Well, our current series on Roman Catholicism, Mary, and Christ-centered evangelism really flows out of three biblical streams. Three biblical streams. Namely, number one, God's passion for the unrivaled preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Two, the church's mandate to reach the lost with the gospel truth. And three, the Berean call to compare every doctrine and every religious practice with Scripture. So God's passion for the unrivaled preeminence of Jesus Christ is found in many portions of Scripture. It's communicated in many places, but we think maybe first of all to Galatians chapter 1. And where Paul reminds us in verses 13 through 18 that he has set Christ as head over all and as Lord over his church and that Christ is to be all and in all and that he desires that Christ would come to have first place in everything. So God is passionate for the glory of Jesus. And so we preach the series. And so we defend the real Jesus and the biblical Mary in the marketplace. Number two, the church has received the gospel baton and we are called to go out into the world and to preach the gospel, not just to some, but Jesus said in Mark chapter 16, verse 15, that you are to preach the gospel to every creature. The church has been tasked with the calling to reach the lost with gospel truth. And Jesus reminds us in John chapter 8 verse 32 that you shall know the truth and it is the truth that sets men free. And finally, we think about the Berean call. not just for church leaders but to all within the church of Jesus Christ to compare every teaching and every practice against the backdrop of the word of God and so Paul commends by way of example you recall in Acts chapter 17 verse 11 the noble-minded Bereans and then by prescription in 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 21 he calls each one of us to examine everything carefully. That everything is to be compared with the Holy Word of God and that we are to hold fast to that which is true and pure and that we are to abhor and to throw out anything that is evil. Suffice it to say, the reason why Catholics pray the Rosary and praise Mary as the Holy Queen of Heaven has everything to do with what they have been taught and choose to believe. And this really comes as no surprise to us because what we believe impacts everything. What we believe impacts how we work and play and witness and worship and pray. And so, during this particular series, we have focused upon the exalted Mary of Roman Catholicism over and against the real Mary of Holy Scripture. And I'm not simply interested in teaching you what Catholics believe. I'm equally intent in helping you to understand why Catholics believe what they believe and do what they do. I also want us to understand why we don't do so many of the things that Catholics do and why we believe so many things different than what Catholics believe. It has been said that if you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. But if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. And pastors are called to do both. Not only to bring you the book, not only to bring you the Word of God, this manna from heaven, so to speak, as we study the Word of God together, and as I proclaim the Word of God to you from the pulpit, but also to teach you how to discern, how to think biblically, how to think critically, how to defend God's truth in a world full of half-truths and lies. So, with that in mind, let us continue then. We have established thus far four biblical denials and four biblical affirmations concerning the real Mary. And this morning, I hope to highlight two more. So, in the interest of progress, let's just resume rather than review. with a fifth denial and biblical affirmation. Number five, Mary is not our Holy Mother. She is, however, our Blessed Sister in Christ. Mary is not our Holy Mother. She is, however, our Blessed Sister in Christ. Roman Catholics believe that just as Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew chapter 6 to address God as our Holy Father, that Jesus also commands us to behold Mary as our Holy Mother. And to support this core tenet, Catholics turn to John chapter 19, verse 27. So if you have your copy of God's holy and infallible word, I would encourage you to turn to this proof text that Catholics quote. Saying that Jesus instructs all of us to view Mary as our spiritual and holy mother. Now, of course, those of you familiar with John 19 know that verses 25 through 27 contains one of the seven cross sayings of Christ. Upon the cross, as the sinless son of God died, bearing our sins upon himself, the just for the unjust, our Lord uttered seven remarkable, life-changing, profound and practical statements, one of which is recounted here in John's Gospel, chapter 19, verses 25 through 27. Listen to what the Word of God reveals concerning one of the final sayings of our Savior before he died upon that shameful, scandalous cross. John's Gospel, 19, verse 25, reads as follows. So again, I'm trying to point out the fact that Catholics don't simply point to tradition and to the sayings of the Pope in order to justify what they believe and do, such as praying the rosary, such as going to confession, such as participating in the mass where they say that Jesus is literally transfigured and that one actually eats the body and blood of Christ. such as calling all Christians to call upon Mary and to pray to her and to acknowledge that she is