By the Scripture’s Own Writers
Worship of Mary
Definition
The unscriptural practice based upon the false teachings (1) that Christ Jesus’ earthly mother, Mary, was born of ‘immaculate conception’, that is to say, that, by the special grace of God, she was freed at the moment of conception from inheriting the “original sin” of Adam; (2) that she is the “mother of God”; (3) that she is “ever virgin”, never having borne any other children; (4) that she is the “woman” mentioned at Genesis 3:15 and will bruise the serpent’s head; (50 that she is the “spiritual mother” of the “church”; (6) that prayers addressed to her as an intercessor or mediator are heard and answered by God; (7) that she was “taken up body and soul into heaven” in an “assumption”; (8) and that honor and veneration are due her. A practice opposed to the Scriptures and that turns attention and worship away from Jehovah God and Christ Jesus.
Origin
The worship of Mary as an application of the false doctrine of the Communion of Saints is not contained even in the earlier forms of the Apostles’ Creed of apostate Christianity and was totally unknown to true Christians. Although Tertullian (A.D. 155-222) was claimed to be among the first to imply the view that “martyrs” could obtain graces and blessings for others (Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. XV, p. 459), “devotion to The Blessed Virgin” was not extensively taught until probably well after the sixth century and did not reach full development until the later Middle Ages. The pronouncement of the assumption of Mary as an infallible dogma of the Roman Catholic Church was not made until 1950. Such worship, especially of “mother and child”, finds its real origin in pagan Babylon with Semiramis (“queen of heaven”) and Nimrod her son.
1. Jesus’ Mother, Mary, Not “Immaculate” or Freed from Inherited Sin, Only Jesus Himself Was
Psalm 51:5 “For behold I was conceived in iniquities: and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
Romans 5:12 “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into this world and by sin death; and so death passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned.”
Romans 3:9, 10 “What then? Do we excel them? No, not so. For we have charged both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin. As it is written: There is not any man just.”
Psalm 14:1 “They are corrupt, and are become abominable in their ways: there is none that does good, no, not one.”
Hebrews 7:26 “For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefined, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.”
“Special grace” of God to forgive sins completely would not be extended until after Jesus’ blood was shed as ransom
1 Corinthians 15:22 “And as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.”
Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the remission of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
Hebrews 9:22, 24, 26, 28 “And almost all things, according to the Law, are cleansed with blood: and without shedding of blood there is no remission. For Jesus has not entered into the Holies made with hands, the patterns of the true: but into Heaven itself, that He may appear now in the presence of God for us. … now once, at the end of ages, He has appeared for the destruction of sin by His sacrifice. So also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.”
Mary fulfilled law of purification after Jesus’ birth and also offered her sin offering, showing herself not without sin
Luke 2:22-24 “And after the days of her purification, according to the Law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord: as it is written in the Law of the Lord: every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord: and to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Leviticus 12:6-8 “And when the days of her purification are expired, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring to the door of the Tabernacle of the testimony, a lamb of a year old for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtle for sin: and shall deliver them to the priest. Who shall offer them before the
Lord, and shall pray for her: and so she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that bears a man child or a maid child. And if her hand finds not sufficiency, and she is not able to offer a lamb, she shall take two turtles, or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering, and another for sin: and the priest shall pray for her, and so she shall be cleansed.”
2. Mary Could Not Be “Mother of God”, Since God Is Without Beginning
Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were made, or the earth and the world was formed; from eternity and to eternity You are God.”
Jeremiah 10:10 “But the Lord is the true God: He is the living God and the everlasting King.”
1 Timothy 1:17 “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.”
Mary was born 75 generations after Adam, who was created by God
Luke 3:23-38 “Jesus Himself, when He began to teach, was about thirty years old, being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was of Heli, who was of Mathat,… who was of Henos, who was of Seth, who was of Adam, who was of God.”
Genesis 2:7 “And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Jesus had an existence long before Mary. She admits Abraham was her forefather, and Jesus testifies that He existed before Abraham
Luke 1:55 “Just as He once said to our forefathers, to Abraham and to his seed, forever.”
John 8:58 “Jesus said to them: ‘Most truly I say to you, Before Abraham came into existence, I am.’ “
Jesus was not God, but was God’s Son and became subject to the Father
Luke 1:30-32, 35 “And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for you have found grace with God. Behold, you shall conceive in your womb and shall bring forth a son: and you shall call His name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Spirit shall come upon you and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.”
Luke 9:35 “And a voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!”
1 Corinthians 15:28 “But when all things have been made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also become subject to Him who has made the universe subject to Him, in order that GOD may be all in all.”
“Mother of God” teaching same as pagan “queen of heaven”
Jeremiah 7:18 “The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to offer libations to strange gods, and to provoke Me to anger.”
[See Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. XV, p. 460, for evidence that a sect of apostate Christians (4th century) was condemned for offering cakes to Mary.]
3. Mary Not Properly Called “Ever Virgin”, Since She Bore Other Children
Matthew 1:25 “And he knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn son: and he called His name Jesus.”
Matthew 13:55, 56 “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Jude? And His sisters, are they not all with us?”
Clear distinction shown between Jesus’ natural and spiritual brothers
Matthew 12:46-50 “As He was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold His mother and His brothers stood without, seeking to speak to Him. And one said to Him: Behold Your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking You. But He answering him that told him, said: Who is My mother and who are My brothers? And stretching forth His hand towards His disciples, He said: Behold My mother and My brothers. For whosoever shall do the will of My Father that is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother.”
John 2:12 “After this, He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples.”
John 7:3, 5, 10 “And His brothers said to Him: Leave these parts and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see Your works which You do. For neither did His brothers believe in Him. But after His brothers were gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but, as it were, in secret.”
