J
joe370
Guest
Like all of the original reformers, Martin Luther believed that Mary was without sin:
“But the other conception, namely the infusion of the soul, it is piously and suitably believed, was without any sin, so that while the soul was being infused, she would at the same time be cleansed from original sin and adorned with the gifts of God to receive the holy soul thus infused. And thus, in the very moment in which she began to live, she was without all sin…”
Why I agree with the reformers, men like Martin Luther, who agreed with the Catholic Church, that Mary was without sin:
Paul reminds us in passages such as Romans 6, that grace (charis) is the antithesis and conqueror of sin. If Mary was completely full of grace (the antithesis and conqueror of sin) - then logically sin had no dominion over Jesus’ Mother:
Romans 6:14:
*“For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” *
If Mary was not kecharitomene (full of grace) - like the rest of mankind, then it stands to reason that sin, (Satan) - potentially had dominion over Jesus’ mother during her earthly life, like the rest of us. If this is true then there is a chance that sin (Satan) - could have encroached upon Jesus’ mother during her earthly life, like any other human, damning her eternal soul to hell, if she was not properly disposed at the time of her death, like any other person. In other words, the influence of sin (Satan) - which can be so insidious and infectious to anyone not completely endowed with God’s grace, (the antithesis and conqueror of sin) - could have been Mary’s eternal downfall if there was no guarantee that Mary was in a state of grace upon her demise. The same principle apllies to the rest of us.
Question:
*“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
*
Which is awesome, but it also says:
“Enter the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is spacious which leads to destruction, and many are those who are going in it.” Matthew
So clearly, even though it’s a free gift thanks to Jesus Christ, the road to heaven seems to be, sadly, the road less traveled.
“But the other conception, namely the infusion of the soul, it is piously and suitably believed, was without any sin, so that while the soul was being infused, she would at the same time be cleansed from original sin and adorned with the gifts of God to receive the holy soul thus infused. And thus, in the very moment in which she began to live, she was without all sin…”
Why I agree with the reformers, men like Martin Luther, who agreed with the Catholic Church, that Mary was without sin:
Paul reminds us in passages such as Romans 6, that grace (charis) is the antithesis and conqueror of sin. If Mary was completely full of grace (the antithesis and conqueror of sin) - then logically sin had no dominion over Jesus’ Mother:
Romans 6:14:
*“For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” *
If Mary was not kecharitomene (full of grace) - like the rest of mankind, then it stands to reason that sin, (Satan) - potentially had dominion over Jesus’ mother during her earthly life, like the rest of us. If this is true then there is a chance that sin (Satan) - could have encroached upon Jesus’ mother during her earthly life, like any other human, damning her eternal soul to hell, if she was not properly disposed at the time of her death, like any other person. In other words, the influence of sin (Satan) - which can be so insidious and infectious to anyone not completely endowed with God’s grace, (the antithesis and conqueror of sin) - could have been Mary’s eternal downfall if there was no guarantee that Mary was in a state of grace upon her demise. The same principle apllies to the rest of us.
Question:
- How can those who reject the notion that Mary was in a state of grace her entire life, know, with certainty, that Jesus’ mother is now forever with Jesus, and not in hell? Simply saying that Mary was a good person is not any kind of guarantee, just as it isn’t for me or you!
- Just as catholics embrace the teachings of the catholic church regarding Marian doctrines shouldn’t non-catholics embrace the teachings of the original men that spearheaded the protestant reformation, regarding Mary?
*“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
*
Which is awesome, but it also says:
“Enter the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is spacious which leads to destruction, and many are those who are going in it.” Matthew
So clearly, even though it’s a free gift thanks to Jesus Christ, the road to heaven seems to be, sadly, the road less traveled.
I do think I understand the Theotokos concept, both in Catholicism and Orthodoxy, and I’ve found it very interesting—my predominate area of Biblical interest has leaned toward the Old Testament and Jewish studies, so the idea of attempting a parallel between Mary and the Ark of the Covenant is intriguing.