Bible Doctrine

The Prodigal Son And Misunderstood Grace In Today’s Church

Are you a different person since you asked Jesus to be Lord and Savior of your life? I’m not asking if you are perfect. None of us are, except Jesus Christ. I am asking you if you have changed since you made a profession of faith. Have you begun to love what God loves, and feel an aversion to what He hates?

Published

10 years ago

March 10, 2015

Geri Ungurean

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I can think of no other parable of Jesus which illustrates God’s grace more than the story of the Prodigal Son.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Salvation is not simply a prayer, it is at the heart of it a legally-binding transaction. Jesus Christ died on the cross in your place, and He died to purchased your sins by His own blood. That’s salvation. Your come to Him with nothing, no works of any kind, and your give Him your sins in exchange for His Righteousness. You are not saved from your sins, you are saved from the consequences of your sins, which is an eternity in Hell.

Being restless and prone to wander, he receives his inheritance early and is off to travel the world. I have a feeling that he was very excited when his father agreed to give him the money early.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:17 (KJV)

But then reality sets in. He is in the middle of a famine. He has squandered his inheritance and must find work. The only job available is that of feeding pigs. (As a Jewish Christian, I find humor in this). He realizes that the pigs are eating better than he is!

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

He remembers his father and the comforts of his home. Then he realizes that even the servants have enough to eat. He makes a decision to go home, not as a son, but as a servant. He is truly repentant and sincerely believes that he should not be considered a son any longer. It’s interesting to me that he was very willing to work for this father.

He goes back home. It doesn’t say, but I imagine that he was quite nervous and anxious. When he sees his father, possibly thinking that he will be rebuked and perhaps rejected, he says:

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:17 (KJV)

When the son confessed his sin and his words clearly showed a “broken and contrite heart” all the father could think about was how happy he was to see his precious son! Perhaps his son expected an I told you so lecture, or at least stern words. I imagine that this overwhelmed the son with joy, love and gratefulness.

“Amazing Grace,

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost

But now am found,

Was lost, but now I see!”

The son did not merit this welcome from his father. The father had every right to discipline his son and make him feel the weight of his sin. But the joy and love that filled his father’s heart washed away all else. Clearly, this is a picture of God our Father, and how He yearns for His children to come home!

God knows that we are incapable of keeping all of His commandments. He gave us those Commandments to show His holiness and standards, all the while knowing that we will fall short.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23 (KJV)

He yearns for reconciliation with those He has created. His plan from before the foundations of the earth were laid, was that His precious Son Jesus would pay for our sins by the shedding of His own blood; the Perfect sacrifice.

John the Baptist said this:

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29 (KJV)

The blood of Jesus was vastly different from that of sacrificed animals. This was the blood of God Himself; the final atonement for all sin. The Word made flesh had come into the world to shed His blood, so that whosoever believes (trusts) in Him will be saved.

“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22 (KJV)

He brought us a better covenant: GRACE. He lavished His love and grace upon us, and those who were drawn and answered Yes, would be reconciled to Him for eternity. We are born- again. Hallelujah!

Have You Changed?

When you came to God, were you broken? Did you sincerely ask Him to be your Lord and Savior? Did you agree with Him that you are a sinner? Did you repent of your sins, and tell Him that you need Him for the forgiveness of your sins?

Is the fruit of the Spirit evident in your life?

Do you use grace as an excuse to keep sinning? Grace is often misunderstood. It is not to be used to have one foot in the world and one foot in the Bible. True salvation and repentance go hand in hand. We cannot have one without the other. Immediately upon salvation, the brand-new Christian is nearly overwhelmed by the urging of the Holy Spirit to repent. Repentance is not a condition for salvation but it is surely a fruit of it.

When we come to Christ and sincerely repent we yield to the Holy Spirit so He can accomplish the regenerative work within.

Galatians 5:22-25 says:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

When a person is born-again from above, there is evidence of the Holy Spirit dwelling within. Good works come naturally; they come out of a grateful heart in the child of God. This doesn’t mean there will be instantaneous recognition of a redeemed soul. But there should be change in behavior and attitude..A child of God begins to love the things that God loves, and hate that which He hates.

Does the child of God still sin?

