My Soul Doth Magnify The Lord

Q: What does the Bible say about the gospel according to Mary?

The gospel according to Mary is a declaration of God's grace and redemption, emphasizing His sovereignty and the miraculous conception of Jesus. Mary's declaration, often referred to as the Magnificat, expresses profound theological truths about God's faithfulness and saving grace. In Luke 1:46-55, Mary articulates that her soul magnifies the Lord and rejoices in God her Savior, recognizing Him as the one who has acted mightily on her behalf. This reflects a central tenet of the gospel: God’s initiative in salvation, demonstrating that she, like all believers, requires a Savior. Mary's proclamation serves as a reminder of the good news that God has fulfilled His promises and brought salvation through the Christ child, thus emphasizing that salvation is not earned by human effort but is a work of divine grace.

Q: How do we know the Virgin Mary is not to be glorified?

Mary does not seek glory for herself but magnifies the Lord, highlighting that all glory belongs to God. In her Magnificat, Mary explicitly states, 'My soul doth magnify the Lord' (Luke 1:46). Throughout this declaration, she attributes all the greatness of her situation to God's sovereignty, emphasizing her low estate and need for salvation—a position shared by all sinners. This foundational truth aligns with historic Reformed theology, which declares that glory belongs solely to God and highlights the necessity of Christ's atonement for all, including Mary herself. Her access to grace through faith underscores the idea that no individual, not even the mother of our Lord, possesses inherent merit or status, but instead is saved by God's grace through faith, making her an example of God's mercy rather than a figure to be revered in her own right.

Q: Why is recognizing God's sovereignty important in Christianity?

Recognizing God's sovereignty is foundational to understanding salvation and trusting in His grace and providence. The sovereignty of God is a central theme in Reformed theology and is vital for Christians as it provides assurance that God's purposes will ultimately prevail. Mary’s acknowledgment of God's work in her life—stating, 'He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden'—illustrates the believer’s dependence on God's sovereign grace. This belief shapes our understanding of salvation as being entirely the work of God, where humans contribute nothing to their own redemption. Understanding God's sovereignty helps believers rest in the certainty of His promises and His unwavering control over all circumstances, encouraging a posture of humility and trust in His plan, just as Mary exemplified in her response to the angel's message.

Q: What does it mean that Mary said 'God my Savior'?

When Mary refers to God as her Savior, she acknowledges her need for redemption, affirming the universality of sin. Mary's declaration of God as 'my Savior' in Luke 1:47 highlights her understanding of herself as a sinner in need of redemption. This acknowledgment aligns with the Reformed perspective that all humans are sinful by nature, as Romans 3:23 states, 'For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.' By recognizing God as her Savior, Mary affirms that salvation is through divine grace, not through her own merit. This realization positions her, not as a figure of veneration apart from the rest of humanity, but as a believer who, like all of God's people, relies solely on the grace and mercy of God provided through Christ. It emphasizes the need for Christ's atoning work for everyone, underscoring that the gospel message is universal.

Turn with me to Luke chapter one again. Here in Luke one, this chapter begins with the birth of John the Baptist. It begins with the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist. who the scripture said would be the forerunner to announce, to declare, to prepare the way of the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ.

An angel came to John the Baptist's parents, Zacharias and Elizabeth, and that angel told them that they would have a son and that they would call his name John. And upon hearing this announcement and realizing that she would have a child because Elizabeth was barren, she was old in age whenever this announcement came, and all her life she had been barren. When she heard this announcement, realizing that she would have a child, Elizabeth said something within herself that, in reading it, declares the glorious news of the gospel. She declared, as the book is titled, The Gospel According to Luke, well, she declared the gospel according to Elizabeth. Look at Luke 1, verse 24. It says, after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and hid herself five months saying, this is what she said within herself, and this is the message of the gospel.

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me to take away my reproach among men. She said, the Lord hath dealt with me. The Lord looked on me. She didn't go around saying in spiritual terms, this is her being pregnant, but in spiritual terms, I got saved. She went around saying, the Lord saved me.

The Lord took away my reproach among men. I was in reproach. All my life was reproach. And the Lord took it away. That's the gospel. That's the good news of the gospel. The Lord did it. The Lord did it. Elizabeth said, I didn't do it. I did not start the work. I did not finish the work. The Lord did all of it. And I'm glad. I'm glad I'm so glad that was her declaration of the gospel.

