Very good post Aineo, but theres just a few problems.
Luke 1:46-55
46 And Mary said:
"My soul exalts the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
Indeed I agree that Mary needed a savior, and the savior, Jesus SAVED her from original sin. Thats why Jesus IS the savior of Mary.
From the Old Testament we learn that when God sets aside something as sacred and imprints it with His own hand (such as the Ark of the Covenant) that it must be made of the purest materials, unblemished, untouched, and never used for non-sacred purposes either before, during, or after its purpose for being. What is once touched by God in this way must remain pure forever.
We learn these notions from such passages in the Old Testament as the story of the soldiers who saw the Ark of the Covenant begin to fall into the mud and he reached out and grabbed the Ark to prevent it from falling. Despite the fact that he was well-intentioned, he was struck dead on the spot. Why? Because he touched the Holy Ark without having consecrated hands to do so.
Again in the Old Testament we see this notion of pure sacredness. In the Holy of Holies where dwelt the Ark of the Covenant no one could enter except the High Priest once a year. A rope was tied to the ankles of the High Priest before he entered the Holy of Holies. This rope would be used to drag out his body in case he died while in the Holy of Holies. That is how important that the Holiest of holy things that God has set his finger upon MUST be kept untouched and undefiled.
Again in the Old Testament we see this theology of the Sacred in the manner of the Old Testament Sacrifice of the lamb. The lamb had to be a lamb, and not a sheep (in other words, pre-sexual so that the lamb was of course virginal), the lamb had to be free of all blemish and pure. Only then could it be used for sacrifice to God.
Now with this said, we can begin to understand the Marian doctrines. Mary was the Ark of the NEW Covenant. Like the Ark of the Mosaic Covenant she was to hold the very presence of God in her womb. Thus that womb MUST be pure, unblemished, untouched.
Thus Mary HAD to be immaculately conceived to be free from the blemish of original sin. She HAD to live a sinless life (by virtue of being free from the stain of original sin) in order to remain unblemished and pure to be the Ark of God. She had to be virgin and give virgin birth for the same reason. As the Ark of God she had to be unblemished, pure, and untouched.
But after the birth of Jesus she HAD to remain a virgin because of the nature of the holiness and sacredness that God made her womb. Can you imagine let's say, the Chalice of the Blood of our Lord, once it has worn out and cannot be used for the Holy Mass anymore, being used to remove water from the toilet? Such an idea is loathsome. Even though the Chalice is no longer used in Sacred Ministry, it MUST STILL be treated as a Sacred object and if disposed of, disposed of properly.
Although Mary's main mission to give birth to the Savior was over, the sacred vessel of her womb, made holy by the very touch of God, had to remain pure, undefiled, and unblemished. She HAD to be perpetually virgin. If she was not then God was lying about the nature of the sacred in the Old Testament.
Finally, Mary HAD to be assumed into heaven. We do not know for sure if Mary died and then was assumed or if she was assumed without dying. Either way, the sacred vessel of her womb could not be allowed to decay. She HAD to be assumed body and soul into heaven, or otherwise, again, God would have lied in the Old Testament about the nature of the Sacred.
Mary was free from the stain of original sin, but not the effects of original sin -- as in the effects of the world. She suffered worldly sufferings, and was subject to the evils in the world of weather and men. But she was free from the stain of original sin, a singular grace given to her, that allowed her be made sanctified by the merits of the Cross, before the Cross. Thus she was able to remain sinless all her life. This is a singular and wondrous grace given by God to Mary because she HAD to be this way or God could not used her womb as the most sacred Holy of Holies where His presence would dwell in the Ark of the New Covenant.
Now my friend lets talk about this verse:Matt 1:25
"and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus"
This word "until" in Greek is "heos", translates for "until or before", and does not imply anything about what happens after the time indicated.
Please read these brief quotations:
- "As to Michal daughter of Saul, she had no child till the day of her death" (2Sam.6:23 YLT)... does it mean that Michael had children after the day of her death?
- "I am till you grow old" (Is.46:4)... Does it mean that when they grow old God ceases to be?..`
- "The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." (Psalm 110:1)... Shall he sit no longer after his enemies are subdued?"
This verse 25, the last one of Matthew 1, is Matthews's summary, or corollary, or bottom line, of all the previous verses 18-24, on how the conception of Jesus happened, without any intervention of Joseph... to interpret it other way, and specially as that Joseph had sexual relations with Virgin Mary after the birth of Jesus, is to change the whole meaning of the chapter, it is nothing but a false interpretation of Satan. :evil:
Aineo
All Christians have direct access to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ His Son without any need for an advocate or an intermediary
Again I agree my friend but....
James 6:15- "...
the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Thus, they pray to the mother of Jesus and to saints because they are among the most righteous people we know about.
The Bible tells us to pray for each other(Intercede), as Catholics, Anglicans and Orthadox Christians, we believe that goes for the dead too.
As the dead are more alive then we are in the
ONE BODY of Christ.
Mat 22:32 "He is
NOT the God of the dead but of the
LIVING"
Also:
Tobit 12:12- "So now when you and Sarah prayed, it was I who brought and read the record of your prayer before the glory of the Lord, and likewise whenever you
bury the dead."
Im sure if we can
PRAY FOR THE DEAD the dead
CAN PRAY FOR US.
Also look at: 2 Timothy 1:16-18
Last but not least "dead" Saints Intercede for us.
Revelation 6:9-10
Revelation 5:8
Revelation 11:3
Also Apparations of the blessed Virgin Mary do happen and no not all are demonic. Just like other apparations of saints etc...
Luke 9:29-30 "And as he Prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
And, behold, there talked with him, Which were Moses and Elias"
Anymore Questions or accusations?
Anyhow it was my pleasure
God Bless
"Oh my
Jesus I love you to the point of madness" St Foustina