As long as we live in these bodies, we will sin. Paul spoke about this battle within him in Romans 7:15-24

“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

Until we receive our glorified bodies, we will still sin. But we have the assurance from God that we may come to Him and confess the sin:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9 (KJV)

Sanctification is the process of being set apart from the world. Believers are in the world but not of it.

John 17:15-19 says:

“I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

Are you living with a person to whom you are not married? Do you come under conviction that this doesn’t please God? Do you get defensive and angry when someone points out Scriptures that hold us accountable for a changed life in Christ?

When you think back to the time before you asked Jesus to come into your heart, do you see yourself growing in Him? Do you love to read His Word? Do you love to be with other Christians and feel more comfortable being around them than your unsaved friends? Do you share the salvation message? These are questions that each of us should be asking ourselves.

2 Corinthians 13:5 says:

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

Grace Is Not Cheap, salvation is not simply saying “the prayer”

Through the years, I have watched the same people walk down the aisle as the pastor does an altar call – over and over, again and again. Some of these people I have known personally. It is difficult to understand why they feel the need to repent and believe all over again. But that is between them and God.

I have seen others who walk that aisle as if it’s a path to a heavenly insurance policy. You can see these types who continue to live in sin, but if anything is said, they point you back to the day that they “Said the prayer” and in their minds that sealed the deal. I must tell you that this makes me very sad and angry.

I call that cheap grace. There is nothing cheap about the suffering our Savior endured on that horrid cross. He suffered an excruciatingly painful death, and spiritually He came to a point where He cried out “My God, why has thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:14) because at that moment He had become sin and His Father had to turn from Him.

Now before you say that I’m getting legalistic, let me assure you that I am NOT legalistic in any way. I see many people who claim to be in the faith, but whose lives scream “I’m of the world” Where is the fruit? Saved, yes, but with nothing to show at the Judgment Seat.

If you are a Christian, then you should be following Christ. You should NOT look like the world. You should be able to look back and see that you have changed.

We do not read about the life of the prodigal son after he returned home. I believe that his repentance and coming home changed his whole life. I believe that if Jesus wrote the rest of that story, we would see a completely different person in the prodigal son. I think that the moment that his father kissed him and showed that unconditional love, he was forever a new person. Not perfect, but changed.

I know I’ve changed. He is still working on me and refining and smoothing out rough edges. But the person I used to be is definitely not who I am today!. How about you?

Maranatha!

Praise Yeshua Ha Mashiach!

Bible Doctrine

Clearing Up The Confusion That Many Christians Have Regarding The Role That Repentance Absolutely Does Play In Your Salvation In The Church Age

Published

3 months ago

September 17, 2024

Geoffrey Grider

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Biblical repentance toward God unto salvation is the repenting of your disbelief in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God

The role that repentance plays in salvation for born again believers in the Church Age is one of those topics that always seems to create a controversy, and that need not be. God has given us the tool of rightly dividing the scriptures we read for situations just like this. Paul says we are saved by grace through faith, and he says that repentance is necessary in the salvation of a sinner. The question becomes then, what type of repentance is Paul talking about? What, wait…there’s more than one? Yep.

“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21 (KJB)

In the Church Age, there are no works attached to or associated with a lost sinner becoming born again, it is all a work of the LORD. He provides the salvation with Himself crucified in your place on the cross at Calvary, He shed His Blood for the payment for your sin, and it is presented to you as a free gift. Case closed. Baptism does not saved you, the sacraments do not save you, the eucharist does not save you, Mary does not saved you. It is all of Jesus. There is just one problem, though, like the thief on the cross, the lost sinner is lost because he or she does not believe the good news of the gospel that Jesus Christ was crucified, died, buried and rose again on the third day according to the scriptures. It is their disbelief that is keeping them from getting saved, not their sins. Jesus died for your sins, He wants your sins, but your disbelief has to be shed by you.

“Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 4:23-25 (KJB)

Jesus was crucified between two thieves, both of whom mocked and insulted Jesus as they all were up on their respective crosses. Both those thieves mocked and reviled Him equally, in the beginning.

“Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.” Mark 15:32 (KJB)

But then a change took place in the heart of one of the thieves, after thoughtfully and carefully considering the entirety of the scene playing out before him in real time, he repented. Not of his crimes, not of his sins, and not by making restitution at all to anyone. But what he did do was to repent of his disbelief in Jesus Christ. That was not a work, it is simply a change of mind, which not coincidentally is the definition of the word ‘repentance’ according to Jonah 3:10. The work is of God.

“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:29 (KJB)

When a lost sinner repents of their disbelief in Jesus, they go from rejecting the gospel to believing the gospel, and when they do, they receive the free gift of God’s salvation. For me, that happened a few minutes to midnight on March 14th back in 1991. When did that take place for you? If you are saved, then you should be able to point to a place and time where you believed the gospel and became saved. If you can’t, that’s a problem. No one in the Church Age is born saved, no one is saved because their granddaddy was a preacher, or because you were raised on the mission field, or because you ‘just always knew that you were’. No one is saved against their will, or without their knowledge. Unless you are a very small child, mentally incapable or some other situation that Romans 5:13 points to, you did not get saved without first repenting of your disbelief and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.

“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:30,31 (KJB)

So what about repenting of your sins? Glad you asked! After a soul gets saved, then repentance of and from personal sin becomes a vital, daily part of our walk with the Lord. Make no mistake about it, when you got saved you were given God’s imputed righteousness for your soul and you became born again in your spirit. But your body did not, and there’s the battle. There is no such as a sinner who gets saved who never again commits sin, that is a lie of the Devil. No sin you commit is held to your account that is true, from an eternal perspective, but a saved sinner here on Earth absolutely commits sin after salvation. God has provided the remedy for that as well.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:9,10 (KJB)

We hope this short little Bible study on the two types of repentance involved in salvation clears up some of the confusion surrounding this needlessly controversial subject. As with most other doctrines in your King James Bible, rightly dividing works every time. In Part #2, we will show you how after the Church Age, people will get saved by belief in Jesus and kept saved by enduring to the end with their works. A whole different ball game.

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Bible Doctrine

There’s A Reason Why Isaiah Is The Most Quoted Old Testament Prophet And Why His Writings Bolster The Foundation Of Paul’s New Testament Gospel

Published

6 months ago

June 5, 2024

Geoffrey Grider

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The writings of the prophet Isaiah make up a large part of New Testament Church Age scripture because Isaiah is the most ‘whole Bible’ prophet there is.

The prophet Isaiah writes 66 chapters in the book that bears his name, and in an amazing coincidence, there are 66 books in your King James Bible. In a second amazing coincidence, chapter 39 talks about the Temple, and everything from chapter 40 through 66 is about the coming Messiah at His First Advent. Which is fascinating because there are 39 chapters in the Old Testament, and 27 in the New, the ‘break’ is right on the money. You can’t beat the Book.

“I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” Isaiah 45:23 (KJB)

“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Romans 14:11 (KJB)

So let’s jump right into it, and see some of the amazing places that the prophet Isaiah connected himself to the New Testament, hundreds of years before any New Testament scripture would be written. For a deeper study, we highly recommend you get our Isaiah Commentary Bundle, which is packed full of amazing information on the end times ministry of the prophet Isaiah.

A Sampling of the Prophet Isaiah and the Apostle Paul

“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.” Isaiah 25:8 (KJB)
“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:54 (KJB)

“I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;” Isaiah 65:1,2 (KJB)
“But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” Romans 10:20,21 (KJB)

“For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.” Isaiah 10:22,23 (KJB)
“Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” Romans 9:27,28 (KJB)

“Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” Isaiah 29:14 (KJB)
“For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” 1 Corinthians 1:19 (KJB)

“So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.” Isaiah 52:15 (KJB)
“But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.” Romans 15:21 (KJB)

“Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;” Isaiah 49:8 (KJB)
“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” 2 Corinthians 6:2 (KJB)

“Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?” Isaiah 40:13,14 (KJB)
“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 (KJB)

All told, there are a minimum of 52 direct quotations from the prophet Isaiah in the New Testament, and many more non-cited references as well, like this one.

“Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.” Isaiah 59:7,8 (KJB)
“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:14-18 (KJB)

In addition to Isaiah being quoted by our apostle Paul, he is quoted by the Lord because Isaiah foretold of Him. What book was the first Gentile convert in the Church Age reading? Isaiah 53. Phillip preached to him Jesus from that chapter, and the Ethiopian eunuch got saved and eternally secure every bit as much on that as you did on Ephesians 2:8,9 and 1 Corinthians 15:3,4. How’s that for rightly dividing? Maybe rightly dividing goes deeper than you think it does, (and it does).

A Sampling of the Prophet Isaiah and the Lord Jesus of Nazareth

“Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” Isaiah 9:1,2 (KJB)
“The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” Matthew 4:15,16 (KJB)

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.” Isaiah 42:1-4 (KJB)
“Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.” Matthew 12:18-21 (KJB)

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:4 (KJB)
“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:17 (KJB)

Now you see the ‘secret’ of the prophet Isaiah. Not only does he foretell about the day of the LORD and what happens to the Jews in the last days, he also shows us, in mystery form, the Church Age with the gospel that would go to the Gentiles. Isaiah gives us the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God. He is the most ‘whole Bible’ prophet there is, which is why what he wrote is indispensable to Paul in over 27 places. So you see that the New Testament is not something brand-new, it is the fulfillment of what was prophesied in the Old Testament that would take place. Below is a list of references with Isaiah on the left, and its New Testament match meet on the right. If you found more than we have listed here, please comment below and we’ll be happy to add it!

Isaiah	New Testament
1:9	Romans 9:29
7:14	Matthew 1:23
8:12	1 Peter 3:14
8:14; 28:16	Romans 9:33; 10:11; 1 Peter 2:6; 1 Peter 2:8
9:1-2	Matthew 4:15-16
10:22-23	Romans 9:27-28
11:10	Romans 15:12
22:13	1 Corinthians 15:32
22:22	Revelation 3:7
25:8	1 Corinthians 15:54
28:11-12	1 Corinthians 14:21
29:13	Matthew 15:8,9; Mark 7:6,7
29:14	1 Corinthians 1:19
29:16	Romans 9:20
35:3	Hebrews 12:12
40:13-14	Romans 11:34,35; 1 Corinthians 2:16
40:3-5	Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4-6; John 1:23.
40:6-8	1 Peter 1:24-25
41:4	Revelation 1:17
42:1-4	Matthew 12:18-21
42:6	Acts 13:47
44:6	Revelation 1:17
45:9	Romans 9:20
45:23	Romans 14:11
45:23	Philippians 2:10-11
49:6	Acts 13:47
49:10	Revelation 7:16
49:8	2 Corinthians 6:2
52:11	2 Corinthians 6:17-18
52:15	Romans 15:21
52:5	Romans 2:24
52:7	Romans 10:15
53:1	John 12:38; Romans 10:16
53:12	Mark 15:28; Luke 22:37
53:4	Matthew 8:17
53:5	1 Peter 2:24
53:7-8	Acts 8:32-33
53:9	1 Peter 2:22
54:1	Galatians 4:27
54:13.	John 6:45
55:3	Acts 13:34.
56:7	Matthew 21:13
59:20-21	Romans 11:26-27
6:9-10	Matthew 13:14,15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; John 12:40; Acts 28:26-27
60:1	Ephesians 5:14
60:20-21	Revelation 21:23
61:1-2	Luke 4:18-19
64:4	1 Corinthians 2:9
65:1-1	Romans 10:20-21
66:1-2	Acts 7:49-50
66:24	Mark 9:44

Bible Doctrine

The Real Mary In The Bible Was A Sinner Who Trusted In The Salvation Of The Lord And Was Used In A Mighty Way As A Role Model Of Christian Submission

Published

7 months ago

May 2, 2024

Geoffrey Grider

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The biblical Mary is a model of humility and submission to God, she is not sinless, not divine, and does not hear or answer any prayers

The virgin called Mary in the Bible was a lot of things, and we will talk about that, but first let’s discuss what she was not, according to scripture. She was not sinless, she was not ‘assumed into Heaven’ instead of dying, she was not the ‘gatekeeper to Jesus’, she did not remain a virgin, she wasn’t blessed above women, and no one who knew her ever asked her to answer their prayers. In short, she is very much unlike the ‘perpetual virgin’ Mary that is a creation from whole cloth by the Roman Catholic Church.

