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What Do Roman Catholics Believe About Mary? | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series) · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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Well again, it's so good to be back with you all.
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I've seen some of your faces just not too long ago and so
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from Joe and I thank you for all those who are able to make it to
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the wedding. And we know that some couldn't
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really wanted to be there, but your love and your support even
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from a distance was felt. And so we're just so blessed
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that we can be part of a church family.
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That is so supportive in so many ways and so thank you from the
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bottom of our hearts. I don't want to take too much
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time talking about that though. I want us to go to the word of
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God and so meet me. E in Mark, chapter 7.
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And let's go to a few verses that we already covered
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together, but it's going to help us springboard into specific
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topic. That is worthy of our time.
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This Sunday afternoon let's go to verse 10 and Mark chapter 7,
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Here's what the word of God reads.
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For Moses said, honor your father, and your mother, and
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whoever reviles father, or mother must surely die.
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But you say the man, tells his father, or his mother, whatever
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you have game from me, is Corbin.
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That is given to God, then you no longer permit him to do
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anything for his father or mother.
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Thus making void the word of God by your tradition.
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That you Have handed down and many such things you do.
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Lord, we pray. Give us Grace for this message.
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Unmistakably clear. Free from confusion free from
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error, even with a subject, like this may the presence of Christ.
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Be felt May, our hearts be wooed to love him and Adorn him with
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greater devotion, and greater Zeal Lord set.
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The captives free, those who might be confused or deceived,
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bring Clarity, bring guidance, bring Deliverance be exalted and
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be honored. Lord, our hearts are ready for
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what you have to say and we trust in your wisdom and in your
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wisdom alone. Amen.
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I draw your attention to this passage again, because I want to
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remind you that the elevation and the indoctrination of man
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made, religious, or spiritual tradition, is something that
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Jesus during his Earthly Ministry often confronted and
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exposed and the leaders, and the perpetrators who pushed often
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man-made tradition. During the time of Christ were
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the Pharisees. And here we see the Lord, not
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only addressing the error of their ways in a general sense,
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but he specifically points out a flaw in their belief system and
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even calls it out by name. The Lord here speaks about one
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of the things that they were pushing and teaching and
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discipling, that was actually eclipsing the word of God.
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And Jesus goes on to tell exactly what commandment this
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teaching was overshadowing. And it was obviously concerned
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to him and it should be concern to us.
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That's what we see here. In verse 11 is a not the
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Pharisees implemented. What was known as Corbin, it was
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a pseudo spiritual All that enabled them to avoid the
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responsibility ordained by God. In the fifth commandment and
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honoring your father and your mother, which was a lifelong
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commitment, even into their old age, to watch over them, and to
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help them in every way possible, including financially.
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But this core bond. This, this supposed principal
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made it seem as though in piety, what was supposed to be given to
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them was actually given to God, when in reality, they could do
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whatever they wanted with that. charitable cause This is just
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one this is just one of the Traditions.
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Jesus tells us that the end of his statement here verse 13 and
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many such things you do. This teaching was only one of
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the many errors that the Pharisees were promoting to an
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undiscerning people. Many such things you do with
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that being said, my aim today and I have a very specific goal
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is to bring forth to you and to unpack a korban of our day, so
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to speak. More specifically, I want you,
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and I to look at a man-made tradition that is still being
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imposed on the masses. In the name of God and is
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effectively making void the word of God in the lives of many as
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it was, in the days of the Pharisees.
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And my intention in doing this, is to make one simple and
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crucial point that you would never forget.
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And it relates to what we discussed in our last time
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together. And that point is this, that
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there is a serious spiritual danger and deception that awaits
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anyone Anyone who does not uphold the scripture, as a
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supreme authority regarding all matters of faith and practice.
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In other words, if the Bible does not rain, sufficient
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concerning your convictions about the revelation of who God
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is and what he demands of us then.
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No, this the possibilities of embracing erroneous beliefs are
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inevitable. And you will hear one of the
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most. Heartbreaking examples of that
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in a few moments. But before before we proceed,
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allow me to lay a groundwork from the word of God turn with
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me to the Book of Revelation, Book of Revelation is filled
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with wonder filled with amazing truths and observations.
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You're aware of that, it has cost people too.
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Study and wonder and for some to speculate, it's just from cover
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to cover overwhelming with so much Rich Revelation and
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content. And in this book though, I
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believe there is one observation that many have missed, even
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those who are eager to master. Its contents.
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Found here in Revelation, 19 verse 9.
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What do we read here Revelation 19?
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9 says, in the angel said to me, this is John the Apostle
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writing. And the angel said to me, write
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this blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper
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of the lamb and he said to me, these are the true words of God
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verse 10. Then I fell down at his feet to
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worship Him. But he said to me, you must not
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do that. I am a fellow servant with you
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and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus worship.
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God for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of Prophecy.
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Go to chapter 22 of Revelation. Verse 8, revelation, 22, verse
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8. I John am the one who heard and
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saw these things, and when I heard and saw them, I fell down
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to worship at the feet of the Angel who showed them to me.
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But he said to me, you must not do that.
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I am a fellow servant with you and your brother's the prophets.
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And with those who keep the words of this book worship God.
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If you were to ask the Apostle John brother, John, who alone is
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worthy of praise and honor and Glory, who alone is worthy to be
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ascribed. This adoration.
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This Love This devotion. Will there be any doubt in your
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mind that he would answer correctly?
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The same John, who saw touched felt and heard, the Living Word
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made flesh. The same John, who penned the
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words of the Masters Statements like I am the way the truth, and
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the life, the same, John who has given us the Gospel of John, the
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Epistles of John, and even this very glorious book.