Galatians 1:19 “But other of the apostles I saw none, except James the brother of the Lord.”
4. Woman of Genesis 3:15 Is Not Mary, but God’s Invisible Organization
Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed; he shall crush your head, and you shall lie in wait for his heel.”
Isaiah 54:5, 13 “For your Maker is your husband; Jehovah of hosts is His Name: and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; the God of the whole earth shall He be called. And all your children shall be taught of Jehovah; and great shall be the peace of your children.”
Jesus as born of Mary was flesh and unable to kill satan
Galatians 4:4″But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law.”
John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we saw His glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father).’
1 John 4:2, 3 “By this you may have knowledge of the Spirit of God: every spirit which says that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit which does not say this is not from God: this is the spirit of Antichrist.”
Hebrews 2:14 “Therefore because the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself in like manner has been partaker of the same: that, through death, He might destroy him who has the power of death, that is to say, the devil.”
Jesus became God’s spirit Son through rebirth
John 3:5, 6 “Jesus answered: Verily, verily, I say to you, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Luke 3:21, 22 “Jesus also being baptized and praying, heaven was opened: and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape, as a dove, upon Him. And a voice came from heaven, saying: You are My beloved Son. In You I am well pleased.”
Jesus’ spiritual mother (the woman) is God’s invisible organization and mother of His spiritual brothers
Romans 8:29 “For whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of His Son: that He might be the firstborn amongst many brothers.”
Galatians 4:22-26 “Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman and the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman was by promise. Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. … Agar … has affinity to that Jerusalem which now is: and is in bondage with her children. But that Jerusalem which is above is free, which is our mother.”
Revelation 12:1, 5, 17 “And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her son was taken up to God and to His throne. And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
Jesus is the spirit seed of the heavenly woman to crush the invisible serpent’s head
Galatians 3:16 “To Abraham were the promises made and to his seed. He said not: And to his seeds, as of many. But as of one: And to your seed, which is Christ.”
Genesis 22:15-17 “And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham … saying: By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord: … Your seed shall possess the gates of their enemies.”
1 John 3:8 “For this purpose the Son of God appeared, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
Romans 16:20 “And the God of peace will soon crush satan under your feet.”
Revelation 12:7-9 “And there was a great battle in heaven: Michael and His angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels. And they prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in heaven. And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and satan.”
Revelation 20:1-3, 7-9 “And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he cast him into the bottomless pit and shut him up and set a seal upon him, that he should no more seduce the nations till the thousand years be finished. And after that, he must be loosed a little time. And when the thousand years shall be finished, satan shall be loosed out of his prison and shall go forth and seduce the nations … And there came down fire from God out of heaven and devoured them: and the devil, who seduced them, was cast into the pool of fire and brimstone.”
5. Mary Not Given Special Position in Early Congregation as “Spiritual Mother”
Acts 1:14, 15 “All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren. In those days, Peter, rising up in the midst of the brethren, said (now the number of persons together was about an hundred and twenty).”
1 Timothy 2:11-13 “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to use authority over the man: but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed: then Eve.”
Galatians 4:26 “But that Jerusalem which is above is free, which is our mother.”
6. Improper to Address Prayers to Mary as Mediator
John 14:6, 13 “Jesus said to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father, but by Me. … and whatsoever you shall ask the Father in My Name, that will I do.”
1 Timothy 2:1, 5 “I desire therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all men: for there is one God: and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
7. “Assumption” of Mary, or Taking Her Body and Soul into Heaven, Unscriptural and Unreasonable. Flesh-and-Blood Bodies Could Not Exist Beyond Earth’s Atmosphere
John 3:3, 7, 8 “Jesus answered and said to him: Verily, verily, I say to you, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Wonder not that I said to you: You must be born again. The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So is it with every one who has been born of the Spirit.”.”
1 Corinthians 15:42, 44, 45, 48-50 “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption: it shall rise in incorruption. It is sown a natural body: it shall rise a spiritual body. If there be a natural body, there is also a spiritual body, as it is written: The first man Adam was made a living soul: the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Such as is the earthly, such also are the earthly: and such as is the heavenly, such also are they that are heavenly. Therefore, as we have borne the image of the earthly, let us bear also the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot possess the Kingdom of God: neither shall corruption possess incorruption.”
8. Scriptural References to Her as “Blessed”, “Happy” or “Highly Favored” Do Not Mean Worship Was Her Due
Luke 1:28, 30 “And the angel being come in, said to her: Hail, full of grace [“highly favored one”], the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women. . . . Fear not, Mary, for you have found grace with God.”
Luke 1:41-48 “Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said: Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb…. And Mary said: My soul does magnify the Lord… for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed [“happy”].”
Same expressions used toward others
Judges 5:24 “Blessed among women be Jahel the wife of Haber the Cinite: and blessed be she in her tent.”
Deuteronomy 28:1, 4 “The Lord your God will make you higher than all the nations that are on the earth. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb, and the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your cattle, the droves of your herds, and the folds of your sheep.”
Genesis 30:9, 10, 13 “Lia, perceiving that she had left off bearing, gave Zelpha her handmaid to her husband. And when she had conceived and brought forth a son, …Lia said: This is for my happiness: for women will call me blessed. Therefore she called him Aser.”
Malachi 3:12 “And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightful land, says Jehovah of hosts.”
Jesus showed veneration of Mary was wrong
Luke 11:27, 28 “And it came to pass, as He spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to Him: Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You! But He said: Yes, rather blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it.”
John 2:3, 4 “When the wine ran short the mother of Jesus said to Him: ‘They have no wine.’ But Jesus said to her: ‘What have I to do with you, woman?’ “
John 19:26 “When Jesus, therefore, saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son.’ “
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