Can Mary and the Saints Pray for us?
Mary was a godly pure woman and the channel for Christ’s birth, yet nowhere in the New Testament are any prayers offered to her, or to dead saints for that matter. Rather the scriptures teach that Jesus Christ “lives to make intercession for us” (Hebrews 7:25). He’s all we need. Paul writes, “It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:34). The scriptures clearly teach that Christ is our Intercessor and Advocate with the Father (Hebrews 9:24; 1 John 2:1; Hebrews 4:14–16; 9:11, 12).
The nature of this divine intercession may, perhaps, be illustrated by Christ’s intercessory prayer for His disciples (John 17:11, 12, 24). It is not only a living Christ but a Christ enthroned in power. It is not only a Christ in power but a Christ of saving love, who ever lives to make intercession for His struggling people.
Paul declared emphatically, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). Only through Jesus can the sinner be reconciled to God (John 14:5–6; Romans 5:1–2). Why? Because the plan of salvation offered through Jesus Christ: (1) glorifies God as moral ruler, (2) upholds God’s law as the rule of government, (3) shows the mark of its source in divine revelation, (4) provides, through the vicarious atonement, for the needs of men as sinners, who are otherwise under God’s condemnation. Neither Mary or any of the saints can qualify for intercession.
The Bible teaches, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31), and “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Peter’s claim that Christ is the only Savior is exactly in line with the claims Jesus Himself made as to His uniqueness (John 3:16; 14:6). Therefore, Christ is the only Way through whom we could be saved (John 14:6; 17:3)
God does not need to be reconciled to man, for it was His “will” (1 Timothy 2:4) that initiated the plan of salvation. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). He provided the means of salvation through Christ’s life and death (Romans 5:10). Thus, Paul clearly rules out the need of human mediators like Mary and the supposed value that some have attached to such attempted mediation.
Check out our Bible Answers page for more information on a variety of topics.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
