The Atoning Work of Christ (Epistle to the Hebrews)

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Enoch111

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It is truly astounding to see how so many who call themselves Christians do not have a proper understanding of the atoning work of Christ, even though it is the very basis of our salvation. Thus we have multiple heresies about what the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished in His death burial and resurrection. Therefore Christians should look at the Scriptures which reveal the meaning of the Atonement.

CHRIST BY HIMSELF FULLY PAID FOR OUR SINS
[REFUTES THE INVOLVEMENT OF MARY]

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power,
when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb 1:3).

CHRIST S FINISHED WORK IS A GREAT SALVATION
[REFUTES ALL FALSE RELIGIONS]

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him (Heb 2:3)

CHRIST TASTED DEATH FOR EVERY MAN
[REFUTES LIMITED ATONEMENT AND UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION]

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour;
that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.(Heb 2:9)

CHRIST SUFFERED FOR OUR SINS
[REFUTES OPPOSITION TO PENAL SUBSTITUTION]

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory,
to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (Heb 2:10)

CHRIST DESTROYED THE POWER OF DEATH AND THE DEVIL
[REFUTES THEOLOGICAL LIBERALISM]

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same;
that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil (Heb 2:14)

CHRISTIANS ARE MADE PARTAKERS OF CHRIST
[REFUTES MERE PROFESSION WITHOUT POSSESSION]

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end (Heb 3:14)

CHRISTIANS CAN NOW COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE
[REFUTES A HUMAN PRIESTHOOD, PRAYING TO THE SAINTS AND MARY]

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:16) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Heb 10:19-22)

CHRIST IS THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION TO THOSE WHO OBEY HIM [REFUTES UNIVERSALISM AND IRRESITIBLE GRACE]

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him (Heb 5:9)

CHRIST IS THE ANCHOR OF OUR SOULS
[REFUTES LOSS OF SALVATION OR UNCERTAINTY OF SALVATION]

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Heb 6:19,20)

CHRIST IS THE SURETY OF A BETTER TESTAMENT (COVENANT)
[REFUTES RETURNING TO TORAH OBSERVANCE]

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. (Heb 7:22-24)

CHRIST SAVES US TO THE UTTERMOST
[ENSURES THE ETERNAL SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER]

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Heb 7:25)

CHRIST IS NOW SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD
[ENSURES THE HEAVENLY MINISTRY OF CHRIST AND HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM]

Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum:
We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens (Heb 8:1) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:2)

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST CLEANSES OUR CONSCIENCE
[ENSURES SUPERNATURAL SALVATION AND SUPERNATURAL CLEANSING]

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb 9:14)

CHRIST IS THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT
[REFUTES RETURNING TO MOSES AND MARY AS MEDIATRIX]

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Heb 9:15)

CHRIST WAS OFFERED AS A SUFFICIENT SACRIFICE ONLY ONCE
[REFUTES THE CATHOLIC MASS AND ALL FALSE RELIGIONS]

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Heb 9:28) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. (Heb 10:10-13)
 

Ezra

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the only thing to add is Grace God riches at Christ expense
 

Mungo

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It is truly astounding to see how so many who call themselves Christians do not have a proper understanding of the atoning work of Christ, even though it is the very basis of our salvation. Thus we have multiple heresies about what the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished in His death burial and resurrection. Therefore Christians should look at the Scriptures which reveal the meaning of the Atonement.

CHRIST BY HIMSELF FULLY PAID FOR OUR SINS
[REFUTES THE INVOLVEMENT OF MARY]

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power,
when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb 1:3).

What involvement of Mary does it refute?
 

Enoch111

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What involvement of Mary does it refute?
The Catholic Church teaches that Mary is a *co-redemptrix* with Christ and was involved with our salvation.

"Some excerpts from the first article above, about Mary's triune role as co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocatrix:

Second Vatican Council: “Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked by the Church under the titles of Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Adjutrix and Mediatrix. This, however, is to be so understood that it neither takes away from, nor adds anything to, the dignity and efficaciousness of Christ the one Mediator.” (Lumen Gentium, n. 62.)...


...Pope Leo XIII: For in the Rosary all the part that Mary took as our co-Redemptress comes to us, as it were, set forth, and in such wise as though the facts were even then taking place; and this with much profit to our piety, whether in the contemplation of the succeeding sacred mysteries, or in the prayers which we speak and repeat with the lips.”...

