Should we Worship Mary, Mother of Jesus?

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A Biblical Refutation of Mariology

Luke 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
by David Cox copyright by David Cox 1996 Version 5 of April , 1996 F:\.Study\Roman Catholic\Mary5.doc [email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTS
The use of the term "Mother of God" The veneration or worship of Mary The Christian should not worship images The Christian should only worship God We should not worship or venerate Mary The Intercession of Mary for sins "Jesus cannot refuse his Mother" The will of Mary Contacting the dead The purpose of prayer The teaching of Jesus The intercession of the saints God is not moved by bribes or tricks Mary cannot be an intercessor in place of Jesus Jesus is the only intercessor between men and God The will of God the Father For the person who worships Mary 1 2 3 5 6 7 7 9 10 12 13 14 14 15 17 19 21

To obtain copies of this booklet, Email me, David Cox at [email protected]

Key Verses
Prohibition against contacting the dead - Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Exodus 2:18; Leviticus 20:6; Isaiah 8:19-20. Only worship God - Matthew 4:10; Deuteronomy 6:13-14. Godly men reject worship of themselves - Acts 10:25,26; 14:14,15. Angels reject worship of themselves - Revelation 22:8,9. The command from Mary to all men - John 2:5. Jesus called her "woman" but John "mother" - John 2:4; 19:26. The business of his Father was first priority for Jesus - Luke 2:48,49; 11:27,28; John 2:4. The Christian must put God before demands of family - Matthew 19:29; Mark 10:29,30; Luke 14:26. Those that do the will of God the Father are as Jesus' MOTHER and brethren (they have access to God whereas the very mother of Jesus is shut out) - Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:35; Luke 8:21. Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter heaven, but only those who do the will of God the Father - Matthew 7:21. Besides God, no one else can save - Isaiah 43:11. In no other (apart from Jesus Christ) is there salvation - Acts 4:12. Only one mediator between God and men, Jesus Christ - 1 Tim 2:5. Nobody can come to the Father except through Jesus - John 14:6. Advocate (lawyer) with God the Father, Jesus Christ - 1 Jn 2:1. Jesus intercedes for us - Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25. Having a great high priest, Jesus Christ, let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace - Hebrews 4:14-16. It is prohibited to bow, pray, make offerings or worship other gods, men or images. Only to the true God - Exodus 22:20; 34:14; 20:3-5; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 4:16; Romans 1:25; Isaiah 42:8,17; 44;9. The food of Jesus was to do the will of God the Father - John 4:34. God does not accept persons nor bribes - Deu 10:17; 2 Chron 19:7. Jesus was the firstborn among the children of Mary - Mat 1:25; Luke 2:7. The brothers of Jesus were James, Joses, Simon and Judas - Mat 13:55. In the beginning, the brothers of Jesus did not believe in him - John 7:5. Mary recognized her need of a savior - Luke 1:47. The offering of Mary according to Levitical law - Luke 2:22-24 (Leviticus 12:6-8).

Queen of Heaven - Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-19,25.

We should not be disrespectful toward Mary, in fact not toward anyone. Mary was the mother of the humanity of Jesus. Because of this she received a blessing greater than any woman has ever received. Luke 1:42 "And (Elisabeth) spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou (Mary) among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb."

The use of the term "Mother of God"

The phrase "Mary, Mother of God" is not a biblical term. The Bible never uses this phrase in relation to Mary. Mary was the mother of Jesus, in his humanity. The word "mother" refers to a person who brought another person into the world or into existence. The "mother" always exists before the "child". To call Mary the "mother of God" is to locate Mary before God. This is impossible.1 But Jesus as eternal God existed before there was a creation (Prov. 8:2230; John 17:24), and because of this, Jesus existed before Mary. There is no reason to presume that Mary was any different from any other woman that has ever lived. It is incorrect to call Mary "the mother of God." If this is correct, then John the Baptist was the cousin of God, Elizabeth was the aunt of God, etc. This becomes quite foolish more than anything else, but in relation to Mary it is not only accepted, but believed by many to be doctrine. Even though others used the term "mother" in relation with Mary, Jesus himself never used it with Mary in the history that we have in the Bible. Jesus always called Mary, his earthly mother, "woman" (John 2:4; 19:26) and the Bible 1
"As someone has rightly said, just as Christ's human nature had no father, so His divine nature had no mother." ("The Gospel According to Rome" by James G. McCarthy, page 191).

