The January 2010 earthquake in Haiti mobilized the Jewish and general communities worldwide to help. I followed the progress of the aid workers closely, and was privileged to talk with Ruth Messinger and her staff at the American Jewish World Service. I was particularly struck by the difference between some superficial news briefs that described the money raised for Haiti as if it were already there, and the reality I learned from AJWS: That any aid campaign is at best a slow, steady progress from initial fundraising to finally implementing the practical help "on the ground." And I learned that AJWS is among the best in the world at doing this.
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WAS THE VIRGIN MARY SINLESS? BY STEVE FINNELL
Did the Virgin Mary live a sinless life?
The Catholic Answer
Not a few Protestants are surprised to discover the Catholic Church actually agrees that Mary was "saved." Indeed, Mary needed a savior! However, Mary was "saved" from sin in a most sublime manner. She was given the grace to be "saved" completely from sin so that she never committed even the slightest transgression. Protestants tend to emphasize God’s "salvation" almost exclusively to the forgiveness of sins actually committed. However, Sacred Scripture indicates that salvation can also refer to man being protected from sinning before the fact:
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and for ever. (Jude 24-25)
Six hundred years ago, the great Franciscan theologian Duns Scotus explained that falling into sin could be likened to a man approaching unaware a deep ditch. If he falls into the ditch, he needs someone to lower a rope and save him. But if someone were to warn him of the danger ahead, preventing the man from falling into the ditch at all, he would be saved from falling in the first place. Likewise, Mary was saved from sin by receiving the grace to be preserved from it. But she was still saved.[Ref: www.catholic.com]
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The Biblical Answer
1. Jude 1-25 was written to Christians who had met the terms for pardon. They were not prevented from sinning from birth. They were not saved before they were born. They were not saved at the moment of their birth.
Jude 24-25 is simply stating that Christians who sin, sin by choice. No Christian sins because Satan made them sin.
2. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God(NKJV)
Yes, the Virgin Mary was a sinner. There is no Scripture that states the Virgin Mary lived a sinless life.
Jesus was sinless. 1 Peter 2:21-22.....22"Who committed no sin, Nor was guile found in His mouth",(NKJV) ALSO SEE: 2 Cor. 5:21, Heb. 4:15, 1 John 3:5.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.(NKJV)
The apostle John says Christians deceive themselves if they say they have not sinned since becoming Christians. Would not the same be true for those who claim the Virgin Mary lived a sinless life? Are they not deceiving themselves?
1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.(NKJV)
If we say the Virgin Mary did not sin are we not making Jesus a liar. Are the words of Jesus in those who claim the Virgin Mary lived a sinless life? You make the call.
Every adult who knows right from wrong has sinned. Do infants sin? No. Are infants guilty of sin? No. Are adults who are incapable of understanding right from wrong sinners? No.
The only way the Virgin Mary can be presented as living a sinless life is through man-made traditions.
Mark 7:7 And in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.' (NKJV)
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