SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
Virgin Mary ?
We know from scripture that Mary was indeed a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus.
Mary was shocked when the Angel of the Lord told her she would give birth to Jesus because she had never had sexual relations with a man: As we see in Luke 1:34.
Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be seeing I know not a man?
The word know in this verse is a Jewish idiom referring to sexual relations. Thus, know not a man = never had sex with a man. Christ was indeed born of a virgin. Did Mary remain a virgin throughout her entire life? What Is recorded in the scriptures concerning this? Lets begin with Matthew 1 :24-25.
Matthew
1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought Forth her firstborn son and he called his name JESUS.
in verse 24 we see that Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and he took Mary to be his wife. In verse 25 we see that Joseph did not have sexual relations with Mary until after Jesus was born. Matthew 1:25 And KNEW HER NOT till she brought forth her firstborn son. Here we see again the Jewish idiom knew, meaning Joseph did not have sexual relations with Mary until she had brought forth her first born son.
It does not say Joseph knew her not all of her life. It says Joseph knew her not TILL she brought forth her first born son. .Till = until after.
NOTICE THE WORDS FIRSTBORN SON
This verse does not say she brought forth her only begotten son, it says her FIRSTBORN SON.
This suggests that she gave birth to other children in her life time.
DID MARY HAVE OTHER CHILDREN?
The Roman Catholic teaching Is that Mary had no other children and she remained a virgin throughout her life, calling her ever virgin. What do scriptures say about other children of Mary?
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren
Matthew13:55 is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon. and Judas?
Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Judas, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
The Roman Catholic argument here Is that these verses refer to Jesse's cousins -does it mean his cousins?Let us take a closer look. Shall we?
The previous verse( Mat 13:55) makes mention of Jesse's brothers, It then calls them by name, among those named as his brothers were James,and Joses
The following verses(Mark 15:47, Luke 24:10 ) say that Mary was the mother of James,. and Joses
Mark 15:47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.
Luke 24:10 it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
Another problem with the Roman Catholic claim is that Jesus's brothers did not believe in him as the Christ, the son of God, his cousins did believe.
John 7:1 ¶ After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: For he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
2 Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.
3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
David even prophesied about this
Psalms 69:8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.
9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
Another popular Roman Catholic argument is that Jesus was referring to fellow Jews, or his Christian followers when he said brethren.
John 2:12 ¶ After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
Galatians 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
NOTICE in the above verse Galatians 1:17-19, that PETER WAS NOT the Lords brother ,and that JAMES WAS HIS BROTHER. Does this mean Peter was an unbeliever? Of course not
MARY, AND SIN
In 1854 A.D. the immaculate conception of Mary ( to be utterly without sin ) was proclaimed
by Pope Pius IX, and became a Roman Catholic doctrine.
Was Mary really without sin?
We know from scripture that Mary was unclean for 7 days after Jesus was born, on the 8th day Jesus was circumcised, then Mary : spent the next 33 days fulfilling her purification. After her purification she then went to the temple and offered sacrifice for her sins.
Luke 2:21 ¶ And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
Why would Mary offer a sacrifice for her sins if she was without sin?
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered onto the world, and death by sin;
and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned
Mary would most certainly be included in the word all
When Pope Pius XII declared the Assumption of Mary to be an article of faith in 1950, the Catholic Church in Jerusalem then quickly sold the tomb of Mary to the Armenian Church.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that Mary is Advocate. However, God states in his word that Jesus Christ is our only Advocate.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write i unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS:
In a Catholic prayer called the "Hail Holy Queen" which is part of the " Rosary" we read, Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy; our sweetness, and OUR HOPE!
The word of God plainly says Jesus is our hope.
1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHICH IS OUR HOPE;
The Roman Catholic Church has given Mary the title of Mediatrix. Who does Gods word say has that task of Mediator?
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, the man CHRIST JESUS;