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Is there any doubt in our minds that he would be completely
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faithful to answering that question?
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There shouldn't be the end of the same time, the same John,
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who gave so much glory and honour to the Lord.
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Jesus Christ, not once but twice felt the Temptation and the urge
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to worship an angel. To worship a creature.
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To worship a messenger of God. There are many things that we
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can take from this many things that we can absorb, but let me
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make one point that's relevant to the message.
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Today mankind is very capable of giving equal if not more glory
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to a creature than the Creator who alone is worthy to be
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praised. Mankind.
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Can feel that pull can be a Lord to give inappropriate glory to
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an object apart from the only one who deserves it.
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Now, I want you to think about this more deeply.
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This is John, this is the Apostle, John.
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And if the Apostle, John himself felt that impulse to Bow before
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a creature, should it surprise us?
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That there are millions across this globe.
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Who do not have a true Fidelity to the word of God, who do not
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have an adequate understanding of the scriptures?
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Is it any surprise to us that the masses?
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Would feel the urge and would even live in a way in which they
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give and proper adoration, and tribute to a created being
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rather than the Creator. It shouldn't surprise you.
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It shouldn't surprise any of us but it should still break our
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hearts to know that. There are many today who like
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John Our Miss placing their worship.
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And have never been challenged for it even by those who know
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the truth. And I believe one main reasons
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because they're afraid and they have a false understanding of
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unity. False understanding of love. but
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my goal today is to be a simple messenger and Echo the
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exhortation that this heavenly messenger urgency urgently gave
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to John, you must not do that. Worship God.
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God Alone. Some of you perhaps know where
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I'm going with this. But let me be clear from the
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beginning that we are going to spend our time today to deal
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with a very common elevation of a creature.
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Not an angel, but an instrument that God has used two thousand
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years ago and a special way. One who has chosen to fulfill a
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very specific and unique role in Redemptive history.
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But who I was unfortunately been esteemed on a pedestal in a
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manner that is completely foreign to the Bible.
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I'm speaking about Mary and there are different traditional
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churches who proposed various views about Mary though?
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Many of them overlap. But what I'm going to do for the
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sake of order and a flow of thought, I'm going to focus on
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what the Roman Catholic Church teaches about Mary and I know
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what you might be thinking. Why, why are you doing this man?
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Why don't you just stick to what you believe in what we believe?
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No need to do this, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of
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You might think that I'm being inflammatory or unloving by
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taking this approach but let me tell you what I'm doing.
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Is the most loving thing I can do.
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It's the most loving and most compassionate thing to do.
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And I'm not here to give you something that came from my own
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imagination or my own ideas or from some random blog that I
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read online to give me some ammo to attack unnecessarily.
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People who might hold to a different understanding of this
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person know my prayer and my preparation is 21.
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Equip the believer. Is to equip the believer to know
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how to reach out to those who are in deception and second to
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that if somebody who might claim and confess to venerate, Mary
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that in light of what is going to be presented, a to be open
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enough in heart and mind to re-evaluate.
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What the Roman Catholic Church actually teaches and even your
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own Devotion to her. And to see if it lines up with
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the word of God. So just be open, be honest, if
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you're hungry for the truth, I'm not here again to present my own
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ideas. In fact, this is going to be a
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very different message. At least for me, at least for me
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because what I want to do is quote as many sources as
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possible. I'm going to give you what Rome
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says, I'm not going to give you what I think or my understanding
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or what I heard from what this person said.
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Without any credible reference. So my head is going to be down a
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lot. That might not be the most
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engaging or emotionally stirring message this afternoon, but
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absolutely vital. I want to follow the master.
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We go verse by verse chapter, by chapter throughout, the Bible
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were in Mark chapter 7, Jesus dealing with tradition and I
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want to deal with tradition to Jesus called out a specific
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false tradition and I endeavored to do the same.
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There's a lot of confusion out there a lot.
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And they're even good-hearted people who know this to be the
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true word of God, but don't understand differences.
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And don't understand nuances. And my goal here is to make you
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more confident in what you believe.
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And for those who might hold to this tradition, I want you to
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also see Perhaps, you don't understand the depths of this
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tradition and what it really implies.
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And I want you to see that something perhaps that you've
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grown up with or something that you've been sharing with your
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family. Something that's very familiar
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to your culture is in fact dangerous.
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How are we going to do this? Well, let me start by saying if
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I give you. Everything will be here for
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three hours. I don't want to overwhelm you at
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the same time, I want this to be sufficient enough for you, to
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have a basis of understanding. And so I always have to give
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this disclaimer, this is not exhaustive because I'm prepared
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for people to perhaps approach me after and asked about this,
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or about that. I'm prepared for that Beyond
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this Pulpit. But for the sake of our time,
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for the sake of your tolerance, in mind, this is a very focused
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message that will deal with specific things and what were
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specifically going to deal with that.
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At this time. Are the main dogmas of Mary in
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the Roman Catholic Church, the main dogmas, right?
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The main teachings. And let me remind you what
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dogmas are. They're infallible and
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obligatory beliefs that are binding on all professing
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Christians. They are non-negotiable their
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irrevocable and they are absolutely a part of the core
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tenets of the Catholic faith. So when you hear the word dogma,
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that's what you're hearing. These are not.
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Just Fringe things. These are sensual things so
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believer, be ready to be equipped.
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And and the person who does not understand the differences or
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the depths of Mary ology, be prepared to digest.
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Some things that might not be easy to hear.
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How are we going to do this? Let's deal with the four main
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dogmas. Actually three there are four
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there are four of them and the one that I'm going to exclude is
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the belief that Mary is the mother of God.
