1. A further point must be perfectly clear before any residual fear still associated with miracles can disappear. 2The crucifixion did not establish the Atonement; the resurrection did. 3Many sincere Christians have misunderstood this. 4No one who is free of the belief in scarcity could possibly make this mistake. 5If the crucifixion is seen from an upside-down point of view, it does appear as if God permitted and even encouraged one of His Sons to suffer because he was good. 6This particularly unfortunate interpretation, which arose out of projection, has led many people to be bitterly afraid of God. 7Such anti-religious concepts enter into many religions. 8Yet the real Christian should pause and ask, “How could this be?” 9Is it likely that God Himself would be capable of the kind of thinking which His Own words have clearly stated is unworthy of His Son?
2. The best defense, as always, is not to attack another’s position, but rather to protect the truth. 2It is unwise to accept any concept if you have to invert a whole frame of reference in order to justify it. 3This procedure is painful in its minor applications and genuinely tragic on a wider scale. 4Persecution frequently results in an attempt to “justify” the terrible misperception that God Himself persecuted His Own Son on behalf of salvation. 5The very words are meaningless. 6It has been particularly difficult to overcome this because, although the error itself is no harder to correct than any other, many have been unwilling to give it up in view of its prominent value as a defense. 7In milder forms a parent says, “This hurts me more than it hurts you,” and feels exonerated in beating a child. 8Can you believe our Father really thinks this way? 9It is so essential that all such thinking be dispelled that we must be sure that nothing of this kind remains in your mind. 10I was not “punished” because you were bad. 11The wholly benign lesson the Atonement teaches is lost if it is tainted with this kind of distortion in any form.
3. The statement “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord” is a misperception by which one assigns his own “evil” past to God. 2The “evil” past has nothing to do with God. 3He did not create it and He does not maintain it. 4God does not believe in retribution. 5His Mind does not create that way. 6He does not hold your “evil” deeds against you. 7Is it likely that He would hold them against me? 8Be very sure that you recognize how utterly impossible this assumption is, and how entirely it arises from projection. 9This kind of error is responsible for a host of related errors, including the belief that God rejected Adam and forced him out of the Garden of Eden. 10It is also why you may believe from time to time that I am misdirecting you. 11I have made every effort to use words that are almost impossible to distort, but it is always possible to twist symbols around if you wish.
4. Sacrifice is a notion totally unknown to God. 2It arises solely from fear, and frightened people can be vicious. 3Sacrificing in any way is a violation of my injunction that you should be merciful even as your Father in Heaven is merciful. 4It has been hard for many Christians to realize that this applies to themselves. 5Good teachers never terrorize their students. 6To terrorize is to attack, and this results in rejection of what the teacher offers. 7The result is learning failure.
5. I have been correctly referred to as “the lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world,” but those who represent the lamb as blood-stained do not understand the meaning of the symbol. 2Correctly understood, it is a very simple symbol that speaks of my innocence. 3The lion and the lamb lying down together symbolize that strength and innocence are not in conflict, but naturally live in peace. 4“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” is another way of saying the same thing. 5A pure mind knows the truth and this is its strength. 6It does not confuse destruction with innocence because it associates innocence with strength, not with weakness.
6. Innocence is incapable of sacrificing anything, because the innocent mind has everything and strives only to protect its wholeness. 2It cannot project. 3It can only honor other minds, because honor is the natural greeting of the truly loved to others who are like them. 4The lamb “taketh away the sins of the world” in the sense that the state of innocence, or grace, is one in which the meaning of the Atonement is perfectly apparent. 5The Atonement is entirely unambiguous. 6It is perfectly clear because it exists in light. 7Only the attempts to shroud it in darkness have made it inaccessible to those who do not choose to see.
7. The Atonement itself radiates nothing but truth. 2It therefore epitomizes harmlessness and sheds only blessing. 3It could not do this if it arose from anything but perfect innocence. 4Innocence is wisdom because it is unaware of evil, and evil does not exist. 5It is, however, perfectly aware of everything that is true. 6The resurrection demonstrated that nothing can destroy truth. 7Good can withstand any form of evil, as light abolishes forms of darkness. 8The Atonement is therefore the perfect lesson. 9It is the final demonstration that all the other lessons I taught are true. 10If you can accept this one generalization now, there will be no need to learn from many smaller lessons. 11You are released from all errors if you believe this.
8. The innocence of God is the true state of the mind of His Son. 2In this state your mind knows God, for God is not symbolic; He is Fact. 3Knowing His Son as he is, you realize that the Atonement, not sacrifice, is the only appropriate gift for God’s altar, where nothing except perfection belongs. 4The understanding of the innocent is truth. 5That is why their altars are truly radiant.