Dear Christian Warriors:
Please enjoy our new format. All of our links to "Mary, Mary?...Quite Contrary!" and our FREE Devotional downloads, may still be found below at the end of this latest article in our series of "demystifying Marian Dogmas." Please feel free to share with your family and friends! May God Bless you.
*******************************************************************
We wish to remind our readers once again that it is not our intent to disparage Catholics nor dishonor the REAL Mary. It is our obligation, in the Body of Christ, to warn people of seducing spirits and gently correct those who may be ensnared by devilish deception.
The Word of God tells us not to elevate man's thinking above His Word: …that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written…
~1 Corinthians 4:6 (KJV)
It further says:
He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
~ John 7:18 (KJV)
************************************************************************************************
In our continuing series on demystifying Marian Dogmas, we must wrap up Marian Dogma #5 by asking this question: “Did the Ark ‘co-redeem’ the world?” This is the basic premise in the doctrine declaring Mary as “The New Ark” and in the next to be defined Dogma #5 “Mary as Co-Redemptrix/Co-Mediatrix.” No one would thank the vessel or the boat that saved them from drowning when the hero showed up to rescue them. Noah’s obedience in following God’s explicit building instructions (and who is himself another Christ prefiguring) helped save his family. The ark may have been a “worthy vessel,” which means “well-made,” but it was God’s design and blueprints, added to the obedience of Noah (Christ), that saved the world. The Master carpenter designs and builds the boat. He commands the vessel.
What does the Bible say about “vessels” in the Temple:
A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use. So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.
~1 Timothy 2:20-21 (Berean Study Bible, underline emphasis)
There’s a home improvement show whose entire premise is predicated on finding old homes that need restoration but are intrinsically durable at their core, thus it is named “Good Bones.” While the property may be in shambles to the outward appearance, the Master’s eye sees something that, when restored, will showcase its original intended beauty. When completed, it is not the same as the original, it’s better.
The Bible speaks of old bones being restored.
Then He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones come to life?” “O Lord GOD,” I replied, “only You know.”
~Ezekiel 37:3 (Berean Study Bible)
In doing the study for this article, I noticed that “bones” are a recurring theme in the Bible. The very first, most famous “bone story” is found early on in Genesis when Adam was put into a deep sleep and a rib was extracted from his side for the creation of Eve.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he slept, He took one of the man’s ribs, H6763 and closed up the area with flesh. And from the rib, H6763 that the LORD God had taken from the man, He made a woman and brought her to him.… And the man said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man she was taken.”
~Genesis 2:20b-23 (Berean Study Bible, underline emphasis added)
The Hebrew word for “rib” here is Strong’s #H6763, “tsela” and is repeated in scriptural usage as “side.”
In my studies of “Jesus in the Old Testament,” I realized how few people correlate the story of Adam’s rib to Jesus, who is mentioned in scripture as the “second and last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45-46). Like Adam, Jesus was “put into a deep sleep” (of death), had his side pierced, and upon His “awakening” (resurrection), He founded an impassioned Church Bride with whom He has had many spiritual children. Even the meeting of Christ with Mary Magdalene in “the garden” tomb area loudly speaks of a similar Adam/Eve experience. Jesus also called Mary Magdalene “Woman” just as Adam called Eve:
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not recognize that it was Jesus. “Woman, why are you weeping?” Jesus asked. “Whom are you seeking?” Thinking He was the gardener [IN THE GARDEN], she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
~John 20:14-16 (Berean Study Bible)
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
~Genesis 2:23 (KJV)
Thus, we have two scenarios with highly similar relationships…one earthly and one spiritual, just as scripture declares:
So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being;” the last Adam a life-giving spirit. The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.…
~1 Corinthians 15:45-46 (Berean Study Bible)
Jesus also very notably called His mother “woman” and not one single time as “mother” in scripture. This is not meant as an insult but to indicate the correct description of the grace-filled Church.
For man did not come from woman, but woman from man.
