The following extracts prove this: "Devil: Evil; a lie; error; neither corporeality, nor mind; a belief in sin, sickness and death, animal magnetism or hypnotism" (S. & H., p. 585).
"There are evil beliefs, often called evil spirits; but these evils are not spirit, for there is no evil in Spirit" ("Footsteps of Truth," p. 207).
"No final judgment awaits mortals, for the judgment day of wisdom cometh hourly and continually, even the judgment by which mortal man is divested of all material error" (S. & H., p. 291).
"Hell: Mortal belief; error; lust, sin; sickness, death, self-imposed agony" (S. & H., p. 586).
To Satan, evil spirits, and hell any real existence is thus denied. The solemn judgment affirmed by Scripture to follow death is denied. In opposition to Christian Science teaching, Scripture says: As to the Devil. "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil" (Matt. 4:11Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (Matthew 4:1)).
If the devil were not personal, but "evil," "a lie," "error," then these evil things were found in Christ; and a Christ capable of sin and failure could not be a Savior. The reader will find in Matt. 4:1-111Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. (Matthew 4:1‑11) the evil one is called "the devil" four times, "the tempter" once, and "Satan" once, and actions and speech are ascribed to him, which clearly prove the devil to be a person. All through Scripture Satan is spoken of as a person, existing before the fall of man, his tempter all along the stream of time, and finally to be cast into the lake of fire. Never are his dupes more completely under his power than when he can persuade them that he does not exist. As to Evil Spirits. "And unclean spirits, when they saw Him, fell down before Him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God" (Mark 3:1111And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. (Mark 3:11)).
Evil beliefs cannot see, cannot fall down, or cry aloud in vocal speech in acknowledgment of the Son of God; but evil spirits can and did. As to Judgment. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT" (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)).
How solemn and distinct is this statement of God's Word. No denial by christian Science can avail. As to Hell. "And if thy hand offend thee cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched" (Mark 9:4343And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (Mark 9:43)).
The testimony as to hell, its existence, and its being the doom of the lost, falls again and again from the lips of the Son of God. Yet Christian Science on the one hand can pretend to honor Him and the Scriptures, and on the other deny and ridicule His plainest and most solemn testimony.