Posted on 01/11/2012 7:34:56 PM PST by RnMomof7
Mary: Mother of God?
This article is prompted by an ad in the Parade Magazine titled: "Mary Mother of God: What All Mankind Should Know." The offer was made for a free pamphlet entitled "Mary Mother of Jesus" with this explanation: "A clear, insightful pamphlet explains the importance of Mary and her role as Mother of God."
This is quite a claim, to say the least! Nowhere in the Bible is Mary said to be the mother of God. I touched on this subject in a series on "Mary Co-Redeemer with Christ" printed recently.
Question: If Mary is the Mother of God, Who, may I ask, is the Father of God? Does God have a Father, and if He does, Who is His Mother?
The phrase "Mother of God" originated in the Council of Ephesus, in the year 431 AD. It occurs in the Creed of Chalcedon, which was adopted by the council in 451 AD. This was the declaration given at that time: "Born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God according to the Manhood." The purpose of this statement originally was meant to emphasize the deity of Christ over against the teaching of the Nestorians whose teaching involved a dual-natured Jesus. Their teaching was that the person born of Mary was only a man who was then indwelt by God. The title "Mother of God" was used originally to counter this false doctrine. The doctrine now emphasizes the person of Mary rather than the deity of Jesus as God incarnate. Mary certainly did not give birth to God. In fact, Mary did not give birth to the divinity of Christ. Mary only gave birth to the humanity of Jesus. The only thing Jesus got from Mary was a body. Every Human Being has received a sinful nature from their parents with one exception: Jesus was not human. He was divine God in a flesh body. This is what Mary gave birth to. Read Hebrews 10:5 and Phil 2:5-11.
Please refer to Hebrews 10:5 where we see. "...Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me."
The body of Jesus was prepared by God. In Matthew 1:18, "she was found with child of the Holy Ghost."
The divine nature of Jesus existed from before eternity, and this cannot be said of Mary Jesus never called her "mother". He called her "woman".
This doctrine deifies Mary and humanizes Jesus. Mary is presented as stronger that Christ, more mature and more powerful that Christ. Listen to this statement by Rome: "He came to us through Mary, and we must go to Him through her." The Bible plainly states that God is the Creator of all things. It is a blasphemous attack on the eternity of God to ever teach that He has a mother. Mary had other children who were normal, physical, sinful human beings. In the case of Jesus Christ, "His human nature had no father and His divine nature had no mother."
It is probably no coincidence that this false doctrine surrounding Mary was born in Ephesus. Please read Acts 19:11-41 and see that Ephesus had a problem with goddess worship. Her name was Diana, Gk. Artemis. You will not have to study very deep to find the similarities between the goddess Diana and the Roman Catholic goddess, Mary. It should be noted that the Mary of the 1st century and the Mary of the 20th century are not the same. Mary of the 1st century was the virgin who gave birth to the Messiah. Mary of the 20th century is a goddess created by the Roman Catholic Church. A simple comparison of what the Bible teaches about Mary and what the Roman Catholic Church teaches about her will reveal two different Marys. Mary is not the "Mother of God." If she were she would be GOD! There is only one true, eternal God. He was not born of a woman. Any teaching on any subject should be backed up by the word of God. If it cannot be supported by Scriptures, it is false doctrine.
The “expert” is the Holy Spirit who inspired scripture. In Romans it is clear what God says about making “images” of Him.
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
It also tells us what the consequences of doing so will be.
Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts,
You can either believe what scripture says or what Rome says. The choice is yours.
That’s not what scripture teaches.
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Yeah, no kidding. And we see how that was looked upon.
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
I can’t seem to find any reference or instructions to pray or even talk to those who have passed from this life.
Thank you. In all honesty, all I now about Christianity is from basically listening to Priests & Deacons in the Roman Catholic Church.
Good catch! I hadn’t seen that one. So much for the “we don’t pray to Mary” crowd.
Revelation 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
Now if you put away that Catholic propaganda and understand that the woman represents Israel it becomes clear.
Sorry, your "proof text" is a fail.
Call it what you want but God still condemns it.
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
This is based on the principle that "two wrongs do not make a right."
Both of you and all on this thread: discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
“I can’t seem to find any reference or instructions to pray or even talk to those who have passed from this life.”
The reference is that Jesus clearly is seen conversing with Elijah and Moses in Mark 9:4. Elijah and Moses are dead (as far as this earth)
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them..." Exodus 19:4,5.
"If the image is meant to show the true God is not idolatry."
Since we have not physically seen the true God yet, then anything man makes to represent His likeness, or Mary's likeness, is idolatry. "Meant to" is not a loophole in God's Word.
Good point. Mary is venerated not worshipped. There’s a difference. BTW, I have heard that both Luther and Calvin believed in Mary’s perpetual virginity which would be anathema to modern day protestants. Certainly Luther had great reverence for Mary.
Jesus at that point was in His glorified body. He also didn’t allow the apostles to speak to them did He.
Just another instance of “changing glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man”. Not a good practice per scripture.
“Since we have not physically seen the true God yet, ...”
Yes, we have seen Him - Jesus. Once he was incarnated we are allowed to represent his likeness because he showed us how he looks. The Shroud of Turin, and the mandylion are true representatives of Christ’s face and the early orthodox icons were modeled on the shroud.
The word icon in Greek for image is the word for an image such as seen in a mirror - the image is a version of reality.
Claiming that Jesus went up to the mountain to pray and prayed to Moses and Elijah or for the purpose of praying TO them.
Satan tried a similar tactic when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness.
Hey, I didn’t translate it and capitalize the name of God.
I just posted what it says and it says what it says.
..you..are...kidding..
No, Mary was not sinless.
Mary was a sinner, just like you and me. She proclaimed that fact herself (or did she lie?)
.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.