1. The attraction of guilt is found in sin, not error. 2Sin will be repeated because of this attraction. 3Fear can become so acute that the sin is denied the acting out. 4But while the guilt remains attractive the mind will suffer, and not let go of the idea of sin. 5For guilt still calls to it, and the mind hears it and yearns for it, making itself a willing captive to its sick appeal. 6Sin is an idea of evil that cannot be corrected, and yet will be forever desirable. 7As an essential part of what the ego thinks you are, you will always want it. 8And only an avenger, with a mind unlike your own, could stamp it out through fear.
2. The ego does not think it possible that love, not fear, is really called upon by sin, and always answers. 2For the ego brings sin to fear, demanding punishment. 3Yet punishment is but another form of guilt’s protection, for what is deserving punishment must have been really done. 4Punishment is always the great preserver of sin, treating it with respect and honoring its enormity. 5What must be punished, must be true. 6And what is true must be eternal, and will be repeated endlessly. 7For what you think is real you want, and will not let it go.
3. An error, on the other hand, is not attractive. 2What you see clearly as a mistake you want corrected. 3Sometimes a sin can be repeated over and over, with obviously distressing results, but without the loss of its appeal. 4And suddenly, you change its status from a sin to a mistake. 5Now you will not repeat it; you will merely stop and let it go, unless the guilt remains. 6For then you will but change the form of sin, granting that it was an error, but keeping it uncorrectable. 7This is not really a change in your perception, for it is sin that calls for punishment, not error.
4. The Holy Spirit cannot punish sin. 2Mistakes He recognizes, and would correct them all as God entrusted Him to do. 3But sin He knows not, nor can He recognize mistakes that cannot be corrected. 4For a mistake that cannot be corrected is meaningless to Him. 5Mistakes are for correction, and they call for nothing else. 6What calls for punishment must call for nothing. 7Every mistake must be a call for love. 8What, then, is sin? 9What could it be but a mistake you would keep hidden; a call for help that you would keep unheard and thus unanswered?
5. In time, the Holy Spirit clearly sees the Son of God can make mistakes. 2On this you share His vision. 3Yet you do not share His recognition of the difference between time and eternity. 4And when correction is completed, time is eternity. 5The Holy Spirit can teach you how to look on time differently and see beyond it, but not while you believe in sin. 6In error, yes, for this can be corrected by the mind. 7But sin is the belief that your perception is unchangeable, and that the mind must accept as true what it is told through it. 8If it does not obey, the mind is judged insane. 9The only power that could change perception is thus kept impotent, held to the body by the fear of changed perception which its Teacher, Who is one with it, would bring.
6. When you are tempted to believe that sin is real, remember this: If sin is real, both God and you are not. 2If creation is extension, the Creator must have extended Himself, and it is impossible that what is part of Him is totally unlike the rest. 3If sin is real, God must be at war with Himself. 4He must be split, and torn between good and evil; partly sane and partially insane. 5For He must have created what wills to destroy Him, and has the power to do so. 6Is it not easier to believe that you have been mistaken than to believe in this?
7. While you believe that your reality or your brother’s is bounded by a body, you will believe in sin. 2While you believe that bodies can unite, you will find guilt attractive and believe that sin is precious. 3For the belief that bodies limit mind leads to a perception of the world in which the proof of separation seems to be everywhere. 4And God and His creation seem to be split apart and overthrown. 5For sin would prove what God created holy could not prevail against it, nor remain itself before the power of sin. 6Sin is perceived as mightier than God, before which God Himself must bow, and offer His creation to its conqueror. 7Is this humility or madness?
8. If sin is real, it must forever be beyond the hope of healing. 2For there would be a power beyond God’s, capable of making another will that could attack His Will and overcome it; and give His Son a will apart from His, and stronger. 3And each part of God’s fragmented creation would have a different will, opposed to His, and in eternal opposition to Him and to each other. 4Your holy relationship has, as its purpose now, the goal of proving this is impossible. 5Heaven has smiled upon it, and the belief in sin has been uprooted in its smile of love. 6You see it still, because you do not realize that its foundation has gone. 7Its source has been removed, and so it can be cherished but a little while before it vanishes. 8Only the habit of looking for it still remains.
9. And yet you look with Heaven’s smile upon your lips, and Heaven’s blessing on your sight. 2You will not see sin long. 3For in the new perception the mind corrects it when it seems to be seen, and it becomes invisible. 4Errors are quickly recognized and quickly given to correction, to be healed, not hidden. 5You will be healed of sin and all its ravages the instant that you give it no power over your brother. 6And you will help him overcome mistakes by joyously releasing him from the belief in sin.
10. In the holy instant, you will see the smile of Heaven shining on both you and your brother. 2And you will shine upon him, in glad acknowledgment of the grace that has been given you. 3For sin will not prevail against a union Heaven has smiled upon. 4Your perception was healed in the holy instant Heaven gave you. 5Forget what you have seen, and raise your eyes in faith to what you now can see. 6The barriers to Heaven will disappear before your holy sight, for you who were sightless have been given vision, and you can see. 7Look not for what has been removed, but for the glory that has been restored for you to see.
11. Look upon your Redeemer, and behold what He would show you in your brother, and let not sin arise again to blind your eyes. 2For sin would keep you separate from him, but your Redeemer would have you look upon your brother as yourself. 3Your relationship is now a temple of healing; a place where all the weary ones can come and rest. 4Here is the rest that waits for all, after the journey. 5And it is brought nearer to all by your relationship.