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That's a very specific title. May, I had a very misleading and
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unbiblical title, the mother of God, it's a very loaded title,
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and it's not just a nice way of referring to her.
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It's not just an honorable way of identifying her, it is low.
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loaded with application and implication concerning devotion
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and perception of her person that is exaggerated And
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violation of the word of God, but I'm not going to touch on
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that one. Instead, I'm going to touch on
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the three other ones and these are the three that we're going
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to look at in the short time together.
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The first one, the first one. If you're taking notes, if you
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can, memorize this stuff, God bless you.
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The Immaculate Conception of Mary.
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In 1854, Pope Pius the ninth solemnly established what is
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known as the Immaculate Conception as a universal Dogma.
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This article of faith was issued under the title of infallible is
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DUIs with translate as gods and affable God ineffable.
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The Immaculate Conception. Is the teaching that Mary was
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conceived without original sin or stain.
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Let me say that one more time, Immaculate Conception is not the
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belief that Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary without sin,
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but that Mary herself when she was conceived the womb of her
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mother was conceived without a trace without any pollution of
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original sin. in essence, it is the belief that God has granted
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a specific Grace over her from the moment that she was
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conceived, that preserved her from the curse of Adam
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Protecting her from. The original curse and stain of
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sin that affects us all. And why would they believe that?
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Well because in their idea if Mary hosted the presence of
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Jesus Christ, who is God, who is perfect, then she herself and
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sharing flesh with them, cannot be contaminated with sin.
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Here is the exact definition from that document that I
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quoted, right? God ineffable from 1854, Pope
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Pius. The ninth quote we declare
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Pronounce and Define that the doctrine, which holds that the
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Most Blessed Virgin Mary is the first instance of her conception
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in the first instance of her conception by singular, Grace
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and privilege. Granted by almighty God and view
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of the merits of Jesus Christ. The savior of the human race was
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preserved, free from all stain of original sin, is a Doctrine
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revealed by God and therefore, to be believed firmly and
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constantly, by all the faithful and quote, There's a lot being
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said there and it's very straightforward.
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It's unmistakably clear, but did you catch a specific phrase?
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It is a Doctrine revealed by God.
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Now, your reflex should be. Well, where does it say it in
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the word of God? But that reply doesn't apply to
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Roman Catholicism. Why?
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Because in their understanding it's not just scripture the
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magisterium of the church has equal Authority and if they're
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honest, more Authority than the word of God and that kind of
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authority that they claim to have enables them to receive
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divine. Ation and Define divine
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revelation. Regardless, if it's found in the
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scriptures are not She comes down to Authority.
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That's why I taught on is the Bible enough before we begin
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this because that's where it all stems.
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From is the Bible sufficient. And if not, then you open ways
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to embracing things such as this.
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And in the same document that defines this Doctrine, you have
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a warning issued to those who choose not to adhere to it.
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Quote, hence if any one shall dare, which God forbid, to think
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otherwise that has been defined by us, let him know and
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understand that he is condemned by his own judgment.
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That he has suffered shipwreck in the faith that he has
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separated from the unity of the church.
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And that furthermore, by his own action, can cures the penalties
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established by law. If he should are to express in
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words or in writing, or By any other outward means the errors.
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He thinks in his heart and quote, you doubt this, you
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question this, you publicly criticize it in writing or in
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speech, you deserve to be punished by law.
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You've made shipwreck of your faith.
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You are not part of the church. If you do not believe that Mary
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was conceived without sin anathema.
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Is this some Fringe document know this was declared by a pope
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infallibly? This essential This is what they
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believe and if you don't believe it either, you're not a
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Christian. This is serious.
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If you expect, if you express any resistance or question,
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you're in danger. And we think here that this is
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again, something that is out there, but let me prove it to
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you from this This is the catechism of the Catholic
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church, you can purchase this, you can find this online.
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This is a book that summarizes the doctrines of their faith.
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I'm going to be quoting from this book a lot because I want
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you to see exactly what they believe.
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Not, again my opinion or my interpretation of their
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principles and their rituals and their ceremonies and their
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doctors know, straight from the book, straight from the horse's
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mouth. From the catechism paragraph.
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508 Here's what we read. This is Doctrine again.
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This is theology. From among the descendants of
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Eve. God chose the Virgin Mary to be
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the mother of his son full of grace.
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Mary is the most excellent fruit of redemption from the first
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instant of her conception, she was totally preserved from the
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stain of original sin and she remained pure from all personal
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sin throughout her life. The reason for this belief
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again, as I said is because Jesus is sinless and surely the
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one hosting Jesus should be sinless, the one carrying him
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for nine months. And so what's this belief that
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God? Predetermined chose Mary?
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To be the first to be redeemed in a sense to be redeemed before
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even existing. So that she can be the proper
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carrier of the son of God. What does the Bible say about
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Mary's moral condition? Well, it's fascinating because
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the holy spirit gives us the very words of Mary and in Luke
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1, 46 to 47. It says in Mary said my soul
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magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, what?
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My Savior, My Savior. Here's this, humble servant of
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God who gladly and willingly confesses what many cannot
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accept that she was aware of her need to be saved.
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She was aware of her need of the saving grace of God, regardless
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of her privileged role in God's program.
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She knew she was not exempt. From the need to be redeemed, to
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be saved to be transformed, but like many false teachings.
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When you introduce error and all it takes.
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Is a little leaven, oftentimes, you're going to need more error
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in order to keep the original thought of float.
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And so we have a strong Dogma, the Immaculate Conception of
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Mary, but it is followed by another which is a second, very
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important pillar in this idea of who she is.