our Holy Mother. And so they come to the Word of God and they say they have basis for much of what they do, much of what they teach. And so what we are trying to do is say, are they handling accurately God's Holy Word? John 19, 25, Therefore, the soldiers did these things. This is, of course, the participation of all humanity, nailing the sinless Son of God to the cross. And so the Roman soldiers did what they were told and they crucified our Lord. In stark contrast, but verse 25, there were standing by the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus, therefore, saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, Woman, behold your son. Then he said to the disciple, Behold your mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her into his own household. What is here in the text of Scripture? Catholic priests would tell their parishioners that here we have in the unnamed beloved disciple whom we know is the disciple John who wrote this gospel the gospel of John that Catholics say that John as a believing disciple is really a representative of the church and And so when Jesus, upon the cross, looks at John, in a sense, he's representing all who would believe after him as well. He's representing you and I. And so when Jesus says to John, behold your mother, that we, as followers of Christ and as disciples like John, also receive this holy mother. So the question is, is that at all the point of this passage is that at all the meaning of what Jesus said when he looks at John and says behold your mother and to Mary he says behold your son and the answer of course is no In part, what John is doing here in representing and recounting this historical saying of Jesus is that he is giving us a glimpse into the heart of God and the heart of God's Son. And we find here in the perfect man, the Lord Jesus Christ, something glorious, something compelling, something that draws us to the cross and to the one who hung upon that cross. And that is that we have here a word of infinite compassion For Jesus was not only God always existing as God but of course when he came he took on a second nature fully God now fully man, and so he was a perfectly obedient son obviously ultimately to his heavenly father, but even to his parents in so much as what they Directed him to do was not in contradiction to what God's will was for Jesus who was God's son but also the earthly son of Joseph and Mary and so Jesus then as the firstborn son as he is bearing the full weight of all the sin of of the world upon himself upon that shameful scandalous cross did not consider his own suffering and did not consider his own shame and did not consider his own weakness but in this others oriented mindset that is so much like our beloved Jesus. He looks at Mary and he realizes that in 43 days that he was not only going to three days later rise from the dead but after presenting himself to many persons in that body that he receives After his resurrection that 43 days later that he would ascend that he would ascend to the right hand of the father on high and so he realizes that who is going to take care of my mom and In his compassion perfect compassion Jesus while suffering looks at Mary and says behold your son and to John behold your mother in other words John I'm I'm I'm I'm asking that you would look after her as if she were your own mom. That you would care for her spiritual, physical, and emotional needs. And by the way, John wants to let us know that as our Lord spoke this loving word, this word of compassion, that he took it to heart. Is that not what the text tells us in verse 27? That from that hour, the disciple took her, that is Mary, into his own household. Catholic parishioners are also taught that God's spiritual family listen is incomplete without a loving mother Quote the breakaway Christian churches speaking of evangelical Protestants the breakaway Christian churches that diminish Mary's role inevitably end up feeling like a bachelor's apartment and masculine to a fault, orderly but not homey, functional and productive, but with little sense of beauty and poetry. And so they say that the family of God would be incomplete if we did not have a Holy Mother to look after us, to show compassion and mercy towards her children. They say, isn't that your own experience? in the home in God's design for family? And then they cross over and say, well, isn't this also going to be the case? And shouldn't this also be the way in which God orders it as he saves people, wanting them to have a new family, a spiritual family? to which those of us who hear such sentiments think of glorious passages of scripture like Romans chapter 8 and say, have you never read before Romans 8, 32 through 39? Have you never experienced before in your salvation and in your new life in Christ the deep, deep love of Jesus? As if in any way that when God brings people into His spiritual family and as He adopts us as sons and daughters of faith, as if in any way the limitless, boundless, glorious love of God in Christ is insufficient. Friends, does not our own experience confirm that which the objective word declares concerning God's great love for us? Oh, how I have not had a day in my life in Christ when in the slightest I have ever felt like in some ways I'm missing out on a mother's touch for my Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, the blessed Son of God. Oh, how they love you and me. Such teaching might