The miracle of Christ's conception is vital to His ability to be our Savior. If Jesus would have had a human father, He would not be sinless. He would have been corrupted by original sin which condemns and pollutes all other human beings through the sin of their covenant and natural father, Adam. God had to be Jesus' Father for Him to be born sinless.
To be our Savior, Jesus had to be not only a perfectly sinless Person, but also truly God and truly human in one Person. Therefore He needed both a divine Father and a human mother. Christ's divine and human natures required the Holy Spirit's miraculous conception of the Savior.
God is to be adored and worshipped for the miracle of Christ's conception - not Mary. While we may admire the God-given grace and faith evidenced in Mary's life, as in the lives of all Bible saints, we may never worship or adore Mary, as some do. The following chart reveals several wrong teachings regarding this matter.
| THE ADORATION OF MARY WITHIN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH | |
| Authorization Date |
Approved Adoration |
|
431 A.D. |
Ascribing to Mary the title of "The Mother of God" |
|
600 A.D. |
Prayers may be directed to Mary |
|
1508 A.D. |
The idolatrous "Ave Maria" was authorized |
|
1854 A.D. |
The "Immaculate Conception" doctrine of the Virgin Mary was approved. This teaches that Mary was without original and actual sins. |
|
1950 A.D. |
The "Assumption of the Virgin Mary" was officially proclaimed as church doctrine. This is the belief that Mary ascended bodily into heaven, shortly after her death. |
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Review from Chapter Ten the various reasons why, to be our Mediator, Christ must be: |
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Read the following verses. What were the reactions of Peter, Paul, and the angel, when people attempted to worship and adore them? |
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
- Acts 10:25-26
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea. and all things that are therein.
- Acts 14:15
And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
- Revelation 22:8-9
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Do God's true servants love or hate being adored by others? Why? |
