There is a verse in Romans that is both beautiful and powerful in its loving counsel that we place our lives firmly under the transforming power of the divine Spirit. It reads: “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (12:2).
For centuries, Christians everywhere have loved this verse, its hope and its promise. And undoubtedly many have felt the powerful divine influence in their lives that the verse articulates. Christian Science shows the why and how of the transformation needed and offers a clear and understandable path to bring us from conforming “to this world” to proving “that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” We begin following this path by gaining an understanding of what God is—divine Spirit—what man is—Spirit’s perfect likeness—and how we can demonstrate these spiritual facts in our lives.
In the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy writes: “Spirit, God, has created all in and of Himself. Spirit never created matter.” And, “Nothing but Spirit, Soul, can evolve Life, for Spirit is more than all else” (p. 335). As to what Spirit does, this book also says: “Spirit blesses man, but man cannot ‘tell whence it cometh.’ By it the sick are healed, the sorrowing are comforted, and the sinning are reformed. These are the effects of one universal God, the invisible good dwelling in eternal Science” (p. 78).
