Topic #24: Was Mary Without Sin?

One of the more prominent doctrines taught by the Roman Catholic Church is the tenet of the perpetual sinless state of Mary.  In 1854 the Immaculate Conception of Mary was announced and since that time Catholics have been taught that she was without sin.

Any church’s teaching, whether Catholic or Protestant, must be held up to the scrutiny of Scripture because the Bible must be the final authority.  So if we’re to have any hope of arriving at truth, then we must consistently (and diligently) compare church teaching and traditions with what’s taught in Scripture.  

God is the One who establishes truth – not a church, regardless of how long they’ve been established on earth.  Length of time is not a criteria for truth. Judaism has been around since the 5th Century BC; yet, it still denies that the Lord Jesus Christ is both God and Messiah. 

Is the Roman Catholic Church Correct in Teaching that Mary was Sinless?

Look at Christ’s genealogy in Luke 3.  This is His genealogy from Mary’s side and we see that God takes Mary’s genealogy all the way back to Adam.  Why is this significant?  Becuase it means that Mary, just like every human being, was a descendant of Adam.  Being Adam’s offspring means she carries his fallen, sinful nature. 

Does the Bible bear this out? Let’s see…how many righteous people there are in the world?

(Rom 3:23 KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Notice the term God uses in this verse, “all have sinned.” God isn’t saying some or a few or even the majority.  He is definite in His usage of “ALL.”  This means Mary was part of that “all.” 

The biblical definition of sin (in 1 John 3:4) is the transgression of God’s law.  The Bible makes no division of sin into venial or mortal classifications.  There’s only one class: sin is sin.  

(James 2:10 KJV) For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Since Mary was part of the human race, she was just as guilty of sin as every other human being.

(1 John 3:4 KJV) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Since Mary was obviously born before Jesus’ earthly incarnation, we should look for confirmation that sin is universal and that everyone is affected by it.  

(1 Ki 8:46 KJV) If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;

The above verse detailed Solomon’s dedication of the temple.  This puts its timing about 900 years before Mary’s birth.  God clearly tells us that there is not one who doesn’t sin.

(Psa 14:1-3 KJV) The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. {2} The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. {3} They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

See also Psalm 53:1-3

Psalm 14 is another Old Testament proof that God’s assessment of all mankind is the same: there is none that does any good. The Bible is consistently clear on this fact.

Here is a verse which details when human beings start to sin: Psa 58:3-4 KJV The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. {4} Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;

We inherit our sinful nature at the moment of conception. This means Mary didn’t have an immaculate conception.  She was subject to the same sinful nature as everyone else right from the womb.

 

Here is probably the most succinct description of the entire pre-salvific human being:

(Rom 3:10-20 KJV) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: {11} There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. {12} They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. {13} Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: {14} Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: {15} Their feet are swift to shed blood: {16} Destruction and misery are in their ways: {17} And the way of peace have they not known: {18} There is no fear of God before their eyes. {19} Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. {20} Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

God takes the quotes from Psalm 14 & 53 and brings it into the New Testament because He wants to show that just because we live on the New Testament side of the cross doesn’t mean we’re exempt from sin and its catastrophic effects. God re-emphasizes the fact of universal sin but also includes how heinous sins makes a person in His sight and why salvation is so badly needed.

People who think they are good in God’s sight are brought back to reality when they read this revealing passage. Mary, too, was part of this description since she was part of the human race.

(Gal 3:22 KJV) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Once again, the above verse shows that the entire human race was plunged into sin because of Adam’s disobedience. With the unique exception of Jesus Christ Himself, Scripture doesn’t reveal any exceptions to the universality of sin.

 

Mary Needed A Savior!

(Luke 1:47 KJV) And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Here’s an extremely revealing verse.  If Mary was born without sin as the Roman Catholic Church teaches, then she would have been able to fulfill the demands of God’s holy law without any need for a substitutionary atonement.  She would have no sin and therefore would be perfect before God.

That’s not what the Scriptures teach!  They are telling us that Mary needed a Savior, which means she was under the curse of sin along with the rest of the world.

 

Mary is not a mediatrix!

(1 Tim 2:5 KJV) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

The Roman Catholic Church also teaches that Mary is a mediator between Jesus and us. This is another false teaching because the Bible teaches that Jesus is the ONLY mediator between God and man. No where does Scripture teache that the redeemed in Heaven have any intercessory authority or ministry for those still remaining on earth.

 

Mary Was Not a Perpetual Virgin!

(Mark 6:1-3 KJV) And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. {2} And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? {3} 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.

(Mat 13:54-56 KJV) And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? {55} Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? {56} And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

Another Catholic teaching is that Mary remained a perpetual virgin. The Bible refutes this in the two passages above. Jesus had brothers and sisters.  Notice how God specifically names Mary as their mother. The perpetual virginity of Mary is another fallacy which doesn’t exist in the Bible.

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This posting isn’t intended to “bash” a specific denomination.  Its purpose is to shine the Light of Truth as revealed in the Bible upon some widespread false teachings that have been adopted by many millions of people.  If only we would pay more attention to what God has to say in His Word rather than man.   

To God Be The Glory!