resonate with our emotions and feelings, but according to Scripture, Mary is not our holy mother, just as the Pope is not our holy father on earth. So that's the negative biblical denial. The affirmation The positive, the positive truth is, however, Mary is our blessed sister in Christ. And so we should not distance ourself from this daughter of Abraham, this faithful believer, this most blessed lady, for she belongs to the family of God. And if you're a Christian, that means that she is your sister in Christ. Well, where am I getting that from? Well, from passages of Scripture, such as John 1, verse 12, where we hear this, as many as receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, as many as receive Him, to them He gave the right to become children. God aren't we all God's children. Isn't that what the world says? Not spiritually speaking But as many as received Jesus to them to us He gives us the right to become children of Almighty God Mary herself believed that her virgin-born son was her Redeemer and And she says as much in her inspired song of praise in the Magnificat after Elizabeth's prophecy, Mary's heart just explodes in praise in doxology. And she says in Luke chapter one, verse forty six. Listen to this. She says, my soul magnifies the Lord in my spirit, rejoices in God, my savior. Do we not see here in the Word of God how personal, eternal salvation is? She says, my soul magnifies, my spirit rejoices. She says, my God and Savior. And this is why we sing songs, not only declaring the truthfulness of the good news message, of the perfect sacrifice and the bodily resurrection and the hope of heaven that is ours, in a international way. One gospel for all people. But we also internalize and personalize this so we sing songs like, this is my story and this is my song. We rejoice in our Savior all the day long. Mary made such a confession that Jesus was her Lord and Savior. And for us who believe, she by virtue of being brought into the family of God spiritually then is our blessed sister in Christ. Well, to reinforce this fifth sermon heading, I want you to turn with me for a moment to the Gospel of Matthew. And to the 12th chapter, Matthew chapter 12, And here in verses 46 through 49, the Lord Jesus Christ tells us who his true family is. And as you listen to Jesus's words, ask yourself this question. Am I 100% certain that I belong to the spiritual family of God? Don't answer that question too quickly. Don't believe because somehow you were born into a Christian family, or that you are the son or daughter of a preacher, or that your parents were missionaries, that by osmosis and an extension that you belong to the spiritual family of God. For listen to the words of Christ, spoken here in the gospel of Matthew chapter 12, verses 46 through 50. While he, that is Jesus, was still speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and brothers were standing outside seeking to speak to him. Well, it's different, but similar to a Sunday morning in the foyer when my wife and children are waiting to speak to me. And so a good usher, as you as it were, sees that his own family is seeking his attention. So verse 47, they act. And someone said to Jesus, behold, your mother and brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to you. In other words, don't you want to go talk to your mom and to your brothers? And Jesus uses this as a wonderful occasion to preach this Glorious truth to drive home this point of who his true family is and so he shocks the audience in this answer given in verses 48 through 50 But Jesus answered the one who was telling him and said here's the question who is my mother and who are my brothers and Stretching out his hand to his disciples Jesus said behold my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother." Jesus here makes it very clear that only those who come in faith and receive Him truly belong to His spiritual family. But there's also something glorious here in that all who call upon the name of the Lord and who look to Christ for forgiveness, that all of us receive the amazing privilege of being brought into the very family of God, and that Jesus would speak to us in such familial ways. For the fruit of faith is obedience, And so Jesus says in verse 50 that, here is my brother, here is who my spiritual mothers are, so to speak, playing on what has been spoken to him in this context. He says, verse 50, whoever does the will of my father who is in heaven, he is my brother and sister. We find in this passage here some wonderful encouragement But also we realize again as I've said that just because you're here this morning does not necessarily mean that you're in God's family and Mary wasn't by virtue of being the earthly mother of the Lord Jesus Christ Bird then to the kingdom so to speak use the language of John chapter 3 but Mary because she like us realized who Jesus truly is. Spiritually speaking, was a sister, as we who believe are brothers and family in the Lord. I would encourage you to talk about this with your kids. To ask them to consider whether or not they know with 100% certainty that they belong to the family of God. Well, on this topic, let me just add here a related maternal footnote. The catalyst that launched this entire mini-series was actually a conversation that I had with a wonderful member out in the foyer after one of my messages from Luke chapter 1, wherein this former Roman Catholic humbly