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The Perpetual virginity of Mary The Perpetual virginity of Mary,
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something that I'm sure you've heard that you're familiar with,
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but we need to unpack. It still 649 Pope Martin the
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first at a lateran council, again he clarified and
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solidified. This jock doctor not as an
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opinion piece. But again, as a teaching
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sanctioned with Divine Authority, the statement ever
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virgin came from this Pope. And what is it a firm exactly?
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Well, that Mary was. Not just a virgin before she
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conceived Christ, that's something you and I agree with.
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We believe that Mary was a virgin before she conceived
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Christ, but it goes beyond that that she was a virgin during and
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after the birth of Christ and that's where we have contention.
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That's where we have an issue. That's where we disagree.
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We know that in scripture there many evidences that say, the
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contrary, and I know that there every single verse I bring up,
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I'm fully aware that the traditional churches has a
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response almost every one of them, but let me let me just
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give it to you. Regardless, we have Jesus
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siblings mention his half-brothers and sisters even
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by name by Mark even by Matthew. But a Mark 6:3 we're told is not
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the, this, the carpenter The son of Mary and brother of James,
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and Joseph, and Judas, and Simon, and are not his sister's
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here with us and they took offense at him.
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Now, Roman Catholics attempt to refute this simple reading of
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the text by going to the original Greek word and saying,
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well, the original Greek word for brothers is a wide thing.
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It can it can include distant relatives, include cousins but
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if Mark really wanted to convey that, it was Jesus relatives or
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his cousins. Then why wouldn't he use the
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Words, for those very things. Because in Luke 136 where we're
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told about Elizabeth, I know the King James says cousin, but in
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other word for word translation, you have the word relative.
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The original Greek word is sugan es su G NS which actually means
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of kin the same kin of being of the same family, the same blood
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though, this then or close. It's a more General
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understanding of relatives. So again, s Elizabeth was that
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kind of person to marry in a human relationship but in
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Colossians 4, 10 you have Paul telling us about Barnabas has
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cousin in Colossians 4 10. I know again the King James says
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the son of his sister but if You go to the original of Barnabas
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has cousin. The Greek work.
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Is there an up ciose? Which actually means cousin
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cousin. So you have a Greek word for
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distant relative. You have a Greek word for cousin
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when it comes to Mark 6:3. Here, the Greek word is Al
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dafoe's for my greek-speaking. Friends, I apologize for the way
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I am pronouncing these words. It speaks of someone related to
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you with the same parents. It's the closest word that you
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can use to refer to a brother or a sister.
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So why not sugan is why not an up ciose, why use a word that
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brings you closer to the meaning of Jesus?
27:53
Having a half-brother half-sister, but Roman
27:56
Catholicism can't accept this. They can't, they have to rely on
28:00
strange analogies and illustrations to prey on those
28:04
who don't have a proper way of interpreting.
28:07
The word of God. Let me give you the most famous
28:08
one. Mary is the Ark of the Covenant,
28:14
and its fulfillment. What I mean by that on the same
28:17
way that the Ark of the Covenant, the Old Testament
28:19
hosted the presence of God that was a shadow of Mary who was to
28:24
host the glory of God. In the person of Jesus Christ.
28:29
Sounds nice. Sounds poetic sounds deep.
28:34
But what's the Practical and Theological implication?
28:36
This. That in the same way that no man
28:38
could touch the Ark of the Covenant and like manner, no man
28:41
could touch Mary. No man could touch Mary by
28:47
virtue of her role, as hosting the presence of God.
28:52
And so with that train of logic, no man touched Mary including
28:57
her husband Joseph, Just like the Ark of the Covenant refused
29:04
to allow. Here's a statement from this
29:06
book again. Paragraph number 499, quote the
29:12
deepening of faith, and the virginal motherhood led the
29:15
church to confess Mary's real and Perpetual virginity even in
29:21
the act of giving birth to the Son of God made, man in fact
29:25
Christ's birth did not diminish. His mother's virgin Integrity
29:29
but sanctified it and so the Liturgy of the church celebrates
29:32
Mary as the ever virgin What does this mean?
29:37
Exactly, well, there's debates. Even among Catholics of the
29:41
implications of this. But a common view is that the
29:44
conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary was not the only
29:48
miraculous thing that that occurred in relation to her
29:51
body. Not just the conception listen
29:55
very carefully, but the very event of the birth itself.
30:01
Was a miracle. Did you hear what the statement
30:04
of faith said, even in the act of giving birth to the Son of
30:10
God made, man? So here's the belief and it's
30:13
spelled out clearly, Mary, remained a virgin, not obviously
30:18
before, conceiving Christ. But during, and after now, I've
30:25
always understood as the after But no, it goes deeper than
30:29
that. Even during what does that mean?
30:32
Well, here's the argument, because Mary was sinless.
30:36
She escaped the experiential curse.
30:40
That was issued to Eve and her descendants, which according to
30:43
Genesis, 3:16 deals with pain and bringing forth children.
30:48
But again, you have to connect it.
30:50
She was conceived without sin, and so as a result of that
30:54
privilege status, when it came to this occasion, the pain was
31:00
not present, but it's even more than that.
31:04
It's more than just a painless labor.
31:06
No, no, because in seeking to defend the integrity, Eddie of
31:10
Mary's sinless body. The belief is this, that during
31:15
the natural arrival of the Savior, some believe that Jesus,
31:19
they're not even enter through the birth canal at all.
31:25
Here's a quote from article, 3 from the catechism of Trent,
31:32
which expands on the details of the birth of Christ quote.
