christian sect, or a theoretical religionist. He is required to demonstrate by his healing works the infinitude of Spirit and the unreality of matter, as did the Founder of Christianity.
Christian Science reveals the basis of Christ Jesus' teaching and healing. It shows its students how to do the works which he did, and how to ascend above the material sense of existence as he ascended. His self-forgetful labors, blending with his unparalleled virtue, enabled Christ Jesus to liberate the victims of materialism who turned to him for help. In one sense "virtue" is defined as "potency; efficacy," and "virtual" as "relating to a virtue, or efficacious power; energizing (Archaic)." Christianity's advance today rests upon the proof of spiritual power which it presents, and the love with which it ministers to stricken mortals. The world is waiting for multiplied evidence of the potency and efficacy of Christian teaching and practice.
On page 556 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy states that "Christian Science may absorb the attention of sage and philosopher, but the Christian alone can fathom it." One cannot fully grasp and apply this teaching through intellectual effort. It must be apprehended spiritually. Spiritual vision, combined with Christian character, is indispensable if one would be instrumental in lifting from humanity its burden of physical and moral affliction. A representative of Christ, Truth, cannot accept the evidence of the physical senses which misrepresents God and His perfect spiritual manifestation. Christian Science deals with all evil as deception, not reality. In Revelation it is written, "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world." From this deception of evil, humanity is destined to be awakened. One is deceived into fear of evil in the form of disease, poverty, and so forth. Another is deceived into being lured by evil in one form or another.
