ABC of Spiritualism 18 & 19 & 20/100

18. From the viewpoint of Spiritualism, how does Jesus save men?

By his truth and by his life. According to the teachings of Jesus men become FREE (or saved) by knowledge of the truth. “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Spiritualism fully accords with this. It holds that the whole duty of man is to find the truth, love the truth, follow the truth and that in so doing he becomes a free man. As the life of Jesus was a beautiful commentary upon his teachings, even a more eloquent exposition of the truth than his words, as it was, in fact, a “living epistle, known and read of all men,” it is truly said that Jesus saves men by his life.

19. Does not Spiritualism recognize special value and efficacy in the death of Jesus in saving men? No. Spiritualism sees in the death of Jesus an illustration of the martyr spirit, of that unselfish and heroic devotion to humanity which ever characterized the life of Jesus, but no special atoning value in his sufferings and death. The world has had uncounted illustrations of men who have died for the truth. All such deaths have a moral value and influence but not in a sense of a ransom price for the souls of others, as taught by the so-called orthodox churches.

20. How do Spiritualists explain the statement of Jesus: “I and the Father are one?”

They put alongside this statement another of his statements: “The Father is greater than I” and find an interpretation in which both are true. Jesus and the Father were one in nature, one in desire and purpose for humanity’s uplift, and yet as the Infinite Life and Intelligence and the Source of all Being, the Father was greater than the son, the Fountain greater than any stream that flows from it.