He says that the Bible is against the prayers of the saints but -
The saints pray prayerfully:
a) during life: God Himself commanded to apply to the prayer intercession of the saints: "God (Abimelech) said to him ... Abraham will pray for you and you will live ... And Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech" (Gen.20: 6 -7: 17). "Go to My servant Job ... Job will pray for you, for only his face I will accept ... Did as the Lord commanded them - and the Lord received Job's face" (Job 42: 8-9). "And the whole people said to Samuel, Pray for your servants ..." Samuel said to the people: "... and I also will not allow myself to sin before the Lord, to stop praying for you" (1 Sam.12: 19-23). "We ... do not cease to pray for you" (Col. 1: 9; Eph. 1:16; 2Col. 1: 11).
(b) ... after death: if the prayers of the saints are strong before God during their lifetime, and if their love for their fellow beings extends to self-sacrifice (cf. Isa. 32: 31; Rom. 9: 3)
The prayers of the saints are pleasing to God
"The eyes of the Lord are turned to the righteous and his ears to their prayer, but the face of the Lord against those who do evil, to destroy them from the earth" (1 Pet.3: 12; Ps.33: 16-17). "The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous" (Proverbs 15:29). "Whoever rejects his ear from hearing the law, then prayer is an abomination" (28: 8). "There is much that can be strengthened (zealous) prayer of the righteous" (James 5: 16, compare Jak.17-18).
Protestants say:
1) We have one mediator and intercessor - Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2: 5, compare Romans 8:34, 1 John 2: 1, Hebrews 7:25, 9:15).
In these places, Jesus Christ is called "Mediator" - "one mediator" because he was "giving himself for the redemption of all" (1 Tim. 2: 6). He is one Mediator - the Redeemer, and not only the Advocate - a prayer book. The intercessors, according to the word of God, have a lot of prayer books: "The Spirit intercedes for us" (Rom. 8:26); "Delivered us from such a near death ... at the request of many" (2 Cor. 1: 10-11); "You do not ask for this people ... and do not intercede for Me" (Jer. 7:16). Therefore, the intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ does not exclude the intercession of the saints who, for their intercession prayers, draw on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for their intercession prayers and help people not with their own power, but with the power of the same Christ.
2) The appeal to the saints humiliates the petition of Jesus Christ.
Where is it said in the Holy Scriptures? Then, in general, prayers for others will also humiliate the intercession of Jesus Christ, and therefore are unnecessary. In this case, why in the Word of God is the commandment: "Pray for one another ... can the prayer of the righteous greatly strengthen?" (James 5:16). Why did Jesus Christ command: "Pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you?" (Mt. 5:44). Why does the apostle ask for prayers for himself? (Rom. 15:30, Ep. 6: 18-19, Col. 4: 3, Phil. 1:19, etc.). The apostle, who called Jesus Christ as the only Mediator, asks "to pray, pray, pray, give thanks for all men" and testify that "it is good and acceptable for our Savior God" (1 Tim. 2: 1-3).
Protestants say:
1) We have one mediator and intercessor - Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2: 5, compare Romans 8:34, 1 John 2: 1, Hebrews 7:25, 9:15).
In these places, Jesus Christ is called "Mediator" - "one mediator" because he was "giving himself for the redemption of all" (1 Tim. 2: 6). He is one Mediator - the Redeemer, and not only the Advocate - a prayer book. The intercessors, according to the word of God, have a lot of prayer books: "The Spirit intercedes for us" (Rom. 8:26); "Delivered us from such a near death ... at the request of many" (2 Cor. 1: 10-11); "You do not ask for this people ... and do not intercede for Me" (Jer. 7:16). Therefore, the intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ does not exclude the intercession of the saints who, for their intercession prayers, draw on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for their intercession prayers and help people not with their own power, but with the power of the same Christ.
2) The appeal to the saints humiliates the petition of Jesus Christ.
Where is it said in the Holy Scriptures? Then, in general, prayers for others will also humiliate the intercession of Jesus Christ, and therefore are unnecessary. In this case, why in the Word of God is the commandment: "Pray for one another ... can the prayer of the righteous greatly strengthen?" (James 5:16). Why did Jesus Christ command: "Pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you?" (Mt. 5:44). Why does the apostle ask for prayers for himself? (Rom. 15:30, Ep. 6: 18-19, Col. 4: 3, Phil. 1:19, etc.). The apostle, who called Jesus Christ as the only Mediator, asks "to pray, pray, pray, give thanks for all men" and testify that "it is good and acceptable for our Savior God" (1 Tim. 2: 1-3).
God punishes for the disobedience of the saints
"The children ... mocked him (the prophet Elisha). He ... cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bearers came out of the forest and tore forty-two children from them "(4 Kings 2: 23-24). "Fire came down from the sky and hit two Pentecostals ... with soldiers" for wanting to take the prophet Elijah, without giving him due respect (4 Sam.1: 14).
The greatness of the saints
The saints surround the throne of God (Rev. 7: 9-10), citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb. 12: 22-23), the whole world is not worthy of them (Heb.11: 38), the friends of God (John 15: 14; (Isa. 2:24), in the saints God is glorified (2Col.1: 10), the holy participants of divine glory (John 12: 26), the memory of them will be eternal (Psalm 11: 6), "Blessed" (Proverbs 10:7), "The church will proclaim praise for them" (Syrah 44:14).
Prayer to the saints is a request that they pray for us Jesus! This does not contradict the Bible ..