Well, six months after that, an angel appeared to Elizabeth's cousin and her name was Mary. And she was an unmarried virgin. And the angel announced to her that she was going to be with child. And this child was going to be conceived of the Holy Ghost. This child was going to be the Messiah. God manifest in the flesh. God come down, the Lord Jesus Christ.

And in the wording of this angel's announcement, we can hear the glorious news of the gospel. All right, look at verse 26. It says, and in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her and said, hail thou that art highly favored. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, fear not Mary, for thou hast found favor with God.

And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the son of the highest. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Then said Mary unto the angel, how shall this be seeing I know not a man? How is this gonna come to pass if Man is not involved. If man's works is not involved, the flesh of man is not involved. How's this going to be? Verse 35, and the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed. from her.

Now that's where we stopped last time. We're going through the book of Luke and that's where we left off. So in this we've looked at Elizabeth's announcement of the gospel and we've looked at the angel Gabriel's announcement of the gospel. This morning I would like to look at Mary's announcement of the gospel. After realizing what the Lord had done in Elizabeth and in her, it made Mary cry out in thankfulness upon hearing this announcement.

And that's what the gospel is. It is an announcement. The gospel is a declaration. The gospel is not a call to arms. The gospel is not Anything other than an announcement, an announcement of good news, a declaration of good news. And in hearing this, it caused Mary to cry out in thankfulness. And what Mary cried in thankfulness is the glorious declaration of the gospel of Christ concerning who he is and what he's done for his sinful people.

Now, we pick up here with verse 39. Look with me at verse 39. After hearing that Elizabeth, her cousin, had conceived and was pregnant, verse 39 says, Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste into a city of Judah and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth.

And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. And she spake out with a loud voice and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy, and blessed is she that believed. For there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. That whole scenario has always touched me. It's always been such a blessing to me.

Elizabeth has John the Baptist in her womb. And Mary has the Lord Jesus Christ in her womb. And as soon as Mary walks into the room and said, hello, Elizabeth, the spirit of God revealed to John as an infant in the womb. that his Lord and Savior, his substitute Redeemer for the sin he had been conceived in, was here. And it's as though John, even in the womb, was crying out, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Verse 40 says, Mary entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth, and it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, and she spake out with a loud voice and said, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, and whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. Verse 46 says, and Mary said.

Now we're about to look at this beautiful declaration of Mary, so beautiful, but I just want to point out before we do, that a lot of attention has been placed on the Virgin Mary throughout the centuries. A lot of attention has been placed on the Virgin Mary, but that is not where Mary placed the attention. And that is not where the angel placed the attention. And that is not where God placed the attention. And that is not where God's Word placed the attention.

People like to call her Saint Mary. Now, I do believe that the Lord had mercy on her and separated her to salvation. Saint means sanctified one. That means one set apart by God to salvation. I do believe that the Lord set her apart to salvation. In verse 28, the angel said that she was highly favored and that means graciously accepted, much graced.

He said, grace has been extended to you. But that said concerning all of God's people. Every one of God's people. She had no special favor with him above any of God's other chosen people. You can say, well, Christ was in her. Christ is in every one of God's people. Christ in you is the hope of glory.

Our Lord was preaching in a house one time. There are many instances that we could name, but I'm going to try to stay on track here. But our Lord was preaching in a house one time and Mary came to talk to him and they told the Lord, they said, your mother is outside and she wants to talk to you. And he said, who is my mother? And then he. Pointed at all of those that he was preaching to that believed on him, and he said, behold, my mother. and my family, my brethren.

You're looking at them. Right here. Mary knew this. She knew that she was blessed because she had been caused to believe on the Lord her God. Caused to believe. Faith is not of ourselves. That's a gift of God. He's the author of it. He's the finisher of it.

It's the faith of Christ given to all of God's people. Look at verse 45, it says, and blessed is she that believed for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. Mary was only a believer. She was only a believer like all the rest of God's people.

And we can hear that being her confession by what she said right here. Verse 46. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord. She didn't say, My soul doth magnify me. My soul doth lift me up and shine the light on me. She didn't say that. Verse 46, Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord. Let me tell you what else she didn't say. She didn't say, My soul doth magnify my son. She said, My soul doth magnify the Lord. If any man or woman glory, let him or her glory in the Lord. What's the issue with all of this? Here's the issue. Who gets the glory? Who gets the glory in all of these things?

