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The Doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ

Updated: Nov 12

The Virgin Birth of Christ

 

We know that Jesus Christ is Deity - He is the Son of God (Luke 1:35, John 3:16, 1 John 5:20).

 

We know that Jesus became a man, took upon Himself the form and likeness of man (Philippians 2:5-8).

 

We believe that since Adam sinned, all born thereafter inherit a sin nature from their parents (Romans 5:12). How then was Jesus born without a sin nature?

 

Psalms 51:5, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

 

Psalms 58:3, “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.”

 

If Christ inherited a sin nature, then He was a sinner and died for His own sin.

 

Even though Christ lived a sinless life. He would be unable to save one soul.

 

If Christ were born without a sin nature, how was this accomplished?

 

The Father God solved this difficult problem by what is called the “Virgin Birth”.

 

The mystery of the virgin birth is to be believed, adored and accepted by Christians.

 

The only logical answer in the dilemma is that the sin nature passed from the father to the child (Exodus 34:7, Isaiah 65:7) and not from the mother to the child.

 

Jesus did not have a human father, for the Holy Ghost was His Father. Mary was the mother but did not pass on a sin nature to the baby Jesus.

 

Oh how wonderful our God to solve this difficult problem so that we might have a Saviour who could truly redeem us from sin on the cross of Calvary.

 

I. THE VIRGIN BIRTH FORETOLD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

 

Genesis 3:15 was the first promise of the Redeemer, given to man after the fall into sin.

 

Genesis 12:1-3 God calls Abraham to be the father of the chosen nation of Israel.

 

Genesis 49:10 this blessing was to be given through the Tribe of Judah.

 

2 Samuel 7:8-16 the Saviour to be born of the family of David to be a “son of David”.

 

Isaiah 7:14 the actual prophecy. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” This is repeated in Matthew 1:23

 

Isaiah 9:6 the prophecy that Jesus the human, one was to be “born” but Jesus the Divine God was to be “given” for Jesus as God was eternal and could not be born.

 

II. THE HISTORIC FULFILLMENT OF THIS PROPHECY

 

Matthew 1:18-25 records the story as does Luke 2:4-7.

 

Mary was engaged to Joseph but they were not married yet. Christ was born of a virgin but a betrothed virgin so that she could be married to protect her good name.

 

Mary’s conception was definitely from the Holy Ghost and not from her fiancé Joseph or any other man whatsoever. God guarantees this to give us a perfect Saviour.

 

The Lord encouraged Joseph to marry Mary to be a companion and guide to her in order to protect her from extremity of the law (Leviticus 20:10).

 

Matthew 1:25 tells us that though Joseph and Mary were married they never lived together as husband and wife until after the birth of the Saviour.

 

God takes special care to insert this verse with this intimate detail to show us that the unborn child could not possibly be contaminated by a human father.

 

III. THE VIRGIN BIRTH IS TAUGHT IN SCRIPTURE

 

Some try to maintain that Paul did not teach the virgin birth of Christ. It is true that Paul does not use that exact expression but Paul knew the risen Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:8 and recognized Him as the One fulfilling Isaiah 7:14.

 

Paul, writing in Colossians 1:15-17, gives a picture of the greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Isaiah prophesied of the Saviour’s birth 740 years before it actually happened.

 

Matthew explicitly states that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of a virgin (Matthew 1:18, 20, 23).

 

Luke, a medical doctor, would be most interested in this medical phenomenon. Every child must have a father. Who was the Father of the baby Jesus? If the father were human, the he had a sin nature and we are yet in our sins.

 

Luke carefully explains the unusual conception in Luke 1:27, 31, 34-35.

 

Luke 1:34, Mary asks the sensible question of the angel: “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” – How can I have a child when I am not married and inferred that she was a pure virgin abhorring immorality.

 

Luke 1:35, the angel carefully explained that the Holy Ghost would be the father.

 

IV. THE PURPOSE OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH

 

(1) To reveal God. John 1:18, Jesus came to declare and reveal the Father to humanity.

 

(2) To bridge the chasm between God and man. 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

 

(3) To save men. Hebrews 2:14, 16, this was the basic purpose that brought Christ to earth.

 

(4) To rescue the whole creation. Romans 8:19-22, “…For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now”, “…waiting for…redemption” (Romans 8:23)

 

V. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH

 

Modernists and liberals attack this doctrine today as they attack the doctrines of the total depravity of man, the Deity of Christ and the inspiration of the Scriptures.

 

If man is totally depraved then he needs a Saviour to redeem him. This Saviour must be pure and capable. Jesus Christ is the only possible Saviour of the world.

 

The only way that Jesus could become man without a sin nature is by the virgin birth.

 

A virgin is a lady who has not known a man in marriage. Mary remained a virgin until after the birth of Jesus, until she and Joseph lived together as husband and wife.

 

Salvation is closely linked with this doctrine. If Jesus was not born of a virgin, then then I am a lost sinner still and so are you.

 

1. It is undeniable truth. It is definitely taught in the Bible. We accept the inspiration of the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16) and believe this teaching is absolutely true.

 

2. It is unchangeable truth. This doctrine stands with the Scriptures and does not change with the changing times, thoughts and theories of mankind (Hebrews 1:3)

 

3. It is urgent truth. This doctrine is essential to the plan of salvation (fulfilled prophecies in Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 53. Without a virgin-born Saviour, the salvation of one soul is utterly impossible.

 

4. It is undiscernible truth. It is a mystery hidden in God. There is a sense in which all life and birth is a mystery. How can a tree put life into its seed? (Genesis 1:11-12, John 1:3-4). 1 Corinthians 4:1 we Christians are to be good stewards of “the mysteries of God”.

 

5. It is unconditional truth. I believe that this truth must be accepted as supreme. Romans 10:9, we are to confess Jesus as Lord and if He were not virgin-born, then He cannot be the Saviour for He has broken the prophecies of Holy Scripture.

 

6. It is useful truth for the Almighty God has now entered the world as a man – but a sinless man, a man without a sin nature, a man who can save others (2 Corinthians 5:21). “Emmanuel” means “God with us”. This is now true, for God has come to live on earth.

 

7. Its is unavoidable truth for we face it at least once a year during Christmas. Let us ceaselessly in our teaching present the virgin-born Saviour to the world.

 

VI. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH

 

Jesus Christ was not a phantom. He was a real human being, truly man, bone of our bone and flesh of out flesh. Philippians 2:7, He has become our “elder brother”.

 

Jesus Christ was also God and remained God because of the Holy Ghost conception.

 

Jesus Christ was sinless because He was virgin-born without inheriting a fallen sinful, corrupt human nature. He was without original sin.

 

VII. OBJECTIONS TO THIS DOCTRINE

 

1. It is only found in a few places in Scripture. One Scripture is sufficient but it is confirmed by Isaiah, Matthew and Luke, three inspired writers.

 

2. Jesus did not personally claim to be virgin-born. He infers it in John 6:51

 

3. Scientists do not accept it for it is not biologically true. Jesus did not come by natural conception but by a miracle conception.

 

4. Others reject it because it is miraculous. All life is a miracle, wonderful, mysterious

 

5. Modern theologians do not accept the doctrine. That does not alter the fact that it is true, for it is taught in the Holy Scriptures in prophecy and history.

 

CONCLUSION

 

Make much of Christmas to teach this wonderful truth to our children and students. Let us thank God that He found a way to bring the Saviour into the world without the taint of original sin.


Source: GOD's Answers to Man's Questions - 100 Bible Lessons by Dr. Alban Douglas

 

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