So Christ didn't save us by taking on a human nature from and through Mary, and then dying on the cross -- something that would only be possible if he had taken on a human nature (since a divine nature cannot die)?
If Mary played no role in our salvation, then the cross played no role in our salvation either. No Mary means no human Jesus, means no dying on the cross, means no "saved by the blood of Christ" (because no human nature, therefore no blood).
Doesn't sound anything like any kind of Christianity I recognize.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but will have eternal life.
Not Mary. Mary was the mother of Christ. Nothing more. Nothing less. She was a humble bondservant. She was a sinner by her own admission. We will call her blessed for what happened to her. She is blessed, but not the Blessed Mother.
There is not one verse in the NT that says look to Mary for your salvation. None. Not one. Nada. Zip. Zilch.
There are however, a plethora of verses that tell us to look to Jesus for our salvation.
It's all about Christ. Always has been. Always will be.
He is the main thing. Let's keep Him the main thing.
If Mary played no role in our salvation, then the cross played no role in our salvation either. No Mary means no human Jesus, means no dying on the cross, means no "saved by the blood of Christ" (because no human nature, therefore no blood).
Doesn't sound anything like any kind of Christianity I recognize.
Nice try, but wrong.
Not even nice try.
Just plain WRONG. Mary has nothing to do with salvation. Just Christ.
Like Jesus said "no man comes to the father, but by me". To attribute some special position to Mary as far as salvation goes, because she was Jesus' mother, you would by the same logic blame your own mother for every sin you made.
Like wise, EVERY person mentioned in Jesus' lineage would also have credit for salvation, including Rahab the Harlot.
Throughout the Bible, Jesus is tied to David. An adulterer and murderer.
Mary is blessed Εὐλογημένη means speak well of, to celebrate, praise or congratulate. It does not denote any special position.
Also, Mary was CHOSEN by God. The Bible tells us Mary found favor with the Lord. No where does it mention her finding favor with God BECAUSE of anything. Granted, she might have been a very good young lady, but God doesn't choose people because of their greatness.
Abraham was CHOSEN by God, to be the father of the Jewish nation, not because he was special.But simply because God chose him.
God chose David to be king after Saul, though he was the youngest of Jesse,of the smallest tribe.
Moses, was a murderer, with a speech impediment, CHOSEN by God. Like wise, the 12 Apostles. Before they were chosen they were nobodies. They became somebodies, simply because God chose them. Likewise, If God chooses you for something, that doesn't automatically bestow special privilege on you. What it does do is give you the honor, of being a tool the God has chosen to use.
Mary was simply a vessel used by God. Whatever greatness she has, is simply in allowing herself to be used by God.
To lift her up and deify her or worship her is sin. God shares his glory with no one.
Jesus' divinity came through the Holy Spirit, his humanity came through Mary. Mary is a vessel used by God. THAT in itself is her blessing. Nothing more.
If you still think it doesn't sound like any kind of Christianity that you recognize, then you don't know real Christianity, and you don't know saving Grace in Christ, which you will have to give an accounting to God.
So your god is so small that he couldn’t use anyone for his Eternal Purpose? Sounds more like Islam than Christianity, humans must do the heavy lifting. My God uses his servants for his purpose and NOT because of who or what we are. Grace and Mercy can’t be earned or deserved. Actually when you look at God’s servants they had major problems such as slow speaking, extremely poor, sick/lame, oozing sores, whores, prostitutes, thieves, murderers, tax collectors, and so on. Why you ask, because that way he gets all the Glory, Honor, and Praise as he deserves.