If any man or woman glory, let him or her glory in the Lord. Not in man, not in the sinfulness of the flesh of man, but in the holiness and glory of the Lord. Verse 46, Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

Again, she did not say, God my Son. She said, God my Savior. Verse 48, for he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. She didn't say he regarded the low estate of his mother. She said his handmaiden, his servant. Verse 48 goes on to say, For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

She didn't say, from henceforth all generations shall call me the mother of God. She did not say, from henceforth all generations shall call me the queen of heaven. She did not say, from henceforth all generations shall call me the mother of the church. or the mediatrix or advocate. She didn't say from henceforth shall all generations call me the Virgin Mary. After our Lord was born of the Holy Ghost, she had children with Joseph.

You know, they said, is this not the carpenter's son? We know him. We know his parents. We know his brothers and sisters. We know the whole family. She lived a normal, sinful life just like everybody else. She was not holy in her flesh. No man or woman is. We're only holy in Christ. We're only holy in the Lord Jesus Christ. Mary was just like everybody else, a sinner just like everybody else.

Now you say, hold on Gabe, how do you know that? How do you know that? We know that because in verse 47, she said, my spirit hath rejoiced in God, my savior, my savior. The angel told her in verse 31, call his name Jesus. Why? Because he shall save his people from what? Their sins. We need to be saved from our sins. Mary knew that she needed to be saved from her sins.

Verse 46, Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior, for he hath regarded the lowest state of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. She said, that's all you can say about me because of Christ, I'm blessed.

Mary gave none of the glory to herself and all of the glory to Christ, and that is what the message of the gospel does. That's what it does. It gives no glory to man and all glory to Christ. No glory to man's will or man's work. And all glory to Christ's will and Christ's work because of who He is and what He has done for His sinful people. Now let me read down through these verses and let me just emphasize the point of Mary's gospel declaration.

I've titled this message, My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord. And here's the reason why, as I read this, take notice of how many times Mary said, he hath. Take notice of this, how many times she said, he hath. Verse 46, Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.

For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things. And holy is his name. What about your name, Mary? No. Holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

He hath showed strength with His arm." His right arm, that's Christ. Isaiah 53 speaks of the cross of Christ. And in Isaiah 52, it announced, He is going to make bare His holy arm. Where? On the cross. He hath showed strength with his arm. He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. That is all of us by nature. I'm going to put myself at the top of the list. So proud. So proud. Look at me. Look at me. Don't you know who I am?

Thank God he scatters that. Mercy is when He scatters that in His people now and they bow, they humbly bow. Judgment is when He scatters that in that day, outside of Christ, outside of the humbling that took place on the cross of Christ. Verse 51, He hath showed strength with His arm. He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away.

He hath helped His servant Israel in remembrance of His mercy. That's why He came and died on that cross. That's why He helped us. The remembrance of His mercy, the remembrance of His promise, the remembrance of His covenant, Verse 55, he did all this as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever. Mary said, he hath, he hath, he hath, he hath, he started the work, he performed the work, he finished the work exactly like he told our fathers he would do. What he said he would do, that's what he did. That was Mary's declaration of the good news. Mary's declaration of the gospel concerning Christ.

The gospel message is not what we are going to do for Him. The gospel message is what He hath done for us. Let me repeat that. The gospel message is not what we are going to do for Him. You know, the scripture says, and you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sin. What is a dead man going to do? The gospel is not what we are going to do for him. The gospel is what he hath done for us.

And everything that Mary declared right here describes not only the Christ who did it, But the cross that he did it on, the cross that he did it on, the mercy, the strength. Oh, the strength of the cross. You know, people look at the cross so weakly. They make it to be so weak. Oh, poor Jesus. He died on the cross.

Won't you let him save you? That's a pretty. So what did he do on the cross then? Well, he took the first step and he started it, but now you gotta finish it. I don't know, it sounds kinda weak to me. Oh, the strength of the cross. Oh, the accomplishment of the cross. Oh, the success of the cross.

When he cried, it is finished, what he meant was, it's finished. He didn't say, Father, it's started. Hope it turns out okay, Dad. Mm-hmm. The gospel is the success of the cross. Oh, the mercy. Oh, the strength. Oh, the judgment. That's what she did. He had judged. Why did Christ die on the cross? Judgment. On who? Me. Why?

