Forgiveness
Ssam
(...) Forgiveness is that operation of the Divine Mind which relieves man
of the penalties of his sins that he has committed, and permits him to turn
from his evil thoughts and deeds, and seek the love of the Father; and if he
earnestly seeks, find the happiness which is waiting for him to obtain. It
does not violate any law that God has established to prevent man from
avoiding the penalties of his violations of the law of God controlling his
conduct.
The law of compensation, that what a man sows that shall he reap, is not set
aside, but in the particular case where a man becomes penitent and in all
earnestness prays the Father to forgive him of his sins and make a new man
of him, the operation of another and greater law is called into activity,
and the old law of compensation is nullified, and, as it were, swallowed up
in the power of this law of forgiveness and love. So you see there is no
setting aside of any of God's laws. As in the physical world certain lesser
laws are overcome by greater laws, so in the spirit world or in the
operation of spiritual things, the greater laws must prevail over the
lesser.
God's laws never change but the application of these laws to particular
facts and conditions do seem to change, when two laws come into apparent
conflict, and the lesser must give away to the greater.
The spiritual laws are just as fixed as are the physical laws that control
the material universe; and no law having application to the same condition
of facts, ever is different in its operation or in its effects.
The sun and planets in their movements are governed by fixed laws, and they
operate with such exactness that men who make a study of these laws and
comprehend them can, with almost mathematical precision, foretell the
movements of these heavenly bodies. This only means that as long as the sun
and the planets remain as they are, and surrounded by the same influences,
and meet no law operating in a manner contrary to the laws which usually
control them, these planets and sun will repeat their movements year after
year in the same way and with like precision. But suppose that a more
powerful and contrary law should come into operation, and influence the
movements of these bodies, do you suppose for a moment that they would
pursue the same course as if such greater law had not intruded itself?
The effect of this is not to set aside the lesser law, or even to change it,
but to subordinate it to the operations of the greater law; and if these
operations were removed or ceased to act, the lesser law would resume its
operations on these planets again, and they would move in accordance
therewith, just as if its power had never been affected by the greater law.
So, in the spirit world, when a man has committed sins on earth, the law of
compensation demands that he must pay the penalty of these sins until there
has been a full expiation, or until the law is satisfied. And this law does
not change in its operations, and no man can avoid or run away from the
inexorable demands of the law. He cannot of himself abate one jot or tittle
of the penalties, but must pay to the last farthing as the Master said, and
hence, he cannot, of himself hope to change the operations of this law.
BUT, AS THE CREATOR OF ALL LAW HAS PROVIDED ANOTHER AND HIGHER LAW, WHICH,
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS MAY BE BROUGHT INTO OPERATION AND CAUSES THE FORMER
LAW TO CEASE TO OPERATE, AND MAN MAY EXPERIENCE THE BENEFIT OF THE WORKINGS
OF THIS HIGHER LAW. SO WHEN GOD FORGIVES A MAN OF HIS SINS, AND MAKES HIM A
NEW CREATURE IN HIS NATURE AND LOVE, HE DOES NOT, FOR THE PARTICULAR CASE
ANNIHILATE THE LAW OF COMPENSATION, BUT REMOVES THAT UPON WHICH THIS LAW MAY
OPERATE.
Sin is violation of God's law, and the effect of sin is the penalty which
such violation imposes. A man's suffering for sins committed are not the
results of God's special condemnation in each particular case, but are the
results of the workings and scourgings of his conscience and recollections
and as long as conscience works he will suffer, and the greater the sins
committed, the greater will be the suffering. Now all this implies that a
man's soul is filled to a greater or lesser extent with these memories,
which for the time constitute his very existence. He lives with these
memories, and the suffering and torment, which result from them can never
leave him until the memories of these sins, or the result of them, cease to
be a part of himself and his constant companions--this is the inexorable law
of compensation, and man of himself has no way of escaping this law except
by his long expiation, which removes these memories and satisfies the law.
Man cannot change this law, and God will not. So, as I say, the law never
changes. But remember this fact, that in order for the law to operate, a man
must have these memories, and they must be a part of his very existence.
Now, suppose that the creator of this law has created another law, but which
under certain conditions, and upon a man doing certain things, these
memories are taken from him, and no longer constitute a part or portion of
his existence; then, I ask, what is there in or of that man upon this law of
compensation that can act or operate? The law is not changed, it is not even
set aside, but upon which it can operate no longer exists, and consequently
there is no reason or existence of facts which call for its operation.
So, I say, as do your scientists and philosophers, that God's laws are fixed
and never change, but I further say, which they fail to perceive, that
certain conditions which may and do call for the operations of these laws
today, tomorrow change or cease to exist, so that the laws are no longer
effective.
And so when the truths of God's forgiveness of sin is declared, many wise
men hold up their hands and shout, "God's laws do not change, and even God
Himself cannot change them. And to effect a forgiveness of sins, the great
law of compensation must be violated. God works no such miracle, or gives
special dispensation. No, man must pay the penalty of his evil deeds until
the law is fulfilled."