asked me whether it's proper to call Mary the mother of God. How would you answer that? Well, the answer is yes and no, depending on meaning and context. So she says, I heard in one of your messages you referred to Jesus or to Mary as being the mother of God, as being the Theotokos. So she Asked me whether or not that's proper because from her Roman Catholic background that that title that Language was was used differently than the way in which she saw that I was using and so she was asking rightfully So is it proper for us today to refer to Mary as being the mother of God? So I went back and I did some study and I found that historically that this term Theotokos which simply means God-bearer or mother of God that it was actually coined to defend the absolute deity of Christ against dangerous heresies that sought to infiltrate the fourth century church. So there were some who are denying that Jesus was fully God. And so in these councils that met where they considered the person of Christ This title was coined, basically saying that yes, Jesus was fully man. That was not in question, but the heretics were saying that Jesus was not 100% God. Maybe he was 50% God and 50% man. And they realized that if one does not uphold the deity of Christ, that the gospel itself goes down in a domino effect. And this reminded me that divinity denying religious teachers existed well before the advent of Islam and Mormonism. See, the heretics that were questioning our Lord's deity in the fourth century came with different names, but their arguments were basically the same. And so there were some who held fast to the truth. And in order to uphold the absolute deity of The man, Jesus, they said that Mary was the mother of God. So Mary is the mother of God, if by it you mean no more than what Elizabeth meant when she declared in Luke chapter 1 verse 43, remember Elizabeth said this, and how has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord should come To me, she is blown away, as we saw last time. This is a mark of humility that the mother of her Lord, speaking of the one that was inside of Mary's womb, having been knit by the Holy Spirit, that she was in the presence of God, God the Son. And how that God in His grace would bring Mary to her to share this news, and as it were, to even bring Christ into her presence, Elizabeth, was amazed. So Mary is the mother of God, if that's what you mean. She is not the mother of God if by it you mean that she gave rise to the being of God. So some people, when they think mother and father, they think, well, moms and dads create, by God's design, children. Well, does God have a father or mother? Well, if you're talking about the eternal being of God, we know that he is the creator and that he is the uncreated one, that he is eternal. So if that's what you mean, then we say categorically no. Or if like Roman Catholics, you use this title, Mary, mother of God, to promote the adoration and veneration of Mary, then we say no. That is not the way that Elizabeth used that title when Mary first came to her so many years ago. And that is not the way that that title, Mother of God, was meant to be understood historically, even in the fourth century. And so we say then that Mary is not our Holy Mother. But Scripture tells us that she is, however, our blessed sister in Christ. This brings us then to a final affirmation and denial. This is very, very important. Sometimes true doctrine and false doctrine hinges upon one word and the use of that word. And Satan knows this, and he's the master deceiver. 2 Corinthians 11 says that does he not often send out those disguised as angels of light? So number six, biblical denial and affirmation. The real Mary is not blessed above all women. She is, however, blessed among all women. Just one word. And that word, a whole theology has been built of devotion to Mary. Scripture says that Mary is not blessed above all women, but that she is blessed among all women. Now I can hear in the minds of some skeptics out there that you may be saying, well, isn't this just an example of some Protestant theological nitpicking? You know, what difference does it make whether or not you refer that Mary was sinless, and that she was a perpetual version, and that she's the second Eve, and that she's the new ark of the new covenant, and that she's our blessed mother, and that she's blessed above all women, and that she's a holy queen of heaven? Well, I want you to reserve your judgment until you at least listen to some Roman Catholic quotes that I'm about to share with you. But first, turn with me to Luke's Gospel chapter 1, verse 41. What I am trying to convince you of, friends, is that what we try to model from the pulpit is exactly what you need to do when you're studying God's Word Monday through Saturday. The pastor's not with you, but good news, the Holy Spirit is. And all of us are called to hold fast to that which is true and to throw out anything that is untrue, anything that is evil. And all of us are called to preach the gospel to every creature. And all of us, as we become more like Jesus, should long for His name to be magnified, to be glorified, to be exalted. For this resonates with the very heart of God the Father, Himself and so we must be very careful when we open up God's Word we don't want to say anything more than what it says nor anything less and sometimes as I've already said that there can be a a Huge Devastating