BIBLE DOCTRINE 3: THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God\u2019s Word teaches:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The virgin birth of Jesus, the only begotten Son of God. The crucifixion, death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ \u2013 Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virgin Birth <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Resurrection of Jesus <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe virgin birth\u201d teaches that Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, was miraculously conceived by the virgin Mary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prophetically, this was foretold in the Old Testament and became literally fulfilled later in the New Testament (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14). The virgin birth is thus an essential doctrinal truth, which must be upheld for its fact and significance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Disputing this cardinal doctrine is by implication, denying Christ\u2019s Deity and His distinctive spotlessness, which the natural man lacked that disqualified every other man from satisfying God\u2019s demand at Calvary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He, therefore, became the spotless Lamb of God found in fashion as a man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God was the first to unveil the virgin birth of Christ when He referred to Him as the \u201cseed of the woman\u201d (Genesis 3:15). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was alluding to the fact that Christ would be conceived by a woman who had never known a man. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prophet Isaiah in his proclamation said, \u201cBehold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son….\u201d (Isaiah 7:14). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The word virgin as used in this reference, has obvious meaning and can be nothing else but a woman that has Not known a man. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luke in his Gospel narrative recorded that the angel Gabriel was sent to a virgin, betrothed to a man and that the virgin\u2019s name was Mary (Luke 1:34). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew in his Gospel narrated that Mary was espoused to Joseph and that before they came together, she was found with a child of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:18). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He further recorded that Joseph knew her not till she had brought forth her first-born son, and he called His name JESUS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus sometimes referred to people as His mother, His brothers and sisters, but never referred to any mortal man as His Father, not even Joseph (Matthew 12:49,50; 22:41-46; John 8:54-58). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew 12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He always referred to God as His Father and this is another proof of His virgin birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, wrote that in the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman. This was still pointing to the fact that Christ was born of a virgin (Galatians 4:4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bible says that Joseph was a just man (Matthew 1:19). This means he was not a transgressor of God\u2019s law. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If Mary as an espoused virgin had conceived through a strange man, it would then be right for Joseph to have her out of the way<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deuteronomy 22:23 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 22:24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Deuteronomy 22:23,24; <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deuteronomy 22:23 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 22:24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour’s wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew 19:9). The penalty was even more grave than merely putting her away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The angel could not have prevented Joseph from putting her away; the angel even bore witness that what was conceived in her was of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:20). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, if Joseph had known Mary before Christ was conceived, or was responsible for the conception, it would be unlawful for him to put her away (Malachi 2:14-16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Malachi 2:14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 2:15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 2:16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scriptures would not have qualified him as a just man if he were transgressing the Lord\u2019s commandment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joseph was instructed to take her as his wife. The virgin birth of Christ was a unique sign from God. The prophet Isaiah was very clear and definite about it (Isaiah 7:14). It distinguished Him from any other mortal and marked Him out as the only true Messiah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God bears witness to His approved ministers in various ways. Some of the signs that were recorded concerning Christ and His ministry were also recorded concerning a few other messengers of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The virgin birth, however, is probably the most unique and unprecedented sign. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A voice from the cloud witnessed to the ministry of Christ but that was not as unique as the virgin birth because we see a similar witness in the ministry of Moses<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Numbers 12:5-8; Matthew 17:5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Numbers 12:5 And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 12:6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 12:7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 12:8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An angel announced the conception of Christ but we also know that the births of Samson and John the Baptist were announced by angels too (Judges 13:2-5; Luke 1:11-15,26-33).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Judges 13:2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not. 13:3 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. 13:4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: 13:5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luke 1:11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 1:12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moses, Samson, and John were all descendants of Adam\u2019s fallen race<\/p>\n\n\n\n
. The virgin birth is therefore a unique sign from the Lord, conferred on Christ and Him alone, and no other living soul has ever or will ever be conceived by a virgin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let us pray.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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