To admit that Christ Jesus is the Son of God, and that his crucifixion and resurrection served to teach mankind the way of salvation, has value in lifting thought above sin. However, mere admission of the great work of the Master and of the power of the Christ to heal and save is not enough to save the sinner from the suffering coincident with sin. One is not wholly free from experiencing sickness, poverty, fear, and limitation as long as he believes in the reality of matter and the power of its so-called laws to govern man. To admit the verity of a mathematical fact is important, but not sufficient to solve mathematical problems. Solution demands understanding of the facts and use of the rules involved. Likewise confession of the Christ involves the understanding of God and His Christ. It demands the demonstration of divine Principle, whereby Truth permeates the minutiae of daily experience and enables one to be a true follower of Christ Jesus.
One meaning of confess is to prove. What is Christ that we should prove him? Christ is the true idea of God. Spiritual ideas, pure and enlightening, emanating from divine Mind, evidence the Christ. Constantly to maintain such concepts is to individualize the infinite power which heals the sick. Mary Baker Eddy defines the Christ thus (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 583): "The divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error." She also states (ibid., p. 316), "Christ illustrates that blending with God, his divine Principle, which gives man dominion over all the earth." The work of Christ Jesus illustrated man's unity with God and proved man's dominion over all the earth.
Peter made an important confession when Jesus questioned the disciples (Matt. 16:15), "Whom say ye that I am?" Peter was instant and evidently emphatic in his reply, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Commenting on this, Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health, p. 137), "This assertion elicited from Jesus the benediction, 'Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven;' that is, Love hath shown thee the way of Life!"