Mary as co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocatrix


As you can see, since this is false doctrine, there is a lot of hedging after these declarations. None of those titles should be applies to Mary or anyone else.
 

Mungo

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The Catholic Church teaches that Mary is a *co-redemptrix* with Christ and was involved with our salvation.

The Catholic Church does NOT teach that Mary is a *co-redemptrix* with Christ.
Yes, there are some in the Church pushing for her to be awarded that title and Ronald L. Conte Jr. of Catholic Planet is one of them. But it has not happened.


"Some excerpts from the first article above, about Mary's triune role as co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocatrix:

Second Vatican Council: “Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked by the Church under the titles of Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Adjutrix and Mediatrix. This, however, is to be so understood that it neither takes away from, nor adds anything to, the dignity and efficaciousness of Christ the one Mediator.” (Lumen Gentium, n. 62.)...

That does not call Mary a Co-redemptrix

...Pope Leo XIII: For in the Rosary all the part that Mary took as our co-Redemptress comes to us, as it were, set forth, and in such wise as though the facts were even then taking place; and this with much profit to our piety, whether in the contemplation of the succeeding sacred mysteries, or in the prayers which we speak and repeat with the lips.”...

You give no source for this supposed quote from Pope Leo so until you do I will presume it's one of those fictitious quotes that are passed around anti-Catholic Protestant web sites



See my comment above

As you can see, since this is false doctrine, there is a lot of hedging after these declarations. None of those titles should be applies to Mary or anyone else.

Co-Redemptrix is not a doctrine of the Catholic Church.
As to the other titles they are not about the Atonement.

Some years ago a catholic on another forum wrote to the Vatican about this and received a reply
Here is his comment (note my emboldening):

I will quote the beginning of the letter for you:


From the Vatican:

The Secretariat of State acknowledges the letter addressed to the Holy Father requesting the proclamation of a dogma related to the doctrine of Mary's role in the work of Redemption.

After consultation with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Secretariat of State is pleased to enclose a copy of the Declaraion of the Theological Commission of the International Mariological Congress celebrated in Czestochowa; it was published in the English edition of L' Observatore Romano on 4 June 1997.

Signed by Monsignor Gabrielle Cassia
Assessor




The enclosed article I received from L' Observatore Romano (Weekly Edition N.23 4 June 1997 - p. 12) is entitled "Declaration of the Theological Commission of the Pontifical International Marian Academy".

I hadn't typed the whole thing out but will reiterate an excerpt and leave looking up the full article to those who may be interested:


  1. The titles, as proposed, are ambiguous, as they can be understood in very different ways. Furthermore, the theological direction taken by the Second Vatican Council, which did not wish to define any of these titles, should not be abandoned. The Second Vatican Council did not used the title "Coredemptrix" and uses "Mediatrix" and "Advocate" in a very moderate way (cf Lumen gentium, n. 62).... (snip) : In the first decades of this century the Holy See entrusted the possibility of its definition to three different commissions, the result of which was that the Holy See decided to set the question aside.

    2. Even if the titles were assigned a content which could be accepted as belonging to the deposit of the faith, the definition of these titles, however, in the present situation would be lacking in theological clarity, as such titles and the doctrines inherent in them still require further study in a renewed Trinitarian, ecclesiastical and anthropological perspective. Finally, the theologians, especially the non-Catholics, were sensitive to the ecumenical difficulties which would be involved in such a definition.


This being spoken from Rome.
 

Mungo

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CHRISTIANS CAN NOW COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE
[REFUTES A HUMAN PRIESTHOOD, PRAYING TO THE SAINTS AND MARY]

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:16) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Heb 10:19-22)

How does that refute a human priesthood and praying to the saints and Mary?
 

Mungo

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so is it your position to pray to mary ?

The issue at hand is whether Heb 10:19-22 refutes 'a human priesthood and praying to the saints and Mary', not the general issue of whether praying to the saints and is valid.

If you want to discuss that I suggest you start a thread of your own instead of derailing this one.
 

Mungo

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CHRIST WAS OFFERED AS A SUFFICIENT SACRIFICE ONLY ONCE
[REFUTES THE CATHOLIC MASS AND ALL FALSE RELIGIONS]

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Heb 9:28) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. (Heb 10:10-13)

How does Heb 10:10-13 refute the Catholic Mass?

Are you suggesting that Catholicism is a false religion?