“I provide the text you cite for context.”
Fine. Unnecessary since it changes nothing I said - it only proves I got it right from the beginning.
“Paul is speaking of a future event in this passage regarding saints judging the world and/or angels.”
And? Of course he’s talking about a future event. Is this news to you?
“Yes...it does mean Mary cannot hear us anymore than our departed loved ones can.”
Mary can’t - on her own. She can with God, however.
“And all of those examples are people on earth praying for people on earth or were prayers directed to God on behalf of someone.”
Exactly. INTERCESSION. If we on earth can intercede, how much more can those in Heaven?
“There are admonitions in the NT to pray to anyone other than God.”
Saints in Heaven are united with God. There is no prohibition whatsoever in the New Testament against asking Saints to intercede with God for us.
Fine. Unnecessary since it changes nothing I said - it only proves I got it right from the beginning.
No...it provides clarity on the topic as you seemed to be using it to justify something not intended in the text. Wouldn't be the first time a Roman Catholic has made that type of assertion.
And I see the Rules are in effect already.
>>“And all of those examples are people on earth praying for people on earth or were prayers directed to God on behalf of someone.”<<
Exactly. INTERCESSION. If we on earth can intercede, how much more can those in Heaven?
Exactly how Roman Catholicism minimizes the impact of our prayers and elevates those in Heaven above ours.
I think James had something to say about the effectiveness of the prayer of a righteous man.
>>“There are admonitions in the NT to pray to anyone other than God.”<<
Saints in Heaven are united with God. There is no prohibition whatsoever in the New Testament against asking Saints to intercede with God for us.
Well, you can ask, but they can't hear.
And yes...while there isn't anything in the NT saying vlad don't pray to Mary or your mom, it is clear from the Scriptures we are to pray TO only God or Jesus....never to the created being. Only to the Creator.
Doesn’t common sense say that if prayers in heaven (not to mention for Catholics believing also in prayers of Mary, who they have so exalted) for us could be prayed, with results, that every one of their prayers would have to be answered perfectly, as they wouldn’t be encumbered with the unbelief that naturally hinders almost all humans most of the time on earth. We see through a glass dimly. They are in the presence of The LORD. To be absent from the body is to be present with The LORD. Truly their prayers, on mass, would have been so perfect and powerful as to have rendered all our problems prayed for by them on earth taken care of a long time ago, if common sense follows logic.
We have this time on earth to shine and cause eternal differences. That is why it is so important that we do all that we can do for our LORD while we can. We have all eternity to be in the presence of our LORD in heaven. We just have this short time to impact the souls around us and bring glory to God in the special way that only those living on this earth, in this wicked world can.
Matthew 6:19
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
6:20
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: