We must be careful not to compare ourselves and our righteousness with other men, In 2 Corinthians 10:12, the Bible states, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” Jesus Christ is the standard, and it is Him that we should be comparing ourselves with. We tend to elevate men to a high plateau, but we must remember that all men are sinners. I do not want to minimize who Mary was. She was a godly woman, the mother of Jesus, but the Bible clearly states that ALL are sinners. “All” would include Mary. She needed a savior just like the rest of us, and she knew that Jesus was her savior.
(491) Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, “full of grace” through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854.
The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved IMMUNE from all stain of original sin. (Page 138)
Mary was “redeemed from the moment of her conception,” where does it say that in the Bible? It doesn’t! Nor does the Bible say that she was “immune” from any kind of sin.
The Apostle Paul spoke very clearly on the matter of righteousness, and sin. He makes it very clear that none are without sin.
Romans 3:10-12 As it is written, There is NONE righteous, no, NOT ONE: There is NONE that understandeth, there is NONE that seeketh after God. They are ALL gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is NONE that doeth good, no, NOT ONE.
Romans 3:23 For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Peter gave warnings about such teachings.
2 Peter 2:1-2 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
(494) At the announcement that she would give birth to “the Son of the Most High” without knowing man, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary responded with the obedience of faith, certain that “with God nothing will be impossible”: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Thus, giving her consent to God’s word, Mary becomes the mother of Jesus, Espousing the divine will for salvation wholeheartedly, without a SINGLE SIN to restrain her, she gave herself entirely to the person and to the work of her Son; she did so in order to save the mystery of redemption with him and dependent on him, by God’s grace:
As St. Irenaeus says, “Being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race.” Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert . . : “The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith. Comparing her with Eve, they call Mary “the Mother of the living” and frequently claim: “Death through Eve, life through Mary.” (Page 138)
Mary was a godly virgin when she conceived, no doubt about it. That is what the Bible says. This catechism makes the claim that she was without sin, she became the cause of salvation for herself, and for the whole human race. It also teaches that death and sin came by way of Eve. This is contradictory to Roman 5:12, it states, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that ALL have sinned.” This catechism also teaches that life comes through Mary. This, also, is contradictory to the Word of God. Examine the following verses that repudiate such teaching:
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation IN ANY OTHER (Jesus is in focus here, not Mary): for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, BUT BY ME.
1 John 5:11-12 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son (it did not say in Mary). He that hath the Son (not Mary) hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
(495) Called in the Gospels “the mother of Jesus,” Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her son, as “the mother of my Lord.” In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father’s eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly “Mother of God”(Theo-tokos). (Page 139)
(966) “Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.” The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son’s Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians.
In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death” (Page 274)
No doubt about it, Jesus is God. He is the second person of the Holy Trinity. He is 100% God, yet he became 100% man, which did not minimize His deity. To title Mary the “Mother of God” when the Bible simple calls her the “mother of Jesus”, elevates her to deity status. By putting this title on her, the Catholic Church has derived the doctrine that Mary maintained her virginity all throughout her life. God did not have a mother. God is eternal! Mary was just the vessel He chose to enter the world in the flesh, and fulfill the law. Mary was the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ, but also, the mother of James, Jose, Simon, Judas, and of his sisters. Mary did not remain a virgin!
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Matthew 13:55-56 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas (not Judas Iscariot)? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
Galatians 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
Nowhere in the Bible does it teach anything about Mary being the queen over all things. In many Catholic Bibles one can find a dedication page to the “Queen of Heaven”, that being Mary. To the Catholic Church, Mary is the “Queen of Heaven”. It is interesting to note, the only mentions of the “queen of heaven” in the Bible are done so in a negative, rebuking manner. It is also interesting to see the similarities between the traditions and practices of these people as compared to those of the Catholic Church.
Jeremiah 7:18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes (wafers?) to the QUEEN OF HEAVEN, and to pour out drink offerings (wine) unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
Jeremiah 44:15-25 Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, WE WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO THEE. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense (candles?) unto the QUEEN OF HEAVEN, and to pour out drink offerings (wine?) unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. But since we left off to burn incense to the QUEEN OF HEAVEN, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. And when we burned incense to the QUEEN OF HEAVEN, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes (wafers, Eucharist?) to WORSHIP HER, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men? Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the QUEEN OF HEAVEN, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.
There it is, the only mention in the Word of God about the queen of heaven. It is also interesting to note that the Bible only mentions “Mary” 19 times. Not much emphasis is given to her, however, I scanned the 756 pages of the book, Catechism of the Catholic Church, and found 169 references made to “Mary”, 76 references made to the “Blessed Virgin” or “Virgin”, and 27 references to Mary as the “Mother of God.” The some total being 272 references given to Mary. Keep in mind that I only scanned the pages, therefore, there is no doubt I missed many. That is a very high percentage when you consider the Bible only devotes .9% of its pages to Mary as compared to 36% of the pages devoted to her in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Who is the Catholic Church lifting up, Jesus or Mary? It is Jesus that must me lifted up. I don’t believe Mary should be given any more importance than what Scripture gives to her.
John 12:32 And I (Jesus), if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Beware of those that put more emphasis on someone other that Jesus Christ.
John 3:30 He (Jesus) must increase, but I MUST DECREASE.
This is the principle that God teaches in His Word. Christ is to be first, pre-emanate. Christ is the head of all things, and He is the one who intercedes for the believers. Christ is the one that should have preeminence, He is the one who prays for those that believes and puts their trust in Him.