31:36
You can hear me say that a lot. And speaking about Jesus here it
31:40
is quote just as he afterwards went forth from the Sepulchre,
31:45
while it was closed and sealed the tomb and entered the room in
31:50
which his disciples were assembled, the doors being shot
31:54
or not to depart from everyday examples, just as the Rays of
31:59
the sun penetrate without breaking or injuring in the
32:03
least, the solid substance of glass.
32:06
So after alike but More exalted manner.
32:09
The Jesus Christ come forth from his mother's womb, without
32:13
injury to her maternal virginity and quote The case that's being
32:19
made here is that in the same way that Jesus escaped, the tomb
32:23
without tampering with the seal, the mouth of that tomb.
32:27
And the same way Jesus appeared in that room where the disciples
32:31
were fearfully hiding without engaging with the door.
32:36
So in the birth of Christ, there was no obstruction of the body
32:39
of Mary when he entered into our world.
32:44
Her frame was untouched. There was no wound.
32:48
There was no scar. And think this is silly.
32:54
Why are these details even important?
32:56
Well, it's silly to you, but it's very important to them
32:59
because it's just an edge and the grand fabric.
33:03
Of her being. Of promoting her and
33:06
complimenting. Her distinct nature from all
33:08
other creation. All of these details matter
33:12
because it protects and promotes the skewed perception of who she
33:16
is concerning her person, her position in the kingdom of God.
33:22
But even in this, we know that the Bible provides Clarity, what
33:24
happened to Mary's body during the birth of Christ.
33:27
What did Mary do after? She gave birth to Christ.
33:29
What does the New Testament tells us in Luke Chapter 2?
33:32
Let me read it to you and Luke 2:22.
33:34
And when the time came for their purification according to the
33:37
law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him
33:40
to the Lord. Verse 23 of Luke to as it is
33:43
written in the law of the Lord. Every male who first opens the
33:46
womb Shall be Called, holy to the Lord.
33:49
So, Mary herself, honor the levitical law by going through,
33:54
the rites of purification that occurs after you give birth to
33:57
her firstborn male, child. And she went through the whole
34:02
process of cleansing. Is an act of Devotion to the god
34:06
that she loved and honored. And I know there are objections.
34:10
One of the common objections is this.
34:12
Well, if Jesus did have half-siblings then why on the
34:15
cross that he bestow the honor and responsibility to John the
34:19
Beloved. Why not one of his many
34:20
siblings? You probably heard it yourself,
34:22
right? There's a very simple answer to
34:24
that, you know, this and this is why it's important to know our
34:26
Bibles. Did the brothers of Jesus
34:27
believed Jesus for who he was before his resurrection answer.
34:31
No, they didn't. And what did Jesus say about who
34:34
his mother? And his brothers were those who
34:37
do the word of God are My mother and my brothers.
34:42
And so being consistent with his teaching, he gave that Grace to
34:48
a brother. John.
34:52
And what Catholics do with that reference in John 19 is say that
34:55
in the same way that John received Mary into her home,
34:58
that was symbolic for what the church should do in every single
35:01
one of you must Embrace marry into your home.
35:06
See, it's not just a matter of recognizing the Bible.
35:09
It's a matter of how you interpret the Bible.
35:12
You can make the Bible say anything you want.
35:15
If you come with your preconceived notions and ideas,
35:19
The Perpetual virginity of Mary. Now you would think okay, well,
35:24
if Rome has something to say about the birth of Mary, of Rome
35:28
has something to say about the life of Mary than surely Rome
35:31
has something to say about the death of Mary and they do.
35:36
And you've heard me refer to this not too long ago but I'm
35:38
going to bring it up to you because it's important to
35:39
understand. We know that Pope Pius the 12th
35:42
right and 1950 codified another dogma and that Dogma is what the
35:48
Assumption of Mary the bodily Assumption of Airy.
35:53
And it's a very simple belief that at the end of her life and
35:56
you can believe whether she died or not died, but at the end of
35:59
her life, Mary assume Marius was ascended into heaven.
36:05
Not just in her soul but with her body and it makes sense,
36:08
right? You were sinless from birth, you
36:11
were sinless throughout your life.
36:13
And so naturally, the effects of death do not apply to you.
36:17
Death has no claim on you, so to speak.
36:20
And so you are able to experience.
36:22
This miracle. And this is what this book says.
36:30
In the catechism of the Catholic Church.
36:32
Paragraph number nine, six six. This is a lengthy one but make
36:36
it as engaging as possible quote.
36:40
Finally the immaculate virgin preserved free from all stain of
36:45
original sin. When the course of her Earthly
36:48
life was finished was taken up body and soul into Heavenly
36:52
glory and exalted by the Lord. As Queen over all things.
36:59
So that she might be the more fully conform to her son, the
37:03
Lord of lords and Conquer of sin and death.
37:06
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular
37:08
participation and her son's resurrection.
37:11
And in anticipation of the resurrection of other
37:14
Christians, hold up. Jesus is the first fruits of the
37:17
Resurrection In anticipation of the resurrection of other
37:22
Christians in giving birth. Now, they turn it.
37:25
Another dressing Mary and giving birth.
37:27
You, kept your virginity in your dormition.
37:30
You did not leave the world. Oh, Mother of God, but were
37:33
joined to the source of life. You conceive, the Living God and
37:37
by your prayers will deliver our souls from death.
37:40
End quote. Why is the bodily Assumption of
37:45
Mary important to Rome? Because it is her exaltation.
37:51
It is her exaltation by the Lord listened as you heard as Queen.
37:57
Over all things. And in her exaltation, she was
38:01
not only honored with some adornment.
38:05
She was not just crowned with a beautiful identity.
38:09
No, she was granted a startling position in heaven.
38:15
That still applies today. And what is that role?
