there can be no doubt that the Virgin Mary is in heaven. How it happened we do not know. And since the Holy Spirit has told us nothing about it, we can make of it no article of faith . . . It is enough to know that she lives in Christ.
(Sermon of August 15, 1522, the last time Martin Luther preached on the Feast of the Assumption)
It is a sweet and pious belief that the infusion of Mary’s soul was effected without original sin; so that in the very infusion of her soul she was also purified from original sin and adorned with God’s gifts, receiving a pure soul infused by God; thus from the first moment she began to live she was free from all sin”
(Sermon: “On the Day of the Conception of the Mother of God,” 1527)
She is full of grace, proclaimed to be entirely without sin- something exceedingly great. For God’s grace fills her with everything good and makes her devoid of all evil.
(Personal {”Little”} Prayer Book, 1522)
Christ, ..was the only Son of Mary, and the Virgin Mary bore no children besides Him... “brothers” really means “cousins” here, for Holy Writ and the Jews always call cousins brothers. (Sermons on John, chapters 1-4.1537-39). He, Christ, our Savior, was the real and natural fruit of Mary’s virginal womb.. .This was without the cooperation of a man, and she remained a virgin after that.
NEED I GO ON?
Nah. There has never been a man who got everything right. I can't hold that against any man.
Still, for any man to be used by God to recover the Gospel that brings eternal life is more than enough for any man to get right!
Unlike Catholics, the personal opinion of man does not doctrine make. No doubt Luther revered Mary, but the Lutheran Confessions are drawn from God's Word, therefore it isn't doctrinal.
From your first: And since the Holy Spirit has told us nothing about it, we can make of it no article of faith . . . It is enough to know that she lives in Christ.
I doubt any Christian doesn't accept Mary as a faithful believer in Christ, that makes her place in heaven secure, based on the merit and work of God's Son her Savior
The rest of your statements from Luther are what I think you guys call pious statements, but they have no Scriptural warrant so they aren't Lutheran doctrine. Luther's beliefs could be doctrine, when they are measured against God's Word.
Shall I go on?
SURE there can!
She is DEAD; and in her grave.
Now; if you have any EVIDENCE to disprove this claim; I'm sure the lurkers will be oh so glad to read it.