The virgin birth. It’s not really a hotly debated topic in Christian circles. We learn it, we accept it, we almost forget about it. But each Christmas, we’re reminded that Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, not by the seed of a man.
Even though Christians accept this as truth, the world does not. It’s often debated this time of year. Magazines Newsweek and Time have run articles in the last decade claiming the virgin birth is a myth, and even quoted “Christians” who say it’s a myth, or that it’s not necessary to believe in the virgin birth to be a Christian.
So why is it important to believe that Jesus was born of a virgin? What is the implication for us today?
Before our conception we did not exist. But Jesus existed before Mary was with child. Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son…” God didn’t create His Son, He sent Him forth. The virgin birth was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” This prophecy was fulfilled when the angel told Mary she would give birth to Jesus and she answered, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” (Luke 1:34).
Romans 5:12 says that through one man sin entered the world and through him, sin spread to all men, because all sinned. But Jesus was born without sin. He lived a sinless life. Paul goes on to write in Romans, “…through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life (5:18).
The world doesn’t want to believe in the miraculous conception of Jesus because then they want to deny every miraculous detail of His life. Pastor John MacArthur writes, “[A}ny rejection of Christ’s supernatural origin leaves His supernatural life and His supernatural death and His supernatural resurrection inexplicable. You gotta have it all, or any of it to make sense. And if Jesus wasn’t virgin born, then the claim that He can save is highly questionable.”
Remember this Christmas not to just read over the fact that Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus. She gives all praise to God for the gift of Christ, and we can as well when we pray with Mary, “For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name” (Luke 1:49). His name is holy because Christ is without sin–at birth, in life, and when He conquered death!
image source: ArtBible
I love this post. Thank you.
Sandra, thanks for this post. You brought up a couple of excellent truths that require a virgin birth. First, Jesus was sinless. Second, Jesus is eternal, existing before He was born. We humans so often like to pick and choose what we believe, but God is the One who determines truth. Even if we can’t understand it!
Sandra ~ I’m so thankful for the way you reminded us that the virgin birth was absolutely necessary for the salvation of mankind. I love how you put it, ” His name is holy because Christ is without sin–at birth, in life, and when He conquered death!”
All glory to the King of kings – the Son of God – the Son of man! (as I read your post, I couldn’t help but sense the need to worship the only One worthy of our praise. Thank you for such an inspiring post!)
Truths like these are ones that we often glance right over without much thought, as if it’s become routine to read such amazing facts. That’s part of the beauty of open eyes and hearts when looking at life with God… it’s filled with so much that amazes and astounds!
Thank you for this post.