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calls her "mother of Jesus" (John 2:1; Acts 1:14). The exception is when Jesus charged the Apostle John to take Mary as his own mother, in that case Jesus referred to Mary as "Behold thy mother" (John 19:26-27). What an opportunity for Jesus on the cross to seek the help and consolation of Mary if Mary is really so important! By Christ's example, we see that it is never correct to seek Mary. Actually Jesus always sought out God the Father in heaven, and only charged the care of Mary to his favorite disciple. The Catholics have called Mary the "Queen of Heaven." This phrase means that Mary is as God, the King of Heaven. The name "Queen of Heaven" actually does occur in the Bible, never referring to Mary though, but always to an idol (demon) that Israel worshipped in place of God. This idol was a god of fertility of the Canaanites (Ashtaroth Judges 2:13). Study the only passages that mention this "Queen of Heaven": Jer. 7:18; 44:17-19; Deu. 4:15-19.

The Veneration or Worship of Mary

Even though the Catholic Church distinguishes the veneration (or worship) their members are supposed to give to God (latria), to Mary (hiperdulia), and to the saints (dulia ), it results in the same thing. To bow before an image representing a person or God and to pray to and worship them is the same sin that the savage pagans of Africa do when they worship a piece of rock formed by their very own hand no matter how you describe it. The worship is expressed using the same words, be it to God or to Mary or to the saints. The worship is done during the normal time and place to worship God, and normally the person is

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kneeling. There is no difference between worship and prayer to God and what is offered to the saints and Mary. If in practice there is no distinction between prayers to God, to the saints and to Mary, then it is the same type of worship. Actually the Catholic Church teaches that the supreme worship is actually to Mary, not to the saints, nor even to God. In the first four centuries of the Christian Church, there is not even a mention of the veneration nor worship of Mary. This heresy began in A.D. 370 by a group of women called Colirydians, that is taken from their custom of making cakes to their goddess. The Christian Church of this time fought against this heresy. The name "Queen of Heaven" was applied to the goddess in that fight (by Epiphanius). Ambrose made the observation that Mary was for a few short months the temple where God dwelt, but just as the Israelites worshipped the temple and lightly esteemed the God of the temple, so this sect also honored the temple and lightly esteemed the God of the temple. Later in a fight against Nestorius (accused of believing Christ was a created being) at the Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431), the church declared that the title "theotokos", or Godbearer, was to be used in relation to Mary although they officially denied that Christ was a created being.

The Christian should not worship images

The defense of the Catholics is that all worship and prayer for them ends with God. This is the same excuse that the pagans and Israelites used when they left God to follow idols. It is instructive to examine the book of Exodus at this point. God told the Israelites to make him a mercy seat. In

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Exodus 25:22, God told them that he was going to speak to them from over the mercy seat. Almost immediately (32:1) we find Israel wanting "gods", and Aaron made a molten calf. Human beings are very susceptible to idolatry. God knows this and because of that God prohibited any type of image. They probably used the logic that this calf represented the animal that brought them out of Egypt (32:4). Perhaps they thought that God dwelt over the calf the same way as his presence was over the mercy seat. Anyway, they identified the calf with Jehovah (32:5). In reading the attitude of God toward their idolatry (34:717), God's tenor in this passage frightens one. God compared what they did as a man who frequents prostitutes (34:16). At this point, God commanded Exodus 34:17 "Thou shalt make thee no molten gods." (Leviticus 26:1)
Deuteronomy 4:15 Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: 16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Mary is a creature). Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. 42:17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods. 44:9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. 10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?