38:18
Exactly, well look, I can tell you but let me just read it.
38:22
This is a general idea. This is an overview of what Mary
38:27
is doing according to Catholicism at this very hour
38:31
and this is found from Catholic answers.
38:33
One of the most reputable and sought-after apologetics for
38:37
Roman Catholicism. Quote understanding Mary as
38:41
Queen Mother sheds light on her important intercessory role in
38:47
the Christian Life. Life.
38:50
Just like the Queen Mother of the davidic Kingdom, Mary serves
38:53
as an advocate for the people in the kingdom of God today.
38:57
Thus, we should approach Our Queen Mother with confidence
39:01
knowing that she carries our petitions to a royal son and
39:05
that he responds to her. As Solomon did to Bathsheba.
39:09
I will never refuse you. Do you know why there's such an
39:15
emphasis on praying to with the language of the Catholics with
39:17
praying through, Mary? Do you know why that is Because
39:22
Mary has a certain influence over Christ just like any mother
39:25
would over her child. So go to Mary, you have a better
39:31
chance of having your prayers answered, if you bring your
39:34
prayers first to her, and then her bringing it to the royal
39:38
son. And what text to they use for
39:41
that. John Chapter 2 wedding at Cana.
39:46
When Mary approached Jesus about the issue of their lack, there
39:49
being a lack of wine. Jesus responds to Maryam, Mary
39:52
turns and says, to the servants, do whatever, he tells you, And
39:56
then the miracle came came about.
39:58
You see bring your need to marry.
40:01
Mary will bring it to Christ and Christ would be more willing to
40:05
hear your petition and plea and answer it.
40:08
What a misreading of that text. If anything.
40:11
Let's let's let's actually honor.
40:13
It Mary said, do whatever he tells you to do, then do it.
40:17
What does he tell you to do? And so this is really the heart
40:24
of the matter and this is why if you've ever engaged with a Roman
40:26
Catholic and you touch on merry men, you really touch your
40:28
nerve. Because she's immediate risks.
40:35
So many Graces flow from her. And this is this is why this
40:40
personally disturbs me. And I see this as a perverse and
40:43
demonic Doctrine. I'll tell you why.
40:46
Because whether it's willingly done and I don't think anybody
40:50
would confess that it's willingly done, but it's being
40:52
it's being done regardless to see Mary in this position.
40:58
Puts Christ in a place where he seems less compassionate, less
41:02
understanding less willing to engage with you and your need
41:05
and your pilgrimage Mary with her maternal, affection is much
41:10
more understanding and because of her position as Mother of God
41:14
as Queen of Heaven, like Bathsheba she will sit at the
41:18
right hand. She will come to the royal son
41:22
and she will be more convincing and effective with your request
41:26
if you rather choose to go directly.
41:28
Him. So this is now, if this, this
41:33
affects the person of Jesus Christ, this now touches on his
41:38
personality and his character and his nature toward us.
41:43
And this belief makes the Lord seem indifferent, it makes him
41:46
seem distant, makes him seem reluctant, whereas Mary seems
41:50
more tender and open-hearted and more than that, more
41:56
influential, don't believe me, here's another quote.
42:01
From paragraph 969, quote, taken up to heaven.
42:06
She did not lay aside, the saving office, but by her
42:10
manifold intercession. Continues to bring us the gift
42:14
of eternal life. Or Eternal salvation rather.
42:18
Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the church under the
42:23
titles of advocate Helper benefactress and mediatrix.
42:30
Those are her titles Advocate helper benefactress in
42:34
Pediatrics. Remember Pope Pius who
42:41
established the Immaculate Conception Pope Pius, the ninth
42:45
in that lengthy document you have.
42:49
You have a confirmation of what I'm saying and even a command of
42:53
how Roman Catholics or in their language, Christians should
42:58
perceive and engage with Mary I'm sorry, I'm reading all this
43:03
to you, but I think it's more effective than me just saying
43:06
things from memory, listen to this.
43:09
This is painful quote, let all the children of the Catholic
43:13
Church were so very dear to us. Hear these words of ours with a
43:17
still more Ardent Zeal for piety religion and love, let them
43:20
continue to venerate invoke and pray to the Most Blessed Virgin
43:24
Mary Mother of God, conceived without original sin.
43:27
Let them fly with utter confidence to this most sweet.
43:32
Our of mercy and Grace in all dangers, difficulties needs,
43:36
doubts and fears, under her guidance, under her, patronage
43:40
under her kindness of protection.
43:41
Nothing is to be feared. Nothing is hopeless because
43:45
while our Salvation she is solicitous about the whole human
43:48
race. And since she has been appointed
43:50
by God to be Queen of Heaven, and Earth and is exalted above
43:53
all the choirs of angels and Saints even stands at the right
43:56
hand of her. Only begotten, son.
43:58
Jesus Christ Our Lord. She presents our petitions in a
44:01
more ethicist, man. When she asked she obtains her,
44:04
please can never be unheard and cold. now, if you ask somebody
44:12
who holds the Roman Catholic faith, And you inquire, do you
44:20
guys worship her? Without hesitation, no, no.
44:25
We venerate We venerate her. Call it what you want.
44:32
What is this sound like, just be honest.
44:35
What does it sound like? Now this all makes sense to why
44:40
there's such an emphasis on prayer to or through.
44:42
Mary, it's your best option. This is what this is, what makes
44:47
your prayer life more effective? Your, your walk with God.
44:52
Now, that's what man says, but what does God say?
44:55
What does the Holy Spirit? Tell you and I according to
44:57
Hebrews 4:15, here's what we're told for.
44:59
We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
45:02
weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we
45:05
are yet without sin. Therefore let us with confidence
45:08
draw near to the throne of grace.