consequence simply by missing one word. So let's notice what the Word of God says but I also want you to notice what the Word of God does not say and Okay, and I'm thinking of course of what is specifically spoken of in verse 42 Now at this time Mary rose went with haste to the hill country to city of Judah verse 39 Came about that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting or her story We saw this last week that the baby leaped in her womb and John jumps for joy, John the Baptist inside of Elizabeth, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. So she's going to be the mouthpiece for John the prophet, who at this point obviously cannot speak verbally. And what does she want Mary to know, to hear? And what does the Holy Spirit want the church to know as he has preserved this word? She cries out with a loud voice, verse 42, and said, blessed above women, Are you? No, she says, blessed among women are you? And she quickly says, here's the reason why Mary is more blessed than any other mother that has ever come before her or after because of the one of whom she was carrying within her. And so she goes on to say, blessed is the fruit of your womb. Who is she thinking of here? Of the Christ child, Jesus, the cause of our joy. And then Mary, upon recounting these mysterious and marvelous words of the angel, and now even by her cousin Elizabeth, she breaks out into praise in verse 46. Her soul exalts the Lord. Verse 47, my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. And then she says in verse 48, for he has had regard for the humble state. How does Mary view herself? The humble state of his bond slave. How has this privilege been bestowed upon me? Catholics build a whole theology. Why do they pray the rosary? Why don't you? Why do they ask Mary, not Jesus, to protect them, to guide them? Pray for us, O Holy Mary, now and in the hour of our death. Why do they see Mary as an intercessor, that she is one who is compassionate and merciful, this Holy Mother of Heaven and the Holy Queen of Heaven, who reigns with Christ, they say. Where does this come from? Well, it comes from simply missing Simple words such as what Elizabeth says here in verse 42 Mary is not blessed above all women, but she is blessed among women and So the point by way of application that I am trying to draw forth from you as we have been about this series is this that careful Bible study obliterates a host of heirs and And the problem for us as Americans is that we want everything fast, right? We want the instant sermon, right? With seven applications in and out. We want to get the six-minute workout video that's going to give us the six-pack abs, right? But the book that which we have upon our lap, friends, is the holy Word of God. And God calls us to be diligent, to study it, to be approved unto Him, those who would handle accurately the Word, truth and in this book are the words of life and in this book are the words of judgment and in this book this book guides us in our worship and This book guides us all the way home and So by carefully setting the Word of God in context we're able to defend the faith from those who have added things in to God's Word from those who have believe something and they so want to see certain things about Mary that they read it back into the text. And what we have been trying to illustrate, again, not simply giving you fish, but teaching you how to fish so that you can have discernment, not only when you interact with Catholics, not only when you interact with Roman Catholic literature, but even when you go into the Christian bookstore. Because there are many half-truths that have been brought into Various books that are packaged Christian literature There's another lesson that we find in this study and that is this Just because someone says that something is biblical and points to a biblical proof text doesn't Necessarily mean that what they're saying is actually biblical You see I understand that most of you are taught well enough that if somebody comes to you at the door and brings the Book of Mormon that you're gonna say not interested and There is but one book of life that is holy, infallible, inerrant, without error, that is sufficient for all things pertaining to life and godliness. But there are many on television, there are many who speak to you, who say, we do what we do, and you don't do what you do, because you're not following the word of God. You're one of those renegade Protestants who diminished Mary's role. And in their mind, that you are dishonoring God and Christ. And so, what do we have to do when we reach an impasse? We must return back to the Bible. And we are reminded that just because somebody comes opening up the Bible and pointing to a verse doesn't necessarily mean that what they say is true and right. During the past month, I have read numerous books by Roman Catholic authors, from Scott Hans, Hail Holy Queen, the Mother of God and the Word of God, to Alphonsus Liguori's Catholic classic, The Glories of Mary. This rigorous study has only deepened my evangelistic concern for the souls of countless individuals who have been led away for the simplicity and purity of singular devotion to Christ. Paul's heart, when he was full of the Spirit, was ablaze. Not only that he said that To me, the greatest thing is to know Christ and to make him known. But Paul also cared for those around him and for believers and professing believers. And