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MARY'S CONFESSION AND SAVIOUR
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. (Luke 1:46-47) |
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The
writer of the above evangelistic card and this enlarged explanation is
deeply conscious of the deep regard which many people have for the
Blessed Virgin Mary. The writer also holds her in the highest regard,
but must regulate that regard by what is written in the Bible. This is
why the words from Acts 17:11 "Now
these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, who received the word
with all eagerness, daily searching the scriptures, whether these
things were so" precede what is written below. There is a great
danger that we can take our respect for the Blessed Virgin to heights
that are unscriptural and therefore dangerous. Mary herself would not
want that and if we profess to be her children, then it really is a
case of "Mother knows best!" Whatever your initial thoughts may be as
you read these words, your duty is to regulate them in accordance with
what the Bible says. The issue is not whether these words are
palatable, but whether they are true. They are designed to lead you to
a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, the son whom Mary looked to for her
salvation. All quotes are from the RC Douay Version of the Bible.,
which we are happy to use on this occasion.
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1)
Mary confessed her need of a Saviour. The Son of Man came to seek and
to save that which was LOST. (Luke 19:10) All have sinned and do need
the glory of God (Romans 3:23) None is good, but one, that is God.
(Mark 10:18) Mary offered a sin offering when Christ was born: Cp. Luke
2:24 with Leviticus 12:8
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It is Mary herself who uses the term "Saviour" and who uses the personal pronoun also. The Lord Jesus Himself gives us the interpretation when He said that He came to seek and to save that which was lost. It will not do to say that Mary was saved in the sense of being prevented rather than cured. This interpretation negates those Scriptures quoted which teach that all have sinned etc., Mary herself acknowledged her sin when she offered a sin offering for herself in Luke 2:24. It is therefore unwise and unscriptural to teach the Immaculate Conception and sinlessness of the Blessed Virgin. Just as some would come preaching "another Jesus" (2 Corinthians 11:4) so too we fear that some have come preaching "another Mary" who is far removed from the Mary, the Virgin mother in the New Testament, who forms the basis of this article. |
| 2) No one in the Bible ever prayed to or through Mary. At the wedding feast in Cana (John 2) there is no record that Mary was approached by any person. Mary simply saw a need and made it known to her Son, just as any caring person would do. | In the 27 books that make up the New Testament, there is not one example of anyone praying to or through the Blessed Virgin. No one did so in the gospels, nor is there any record given in the various church epistles. Not only are there no examples, but there are no precepts directing us to do so, no promises if we do so, nor warnings if we fail to do so. It is unbelievable that the NT should be so silent on something which is regarded so fundamental within the Roman Catholic religion with its various claims of fullness etc., When you remember that very emotional moment when Paul said his last farewell to the Ephesian elders, surely this would have been a good occasion to commit them to the one whom some call "Our Lady of Sorrows"? But instead, Paul saw fit to commend them "to God and to the word of his grace, who is able to build up and to give an inheritance among all the sanctified." (Acts 20:32) There is only one God and one mediator through whom we can approach God. That mediator is the Lord Jesus Christ alone (1 Timothy 2:5) We do not need a mediator to take us to Jesus, for He has promised that Him that comes to Him will not be rejected (John 6:37) A further article to read in this regard may be found here. |
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3)
The Apostles never elevated Mary to the dizzy heights that the RC
Church has done. They preached that salvation is by calling upon the
name of the Lord Jesus alone (Romans 10:13) So do we.
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The
cold facts are these: Outside the gospels, Mary is only mentioned once
by name in Acts 1:14 where she prayed with (but not for, at least in
the mediatorial sense) the Apostles. There is one reference to her in
Galatians 4:4 where she is obviously the one identified as "a woman" in
relation to the birth of Christ. The theme of the Bible is not Mary,
but Christ. In the head or volume of the Book it is written of Him (Hebrews 10:7) There is no talk of her being our Lady of Sorrows or Queen of Heaven. The writer
has a copy of Ligouri's "Glory of Mary" and other books of a similar
nature. Trying to be kindly on this sensitive matter, we cannot avoid
saying that many of Ligouri's praises to Mary are blasphemous in
nature. It is not true to say that we get quicker by going to Mary than
we do by going to Jesus, or that even God must obey Mary's commands
etc., I accept that Ligouri's writings do not constitute official
church teaching, but his book carries the imprimatur of the RC Church,
and is still being published.
We cannot do better than copy the ministry of the Blessed Apostles. Paul summarised their preaching in these words: "We preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ the Lord." (2 Corinthians 4:5) Why is this? Because:"Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) Looking to Mary cannot save you. Mary herself said: "Whatsoever HE shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5) What does Jesus say to you to do? Simply this: "Come to me, all you that labour and are burdened; and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart; and you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) Come direct. Come now. Come and be saved for evermore, "without money and without any price." (Isaiah 55:1) |
Thank
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