“Catholics and some other Christians believe that the ability to make intercession on others' behalf, before the throne of God's Mercy, does not end with death”
I understand that you believe that but you go beyond scripture in so doing. There is no scriptural basis for believing this. It is the tradition of men. I understand that Catholics regard tradition as equal to scripture but I believe you are wrong in that belief.
“One Mediator, many intercessors, who are intercessors by virtue of the Sacrifice of Christ.
If this is true that we need no "allies" among the saints (the Body of Believers), then our prayers for each other mean nothing, are to no avail, and are an insult to God. I could go only to Jesus and only pray for myself.”
There you go again adding to the word. The scripture does not say one mediator many intercessors.
Then you set up a straw man by claiming that I said we need no allies among the saints. What I said was we need no additional allies in Heaven. Jesus is our mediator, not any dead saints
“and therefore, we have a share in Christ's work of salvation”
Whoaaaaaaa Nelly – Now you’ve gone waaaaaaaaay beyond. In fact you have believed the original lie -
Gen 3:4-5
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
We have no part to play in Christs work of atonement and any suggestion that we do is heresy.
John 6:44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Scripture was tradition before it was written down.
There you go again adding to the word. The scripture does not say one mediator many intercessors.
Once again, the scripture does say that we are a Royal Priesthood, and part of fulfilling our Christian vocation in the Royal Priesthood is by making intercession.
Your statements seem to give a limitation on the Word of God. They seem to indicate a literal reading that doesn't acknowledge the hight, breadth, and depth of meaning that is to be found within the Bible. There are, in fact, many layers of meaning.
Then you set up a straw man by claiming that I said we need no allies among the saints. What I said was we need no additional allies in Heaven. Jesus is our mediator, not any dead saints.
I didn't set up a straw man here. Your words did seem to indicate that we do not need allies among the saints. Now it seems that you're saying we do not need allies among the saints who have passed on.
We have no part to play in Christs work of atonement and any suggestion that we do is heresy.
We cannot add to or subtract from Christ's one time, complete, and perfect Sacrifice. However, we do participate in His saving work by virtue of our participation in His Royal Priesthood. Whenever you make intercession for someone, or witness to someone, you are participating in Christ's saving work. Do you see it otherwise?
I think the bottom line of our discussion is the question did Christ really conquer death, and conquer it entirely?
By the way, I think this is a good discussion. :o)
Really? How about "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
If Christians stop being able to pray for one another and love one another when they are separated by physical death, I'd say death has quite a sting, and the grave has quite a victory.
What I said was we need no additional allies in Heaven. Jesus is our mediator, not any dead saints
"You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God ... have you not read what was said to you by God, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living."--Mt 22:29,31,32
If you call my brothers and sisters in heaven "dead," you are calling Jesus a liar.