to the Corinthians, when they were being tempted to be led away from singular devotion to Jesus, Paul steps in and Paul addresses it. And so what I'm saying to you is that you have relationships that I do not have. Some would never listen to a sermon from a Protestant preacher. Some would never listen to a CD from an evangelical preacher. But God has placed you where you are with the people around you. And that you could say to them that you who claim to love Jesus are somehow missing Jesus by elevating Mary to a level either on par with the Blessed Son or in some cases even above the Lord Himself. Well, on this theme, let me just mention one more nugget of practical wisdom. How many of you this year want to have your sermons that you listen to and your own personal Bible studies take on a whole new level of importance? Just that it's gonna be as alive as it was when you first were saved. If so, try this. Okay, I know it's not too late to make a New Year's resolution. So, to make the Bible come alive, When the word is preached, and as you're listening to it in men's group or ladies' Bible study, here's what I'm suggesting. Resolve this year to be more intentional than ever before in your personal evangelism and see what happens. See what happens when you listen to God's word. Because so many sermons and so many Bible studies, you hear truth that you already know and believe. What God knows and what I think you and your heart of heart knows is that there are so many who don't know and believe this And how will they hear without a preacher? And so jesus calls his people to take the truth into the marketplace To defend the truth via apologetics and to share the truth in love And to point sinners to christ. So what i'm suggesting to you then Is that christians? who faithfully interact with Roman Catholic friends and family and lost friends understand that Luke chapter 1 and 2 and related sermons on the real Mary are inherently practical. Why? Because of the lost world that is out there. Stats tell us that there are over 1 billion Roman Catholics Catholics are Seeking to bring back many who are just Catholic in name only have you seen the commercials on television Catholics come home? Friends do you want them to go back to that place or might God be calling you? upon knowing the arguments that they're going to use and the text that they're going to turn to to say this is the real Mary and This is the real Jesus Come, let us reason together. Come, let us turn to the book that you claim is the authoritative word of God, and let us see if these things be so. Some of you might be saying, well, preacher, I don't have any unbelieving friends. To which I graciously say to you, repent. Why hasn't Jesus returned? because he likes seeing Christians suffer via jihad in the Middle East, because he likes to see his sister Crystal suffer with the byproduct of the fall, with cancer. No, my Bible says in 2 Peter chapter 3 that God wishing that none should perish delays His return. Friends, it is a joy to gather with you Sunday after Sunday and to worship Him. And we're told to do this, but In heaven, there will be worship. But there's one thing that will not be present in heaven that God calls us to be about here below, and that is evangelism. So who does God have in your life this year that you need to seek to reach out to? I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you don't have many unsaved friends, that this would be a wonderful reason to join the YMCA. I hear people saying, you know, this year we're going to join the Y. And they say, well, the reason why is because we know that if we're active, that it will lead to a more healthy lifestyle. Some of us in our family may need to lose a few of those Christmas pounds. And we say, great. That's a good reason to join the Y. But what if we thought about our time and our money like Christians, follow the Spirit, and as evangelists, as witnesses, as Jesus said, you shall be my witness and say, I'm going to join up to be a part of the YMCA this year so that I can develop relationships with people who don't know Jesus, for people who venerate Mary, for people who believe that salvation is not by grace alone, through faith alone and Christ alone. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I would encourage you to meditate this week upon Mark chapter 16 verse 15 and upon 1st Peter chapter 3 verse 15. Okay, let's return to Mary. Mary is not blessed above all women. Mary is blessed among all women. We agree that. So where do Catholics then take this blessed above concept? Where does that lead to? Will Catholics exalt Mary above all saints and call her, among many things, Hail Holy Queen of Heaven? So my question to you is, does King Jesus have a queen, a co-regent, named Mary? This from chapter one of La Guardia's book, The Glories of Mary. Chapter one is aptly titled, Hail Holy Queen mother of mercy. Why do Catholics pray the rosary, pray to Mary, burn incense candles to her? Quote, here's Catholic theology, our confidence in Mary should be great because she is a queen. Quote, if Jesus is the king of the universe, which we agree, then Mary is its queen. And as queen, she possesses by right the whole kingdom of her son. One final quote. Mary is the queen of mercy, full of compassion and pardon for sinners. Need I go on? Church, is it unloving to ask our Roman Catholic friends and family to reconsider what God's word actually says concerning the real Mary. Does God not call all his children to be noble-minded Bereans, to consider every belief and practice and to compare it against the Word of God? Is that too radical of a question to ask to a Catholic friend, co-worker, classmate, or family member? As fellow students of scripture, let me ask you this question. Does the title Queen of Heaven appear in the Bible? Mary? Is this some Catholic invention, or is it a biblical title? Well, the answer is yes, Queen of Heaven is actually a biblical title. You say, where is it found? Well, I'll just give you the passage. You can read it on your own. Jeremiah 7, 18 through 20. And again, in Jeremiah 44. 