I'm a sinner before God. And God the Father took me and placed me in Christ. And with me came all of my sin. And when God looked at Christ on that cross, he saw me and judged him, punished him, condemned him. That's the only reason he can look at me now and see Christ in me. It's because I died in him and therefore he now lives in me. That's the only reason. Oh, the mercy of the cross, the covenant promise of the cross. Oh, the strength of the cross. I just wish we could get a hold of the strength of the cross. Oh, the judgment of the cross. If God judged us in Christ, it's over.

There is therefore now no condemnation. There's no condemnation, but I committed a sin this morning. I'm afraid I'm going to commit one as soon as I walk out of here. You're committing them right now. In Jesus Christ, if the Father gave you to Him, Jesus Christ paid for the ones from the womb, when you were conceived in sin, all the way up to this message. The sins you're committing in this message, and me too. Christ paid for it. And the sins that you're going to commit till the day you die, all of the disappointments you're going to bring to people and your family and all your regrets, you're going to have so many regrets.

Christ has already paid for them. He is daily making intercession for us. Why? Because we're living out a life, a whole life that he had to pay for on the cross. And every time we commit a sin against God, Christ says, Father, forgive them. I paid for that. Father, that was on me. Father, that scar right there, that took care of that one. That's his intercession. Daily making intercession.

Oh, the mercy of the cross. Oh, the strength of the cross. Oh, the judgment of the cross. Oh, the satisfaction of the cross. God was so sad. Do you know how satisfied God the Father was with Christ's accomplishment on the cross? Not only did he ascend him back up to glory, not only did he raise him from the dead. But he ascended him back to glory. And where did he seat him?

The throne of honor. King of kings. Lord of lords. This is my beloved son and whom I will play. Oh, the satisfaction of the cross. Look to Christ. But I think I need to be doing this, and I think I need to be doing that. Look to Christ. He did it. Oh, the mercy of the cross. Oh, the strength of the cross. Oh, the judgment of the cross. Oh, the satisfaction of the cross. Oh, the deliverance of the cross.

If God Almighty reveals the truth of the cross to us, we will be set free. We'll be set free from bondage. We'll be set free from the guilt and burden. Well, I've messed up again. Go to the cross. Just go to the cross. He can't be happy with me now. Go to the cross. He wasn't. He wasn't. He dealt with you on the cross. He was not happy with you.

But he is now, because of the satisfaction of that punishment. The wages of sin brought a punishment, death, and Christ endured it, and the Father is satisfied with it. Totally satisfied. Oh, the mercy, oh, the strength, oh, the judgment, oh, the satisfaction, oh, the deliverance, and therefore, oh, the help. to get us from here all the way to there.

He has helped his people. He helped us. How has he helped us? And how does he continually help us? The cross. We keep coming back to the cross. You want to be just thrown for a loop? Go back to the law. You want to be thrown back into hardness and bondage? Go back to the law. You want to find help? Go to the cross. Go to the Christ of the cross.

All of this happened for God's people when Christ hung on that cross in their place. In their place. And Mary was so convinced of this, she declared it at the announcement of His conception. She was so convinced of this. And all of God's people are. I know. I know God, God's spirit convinces God's people of this. She announced it at his conception. Christ hadn't even been born yet. Much less died on the cross.

But Mary knew in her heart that if the infinitely sovereign, eternal God said, that's what will be. It's a done deal. That's what will be. That's what will be. Known unto him were all his works from the beginning, and by his sovereign power all his works are finished. He hath. He hath. Mary said it's finished, it's done. He hath. That's the gospel in two words. You want to hear a lie in two words? I will. The only thing I will do is sin against God. The gospel in two words is he hath.

He hath. And verse 56 says Mary abode with her about three months, got there when she was six months pregnant and stayed three more months. And Elizabeth is now nine months pregnant. And then Mary returned to her own house. What a beautiful gospel declaration that is. That's always been one of my favorites. So good. The heading at the top of my page says that's Mary's song of Thanksgiving. And that's all of our song of Thanksgiving, isn't it? Amen.

My Soul Doth Magnify The Lord

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the gospel according to Mary?

How do we know the Virgin Mary is not to be glorified?

Why is recognizing God's sovereignty important in Christianity?

What does it mean that Mary said 'God my Savior'?

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About Gabe Stalnaker

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My Soul Doth Magnify The Lord

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the gospel according to Mary?

How do we know the Virgin Mary is not to be glorified?

Why is recognizing God's sovereignty important in Christianity?

What does it mean that Mary said 'God my Savior'?

Sermon Transcript

About Gabe Stalnaker

Comments

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