Mediator: Why don't we pray to saints?
Gospel & Catholicism • Sermon • Submitted
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Question: Should we pray to the saints?
Question: Should we pray to the saints?
Who are the “saints”?
General
Those whom the church has set apart as special
Those to whom we pray for particular help/blessing
Because Jesus is THE Mediator who has given to us FULL access to God, we should not pray to or through other saints.
Because Jesus is THE Mediator who has given to us FULL access to God, we should not pray to or through other saints.
(1) Where do we agree with what Catholics say?
(1) Where do we agree with what Catholics say?
(i) We should not conjure up the dead. -
(i) We should not conjure up the dead. -
(ii) The dead in Christ are still alive. , ,
(ii) The dead in Christ are still alive. , ,
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
(iii)Jesus is the Mediator for salvation
(iii)Jesus is the Mediator for salvation
(i.a) What does Mediator mean?
(i.b) Is Jesus the Mediator salvifically?
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
(i.c) Is Jesus’ mediatorial work fully sufficient?
Systematic Theology, Volume Four: Church, Last Things Purgatory Is a Practical Denial of the Mediatorship of Christ
Catholic apologists attempt to avoid the sting of this argument by making a distinction between Christ as the sole mediator and all believers as intercessors.
Systematic Theology, Volume Four: Church, Last Things Purgatory Is a Practical Denial of the Mediatorship of Christ
Catholic rationalization for praying to the saints is also based on the seemingly plausible argument that because of their position in heaven, they may be better able to intercede.
(2) Where does the scripture disagree with what the Catholics say?
(2) Where does the scripture disagree with what the Catholics say?
(i) Old Testament Interpretation: Moses, as mediator, pointed to the greater Prophet
(i) Old Testament Interpretation: Moses, as mediator, pointed to the greater Prophet
(i.a.) No indication that Moses was still the normative mediator -
(i.b.) Consider also that God buried Moses
(i.c.) Consider the sufficiency of Mosaic writings for a “lost” person -
A passage that is used to corroborate praying to the saints. This is a lost person, and Abraham actually says that the scriptures are sufficient. Intention of the passage does not substantiate praying to saints.
Abraham denies him this favour too. There is no request granted in hell. Those who make the rich man’s praying to Abraham a justification of their praying to saints departed, as they have far to seek for proofs, when the practice of a damned sinner must be valued for an example, so they have little encouragement to follow the example, when all his prayers were made in vain.
(ii) New Testament Interpretation: Jesus is the Mediator to whom Moses pointed
(ii) New Testament Interpretation: Jesus is the Mediator to whom Moses pointed
prayers of saints—as the angel offers their prayers () with incense (compare ). This gives not the least sanction to Rome’s dogma of our praying to saints. Though they be employed by God in some way unknown to us to present our prayers (nothing is said of their interceding for us), yet we are told to pray only to Him (). Their own employment is praise (whence they all have harps): ours is prayer. [JFB]
(i.a.) Argument from absence: No indication that these prayers are made to the saints directly - they are receivers of these prayers.
If anything, the implication from and the OT is that the Lord delights in the “smell” of the prayers of his people. The picture of & 5 is one of praise and worship to God.
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense;
And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
(i.b.) Argument from evidence: No indication that these prayers make them intercessors on the Christian’s behalf.
While the scripture teaches us to pray for one another, it does not imply that we are to pray TO departed saints.
(i.c.) Argument from premise (strongest): the Bible actually indicates that Jesus is an ongoing Interceder for his people. , ,
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.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
(3) Why do we disagree with praying to/through saints?
(3) Why do we disagree with praying to/through saints?
(i.a.) Clarity: to pray on behalf of a Christian in need is not the same as having a Christian pray TO or THROUGH us.
(i.a.) Clarity: to pray on behalf of a Christian in need is not the same as having a Christian pray TO or THROUGH us.
(i.b.) Christ: Christ’s finished work has made Him our ETERNAL Intercessor.
(i.b.) Christ: Christ’s finished work has made Him our ETERNAL Intercessor.
(4) What does this disagreement look like in my life?
(4) What does this disagreement look like in my life?
(i.a.) Pray on behalf of other living Christians, but do not accept their prayers to you.
(i.a.) Pray on behalf of other living Christians, but do not accept their prayers to you.
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
(i.b.) Pray with the reality that the Intercessor you have within you is greater than any other human.
(i.b.) Pray with the reality that the Intercessor you have within you is greater than any other human.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
(i.b.) Pray directly to the Lord through the sufficient Jesus Christ.
(i.b.) Pray directly to the Lord through the sufficient Jesus Christ.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Because Jesus is THE Mediator who has given to us FULL access to God, we should not pray to or through other saints.
Because Jesus is THE Mediator who has given to us FULL access to God, we should not pray to or through other saints.
Questions:
(1) Do you have access to God through Jesus Christ alone?
(2) Do you love and appreciate the sufficient work of Jesus Christ?
(3) If you do love and appreciate the sufficient work of Jesus Christ, are you gladly and regularly praying?