15 through 18. The Queen of Heaven is an ancient title applied to various pagan goddesses, such as Asherah, whom the apostate children of Israel worshipped during the time of Jeremiah. They were venerating this Queen of Heaven. And God, one of the reasons why He struck His children with judgment was because of this blasphemy and idolatry. So here's another related question. What passages of scripture do Roman Catholics cite to support this blasphemous title? Hail Mary, Holy Queen of Heaven. What passages of scripture do Roman Catholics quote to support the practice of praying to Mary and praising her And the answer is 1 Kings 2, Matthew 1, verse 6, and Revelation 12. So they go not to, here's what the Pope said immediately, but they say, it's here in the Bible, in your Bible, in 1 Kings 2 and Matthew 1, 6 and Revelation 12. Now I have already explained Revelation 12, so let me illustrate how Catholic teachers misinterpret 1 Kings 2 and Matthew 1, 6. Catholics are taught that the mother you got to listen to their logic here That the mother of King Solomon helped her son rule and because Bathsheba is mentioned in King Jesus's genealogy in Matthew 1 6 and because Solomon is a type of Christ per Matthew 12 42 and that we should honor Mary as the Queen Mother of Heaven. So they say Bathsheba is a type of Mary. Turn with me to one final passage of scripture and we will try to land this plane upon a biblical runway. First Kings 2. Come, let us reason together. First Kings 2, verse 19. Our response is as follows. Even if Bathsheba was a type of Mary, the Queen Mother of King Solomon, as Roman Catholics teach, I think that is an abuse of biblical typology. But let's just say, OK, Bathsheba was a type of Mary, and they're saying the connection is Bathsheba, was the Queen Mother of Solomon as Mary is the Queen Mother of Jesus, King Jesus. You see the parallel here? Can we honestly say that these texts support the veneration of Mary above all women and thus call her, quote, the Holy Queen of Mercy and the door through which sinners come to God? So what sayeth the scriptures? Well, before you ever perish it into a passage, you have to understand the context. And the context here is that the great king of Israel, David, is about to die. And so there are many sons that David has, more than a few who want the honor of ruling over Israel as king. So there's a power struggle. But it was God's will and David's will that Solomon would be the one who would assume his father's throne. You see that in verse 12 of First Kings 2. So you have this transition of power and you have what happens in Washington today. The same thing took place thousands of years ago when there was a changing of the guard. There is jockeying for position. There is trying to run people over. Plotting, scheming. And there was a certain son, 1 Kings 1, named Adonijah, who was both shrewd and sinister. And he was the elder son, elder brother of Solomon. And so he got the support of the military leader, Joab. He also got the support of the religious leader, Abathar. And he makes an attempt to claim the throne. And many of the people say, hail King Abathar. David gets wind of this and so he tries to intervene because this was not his will Nor was it God's will for it was Solomon who would reign over the house of Israel And it was Solomon who would build the temple for the Lord So in verse 13 of chapter 2 you have this certain Prince brother named Adonijah he is going to take a second pass at how can I gain power and Overcome Solomon, huh? Let's see if I can try to approach. Solomon would kill me if I did this, but I'm going to approach his mother Bathsheba. And see if she will intercede on my behalf. This is the context we looked in at verse 14. Then he that is Adonijah said, I have something to say to you. And she said, speak. What does he want? Verse 15. You know that the kingdom was mine and that all Israel expected me to be king. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brothers, for it was his from the Lord. Is that true? What are you saying? Is he sincere? Now I'm making one simple request of you, Bathsheba. Do not refuse me. Does she take the bait? She says, speak. He said, please speak to Solomon, the king, for he will not refuse you that he may give me Abishag, the Shunammite, as a wife. Well, you say, what in the world does this have to do with venerating Mary as the Holy Queen of Heaven? Well, Catholic theologians teach that the model for venerating Mary as the Holy Queen of Heaven is actually found in verse 19. You didn't know that, but that's what they say. The king, Solomon, They say, see how he bows to honor his Queen Mother. So Jesus is willing, as it were, to bow before Mary, to honor her as the Holy Queen of Heaven, to reign with him as the