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1 Corinthians 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 10:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils (demons), and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

Isaiah teaches that an image is nothing more than an idol. Whoever has, obtains or makes an image is putting an idol in their life. Paul carries this a little further. Idols are nothing more than demons looking for worship of their persons just as Satan wanted the worship of Jesus in the temptation of Christ (Matthew 4).

The Christian should worship only God

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

It is important to see that the Bible presents God as being extremely jealous. Nobody can give even a little worship (or veneration) to another and worship at the same time God. It is obvious when one with honesty meditates over the Scriptures, that Mary is almost without mention in the Scriptures and Jesus is the center of the New Testament,

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and also of the Old Testament through the presence of sacrifices and types and the prophecies of the Messiah.
Deuteronomy 6:12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. 14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; 15 (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth. Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve (honor) them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 22:20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed. 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We should not worship or venerate Mary

While Jesus was teaching, a woman raised her voice and said, "Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked" (Luke 11:27). This woman wanted to venerate or give a special honor to the mother of Jesus. Jesus did not accept this, but quickly cut her off saying, "Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it" (Luke 11:28). In the birth of Jesus, we see various

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examples of people giving worship and venerating the Christ child, Simon (Luke 2:29-35), Anna (Luke 2:38), and the wise men (Matthew 2:2,11). In no case does one of these people worship Mary, but always Jesus alone. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, Jesus never mentioned Mary, but only God the Father and his will (Luke 11:1-4). There are occasions in the Bible when men wanted to worship or venerate "holy" men of God (Acts 10:25-26; 14:14-15), or an angel (Revelation 22:8,9). Always these men or angels refused the worship or veneration of themselves. They understood the will of God about this. As when Jesus answered Satan who desired Jesus to worship him, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Matthew 4:10). The will of God is that we should worship only that which is God, and this God we should fear and honor (Matthew 10:28). It is a grave sin to worship or venerate Mary, the saints, or anyone that is not actually God. Mary is not God, even though the Catholics almost make her God in their theology.

The Intercession of Mary for sins.

Many people seek the help of Mary for the pardon of their sins or for petitions that they want of God. There are many reasons why this cannot be correct.

"Jesus cannot refuse his Mother"

In the doctrine of the Catholic Church, they believe that if Jesus is perfect in all aspects, and he is obedient to his

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parents as the Bible commands, then if someone asks Mary something, and she asks Jesus, then Jesus cannot deny any such petition through his mother. This reasoning is not correct. This places the son inferior to his mother, and the mother superior to her son. This is to use the words "mother" and "son" to make a doctrine that contradicts the Bible. 2 First of all, the Biblical order is that the father is head of the home (Genesis 3:16), then Mary would be under the wishes or desire of her husband, Joseph. The Sadduccees (who do not believe in the resurrection) wanted to criticize Jesus (Matthew 22:23-30) over this point of the resurrection. They fabricated an hypothetical situation where one woman had a husband who died, and she later was married by his brother. Seven times she married these brothers and then she too died. Trying to trap Jesus, they wanted him to tell them who would have her in the resurrection. If the Bible teaches that a woman is under the authority of her spouse, and she legally had seven husbands, then in heaven which of her husbands should have this authority over her? Jesus declared that our earthly relationships will be changed in the heaven, "in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." (Mat. 22:30) Jesus revealed that after physical death, Christians will be as the angels in their family relationships (specifically in that of being subject to 2
The Catholic Church has carried this to the point of teaching that God is under obligation to Mary because she brought Jesus into the world, and God owes Mary more than Mary owes God (according to San Bernadino of Sienna, a "canonized saint" of the Catholic Church). Also Bonaventura, another "canonized saint", took the Psalms and rewrote them substituting the name of Mary for the name of God.

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the authority of a spouse). The angels have neither mothers nor fathers nor children, nor wives3. The woman will not be under the authority of her husband, neither the children under their parents. After Mary died, she entered a normal relationship with Jesus just as any other Christian woman would have done (2 Cor. 5:16-17). Mary does not have any more influence with Jesus than any other Christian and the person that obeys God's will has more influence with God that any relative of Jesus, be it cousin, aunt, father (Joseph) or even mother (Mary).