45:10
Let us with confidence draw near to that sympathetic high priest
45:14
who has been tempted in every Single way.
45:17
And unlike the king of Esters time.
45:20
His scepters continually extended to us and we have all
45:23
access to him at all times for all things, and I'll manners,
45:27
that's Christ, that's Christ and that Glory belongs to him alone.
45:33
Oh, that we may receive and find Grace to help in time of need,
45:36
what more can be said. What more can be shown that?
45:40
What is called veneration is actually something more.
45:43
And dare, I say atrocious in the sight of God, God.
45:48
What more? Not only do these beliefs, have
45:51
no basis in the word of God. So many of the attributes that
45:54
are exclusive to God are shared with her.
45:59
And among the many one of the most disturbing to me in my
46:01
studies is her being referred to as all holy all holy.
46:09
Pope, John Paul. The second who is Pope in 1978.
46:14
He wrote a book called The Book of Mary.
46:17
And I just want, I'm just going to read the table of contents.
46:21
And it's going to give you an idea.
46:23
I'm not even going to read the content.
46:25
I'm just going to read to you the table of contents.
46:29
And he obviously wrote this in honor of Mary.
46:33
And here's some of those chapter titles Gate of Heaven.
46:39
Mediatrix of all Graces mirror of perfection Mother of Mercy,
46:46
pillar of Faith, Queen of All Saints, Queen of Peace Seat of
46:53
Wisdom. Veneration.
46:58
Respect. What do we make of these titles?
47:04
What do we make of these statements?
47:07
And their own catechism paragraph, 971 quote, the
47:12
churches Devotion to the Blessed Virgin is in strength intrinsic
47:16
to Christian worship. The church has Devotion to the
47:22
Blessed version. Its intrinsic to Christian
47:25
worship. That is why you'll find prayers
47:31
and hymns given to Mary. That is why you will hear things
47:33
like from Pope, John Paul the second and totus tuus.
47:37
This is a prayer. I'm going to read this prayer.
47:39
I'm gonna try to stomach while I read it, but I'm going to read
47:41
this to give you an idea to challenge what people claim to
47:45
be mere respect. And reverence here it is.
47:49
Totally yours, Immaculate Conception Mary.
47:54
My mother live in me act in me. Speak in me and through me,
48:01
think your thoughts in my mind, love through my heart.
48:05
Give me your dispositions and feelings, teach lead me and
48:09
guide me to Jesus. Correct, Enlighten and expand my
48:13
thoughts and behavior possess my soul.
48:18
Take over my entire personality and life replace it with
48:22
yourself, inclined me to constant.
48:25
Adoration. Pray in me, and through me, let
48:28
me live. Live in you and keep me in this
48:30
Union. Always on men.
48:32
No, no I'm n. Here's another prayer from Pope
48:39
Pius. The 12th.
48:40
It's called the consecration to the Blessed Virgin.
48:43
Most Holy Virgin Mary tender mother of all to fulfill the
48:49
desires of the Sacred Heart and the request of the vicar of your
48:52
son on Earth. We consecrate ourselves and our
48:55
families to your sorrowful and Immaculate Heart.
48:59
Oh, Queen of the most holy rosary and we recommend to you
49:03
and all the people of our country and all the world.
49:06
Please accept our consecration dearest mother and use us as you
49:11
wish to accomplish your designs. Upon the world.
49:16
Veneration. I'm going straight to the source
49:21
veneration or something more we can continue but I won't.
49:27
I just want to say these thoughts and conclusion.
49:29
Is this the tone that you read of in the New Testament?
49:34
Is this the language that is ascribed to her.
49:37
In fact, it's not scripture has very little say about her says,
49:41
great things about her, says wonderful honorable things about
49:44
her. But very little there's no
49:46
elaborate description. There's no.
49:48
Morning of these different attributes and titles.
49:51
There's nothing about her life. Beyond what we see in Acts
49:53
chapter 1. And what we see in Acts chapter
49:55
one is that she was present with, Jesus have brothers, in
49:58
the upper room and her being present.
50:00
In the early church. You would think that you would
50:02
see something echoed, you would see some kind of foundation,
50:05
right? You see some kind of basis for
50:07
why these things are being taught and tolerate and promoted
50:11
but she has no influence of leadership in the church.
50:15
None. She's not venerated in any way,
50:19
even close to this. She's not honored and some
50:22
special manner she's in the background.
50:25
Even when Paul and all of his wonderful feces of the, the
50:29
gospel, and all his discussions. And writings about the depths of
50:33
justification by faith, when he defines Redemptive history, I'm
50:37
thinking of one example. In Galatians, chapter 44, we
50:40
tells us about Jesus who is born of woman born under the law.
50:44
Like how much More General. Can you get than that?
50:48
Born of woman. Does he make?
50:50
Give the name born of woman, you would think that, if Rome is
50:57
trying to be faithful to the word of God that Those things
51:00
would be found things that I just read to you.
51:03
Mother of all Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, nothing of the
51:07
sort. What about Jesus?
51:11
I can't think of a better way to close this session.
51:14
Then to go to the very words of Jesus.
51:19
Interestingly, somebody makes an attempt to bestow honor to to
51:24
marry. And if you want to turn there
51:27
before we close our Bibles, it's in Luke 11 verse 27.
51:37
Luke 11:27. As he said these things a woman
51:47
in the crowd raised her voice and set them blessed is the womb
51:51
that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed.
51:55
Now pause, you would think that at this point Jesus would take
51:59
advantage of this moment and expand upon the glories of Mary,
52:05
the privilege of Mary The role of Mary.