Queen Mother, as Bathsheba was a type of Mary, Solomon a type of Christ. See what happens in the account. So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, and the king arose to meet her. He shows his mother honor, even though he is sovereign. And he bowed before her, and he sat on his throne. And then he had a throne set for the king's mother, and she sat on his right. So can you see now where this thinking and where these practices come from? From a Catholic frame of reference, right? Unfortunately, for Catholics, the passage doesn't end here, does it? You see, what Catholic priests fail to tell their parishioners is that King Solomon rejects his mother's intercession. So people say Mary is merciful and compassionate, and Jesus would never refuse a request of Mary. So pray to Mary when you want protection and guidance or a patron saint to bless you, to get somebody out of purgatory, whatever it might be. But here Solomon rejects his mother's intercession, opting, listen, to execute the person on whose behalf she appeals. So the story goes on. Verse 22, King Solomon answered and said to his mother. And why are you asking Abishag? That was King Solomon's last lady that was added to his harem. Why are you asking for Abishag, the Shunammite, for Adonijah? In other words, he's saying the wool has been pulled over your eyes, my lady. Ask for him also the kingdom, for he is my older brother, even for him, for Abathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zariah, those who were involved in trying to put him on the throne in 1 Kings 1. You don't know what you're asking for. What he's trying to do is posture himself. So how does Solomon respond to the intercession of his mother? Verse 23, Solomon swore by the Lord, sang. In other words, fool me once, fool me twice. I'm not gonna be fooled twice Solomon swore by the Lord saying may God do so to me and more also if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life You cannot have mutiny of this sort and have any kind of respectable leadership taking place So Solomon says in verse 24. Here's his decree His queen mother says Your brother, your older brother, would like this former queen of your father David to become his wife. He says, verse 24, now therefore, as the Lord lives, who has established me, that's it, this is God's plan for Solomon, who has established me and set me on the throne of David, my father, and who has made me a house as he promised, surely Adonijah will be put to death today. Verse 25, for those of you young men who like blood, so King Solomon sent Benaniah, the son of Jehoiada, and he fell upon him so that he died. Church family, if the Catholic practice of mariolatry wasn't such a serious offense, friends, we would be tempted to laugh at such ridiculous handling of the Bible. You're telling me that your Hail Marys and your Prayers to Mary and the Songs to Mary are coming out of passages like 1 Kings 2? But we don't laugh. Because souls are at stake. And because these half-truths are packaged often in biblical dress, as the apostles warned would happen to believers in the church. And now God is calling us to stand in the gap, so to speak. and to lovingly and graciously have friendships, real friendships with lost people, religious unbelievers and irreligious unbelievers, that we could speak the gospel to them, that we could bring them back to the Bible and to what the Bible really says. Well, we're out of time. So one final thought. Are you ready for some homework? This week, spend some time in Colossians. There you have God's passion for the unrivaled preeminence of Jesus Christ. Read Colossians 1 and 2 and meditate on this one question. Here's my question in view of Colossians 1 and 2. Does God the Father care when hundreds of millions of professing Christians rob King Jesus of the glory, honor, and veneration that he alone deserves. If our perfectly righteous God is also a jealous God, then heaven help us to reach out and to boldly speak the truth about the real Mary, and to do so with love and great patience. Jesus reminded his disciples, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. Heaven help us all, let us pray. Lord, you have stirred in our hearts this morning, though our zeal for your honor and glory, Lord, oftentimes wanes because of our love of the world. It often wanes because of our love for our own honor, our own comforts. But God, when we are in the spirit, walking in the spirit directed by your word, oh, how we long for the sun to be high and lifted up, for him to stand in the company of one to be praised, to be revered. Lord Jesus, you are our intercessor, our mediator. You are the dispenser of all graces. Father, Son, how we are loved. Oh, how we are loved. We lack nothing. Instead, you pour out upon us grace upon grace. Oh, Lord, burn in our hearts this year a greater passion for the salvation of the lost than we've ever had before. And as we go, Lord, we trust that your word will come alive to us in new and powerful ways. Father, we realize that we are helpless in and of ourselves, so go before us. Oh, Holy Spirit, do the work of conviction, open minds and hearts to receive your truth, the truth about Christ, the truth about ourselves, the truth about salvation, the truth about heaven. And Lord, we pray that you would bring many into your true church, that we might join the hallowed chorus in falling before the Lamb of God and proclaiming His matchless worth.