Replies

The first distinction to be drawn is the one between being saved by Christ and being saved by acknowledging Christ.

Maybe an important early principle is that we don't say whom God will certainly not save (with the possible exception of the person who insists that he doesn't WANT to be saved.)

I would in no way ever say that acknowledging and appreciating Mary's role (or the role of little old Miss Spinster who ran the church nursery with little knowledge but with love to rival that of the greatest saints) is necessary at the beginning of one's life in Christ.

As a passage just quoted from the Confessions indicates, God makes the first move, so even before we acknowledge Christ and take Him as personal Lord and Savior, I think He acts in our lives and loves us.

I think the boldness with which we approach Him will not be compromised by the detailedness of our understanding of the role saints and angels and little old ladies (of either sex) have played in our Salvation.

As I keep saying to those foolish enough to come to me for teaching, "He's not trying to make it hard for you; he's not erecting ridiculous barriers; he wants your heart, but a living, strong, happy heart, not one broken by impossibilities."

Put in this way: My expectation, should you and I meet before the throne, is that, because I am full of myself, I will babble on at length about all the stuff I didn't know that turned out to be true. You will finally shut me up and say, "You know, Mary IS more than I thought, praise God."

How's that for a verbose spontaneous answer written in a hurry while talking on the phone?

My expectation, should you and I meet before the throne, is that, because I am full of myself, I will babble on at length about all the stuff I didn't know that turned out to be true. You will finally shut me up and say, "You know, Mary IS more than I thought, praise God."

Much more likely it will be you who says ""You know, Mary is less than I thought, praise God, and that is because God is more than I thought."

In fact, it wouldn't hurt to proclaim that right this minute, as Scripture instructs.

I think the boldness with which we approach Him will not be compromised by the detailedness of our understanding of the role saints and angels and little old ladies (of either sex) have played in our Salvation.

You should hope so.

Put in this way: My expectation, should you and I meet before the throne, is that, because I am full of myself, I will babble on at length about all the stuff I didn't know that turned out to be true. You will finally shut me up and say, "You know, Mary IS more than I thought, praise God."

I will say that I believed what God saw fit to put in the bible about Mary and I have no other opinion. I know it comes as a shock to many, but I don't believe Jesus, as fully God, cares more about Mary than He does anyone else. Everyone of us, including her, is His child and that's it