52:11
He doesn't. No looking for 28 but he said
52:15
blessed. Rather are those who hear the
52:16
word of God and keep it. He doesn't he turns This Woman's
52:21
attention and our attention away from that puts our focus on the
52:27
blessing, that is available to all of us.
52:30
And that blessing comes through obedience to the word of God
52:32
more over by what he is saying. He clarifies that obedience to
52:36
the word of God is of Greater prominence and importance than
52:39
any veneration given to Mary. Blessed, rather.
52:46
Are those who hear the word of God and keep it?
52:48
It's a shame. It's a shame that Millions even
52:53
today are doing the very opposite of what this text
52:56
presents. Instead, they emphasized the
52:59
blessedness of married to the point where they have robbed
53:02
themselves of the blessing that comes from adherence to the word
53:05
of God because in their praise and veneration and honor and
53:10
tribute to Mary, they have made void the word of God.
53:17
I know that this isn't an easy sermon to hear Sunday, but I
53:22
think it's absolutely necessary especially with what's happening
53:26
in our climate culturally speaking.
53:29
I just praise God for his Providence.
53:31
That even in these past two, three weeks, even on political
53:35
platforms their discussions about Roman Catholicism and
53:39
protestantism and Sola scriptura and all these different things.
53:42
And I just thought to myself, wow, it's amazing that we're
53:45
touching on these things at this time.
53:48
Here's what I want to say to you.
53:49
In closing, before we prepare our hearts to partake of the
53:51
Lord's Supper. Pray for a Roman Catholic
53:55
friends. Pray for them.
53:59
The reason why I'm bringing this up to you is because we have to
54:01
determine Are these people who believe these things?
54:05
Are they partners with us in the gospel?
54:07
Are they in need of the Gospel? That's what we have to
54:11
determine. Do they need the gospel or do
54:14
they have the same gospel are extending our hand to them to
54:17
reach them with the truth or we putting our hand in their hands
54:20
and reaching others with the supposed same truth.
54:23
This is what we have to decipher pray.
54:26
Equip yourself know, the word of God.
54:27
More familiar side familiarized with their up with the truth and
54:31
be loving enough to engage in serious conversation.
54:33
For those who are willing to have those conversations.
54:36
Secondly if you grew up if you grew up with, This view of Mary,
54:44
you know what's so fascinating? Is that I think this is one of
54:48
the strongest strongholds for people when they walk to come to
54:52
Christ, they can't shake off Devotion to her.
54:55
And I understand why when reading into this because so
54:59
much is dependent on her so much is accessed through her.
55:05
It's no wonder to me how people are fearful of moving on and
55:10
giving appropriate honor to her. Instead of the exaggerated one
55:14
that they've lived with this for so long.
55:16
But I want to assure you this book, you can rely on this truth
55:21
will set you free if you just come to this book and this book
55:24
alone concerning what you believe about God, and what he
55:26
asked of you, you will know true Freedom.
55:30
You will know true Liberty. True Faith, true experience of
55:33
God's relationship with the living Christ.
55:38
Come to the word of God. And if you have any questions
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come to us, we want to sit with you, we want to answer you, we
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want to, we want to look at what's going on in your heart
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and your history and your research even.
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But know this, if our conversation is going to go
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anywhere, we have to determine what is final Authority.
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Now, tell you from now, we believe it's this book and this
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book alone As we prepare to come to this table, how do we
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transition? Here's what we transition with.
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I pray that you're more motivated than ever to give all
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glory to Jesus Christ. That's what we're motivated with
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Satan wants to Rob That Glory Satan wants to fail That Glory,
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he's willing to give it to anybody else.
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Even if it's a saint, if it's an angel doesn't care, doesn't have
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to be to him, but he hates Christ so much that he's willing
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to put any obstacle in front of him so that he doesn't receive
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what is his do. But we will not let that happen
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today. Now, we will give a maximum
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Glory. If anything, we will attribute
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to him, what belongs to him alone?
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Would you pray with me before we sing NG O, Lord.
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The true Christ, the true savior, the true deliver the
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true Refuge, the true Sanctuary, the high priest of Mercy, the
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lover of our souls, the sympathetic Shepherd, the kind
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and merciful one, the all knowing the all seeing the king
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of the universe who does not share his throne with anyone.
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Lord, we give you the glory and we give you the honor and we
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give you the praise alone in this place.
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And while we recognize that you are the one mediator, and we
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recognize that because of what you've done, we have been given
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and we are showered with Grace upon Grace Lord.
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As we come to this table, we reflect on the exclusivity of
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the gospel. And we remember that it's by
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your blood, by your body alone that we are saved that, we are
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Sanctified and that We will be redeemed for ever and ever.
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We, thank you that you are the way you are the truth.
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You are the life. And there is no one who can come
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to the father, except through you and you alone.
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Oh God Lord, you are infinitely, beautiful infinitely, Majestic,
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oh Lord. Help us to exalt you with our
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lives. Help us to exalt you with our
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understanding of the truth. Help us to honor you in our
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defense of the truth. But that defense to be done in
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the love and compassion and understanding.
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We too were once and darkness. We too are once blinded.
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We too, were once deceive, but you set us free.
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You set us free. We pray that there would be more
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freedom as a result of this time.
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Lord cleanse us of all sin, cleanse us of all unforgiveness.
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There's anything that contradicts our devotion to you,
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as we come to this table and declare a Unity not just with
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you, but with one another show it to us so that we can honor
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you at your table. Oh, Lord, our hearts are heavy,
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but help us. Help us Lift Our Heads.
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Now, to look at The Wonderful Grace that is ours in Christ
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Jesus. In Jesus name, we pray.
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Amen.