Question on this weeks lesson-Everlasting Punishment

[Sue]

I have a question in regards to the following from this weeks lesson "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

The words “only begotten Son” do not rest easy with me. My understanding is that we are all the children of God "begotten" (created) by God and this verse seems to contradict this. On thinking about this during the week my thoughts are that Jesus was the only full expression of man’s sonship with God and that his life was God supplying the human need. As humanity comes to understand Jesus’ sonship it will then understand its own sonship (spiritual unity with God) and comprehend Life as everlasting Spirit.

Your thoughts on this would be appreciated

[MikeDavis]

Sue,

My sense of this is that "only begotten Son" relates to the virgin birth of Jesus. Jesus was the only human being who was born of a virgin, without a human father. So Jesus was the only child of God, appearing as a human being, who was literally "begotten" by God.

[LoraHoward]

MikeDavis made a good point.

Another way to look at it is that we humans are the ones dividing things into two, many, a collective. This is not the Truth. What is here and now true is that there is one God and therefore One Man, albeit there are infinite identities and aspects of what God is thinking, which is, Man and the Universe.

Therefore, there is one begotten Son--generic Man, which Christ Jesus demonstrated the best to our sense of things. Indeed, now we all are the only begotten son of God. Though it doth not yet seem to appear, it is still true

Regards,

Lora

[adyer]

That's an interesting question. I know I have asked the same thing. One thing I learned is not to interpret the literal language of the Bible in a doctrinal manner. There's a lot of superstition in the world trying to attach this sort of doctrinal reasoning to the Bible.

I find so much comfort in Mrs. Eddy's reminder that it is the spiritual meaning of the Bible that leads us to truth...and for which she provided a key in her textbook.

Going beyond the "Everlasting Punishment" lesson I found in "Adam and Fallen Man" an interesting quote:

Through discernment of the spiritual opposite of materiality, even the way through Christ, Truth, man will reopen with the key of divine Science the gates of Paradise which human beliefs have closed, and will find himself unfallen, upright, pure, and free, not needing to consult almanacs for the probabilities either of his life or of the weather, not needing to study brainology to learn how much of a man he is. (S&H 171:4)

It tells me the way Christ works in human consciousness is to reveal spiritual existence through the reversal of material concepts. This Christ consciousness, the ideal of Mind, is the only begotten Son. Elsewhere it reads (but not in the lesson, I think):

The offspring of God start not from matter or ephemeral dust. They are in and of Spirit, divine Mind, and so forever continue. God is one. The allness of Deity is His oneness. Generically man is one, and specifically man means all men. (S&H 267:3)

So there is only one God and there is only one man.

[Sue]

Thanks everyone for your ideas. I too have found that the lesson this week "Adam and Fallen Man" built beautifully on the idea of one God and one man. That phrase "only begotten Son" now rests easy with me.

[btodd]

The expression "everlasting punishment" can't be true as God is the Saviour of all men (humanity) in the plain statment of 1 Ti 4:9-11. The part about especially of believers is something you need to talk to me about. Can we exchange e-mail addresses here or is that against the rules?
Bob Todd
San Jacinto. CA

[adyer]

btodd,

The phrase "Everlasting Punishment" is taken from orthodox theology and explained in the CS Lesson-Sermon in its spiritual sense.

Orthodox theology states that unsaved man is subject to everlasting punishment after death. The fear of hell was the basis for a lot of evangelical efforts.

Christian Science teaches that the real man -- the man of God's creating -- is incapable of sin or death. Everlasting punishment does not apply to God's image and likeness.

However, as stated in the Tenets of Christian Science (page 497):
"We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts."

To the belief in sin, punishment is everlasting because the belief is punished as long as it lasts.

[btodd]

Thanks for the reply Adyer,

You give me some insight about some of the Christian Science beliefs… even though I find them difficult to understand. I have a strong belief in the plain literal statement of John 3:27 – from the King James it reads: John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

Now, here is my interpretation of that passage. A person’s understanding of all that is heard or read is limited by this verse in that all are given to either understand or misunderstand that which is heard and read. For example, if God wants me to believe that there will be an “everlasting punishment” for anyone, then that will be what I believe. A person can believe that “everlasting punishment” is a fact that will be put into force at the time and place decided by God Himself… and I can believe this is true EVEN IF IT IS FALSE.

The expression eternal punishment is found only one time in the King James Version.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

If I am to believe this plain statement then I must believe that there is such a thing as “eternal punishment” By my reading that verse, wouldn’t you think that is what I would believe?

But looking more closely at the verse we must go to the Bible in the original language. That is impossible as the original autographs have been lost. I do believe that the original autographs were God inspired but it makes sense to me that the translations have been affected, corrupted even, by interpretation and traditions errors. Because of this, false statements show up in many Bible versions of which the King James is only one.

----- I was going to go on and on, but the best way to answer your comment is to have you read a book on the topic:

“At the End of the Ages...the Abolition of Hell” by Bob Evely

This is a great book... You need to at least read the first three chapters.

http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:At%20the%20End%20of%20the%20Ages...the%20Aboliti on%20of%20Hell%3A:3001457372;_ylc=X3oDMTB1c21tcDhk BF9TAzk2NjMyOTA3BHNlYwNmZWVkBHNsawNib29rcw--

Have a great day and many blessings,

Bob Todd
San Jacinto, CA

[JudyRae]

Hi Bob,

Good to see you here!

This topic came up again recently in the "Praying about current events" forums where we discuss the current Bible Lessons. I found out some fascinating facts about this concept and have posted them on post 4: http://www.christianscience.com/forums/showthread.php?t=393

JudyRae