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The Virgin Mary was Saved from Birth?
Catholicism asserts that Mary never sinned and, hence, was redeemed
(saved) from the moment of her birth:
| "By the grace of God Mary remained free of every
personal sin her whole life long." Pg. 124, #493
"Espousing the divine will for salvation whole-heartedly,
without a single sin to restrain her, she gave herself
entirely to the person and to the work of her Son..." Pg.
124, #494
"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." Pg. 128
#508 (See also Pg. 191, #722) |
If you are wondering if this doctrine is taught in God's Word, it
isn't. The Catechism admits that it is another church tradition:
| "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." Pg. 123, #491 |
But the Bible identifies Jesus as the sinless One, not Mary:
| "For he hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us,
who knew no sin; that we might be made
the righteousness of God in him." 2 Corinthians 5:21 |
Aside from the Lord Jesus, the Bible is quite clear that
nobody else has ever been sinless:
| "For all have sinned, and come
short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23 "As it is written,
There is none righteous, no, not one:"
Romans 3:10
"They are all gone out of the way, they are together
become unprofitable; there is none that doeth
good, no, not one." Romans 3:12 |
Notice, none of these verses say "all have sinned, except Mary."
| "But the scripture hath concluded all
under sin..." Galatians 3:22 |
Mary knew she needed a Savior
In Luke's gospel, Mary herself admits that she was a sinner.
Otherwise she would never have concluded that she needed a Saviour:
| "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my
spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."
Luke 1:46-47 |
Yet, the Catholic church demands that members worship Mary:
| "The Church' s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is
intrinsic to Christian worship." Pg. 253, #971 |
Did Jesus exalt Mary?
Here's how Jesus referred to His mother when Mary asked to see Him
one day:
| "Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he
stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said,
Behold my mother and my brethren! |
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the
same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Matthew 12:48-50
Jesus did not say, "Usher in this blessed woman. "Rather, He replied
that anyone who obeys God' s Word is equal with Mary. Jesus refused to
exalt her.
When Others Exalted Mary
When a woman came to Jesus and attempted to exalt Mary, look how the
Lord responded:
| "... a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice,
and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bares you and
nurses you. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that
hear the word of God, and keep it." Luke 11:27-28 |
Jesus announces that those who hear and obey the Word of God are
blessed above Mary. Perhaps the Lord inserted these verses for those
today who choose to ignore the Word of God so they can follow church
traditions.
A Pattern
True to the pattern we have seen throughout this book, Jesus is again
robbed of glory and honor that He alone deserves. Rather than
recognizing Him as the only sinless One, Catholicism contradicts
Scripture and insists that Mary was also sinless. Why?
Conclusion
Was Mary sinless from birth? Catholic tradition wants you to believe
she was, but God' s Word says she wasn't. Who will you believe?
| "For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth
good, and sins not." Ecclesiastes 7:20 "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:" Romans 5:12 |
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