Grace and Mercy for You

Mary, Queen of Heaven? Coredemptrix?

I’ve been watching an interesting debate on another person’s blog. The discussion is between two Roman Catholic believers and they were arguing about whether the title of “Coredemptrix”, or co-redeemer should be given to Mary. When I suggested it wasn’t for man to grant titles, it provoked a response. I responded thus:

Taylor Marshall writes:

Robert Sessford,

You write:

“It is not for man to grant titles.”

Is it wrong to give Jesus the title “Personal Lord and Savior” since God never issued that title?

Is it wrong to assign the title “Holy Trinity” since it was not revealed as an explicit title for God?

in Christ,
Taylor
Today, 1:44:15 PM
RobertSessford
1. Yes, I believe it is confusing. Some evangelicals are so stuck on “personal saviour” as a title, that I think they would be shocked to see the rider on the White Horse returning with not three, but only two titles written across his thigh. But that’s a subject for another discussion. Suffice to say, I don’t think the people who are using that “title” for our Lord mean it to elevate Jesus to a station not previously recognized. He is God. There is no high and lofty descriptor that would be out of place. We are not granting him a title. He owns all titles. In all things He has preeminence.

We cannot speak about assigning titles as if we are naming the species or categorizing plant life. A title proper is indication of Lordship or ownership over that which is included in the title.

To grant to sit on Jesus’ right or left is not for us to decide. The Father holds that prerogative. He has named Christ as Saviour. I don’t think we have the authority to name a co-saviour, or anything like it. No matter how much we may appreciate someone, or have testimonies or other evidence that that person has been helpful or even instrumental in the salvation or redemption or comfort of other people, it would be “putting them forward” to ask for a title for them. Just like when the mother of James and John asked Jesus to give them titles. For man to give a person a title like that would be presumptuous of us. It’s not ours to give.

2. Regarding the Holy Trinity: No, I don’t think it’s out of place. And I think this is why: (without going into a defense of the Trinity or a feeble attempt to explain it!) Each of those 3 persons has been described in Scripture as being God. We are not elevating any of them to a position higher than that denoted in Scripture.

benedictus Deus et Pater Domini nostri Iesu Christi qui benedixit nos in omni benedictione spiritali in caelestibus in Christo Eph 1:3