Colossians 1:18 And he (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the PREEMINENCE.
Ephesians 1:20-22 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVE all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put ALL THINGS under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
The teaching that Mary was above sin, and bless above all women is just not sound Biblical teaching. She, was a godly woman, no doubt, but she, like Abraham, had faith in God, and her faith was accounted unto her for righteousness. She was not bless above all women, but rather she was blessed among women. It is clear from Scripture that God is not a respecter of persons. That means He doesn’t put any more value or importance over the life of Mary, than He did Peter, Paul, or the other disciples, or for you or I. All souls are precious to the Lord.
(508) From among the descendants of Eve, God chose the Virgin Mary to be the mother of his Son. “Full of grace,” Mary is “the most excellent fruit of redemption” (SC 103): from the first instant of her conception, she was totally preserved from the stain of original sin and she remained pure from all personal sin throughout her life. (Page 142)
The angel Gabriel, told her:
Luke 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou AMONG women.
The Bible is very clear. She was blessed among women, not above women!
Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, told her:
Luke 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou AMONG women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.
To say that Mary was pure from personal sin would contradict the Word of God.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the TRUTH IS NOT IN US.
1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and HIS WORD IS NOT IN US.
(964) Mary’s role in the Church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it. “This union of the mother with the Son in the work of salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ’s virginal conception up to his death”; it is made manifest above all at the hour of his Passion:
Thus the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully preserved in her union with her Son unto the Cross. There she stood, in keeping with the divine plan, enduring with her only begotten Son the intensity of his suffering, joining herself with his sacrifice in her mother’s heart, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this victim, born of her: to be given, by the same Christ Jesus dying on the cross, as a mother to his disciple, with these words: “Woman, behold your son.” (Page 273)
This all sounds lovely and good, but nowhere in the Bible does it teach that Mary assumes an exalted position. As a matter of fact, women were to be silent in the Churches, and in subjection to their husbands. They were not to have authority over men. This was not because men were better, it is because God is a God of order. Everyone is in subjection to someone. Christ is over the Church, and the husband is to be in subjection to Christ, and the woman to be subject to the husband, and the children to their parents. Paul gave many such clear instructions to the church on this matter. To teach that Mary had this exalted position directly contradicts clear Bible teaching.
1 Timothy 2:11-13 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer (allow) not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
1 Timothy 2:11-14 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer (allow) not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Many women rebel at these Bible verses, but remember, “ALL” scripture is inspired of God (II Timothy 3:16). God is a God of order. Many men like to abuse these verses. They do not teach that a man is supposed to be a dictator over his wife and run rough shod over her. He is to love his wife. Read the verses following:
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, LOVE your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so LOVE his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she REVERENCE her husband.
If you will notice, the Bible does not command the wife to love the husband, but it does command the husband to love the wife. God made men and women differently. If the man will treat the wife right and love her, the wife will naturally love the husband.
Mary only gave one commandment to men. At the marriage feast, the servants came to her when they ran out of wine. Mary directed them to do only what Jesus told them to do. Jesus is omnipotent (all knowing), and I believe that He knew that one day men and women would worship and adore Mary, and he calls her “Woman”, not mother. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit it is recorded in Scripture that he calls her “Woman” and not mother, or Blessed Mother.
John 2:3-4 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he (speaking of Jesus) saith unto you, do it.
John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
(968) Her role in relation to the Church and to all humanity goes still further. “In a wholly singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity in the Savior’s work of restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason she is a mother to us in the order of grace.” (Page 274)
Where is this found in the Bible? This is nothing more than babbling and men’s philosophy. It sounds nice, but it is not based on Bible teaching. We are warned not to follow after philosophies that lead away from Christ.
2 Timothy 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, AND NOT AFTER CHRIST.
(969) “This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this SAVING OFFICE but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us gifts of eternal salvation. . . . Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.” (Page 275)
My friend, this is blasphemous. Only God has the power to save. To elevate someone to the position of Savior is to elevate them to deity or Godhood. Mary never had a saving office. The office of Savior has always belonged to the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him alone. He is God! He needs no help from man! The Bible teaches that Jesus is our advocate.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation IN ANY OTHER (than Jesus): for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: NO MAN cometh unto the Father, BUT BY ME.
It is through His Gospel that we are saved.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for IT is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
It is through the work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that God saves man. Paul defines the Gospel as the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ..
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ DIED for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was BURIED, and that he ROSE again the third day according to the scriptures:
There it is, just as plain as the nose is on your face. He defined the Gospel as the DEATH, the BURIAL, and the RESURRECTION. That is the Gospel of Christ! Paul gives a strong warning against those who pervert this Gospel, and make up “other gospels”. To say that the Gospel is a mixture of works, or that it comes through anyone other than Christ is perverting the Gospel.
Galatians 1:6-9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would PERVERT the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, LET HIM BE ACCURSED. As we said before, so say I now again, If ANY MAN preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, LET HIM BE ACCURSED.
Notice he says there is not other Gospel of Christ, and there are those that pervert it. He indicates that there is a Satanic influence in preaching other gospels, and anyone, whether it be angelic or human, would be accursed for doing so. It was so important a point to be made that he repeated himself. Who are you going to trust? Are you going to trust man, or are you going to trust the Word of God? Be careful; the Bible says that Satan has his angels, and they can appear as good, or ministering spirits of light.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
You had better beware of those who claim to be an apostle. There are no more apostles. One of the qualifying factors for an apostle was that he had to have seen Jesus Christ personally in the flesh.
1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
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