The Will of Mary

Mary has her own will and very simply she can simply say "No" to any of our petitions. In other words, it would be possible for Mary to hear someone's petition4, but she
The high priest Melchisedec is compared to "the Son of God" in this same way. He had no human relationships as between son and parent nor genealogy. Hebrews 7:1 "For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." This reference of being "without mother" is to say that the Bible did not mention the genealogy of Melchisedec, simply out of nowhere he appeared. Equally the Son of God appeared suddenly, and not from notable parents. This indicates in the case of Melchisedec that his parents did not enter into his ministry even though in the priesthood of Moses the genealogy of the priest was exceedingly important. In the case of Jesus, we may say that Jesus came from the tribe of Judah (the tribe from which the kings came), but he did not come from royal parents. The sense of this passage is that God put little importance in the earthly parents of Jesus. If Mary was going to play such an important role in salvation and prayer as well as receive worship equally with God as the Catholics teach, then the author of Hebrews would not have compared Jesus to Melchisedec as he did.

The Bible does not represent those in heaven as normally being able to hear the prayers of human beings on the earth. The Bible presents the saved as sleeping in Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:3; 15:51; 1 Thessalonians 4:14).

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would not necessarily have the obligation to ask it of Jesus. Mary put herself under the will of God, and if she could tell us something today, she would tell us what she said in John 2:5 "Whatsoever (Jesus) saith unto you, do it." The last time the Bible mentions Mary is in Acts 1:13,14. In this occasion the disciples were assembled to pray. Mary, being among them, received no prayers to herself but as any other Christian would have done, she directed her prayers toward God. Also if Mary were intercessor as the Catholic Church teaches, she would have to discern the will of God in the case of each petition.1 John 5:14 And this is
the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

Contacting the Dead

It is doubtful that Mary can even hear any person alive on the earth praying to her. Moreover, the Bible is very clear on this point, that it is a grave error (a sin) to seek communication with the dead. To communicate with the dead, to seek the dead, or to pray to the dead is part of witchcraft, and in the Old Testament this carried the penalty of death (Exodus 22:18).
Deuteronomy 18:9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer (he who consults with the dead). 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

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Leviticus 20:6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Isaiah 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? 20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

To speak with human beings that have died belongs to Satanism and demon worship. There is no exception with speaking to Mary who has also already died, sleeping in peace waiting the resurrection. What motivates this prayer to Mary is demon influences which is a work of witchcraft. God says that he will set his face against the person who involves themselves with this. This is a very far fetch from God answering their petition! Isaiah well makes the question, "should not a people seek unto their God? Will they seek the dead for the living?" With Jesus, who is our God, we can pray and present our petitions with confidence (Hebrews 4:14-16). It is prohibited by God (it is an abomination to God) to consult the dead (normally the custom was to make petitions to them). We should always pray and seek only God. In Joshua 7:10-11, God rebuked Joshua for praying when there was disobedience in the camp. No worship or prayer can reach God without conforming itself to the instructions of God in how it should be offered5. Obedience is always before prayer, or 5
1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

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God will not hear that prayer when there is sin (disobedience) involved (2 Kings 5:25,26; John 12:5,6; Acts 5:1,2,9; Hebrews 4:13).

The Purpose of Prayer

In seeking Mary (and the saints) to intercede for oneself, there is a wrong understanding about the purpose of prayer. Prayer is not like magic so that one can obtain all the desires of their heart. Prayer is part of the process by which God gives to his children all good things according to their spiritual maturity. God is always in the process of educating us as to what is his good will and what are our carnal desires. Prayer is then an integral part of our spiritual education. Prayer is the alignment of ourselves with the will of God (identifying and scorning our carnal desires) and abandoning confidence in other means in order to depend completely and personally in God and his means (the asking and relying on God for all our necessities). It is not necessary or possible that dead Christians can grow more in this area, because once in heaven, whatever they lack in their spiritual "education", the grace of God will complete when they enter. This should not make us lazy in praying (thinking it is not necessary to force ourselves to learn dependency on God here), because in heaven, God will reward the Christian according to his spiritual maturity shown by his conduct while walking the earth. It will be very embarrassing for the spiritually immature that have not had these victories in their earthly life.