~1 Corinthians 11:8 (Berean Study Bible)
It goes on to say:
For just as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
~1 Cor 11:12 (Berean Study Bible)
In just these two scriptures, we can continue to debunk and demystify once again the false Dogma #1 “Mother of God” teaching.
Continuing onward…are we now “little Christs?”:
Even well-respected theologian C.S. Lewis had this incorrect imagery when he wrote: “The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs.” NO…this is wrong! If we are “little anythings,” we are “little women” or "little sons and daughters." Complements to Christ, not Christ Himself. He is SINGULAR. The One and Only.
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
It is ANTI-Christs that are found in abundance all over the place:
If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short. At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. See, I have told you in advance.…
~Matthew 24:22-24 (Berean Study Bible)
Jesus goes on to explain His unique and dramatic 2nd entry on Planet Earth:
So if they tell you, ‘There He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.…
~Matthew 24:26-27 (Berean Study Bible)
What are we then? We are His SPIRITUAL family and SPIRITUAL brethren, born of “water” and covered by His blood. Mariology incorrectly concentrates on familial blood relations. Jesus clearly taught us not to do this!
Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.” But Jesus replied, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers. For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
~Matthew 12:47-50 (Berean Study Bible)
And again:
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You!” But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Luke 11:27-28 (Berean Study Bible)
“Family Relations” in Heaven will be spiritual like this:
But those who are considered worthy to share in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In fact, they can no longer die, because they are like the angels. And since they are sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God.
~Luke 20:35-36 (Berean Study Bible)
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
~2 Corinthians 6:18 (KJV)
The Jews have a prayer which is stated in Hebrew as: “Shelo Asani Isha.” It means: “Blessed are you Lord… for not making me a woman.” I’ve always wondered about this. The “she-lo asani isha” prayer is found in the Tosefta, a supplement to the Mishnah, and in the Talmud. Sadly, I think they are afflicting themselves when they pray that prayer. As we have seen, “The Woman” in scripture is The Church. She is the Bride of Christ. She is from the “rib” (side) of Christ, who is the last, spiritual Adam. So, every time they repeat this “prayer” they are affirming their rejection of Yeshua the Messiah and their refusal to be born of His Spirit. We are born once by woman (Adam/mankind) and then once by the Spirit, just as Jesus told the Jewish leader Nicodemus:
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
~John 3:3-6 (KJV)
Lastly, these two scriptures (which have initially jumped out at me as so incredibly misogynistic like the Talmudic prayer), are extremely significant.
While my soul was still searching but not finding, among a thousand I have found one upright man, but among all these I have not found a virtuous woman.
~Ecclesiastes 7:28 (Berean Study Bible, underline emphasis added)
An initial reading would incorrectly seem to indicate that there aren’t very many wise women and that wise men are more common.
And then this one:
For Adam was formed first, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression.
~1 Timothy 2:13-14 (Berean Study Bible)
So, are women evil, dumb, and more easy to deceive according to scripture? NO, of course not! Jesus was especially gentle and gracious when dealing with women. He treated them with respect and kindness. He elevated them. Obviously, there is a bigger message being sent here.
Well then if Adam wasn’t “deceived,” what was his sin? His sin was FOLLOWING his wife instead of LEADING his wife. To avoid Adam’s sin, we must not “eat” everything put in front of us by “The Woman” (The Church) without first running it by God and His Holy Word. “Didn’t God say?” Should always be our first correct question when the snake comes a-crawling. Don’t listen to his false siren song of: “Did God REALLY say???” Notice, one little crafty twist of the snake, doubting God’s CLEAR HOLY WORD, and we are on dangerous ground.
Biting into Mariology teaching is this exact sin.
I realize this is harder for men to grasp, but we (The collective Church) are ALL called to be THE WOMAN, the complement to Christ our spiritual Adam. When we try to elevate any woman (Fake Mary) over man, in the spiritual world we are attempting to elevate ourselves!
