The Virgin Mary

RESEARCH: The Virgin Mary

"The virgin Mary is regarded by every Christian as a highly respected woman. She had a profound love for God, and her humility should be an example to all."

Bible Instructor, Columbia Union

PART I

The virgin Mary is regarded by every Christian as a highly respected woman. She had a profound love for God, and her humility should be an example to all. However, no student of the Holy Scriptures could ever believe that she was immaculately conceived. Here is the testimony of the Word of God: "All have sinned." Rom. 3:23. "God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh." Rom. 8:3. Mary herself did not believe that she was immaculately conceived and immune to sinning. Note her Magnificat: "My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." Luke 1:47. She was in need of a Saviour, as all sinners are.

The following statements taken from authenticated Catholic works define the church's position on the dogma of the immaculate conception:

" 'We define that the Blessed Virgin Mary in the first moment of her conception, by the singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from every stain of original sin.' " Ibid., p. 140.

"The Church, however, declares that the Blessed Virgin Mary was exempted from the stain of original sin by the merits of our Savior, Jesus Christ; and that, consequently, she was never- for an instant subject to the dominion of Satan. This is what is meant by the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception." JAMES CARDINAL GIBBONS, Faith of Our Fathers (1917 ed.), p. 220.

The Word of God is silent on the theory of "the passive conception" of the Virgin Mary. Nor does it even intimate that she was sanctified in the first moment of her conception, thus freeing her from "the stain of original guilt."

If what the Catholic Church teaches is true, that Mary was born immaculate, with no bias toward sin, then Christ can never sympathize with any of us poor sinners. If Mary could not sin and was "never for an instant subject to the dominion of Satan," then Christ was born with the same immunity. This is not the Christ of the Holy Scriptures, which state that He took sinful flesh. "God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh." Rom. 8:3.

The Redeemer of the world while here on earth battled with the same inherent tendency that the human family is subject to. He did not have the sinless nature of an angel, but the apt ness toward sin that we inherit from our fore bears. Taking our nature, the Son of God is able to enter into our experience and to commiserate with us, because He came from a line age of transgressors. Read His genealogy recorded in Matthew 1:1-7 and Luke 3:2-3-38, and you can well understand what an inheritance He received from His ancestors.

This is what makes the Son of man so precious to each of us. "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." Heb. 2:16-18.

We have a Saviour and High Priest who is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities." Heb. 4:15.

In A.D. 428 Anastasius delivered a sermon opposing the title mother of God, which had been frequently given to the virgin Mary. He was in favor of calling her the mother of Christ. He reasoned that the Deity being self-existing could neither be born nor die, and consequently His birth must be from an earthly parent, and Mary was chosen to give Him His human body. This is the teaching of sacred Scripture, and the church should have accepted what Anastasius advocated.

The real controversy on the doctrine of the immaculate conception began in the twelfth century. Saint Bernard (who died in 1153) took issue with the canons of Lyons because they began celebrating the feast of Mary's conception before it had been approved by the Roman Church. Such men as Saint Peter Damian, Saint Anselm, and Peter Lombard agreed with Saint Bernard's opinion and stated that his was the prevalent one both before and during his time.

Duns Scotus, who died in 1308, gave great impetus to the doctrine of the immaculate conception, although he at first denied that the virgin was conceived without sin. Finally, on December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX made a proclamation that the church recognized that Mary was immaculately conceived. It required many years to arrive at this conclusion, but now it is an article of faith, and for a Roman Catholic to doubt it would be heresy.

Mary as Mediatrix

No Biblical scholar could ever acknowledge as truth that Mary is the mediatrix between Christ and the human family. Holy Writ clearly states that there is only "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Tim. 2:5. The Bible does not recognize a female intercessor, but it does record the promise of Christ to send another Parakletos, or advocate, which is the Holy Spirit. (John 14: 16, 17.)

The apostle Peter declared that the name of Jesus is the only "name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.

The marriage at Cana well illustrates Christ's attitude toward His mother when she showed evidence of assuming a position that was not rightfully hers. Note the following: "And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." John 2:3, 4.

By the statement that Christ made to His mother on this occasion, when she manifested an officious spirit, He forever determined her present and future position in the administration of heaven. She humbly submitted to the divine rebuke when she said, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." John 2:5, It is Christ, in conjunction with His Father and the Holy Spirit, who has the rightful authority to dispense the favors of heaven.

Christ, as God, looking into the future, knew what man would do in elevating the human to a divine status. The attitude of the Son of God to His earthly mother's officiousness on this occasion left on record for time and eternity that He would never abdicate in favor of any created being; no, not even the woman who gave Him His human body.

Should Jesus at that period, or since, elevate Mary to the status of a goddess, He would be going contrary to His own word written seven hundred years before His birth: "I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." Isa. 42:8.

When a church sets up a human being to be worshiped, prayed to, and implored for divine mercy and forgiveness, it is contrary to the Lord's express command and out of harmony with the clearest teachings of Scripture.

The thought that Mary after her decease should be elevated to the lofty position of mediatrix and crowned as queen of heaven would have been most repugnant to the early church. God's Word is very definite on the subject of idolatry. Heaven left nothing undone or unsaid to keep the people from making objects of worship. The reason is given why the Lord did not permit the Israelites to see His similitude when He came down on Mount Sinai: "Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female." Deut. 4:16. When the law of God is set aside man will seek some material object to worship; even if it is the work of his own hands, he will pay homage and adoration to it. The account given of the supposed people of God when they demanded that Aaron make them gods that would go before them, and the way the Lord regarded the whole matter, should be read again and again by every professing Christian. (See Exodus 32.)(Continued next month)

 


Ministry reserves the right to approve, disapprove, and delete comments at our discretion and will not be able to respond to inquiries about these comments. Please ensure that your words are respectful, courteous, and relevant.

comments powered by Disqus

Bible Instructor, Columbia Union

August 1951

Download PDF
Ministry Cover

More Articles In This Issue

FEATURES: Preaching With Power

"What men and women crave in our preaching is to hear a Voice from beyond and to catch the outline of a loving Face."

FEATURES: What's Wrong With Modern Preaching?

The author points out many issues in contemporary preaching

FEATURES: Focus on C.M.E.

"More and more as time goes on the place of the College of Medical Evangelists in our denomination is coming into focus."

FEATURES: Ambition

There are different types of ambitions in Christian life

"Ellen G. White and Her Critics"

"All great movements and leaders seem to have begun in obscure corners."

MUSINGS: My Past and My Future

[We are pleased to share this soliloquy with our readers. It comes out of one of Elder Anderson's classes on preaching. As most of our readers already know, the Ministerial Association secretaries, in ad dition to their other responsibilities, all conduct courses at the Theological Seminary. B. c.

PASTOR: Pastoring S.D.A. University Students

"There is a class of young Adventists whose personal evangelism potential is high..."

PASTOR: Be a Channel, Not a Dam

"To function smoothly, an organization needs the wholehearted cooperation of all its integrated departments."

EVANGELISM

Contains three articles

SHEPHERDESS:.As a Worthy Woman

Reprinted from Mrs. Blackwood's new book, '"The Minister's Wife," by permission. Westminster Press, Philadelphia, PA

View All Issue Contents

Digital delivery

If you're a print subscriber, we'll complement your print copy of Ministry with an electronic version.

Sign up
Advertisement - RevivalandReformation 300x250

Recent issues

See All