“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.” Luke 1:30 (KJB)

Either you believe the Bible or your don’t, that’s what it comes down to. Mary was a wonderful, godly woman who was used in a tremendous way to show what true, humble submission to the Lord is all about. But Mary was 100% human, just like me and you, she needed a Saviour to pay for her sins, just like me and you, this is what the evidence of scripture shows us. Much myth and legend has grown up around her, and she is worshipped by the Roman Catholic Church who has made her divine. It is my intent with this article to show you Mary’s beautiful humanity, the real Mary who indeed is blessed among women.

MARY NEEDED A SAVIOUR: “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” Luke 1:46,47 (KJB). Well people do not need a doctor, and sinless people do not need a Saviour. Sick people need doctors and sinners need a Saviour. Mary rightly says that God is her Saviour, she understands her true condition before the Lord. The Catholic response to this is to say that “Mary was just being humble when she said that”, but if that’s true, then she lied about needing a Saviour, and lying is a sin. So either way, Mary was a sinner who needed a Saviour.
MARY HAD 6 OTHER CHILDREN: “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” Mark 6:3 (KJB). Not only did Mary have other children, the Bible names Jesus’ 4 brothers and tells us about his two sisters. Matthew 13:53-58 shows this to be true as well.
JESUS ALWAYS CALLED HER ‘WOMAN’: “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.” John 2:4 (KJB). Jesus never called Mary His mother, though scripture clearly shows us she was. But anticipating the cult that would rise up around her, it looks like Jesus very carefully addressed her when he spoke to her. As He lay dying on the cross, He continued to refer to her as ‘woman’ even when he was instructing John to take her into him home to live out her days with him. This completely cuts off the idea that Jesus was somehow always a ‘mama’s boy’ and that Mary would lead people to Him as she is portrayed now.
MARY HELD NO SPECIAL PLACE IN THE CHURCH: “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” Acts 1:14 (KJB). The last mention of Mary in the Bible is in Acts, where we see her seated beside all the others as they all prayed together. You will note she holds no special place other than to be a member of this first church, Peter is leading the group and preaching. Mary is not consulted, no one asks her for any special requests or favors, she is on an equal footing with everyone else. She lived the rest of her life out in the church, at some point she died, and went where all saved people go, to Heaven. The Roman Catholic ‘assumption of Mary’ is a complete fabrication not found on any page of any Bible.

You see, Mary was just like you and me, completely human and completely dependent on the God she served for every good thing in her life. She is a model of humility, and as such, would be appalled if she could come back and see the lies said about her. There is only one Person born sinless, and that’s Jesus, and He shares his glory with no one. The Roman Catholic Church has created an alternate Mary they call the ‘perpetual virgin’, and 100% of what they say about her cannot be proven by scripture. There are no records of any miracles performed by her, or any miracles performed that she had a hand in.

There was a time when Mary and Jesus siblings came to visit Him, and there were so many people that they could not gain access. So it was told to Jesus that Mary and His siblings were outside and wanted to see Him. How did Jesus respond to that request? Take a look for yourself:

“Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” Luke 8:19-21 (KJB)

Jesus said that anyone who heard to word of God, and did what it said to do, was just as close to Him as His own mother and His own siblings. This is the exact opposite of how Mary is portrayed by the Roman Catholic Church who has turned her into the ‘4th part of the Trinity’. The Bible shows you the real Mary, the Roman Church shows you the pagan Mary who herself has become a god. Which one do you think is the real Mary?

In 1854, Pope Pius IX issued a decree about their “virgin Mary’, and in that writing he declared that Mary was equal with Jesus Christ. Pope Pius IX said about Mary “Let all the children of the Catholic Church, who are so very dear to us, hear these words of ours. With a still more ardent zeal for piety, religion and love, let them continue to venerate, invoke and pray to the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, conceived without original sin. Let them fly with utter confidence to this most sweet Mother of mercy and grace in all dangers, difficulties, needs, doubts and fears. Under her guidance, under her patronage, under her kindness and protection, nothing is to be feared; nothing is hopeless.” Do you believe the popes, or do you believe the Bible? Pick one.