HOW LIMITED IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF MORTALS, AND OF SPIRITS AS WELL, OF THE
POWER AND WISDOM AND LOVE OF THE FATHER. HIS LOVE IS THE GREATEST THING IN
ALL THE UNIVERSE AND THE LAW OF LOVE IS THE GREATEST LAW. EVERY OTHER LAW IS
SUBORDINATE TO IT, AND MUST WORK IN UNISON WITH IT; AND LOVE, DIVINE LOVE OF
THE FATHER, WHEN GIVEN TO MAN AND HE POSSESSES IT, IS THE FULFILLING OF ALL
LAW. THIS LOVE FREES MAN FROM ALL LAW EXCEPT THE LAW OF ITS OWNSELF--AND
WHEN MAN POSSESSES THIS LOVE HE IS SLAVE TO NO LAW AND IS FREE INDEED.
The law of compensation and all laws not in harmony with the Law of Love,
have nothing upon which to operate in that man's case, and God's laws are
not changed but merely, as to this man, have no existence.
NOW, LET ALL MEN, WISE AND UNWISE, KNOW THAT GOD IN HIS LOVE AND WISDOM, HAS
PROVIDED A MEANS BY WHICH, MAN, IF HE SO WILL, MAY ESCAPE THE UNCHANGING LAW
OF COMPENSATION, AND BECOME NO LONGER SUBJECT TO ITS DEMANDS AND PENALTIES;
AND THESE MEANS ARE SIMPLE AND EASY, AND WITHIN THE COMPREHENSION AND GRASP
OF EVERY LIVING SOUL, BE HE SAINT OR SINNER, A WISE MAN OR AN IGNORANT ONE.
Intellect in the sense of being learned is not involved, but the man who
knows that God exists and provides him with food and raiment as the result
of his daily toil, as well as the great intellectual scientist or
philosopher, may learn the way to these redeeming truths. I do not mean that
a man by mere exercise of mental powers may receive the benefit of this
great provision for his redemption. The soul must seek and it will find, and
the soul of the wise may not be as capable of receiving as the soul of the
ignorant.
GOD IS LOVE. MAN HAS A NATURAL LOVE, BUT THIS NATURAL LOVE IS NOT SUFFICIENT
TO ENABLE HIM TO FIND THESE GREAT MEANS THAT I SPEAK OF. ONLY THE DIVINE
LOVE OF THE FATHER, AND HE IS WILLING THAT ALL MEN SHOULD HAVE THIS LOVE. IT
IS FREE AND WAITING TO BE BESTOWED UPON ALL MEN. BUT STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM,
GOD WILL NOT, AND I MIGHT SAY, CANNOT, BESTOW THIS LOVE UNLESS MAN SEEKS FOR
IT, AND ASKS FOR IT IN EARNESTNESS AND FAITH.
The will of man is a wonderful thing, and stands between him and this love,
if he fails to exercise this will in seeking for it. No man can secure it
against his will. What a wonderful thing is man's will, and how he should
study and learn what a great part of his being it is.
THE LOVE OF THE FATHER COMES ONLY INTO A MAN'S SOUL WHEN HE SEEKS IT IN
PRAYER AND FAITH, AND OF COURSE THIS IMPLIES THAT HE WILLS IT TO COME TO
HIM. NO MAN IS EVER REFUSED THIS LOVE WHEN HE PROPERLY ASKS FOR IT.
NOW THIS LOVE IS A PART OF THE DIVINE ESSENCE, AND WHEN A MAN POSSESSES IT
IN SUFFICIENT ABUNDANCE HE BECOMES A PART OF DIVINITY ITSELF; AND IN THE
DIVINE THERE IS NO SIN OR ERROR, AND, CONSEQUENTLY, WHEN HE BECOMES A PART
OF THIS DIVINITY NO SIN OR ERROR CAN FORM A PART OF HIS BEING.
Now, as I have said, man who is without this love has his memories of sin
and evil deeds, and, under the law of compensation, must pay the penalties.
Yet when this Divine Love comes into his soul, it leaves no room for these
memories, and as he becomes more and more filled with this Love these
memories disappear and only the Love inhabits his soul, as it were. Hence,
there remains nothing in him upon which this law can operate, and the man is
no longer its slave or subject. This Love is sufficient of itself to cleanse
the soul from all sin and error, and make man one with the Father.
This is forgiveness of sin, or rather the result of forgiveness. When a man
prays to the Father for this forgiveness, He never turns a deaf ear, but
says, in effect, "I will remove your sins and give you my love, I will not
set aside or change my laws of compensation, but I will remove from your
soul everything upon which this law can operate, and as to you it becomes as
if it had no existence."
I know by your personal experience that this forgiveness is a real, actual,
existing thing, and when the Father forgives, sin disappears, and Love only
exists, and that Love in its fullness is the fulfilling of the law.
So let men know that God does forgive sin, and when He forgives the penalty
disappears, and when they disappear as the result of such forgiveness, no
law of God is changed or violated.
This was the great mission of Jesus when he came to earth. Before he came
and taught this great truth, the forgiveness of sin was not understood, even
by the Hebrew teachers, but their doctrine was an eye for an eye and a tooth
for a tooth. The Divine Love, as I have feebly described, was not known or
sought for--only the care and protection and material benefits that God
might give to the Hebrews.
THE DIVINE LOVE ENTERING INTO AND TAKING POSSESSION OF THE SOULS OF MEN
CONSTITUTE THE NEW BIRTH, AND WITHOUT THIS NO MAN CAN SEE THE KINGDOM OF
GOD. (...)
True Gospel Revealed Anew by Jesus, Vol. Ipage 139