John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Comment:

This is, of course, a very well-known passage—probably the one I'm asked about most. Traditionalists believe that the "Son" refers to Jesus Christ, and this is one of the passages they use to support their contention that belief in Jesus as the "only-begotten" Son of God is essential for salvation. In Unity we understand that it is not belief in Jesus that is essential, but belief in the universal spiritual Truth of the Christ—the Presence of God that each of us truly is, which Jesus taught and demonstrated throughout his ministry.

Metaphysically, we understand the "Son" to be equivalent to the "Word" in John 1:1. It describes the Christ—the creative energy of divine omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence that is the Truth of our spiritual Self. It is the Christ, the Word, the creative empowerment that our divine Source sends into the world—as us—to continue the great creative process.

Each of us, then is the 'only Son'; it is not unique to Jesus. We are called, each of us, to follow the teachings and example of Jesus, so that we can continue to be about the work of healing, loving, forgiving, and empowering, thus bringing into expression the new consciousness that Jesus calls 'the kingdom of heaven.'

This is our work to do; it's our truth to find, believe, and express. We must believe in ourselves as infinite Spirit in order to complete our spiritual purpose. If we don't, we will continue living in lack and ignorance, waiting vainly for a salvation from without that won't come until we realize the Power we have within ourselves—the power we truly are.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed