“The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation.” – Exodus 15 : 2
This lesson has salvation mentioned all through it. In Science and Health p. 593 Mrs. Eddy defines it as, “SALVATION. Life, Truth, and Love understood and demonstrated as supreme over all; sin, sickness, and death destroyed.”
Carpenter writes in Mary Baker Eddy, Her Spiritual Footsteps, Chapter 45
“It used to be easy healing sickness: anything, a man all cut to pieces. But now we are meeting sin; I would rather have a man with his head cut off, to heal, rather than sin.” (statement told to student by Mary Baker Eddy) …Thus, our Leader recognized that today, in order to heal the sick scientifically through spiritual means, the claim of sin must be handled, where sin is defined as the malicious intent of organized mortal mind or animal magnetism, to hinder and stop the march of Truth on earth. …Thus, Mrs. Eddy wanted the students at Pleasant View not to become discouraged, when they heard about the miracles which she and the early students performed so easily, as if they possessed a spirituality far above any present possibility. The early workers had less organized interference. Mrs. Eddy knew, that if we had been healing in those early days, we would have performed the same great works with the same ease. In the above statement, by the term sin, she unquestionably meant the malicious tendency of organized opposition, endeavoring to obstruct the path of Truth in its onward and irresistible march; she realized, that she would rather have the worst case to heal, than to meet and overcome this malicious element in mortal thought. Yet she did meet it, and so can we.”
This opened my eyes to a greater appreciation of the need to address sin in thought and why to put focus on the physical healing is worthless. I see why Mrs. Eddy stressed the need to, “watch and pray” that we not be tempted. Repeating words, human goodness, and a lack to obedience takes us off the road to salvation. I am grateful to be learning here how to correctly uncover and face sin; and understand the allness of Life, Truth and Love.