The reflection of God, good, is always present in some measure in human consciousness. It is good which makes possible the present achievement of true humanhood. But spiritual man, the man made by God, is fully characterized by Godlike qualities. The beauty of holiness is the true nature of man. Christ Jesus illustrated the character of the ideal man in his own pure life, and this gave him power to heal. He demonstrated completely, and for all time, man's forever oneness, or unity, with his heavenly Father, divine Love, Principle. The proving of this unity with God we call atonement.
Christian Science presents the fact that, in the process of atonement, all dross of mortal belief will be consumed; and the loveliness which really is man's will become apparent to everyone. This follows somewhat the pattern involved in the refining of gold, or any other precious metal. All that occurs is that the dross is separated from the metal. The good which mankind reflects from God is never injured by the purifying fire of divine Science. Christ, Truth, manifesting as it does the power and presence of God, divine Love, brings the atonement. Mary Baker Eddy explains the office of Christ understandingly in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." She says of Christ (p. 565), "This immaculate idea, represented first by man and, according to the Revelator, last by woman, will baptize with fire; and the fiery baptism will burn up the chaff of error with the fervent heat of Truth and Love, melting and purifying even the gold of human character."
What we call human consciousness is the mental state in which the error of material sense appears to be in conflict with the truth of immortal sense. This apparent conflict is but a mortal illusion because to infinite God. Spirit, there is no conflict with error, nor is man hampered or troubled with false belief. The real man always reflects God. There is no lapse in this divine relationship.
