The assumption of Mary is a doctrine from the heart of Catholicism. It involves the same subterfuge and theft of history that we have become accustomed to when they decide to teach a doctrine that will place themselves in the position as the “teachers of Christ” on the earth. Pius XII made official what had been rumored among the Roman Church for over 12 centuries when on November 1, 1950 he exercised his “right to speak ex cathedra” making the assumption of Mary, official. Papal Infallibility was made a part of Catholicism by the council called Vatican I, in 1870. Papal Infallibility is when the Pope speaks for Christ making Law that that has never been obeyed.
It is taught that when Mary was born she had a “grace” given her. Unfortunately, this “grace” is one she did not need. It relieved her on in-born sin they tell us (which is another Roman Catholic lie; she never had sin when she was born). August 15th is the date of celebration which they assigned, which, by the way was the date of celebration for Caesar Augustus.
Again, it is taught that Mary may have never died as men die, but was taken (the definition of assumption- it means a taking) immediately before death or immediately, thereafter, they cannot decide. It is also taught that all the apostles were transported to her death bed which was in Jerusalem or Ephesus in the hour of her leaving this earth, except Thomas. When Thomas arrived, the tomb was opened and was found empty, then miraculously, heaven was opened and Mary dropped an intimate piece of her clothing down to Thomas to prove she was in heaven. What began as a teaching in the 3rd and 4th centuries, became a part of doctrine in the 5th finally made the status of “doctrine of the church” by the” ex cathedra” by Pius XII. It took a long time for Mary to get situated, didn’t it?
They always like to give Mary the label “mother of God”! Mary was only the mother of the humanity of Christ!! Mary is not a mediator between God and man, either. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5 Mary is called the “favored one” (highly favored), Luke 1:28, but not because she was Christ’s mother but because she was chosen to bring the Christ into the world in a special way.
Did she sin? I do not know. Sin sometimes involves time to rebel, when there is no rebellion, repentance is the name of the act of obedience. I know that if Mary had not repented and been baptized for the remission of sins on the day of Pentecost, she would have become a sinner, like the Roman Catholics!! If she did not remain faithful unto death, she would have died a sinner. The word translated “highly favored” is also used in Ephesians 1:6 for members of the Churches of Christ where the word is translated “accepted.” It was Christ who said of Mary and His brethren when they came to shame Him into not preaching the gospel of preparation. “Matthew 12:46-49 the truth is, a man’s relations are as different and distinct as are his own flesh and spirit. His blood-relatives are often not his spirit-relatives, unfortunately. Blood relations are of time and for time; kindred spirits are of eternity and for eternity. Natural life has its own associations, as does the Divine. When the Divine life is quickened in a man, he enters into a new world of relationships. In proportion to the reality and fervor of his new life will be his attachment to his new kindred, and his power of attaching them to him.
Mary had five sons, Jesus, Joseph, James, Jude, and Simon. She also had at least sisters. As the word for brothers so was the feminine for sisters, the Greek word adelphos (masculine) and adelphe (feminine). Of these sons, Joseph was the father of the last four sons-they were half-brothers and daughters (Nicephorus tells us their names were Esther and Tamar). Matthew 12:46; 13:55; Mark 6:3; John 2:12; 7:3, 5, 10; Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 9:5; and Galatians 1:19 Jesus relates: “A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” The word for “kin” is suggenes in the Greek language and is defined as “related by blood.”
Mary was a member of the Church of Christ, not Roman Catholic Church. The Roman church had not come into existence at this time and when it did, it began in Rome, not Jerusalem. She “repented and was baptized for the remission of sins and received the gift of the Holy Spirit as proof she was now a child of the King.” She and Joseph were very special people and we thank God for them!!
