1. Forgiveness is for God and toward God but not of Him. 2It is impossible to think of anything He created that could need forgiveness. 3Forgiveness, then, is an illusion, but because of its purpose, which is the Holy Spirit’s, it has one difference. 4Unlike all other illusions it leads away from error and not towards it.
2. Forgiveness might be called a kind of happy fiction; a way in which the unknowing can bridge the gap between their perception and the truth. 2They cannot go directly from perception to knowledge because they do not think it is their will to do so. 3This makes God appear to be an enemy instead of what He really is. 4And it is just this insane perception that makes them unwilling merely to rise up and to return to Him in peace.
3. And so they need an illusion of help because they are helpless; a Thought of peace because they are in conflict. 2God knows what His Son needs before he asks. 3He is not at all concerned with form, but having given the content it is His Will that it be understood. 4And that suffices. 5The form adapts itself to need; the content is unchanging, as eternal as its Creator.
4. The face of Christ has to be seen before the memory of God can return. 2The reason is obvious. 3Seeing the face of Christ involves perception. 4No one can look on knowledge. 5But the face of Christ is the great symbol of forgiveness. 6It is salvation. 7It is the symbol of the real world. 8Whoever looks on this no longer sees the world. 9He is as near to Heaven as is possible outside the gate. 10Yet from this gate it is no more than just a step inside. 11It is the final step. 12And this we leave to God.
5. Forgiveness is a symbol, too, but as the symbol of His Will alone it cannot be divided. 2And so the unity that it reflects becomes His Will. 3It is the only thing still in the world in part, and yet the bridge to Heaven.
6. God’s Will is all there is. 2We can but go from nothingness to everything; from hell to Heaven. 3Is this a journey? 4No, not in truth, for truth goes nowhere. 5But illusions shift from place to place; from time to time. 6The final step is also but a shift. 7As a perception it is part unreal. 8And yet this part will vanish. 9What remains is peace eternal and the Will of God.
7. There are no wishes now for wishes change. 2Even the wished-for can become unwelcome. 3That must be so because the ego cannot be at peace. 4But Will is constant, as the gift of God. 5And what He gives is always like Himself. 6This is the purpose of the face of Christ. 7It is the gift of God to save His Son. 8But look on this and you have been forgiven.
8. How lovely does the world become in just that single instant when you see the truth about yourself reflected there. 2Now you are sinless and behold your sinlessness. 3Now you are holy and perceive it so. 4And now the mind returns to its Creator; the joining of the Father and the Son, the Unity of unities that stands behind all joining but beyond them all. 5God is not seen but only understood. 6His Son is not attacked but recognized.