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The Teaching of Jesus

This idea that Jesus is obliged to obey Mary in whatsoever she desires is not in agreement with the Bible. The most clear teaching of Jesus about this is in Matthew 12:46-50. Mary and Jesus' half brothers arrived where Jesus was teaching apparently to take Jesus home ("He is beside himself" Mark 3:21,31-35), but they could not enter for the multitude of people. They requested Jesus to stop teaching for a while and to come out, because his mother and half brothers wanted to speak to him.
Matthew 12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Mark 3:35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. Luke 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Instead of immediately leaving as one would think he would respond to his mother's request, Jesus refused to go and taught that those who do the will of God the Father have more access and influence with Jesus than his own brothers in the flesh6 and even more than his own mother. 6
The fact that Joseph and Mary had other children after Jesus is obvious, but the Catholic Church has denied this clear teaching of the Bible preferring to mystify Mary. The reference to Jesus' brothers makes no sense if they were not his actual brothers. Compare this with Luke's use of the word "firstborn" in Luke 2:7. The firstborn is used only to refer to the first child among more than one. Also the clear sense of Matthew 1:25 is that Joseph and Mary had normal sexual relations after Mary gave birth to Jesus. Also note that the word "brother" (a*delfo") does at times mean "cousin", but the primary meaning is "one of the same parents" unless otherwise qualified. Compare

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If Mary could not succeed in convincing him while on the earth, Why can she do it now? Jesus questioned Mary "Woman, what have I to do with thee?" (John 2:4). In this form Jesus rebuked Mary for interfering with the ministry of Jesus. It is clear that in place of Jesus blindly obeying, he was irritated with Mary because she tried to use her position as his mother in order to get her petition. This passage teaches us that the whole concept of using the mother of Jesus as a leverage with God is wrong.

The Intercession of the Saints

The Catholic Church separates the "saints" that are worthy to receive honor and adoration (receiving the prayers of the Christians) from saved persons in general. In contrast the New Testament calls all saved persons "saints" (Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Romans 1:7; 16:15; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1). As brothers, one ought to pray for one another. But once again we see neither evidences nor commands to ask dead brethren to pray for us. This would be to seek the dead which is prohibited. We, the Christians who are alive, should pray for our brethren who are alive because of our good will toward them. Really the Bible does not even say we are to seek other live brethren to pray for us except in special cases such as the case of illness (James 5:14). It is an obligation of mature Christians to assume the burdens of others (Galatians 6:2).

with the word for "cousin" (anepio") in Col. 4:10, and the other word for "kinsman" (sungeni") in Luke 1:36. Cp. Mat. 13:55,56/Mark 3:21; 6:3,4; Gal. 1:19; John 7:5; Acts 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:5.

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God is not moved by bribes or tricks

God does not look favorably upon someone who tries to trick or deceive God. Their is no magic back door with God. Only by doing the will of God the Father (which is the "front door") do we experience the power and blessing of God. All are subject to his will, and everything revolves around it. To try to bypass the will of God is to follow the road of Satan.
Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward (bribes); 2 Chronicles 19:7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Mary cannot be an intercessor in place of Jesus7

In the sect and heresy that has grown up around Mary, little by little these devotees have given Mary the position of 7
Pope Pius IX said in his encycliade in A.D. 1849 that all the confidence of the Catholic is in Mary and if there is some hope, some grace, some salvation, it comes from her, because this is the will of God that everything goes through Mary. This is totally contrary to the teaching of the Bible.

Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

John 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

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God. But this cannot be. Mary was human, and like the rest of us, she was born of man's seed, and she has a sinful nature (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:10,23; 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 1 John 1:8,10). To be a sinner indicates that one is destined to hell if he does not change and seek salvation in Jesus Christ. Mary referred to her "Savior" in Luke 1:46-47. Only a sinner would need a savior. Mary according to the Old Testament law offered a sacrifice to remove her impurity after having a child, even though the child was God. (Luke 2:22-24 compare with Leviticus 12:6-8). She only could have been an intercessor like any priest under the Old Testament, offering first a sacrifice for her own sins, and then later interceding for others (Hebrews 7:23-28). God insisted in a high priest and a sacrifice without sin (Hebrews 4:15; 9:28), and only Jesus complied with this requirement (Hebrews 7:26; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5; Luke 18:19) .
John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. 15:16 ... I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 16:23 ... Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

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Those who are faithful to God cannot in any way, shape or form pray to Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Bible teaches that we have free access to God if we ask directly to God according to his will and in the name of Jesus, so Mary and the saints do not enter into this. To seek and pray to Mary and the saints would be to abandon the access that God gave us (and commanded us to use) through Jesus Christ, his son and our Savior. The Bible makes it very clear that we ought to give our adoration, honor and prayer to the Son.
Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Hosea 13:2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves. ... 4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me. John 5:23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

Jesus is the only intercessor between men and God

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

The adoration of Mary presents Mary as a great savior in the place of Jesus Christ. It is not possible that a person can worship and seek Mary while at the same time trusting in Jesus only for his salvation. Either Jesus saves or

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Mary.8 It cannot be possible that both are true nor that Jesus saves through Mary. This is an hypocrisy. The Bible clearly presents salvation as only belonging to God, and God gives salvation only through the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. To seek salvation, intercession, petitions, etc. from Mary is to distrust Jesus Christ. The Bible is clear, the person that does not trust only in Jesus Christ does not have salvation.
Isaiah 43:11 I am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. (Isa. 49:26) Acts 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, (Jesus) which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Romanos 3:24 siendo justificados gratuitamente por su gracia, mediante la redencin que es en Cristo Jess, 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

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(1) Mary did not suffer being made sin like Christ (Gal. 3:13; Isa. 53:4,6). (2) Mary did suffer until death for sin (Rom. 5:10; Heb. 9:15; Rev. 1:5). (3) Jesus alone was like men (Phil. 2:7) yet totally without sin (1 Pet. 1:19; 2:22).

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Colossians 1:13-14 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

By means of the intercession of Jesus Christ, those that trust in him have free access to God, grace and mercy.
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate (lawyer) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

The Will of God the Father

The Bible presents a very clear picture of Jesus. Even though Jesus honored his parents as the Bible commands all children to do, he did not put his earthly parents above God. As a child he was subject to them, but he clearly told them "wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:48-49). The Bible teaches that there is a definite time when the children become adults and leave the authority of their parents (Gen. 2:24; Matthew 19:5; Mark 10:7; Ephesians 5:31), and especially if the parents do not support their decision to follow Christ.
Mark 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters,

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and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (compare with Matthew 19:29) Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
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Jesus always obeyed the will of God the Father. John 4:34 "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." John 5:30 "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." It is important to see that Jesus subjected himself to the will of God the Father. Even being the son of Mary in his humanity, Jesus was not free to do what he wanted, but only what God the Father desired. John 6:38 "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." If Jesus always obeyed the desires of Mary (especially the petitions that Christians make to her) then really it would be to ignore or to rebel against the will of God the Father. And if Jesus ignored Mary to do the will of God the Father, then he would not be a sinner by doing so (Acts 5:29). What is the will of God the Father? John 6:40 "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the
To "hate" here is used in a figurative sense. This is to say that in comparison with their love to God, the person would seem to have what would be hate toward his family. In order to be a disciple of Jesus and to be saved, the person has to put God's will before these family relationships, and even to the point that the person would lose his own life if necessary, but he would still comply with the will of God. Jesus put the will of God the Father as first priority in his life, and especially before the wishes of Mary his mother according to the flesh.

