Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Mary was undoubtedly extraordinarily favored by God, and is fully deserving of honor and respect from all Christians for being the one woman chosen from all of humanity to give birth to the Son of God.

I also recognize that many Christians regard her as being without sin, either in the form of being conceived herself without the sin nature that every other human (except Jesus) has inherited; or of having committed no actual sin throughout her earthly life; or both. However, I have difficulty in finding support for those positions or doctrines in the Bible itself, rather than from tradition or from non-canonical written sources, regardless of how ancient those beliefs or sources may be.

To me, Mary herself addressed this issue in the words of the Magnificat (the song of praise that she spoke in response to the greeting of her cousin Elizabeth (the mother of John the Baptist) when Mary went to visit her immediately after Mary had been informed by the angel Gabriel that she was to be the mother of the Messiah). Mary began by saying (Luke 1:46-47), "My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior." If she had truly been without both original and actual sin, she would have had no need to either have or acknowledge a Savior.

She also said in Luke 1:48-50, "For, behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed, for He (God) has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.” Had Mary been totally without sin, she would have had no need to either receive or accept mercy (that is, undeserved favor or forgiveness) from God.

In addition, the Bible records occasions when Mary was mildly rebuked by Jesus Himself for actions or requests that, had she been totally without sin and shared Jesus' complete knowledge of and devotion to His Father's will, she should not have performed or asked (Luke 2:49-50 and John 2:3-4).

The fact that these events occurred does not detract in the least (in my view) from her position of honor. She was still wonderfully and uniquely blessed by God. Nor does it compromise the fact that Jesus was totally without sin (either original or actual) as a human being from the moment of His conception, owing to the unique manner in which God brought His conception about. But, again, I personally do not see support in Scripture itself for a belief in Mary's sinlessness, whether it be with respect to original sin, personal/actual sin, or both. I also do not regard holding such a belief to be an indispensable requirement or prerequisite for salvation.

December 15 2015 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Andy Mangus I am a Christian since October 1979 & devoted truth seeker.

NO, Mary was conceived in sin and was sinful as every other man or woman. "All have fallen short of the glory of God and in need of a savior" (Romans 3:23)....." Believe on the name of Jesus Christ as God's only Son and ye shall be redeemed unto the Lord and His salvation". (John 3:16) (1 John 5:13) Mary was special but still descendants of Adam and Eve like everyone else, except Jesus!

"Praise God that we have a Savior! And, His name is Jesus Christ!".
---Andy---

April 16 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Ezekiel Kimosop

It is nowhere taught or implied in Scripture that Mary was born sinless. As a matter of fact, no human being since Adam was born sinless except Christ. Roman Catholics hold that it was inconceivable that Christ could have been born to a sinful mother. 

However, we cannot limit the hand of God through our limited knowledge. 

God simply preserved Jesus in Mary's womb so that Christ's blood was not contaminated at all. 

Jesus was therefore born sinless, coming from the womb of a sinful mother who shared no genes with Him. He was fully human but fully God. 

Mary went on to believe Christ and was cleansed by His atoning blood at Calvary 

She is last mentioned in Scripture in Acts 1 during the appointment of a replacement for Judas Iscariot. Mary was part of the Jerusalem church community. I believe she died and like all Saints who sleep in Christ, she awaits the resurrection of Christ.

December 07 2016 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report