Difference between revisions of "Immaculate Conception"
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The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on 8th December. | The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on 8th December. | ||
| − | Immaculate Conception is often erroneously linked to the Conception of Jesus rather than Mary. Jesus would have had no need for an Immaculate Conception, | + | The Immaculate Conception is often erroneously linked to the Conception of Jesus rather than Mary. Jesus would have had no need for an Immaculate Conception, assuming his deity. According to this doctrine, Mary, being human, was given the grace of perfection before her birth so as to serve as the vessel of the Lord. |
| + | [[Protestant]] positions on this topic differ. They believe Mary to be a normal human being, a sinner, who was used by God to bring Christ into the world. This is a reasonable point of view given the lack of Biblical support for Mary being "exempt from all stain of original sin." The primary Biblical evidence cited by Catholics is the passaage in which the angel announces to Mary that she would be the mother of the Savior and uses these words, "Hail, Mary, full of grace...." | ||
| − | + | Does "full" mean sinless, and if so, does it mean that she always was so? Unless the answer to the latter question is "yes," the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is not affirmed. | |
| − | Pertinent Scripture texts | + | Pertinent Scripture texts used by Protestant Christians in opposition to the Roman view include: |
| − | "For | + | "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all..." I Tim. 2:5-6 |
"For '''all''' have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23 (emphasis added) | "For '''all''' have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23 (emphasis added) | ||
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| − | "If we say that we have no sin, we | + | "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." I John 1:8 |
| − | "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other [[Jesus Christ | + | "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name ([[Jesus Christ]]) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12 |
| − | These passages allow the possibility that not even Mary could have been without blemish | + | These passages allow the possibility that not even Mary could have been without blemish at some time in her life. |
== External links == | == External links == | ||
Revision as of 03:42, December 5, 2010
The Roman Catholic doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854, states that "in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin."
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on 8th December.
The Immaculate Conception is often erroneously linked to the Conception of Jesus rather than Mary. Jesus would have had no need for an Immaculate Conception, assuming his deity. According to this doctrine, Mary, being human, was given the grace of perfection before her birth so as to serve as the vessel of the Lord.
Protestant positions on this topic differ. They believe Mary to be a normal human being, a sinner, who was used by God to bring Christ into the world. This is a reasonable point of view given the lack of Biblical support for Mary being "exempt from all stain of original sin." The primary Biblical evidence cited by Catholics is the passaage in which the angel announces to Mary that she would be the mother of the Savior and uses these words, "Hail, Mary, full of grace...."
Does "full" mean sinless, and if so, does it mean that she always was so? Unless the answer to the latter question is "yes," the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is not affirmed.
Pertinent Scripture texts used by Protestant Christians in opposition to the Roman view include:
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all..." I Tim. 2:5-6
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23 (emphasis added)
"And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." I John 3:5 (emphasis added)
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." I John 1:8
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name (Jesus Christ) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12
These passages allow the possibility that not even Mary could have been without blemish at some time in her life.
External links
- Immaculate Conception The Catholic Encyclopedia.