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Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." The will of God the Father is primarily that one has faith in Jesus Christ as their personal savior, asking him for the salvation and reaching eternal life. It is important to remember that God has given us his revelation in the Holy Scriptures. No church can presume to know and teach the words of God and the will of God without backing up their teachings from the Bible. When there is a difference between what the church teaches and the Bible, the Bible is correct and the church is in error10. The Catholic Church has taught the veneration of Mary that is not found in the Bible and directly contradicts the teaching of Jesus as savior and intercessor. The Apostle Paul advised the Church of Galatians that there are men who desire to pervert the gospel. Paul said that if even he himself "or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (1:8) The Catholic Church says that their authority comes from Peter, but Paul had to rebuke and correct Peter (Galatians 2:11) after Peter was convinced by "false brethren unawares brought in" (Galatians 2:4). The false doctrine that Paul corrected in his epistle to the Galatians was because the church had perverted the gospel following deceptive men. There is no authority as trustworthy as the Bible. 12
The Catholic Church places much authority in the belief that they alone know the will of God through their tradition. In John 21:20-23 we see where a "tradition" began that was erroneous. Peter wrongly presuming John betrayed Christ and wishing his death is rebuked by Christ. Some assumed from these words that John would never see death, and John in his epistle corrects this "error of tradition." Only God's Word is authoritative and without error.

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For the Person who Worships Mary

From studying and meditating over the truths related to Mary, the honest person comes to the inevitable conclusion that he ought not seek nor adore nor venerate nor pray to Mary (nor to the saints). It is essential to totally trust in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross for the salvation. If God approved the adoration of Mary, and it is so important as to replace the adoration of Jesus Christ, then how can Paul say to the Ephesian Church in Acts 20:20 "And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house" and in verse 27 "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God"? In all of the Pauline epistles, Paul never referred not even once to the adoration of Mary, in fact he did not even refer to Mary at all except possibly a greeting to someone named Mary in Romans 16:6. Peter, in his two epistles to the Church in general, did not mention anything about Mary even though his purpose of these epistles was to remind them of important things after the death of Peter (2 Peter 1:12-16). How could John write in John 20:31 "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" if salvation (eternal life) comes through Mary? We do not see any form of adoration nor veneration of Mary in the Bible. This doctrine is erroneous and useless. If the price of salvation was so dear for God to pay, that he had to allow sinners to kill his only-begotten son, then how great an importance God places on Jesus!
Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath

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counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

What should someone do that really desires to honor Jesus? First we should always obey the will of God the Father because Jesus put a supreme importance on this in his life. The first thing above all though is to personally accept the work of Jesus Christ in the cross for the payment of my sins.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

This is to say that we trust in nothing apart from the salvation which Jesus gives us. This also is to say that we do not trust in Mary in any way. Seeing our sins paid for by Jesus in the cross, we repent of these sins that were the reason that Jesus had to die. We see sin as scornful. Doing this, we ask Jesus to enter our hearts to save us from our sins. This is to invoke his name.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The Catholic Church teaches that when someone takes communion, this is accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior (actually eating his flesh and drinking his blood). Truthfully, salvation is not something that someone eats or drinks, but is a relationship that one begins personally with Jesus (as a marriageEphesians 5:22-33

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or a birth of a childJohn 3:3-5). This is to say that there is a time before entering the relationship, there is a decision to do it, there is a door by which one is either inside or outside, and later on there is the changed life that is a result of this relationship. As no couple will marry each other over and over every month or every week, neither is "accepting" Jesus at the communion table valid if it is something that has to be repeated. Salvation is a decision that changes the life and is never repeated. In the perfect ideals that God has for marriage, the man and the woman that marry always reject all other lovers in marriage. They live for each other because of their commitment. Do you wish to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your only savior? Do you trust only in Jesus for your salvation? Repent of your sins and ask him to save you now.

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