Interesting exchanges here. Would you agree that with GOD in her womb, Mary was protected by His Presence? Or is there some other thing about the Presence of GOD within that you could tell me about? ... When Jesus said that those in The Father’s Hand cannot be taken from Him, I would read ‘Hand’ as meaning in God’s possession. So with GOD in Her, Mary would be in that special position, wouldn’t she? As to her protection from original sin, as in her state prior to GOD in her womb, well, that tradition is purely Catholic and I do not adhere to that. ... Except that God’s perspective, once one is in His possession, is so perfect that the life before ‘is no more’ as far as ... well, you get he picture. By having God in her, all of Mary’s existence is purified, from her beginning to her everlasting, because God is in the entire volume of Time now in Jesus.
MHGinTN,
Nice to run into you again!
“Would you agree that with GOD in her womb, Mary was protected by His Presence?”
It would simply be an opinion from whoever gave it. Would God the Father have an interest in protecting and preserving His Son? Sure. Is He sovereign and omnipotent? We know He is. We also know she carried to the exact time God chose for His Son’s birth. Draw a conclusion from that. It is never addressed in Scripture that I remember off the top of my head.
“When Jesus said that those in The Father’s Hand cannot be taken from Him, I would read ‘Hand’ as meaning in God’s possession. So with GOD in Her, Mary would be in that special position, wouldn’t she?”
It seems you are trying to ease into this backwards, step by step. :-)
“As to her protection from original sin, as in her state prior to GOD in her womb, well, that tradition is purely Catholic and I do not adhere to that.”
I agree with that position.
“... Except that God’s perspective, once one is in His possession, is so perfect that the life before ‘is no more’ as far as ... well, you get he picture.”
Yet, I would hasten to add, though we are in God’s hand as you pointed out above, we still have Adam’s nature within our physical body until we reach glory. At that point, we will have only His nature. Mary had Adam’s life and nature within her also, though protected in whatever way God arranged.
“By having God in her, all of Mary’s existence is purified, from her beginning to her everlasting, because God is in the entire volume of Time now in Jesus.”
And yet those who entrust themselves to Him and are saved, still sin. Their future is secured by Christ’s sacrifice. Their experience in this life on earth does not yet reflect what they will be in eternity.
To argue more for Mary is simply not in Scripture. She was highly favored *among* women - not above all other women. Her choice as bearer of Messiah was pure grace from God.
Blessings to you friend of many years.