THROUGH spiritual grace, or the manifestation of God's love for His creation, the power of the Christ ideal is evidenced in human experience. Jesus so loved and expressed the nature of the Christ ideal that its gracious impartiality has become the standard of Christian brotherhood. With this standard, the greater the malice formed against an individual or a nation, the greater the love that individual or nation must express.
The contentious and malicious qualities of mortal mind are unknown to the Christ-idea, which Jesus exemplified; nor is partial, personal love known to this true ideal. Spiritual love is expressed in the patient steadfastness that looks to God, divine Principle, Mind, for judgment and direction rather than to one's own personal preference or that of another. Such love, having its source in God, divine Love, rises above mere personal affection to an appreciation of the holy Principle that governs every thought and deed of the righteous man. Had Jesus not perceived this truth, we should not have his glorious demonstration of resurrection and ascension as proofs of the triumph of Love.
Only by following Jesus' example can the Christian Scientist make practical Mrs. Eddy's words on page 67 of Science and Health, "Grace and Truth are potent beyond all other means and methods." And on the same page she gives this explanation: "Spiritual, not corporeal, consciousness is needed. Man delivered from sin, disease, and death presents the true likeness or spiritual ideal." Growth in grace, in the understanding of Love's power, spiritualizes the human consciousness and opens it to receive the Christ ideal, which delivers from sin, disease, and death.