Thus, the Church is hidden, much like the skeleton or bones of a man. She is found in the “inner” court (Esther 5:1) as a support. So, we might be described as a “bone” but it is GOD who transforms the flesh to the Glorious Body of Christ and brings life to our dead bones. He is always our single “Head.” Our God is not a multi-headed pagan monster. Let’s not get out of our place in the Body of Christ. Mary is not our “Co-Redeemer” nor our “Co-Mediator.” She, like all of us, is under the Headship of Christ. This “Co-” teaching is akin to secular feminist doctrines which have now permeated the church and have gone spiritually viral. We are not “equal” to Christ but His COMPLEMENT just as women are not “equal” to men. This is why the evil spirit of transgenderism has exploded lately. Men wanting to be “equal” to women and women wanting to be “equal” to men. Complementarianism is hugely different. It is knowing what role we were created by God to fulfill.
Biting into Mariology teaching is a temptation
just like the original one.
Jesus is our ONLY Redeemer:
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot. He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.
~1 Peter 1:18-20 (Berean Study Bible)
Jesus is our ONLY Mediator:
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
~1 Timothy 2:5 (Berean Study Bible)
Jesus is the ONLY Name that can save us:
Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
~Acts 4:12 (Berean Study Bible)
This could not be more scripturally clear. Don’t listen to the snake tell you otherwise. We need to keep our head out of the clouds until He returns in the clouds to rejoin us…
as our Head.
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
~1 Corinthians 11:3 (Berean Study Bible)
Next up: Is there a potential Marian Dogma #6 forewarned of in scripture?
Stay tuned!
***********************************************************************************************
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, let us bow before you humbly with a spirit that worships You in spirit and in TRUTH. Expose, and help us repent of the "sacred cows" that we cling to that fly in the face of Your Holy Word and Your Holy plan of salvation through Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the ONLY NAME under Heaven and on earth by which mankind may be saved. Assist us in tearing down demonic strongholds that have existed for centuries and continue to attempt to lead many astray. We know, based on scripture and the evidence around us, that You are returning soon to take your rightful place as King of kings, Lord of lords under which every knee must bow. When You return, we pray in keeping with Luke 18:8 that you find a loyal and true "faith on earth" and, in keeping with Ephesians 5:27, You present us to Yourself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, but holy and without blemish. In Jesus' Holy Name,
~ Amen
***********************************************************************************************
God Bless you!
Pastor Jeffrey Daly
pastorjeff@repentday.com
National Day of Repentance
www.repentday.com
www.facebook.com/TheNationalDayOfRepentance
************************************************************************************************
We wish to remind our readers once again that it is not our intent to disparage Catholics nor dishonor the REAL Mary. It is our obligation, in the Body of Christ, to warn people of seducing spirits and gently correct those who may be ensnared by devilish deception.
Holy Scripture calls us "with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring [really working at] to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
~Ephesians 4:2-3 (NKJV)
Holy Scripture also tells us that..."a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."
~2 Timothy 2: 24-26 (NKJV)
If you have not already done so, we urge you to read the previous links of our latest series in demystifying the 5 Marian Dogmas. See links below:
Demystifying Marian Dogma #1: "Mother of God"
Demystifying Marian Dogma #2: "Perpetual Virginity"
Demystifying Marian Dogma #3: "Immaculate Conception"
Demystifying Marian Dogma #4: "The Assumption"
Demystifying Marian Dogma #5: "Co-Redemptrix"
Exposing Marian Apparitions:
In this series, we will continue to present scriptural and historical evidence by which, God willing, we may expose the idol worship of the ever-evolving Mariology doctrines. We will clearly show that these dogmas are of human reasoning, comprised of false arguments and are proud obstacles that keep people from truly knowing God (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
~2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NLT)
Now these things, brethren, I have transferred, in their application, to myself and Apollos, for your sakes, that ye may learn in us the lesson of not letting your thoughts go above what is written, that ye may not be puffed up one for such a one against another.
~1 Corinthians 4:6 (DBY)
