The Virgin Birth Of Christ

Temple Baptist Church - 12-24-2017

Genesis 3:15; Matthew 1:18-25

Introduction: 

A.  It is the Christmas season, in which we normally deal with the incarnation of the Son of God. 

1.  One of the most precious of all doctrines is that of the Virgin Birth of Christ.  How important it is to the salvation of the child of God! The Virgin Birth of Christ is often referred to as “The Doctrine of Holy Ground!” 

2.  The wording in Matthew 1:18 differentiate the birth of Christ from the series of “begats” found in the preceding verses.  “Espoused wife” and “before they came together” declares a birth like none other that preceded it. 

3.  No man since Adam and Eve, except for Jesus Christ, came into the world through a virgin birth or without the seed of man involved.  As God created the world to bring forth after its own kind, so man brings forth after his own kind.  Adam and Eve had no predecessors and the Father of Jesus Christ was God.

B.  The world celebrates Christmas without God and while others make Christmas about Mary as much as about the birth of Christ.

C.  Christmas is not Christmas without Christ and Christmas is not about Mary!  IT IS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST, ISRAEL’S MESSIAH, OUR SAVIOUR.  There are many heresies being taught concerning Mary.  I do not want to preach on that subject this morning but will give a few quick references on the subject for your own personal study. 

D.  The key to who Mary was and what happened at the conception of Christ is found in Genesis 3:15, the first Messianic Promise. When referencing the method of the birth of Christ, the Bible speaks of the seed of a “woman.”  “Woman” always means woman, a female human being.  Mary was no exception as Christ referred to her as so. 

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.  (The spiritual emphasis is upon the “seed” of the woman, not upon the woman.  It was the seed of the woman, Christ, who would bruise the head of the serpent.)

1.  Was Mary divine?  John 2:3-4  And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.  (4)  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.  (Woman always means woman and is never referred to as divine.  Mary was blessed to be chosen to bear the Lord and that birth certainly has blessed many, but Mary was a woman.  The Lord never referred to her in any other way.)

2.  Was Mary “The Mother of God?”  Galatians 4:4-5  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  (5)  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  (God has no mother.  Mary was the mother of the physical body in which Jehovah God, Jesus Christ, was born.)

Micah 5:2  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 

John 1:1-3, 14  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made … (14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

3.  Was Mary was a perpetual virgin.  Matthew 1:18, 25  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 … Andknew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.  (“Before” and “till” show that Mary and Joseph had a normal husband/wife relationship after the birth of Christ.  This is shown clearly in the Book of Mark.)

Mark 6:3  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

4.  Mary was immaculately conceived?  Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:  (The Bible is clear and consistent at this point.  Only Christ had a sinless birth and had to be made sin.)

5.  Was Mary sinless?  Luke 1:46-47  And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,  (47)  And my spirit hath rejoiced inGod my Saviour.  (Only sinners need a saviour!) 

Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

6.  Did Mary ascend into heaven as Christ ascended?  John 19:26-27  When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!  (27)  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.  (Women were to always be under the authority of a man in biblical times.  When the father, “supposed father in this case as the Father of Jesus was God the Father, died—it was the responsibility of the eldest son to care for the mother.  Jesus did so until His death on the cross.  Where Jesus went, Mary went.  Before His death, Jesus placed Mary under the authority of John for as long as she lived.)

7.  Was Mary to be worshipped?    Exodus 20:3-5  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  (4)  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:  (5)  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;  (Both the worship of Mary and idolatrous images are dealt with in the first Commandment.)

8.  Was or is Mary as “Co-Redemptrix ?” John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

9.  Is Mary a “Mediatrix.” 1 Timothy 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1 John 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

10. Was Mary to be prayed to?  Philippians 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Matthew 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

E.  The virgin birth of Christ was the pivotal point between Promise or Prophecy and Performance. 

1.  It is a doctrine both Sweetly Adored and Severely Attacked.  It the mystery of mysteries, the jewel of all ages, the hope of mankind, and the love of God manifested. 

2.  It was a miraculous event.  A miracle is a phenomenon that cannot be explained outside the realm of supernatural intervention. It is an event that supersedes natural law.  No other child born of man has been born without the seed of the man.  The “seed of the woman” combined with the seed of the Holy Ghost to bring forth the God-Man!

3.  The immortal became mortal that the mortal may become immortal - 1 Timothy 6:16a Who only hath immortality

1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

4.  The untouchable became touchable that mortal may touch Him - 1 Timothy 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

1 John 1:1  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;.

F.  The Miracle of the Virgin Birth is beyond human comprehension!

1.  The Virgin Birth Was Prophesied - 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.

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.

2.  The Virgin Birth Was Performed - 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.  (“On this wise” sets the birth of Christ apart from the “begats” of the first 17 verses!)

G.  Dr. Herbert Lockyer said it this way, “The incarnation is the most stupendous miracle comprehending and involving all other miracles, and because it is a theme both deep and delicate, infinite and incomprehensible, how about “finding out acceptable words”.  The ground we approach is holy calling for the putting off of our shoes.”

The Importance Of The Virgin Birth:

1.  Scriptural Credibility Depends Upon It - 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.  (If the Scripture errs on this point, how can we trust any other supernatural event such as the death, burial, and resurrection?)

2.  The Deity Of Christ Depends Upon It - 1 Timothy 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.  (If the Scripture errs on this point, then anyone could have been His father and He would not be the only begotten Son of God!)

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.

3.  The Sinless Humanity Of Christ Depends Upon It - John 1:1-2, 14  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  (If the Scripture errs on this point, then the blood of Christ was tainted with the sin of Adam and Christ would have had an Adamic nature!)

1 John 3:5  And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1 Peter 2:22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Hebrews 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

4.  The Vicarious Atonement Of Christ Depends Upon It - Exodus 12:5  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:  (If the Scripture errs on this point, then the blood of Christ could not save!)

1 Peter 1:18-19  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Mark 10:45  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

5.  The Ultimate Defeat Of Evil Depends Upon It - Hebrews 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.  (If the Scripture errs on this point, then evil would ultimately win and Satan would reign!)

1 John 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

6.  The Security Of The Believer Depends Upon It - Hebrews 7:26  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;  (If the Scripture errs on this point, then the blood of Christ would ultimately corrupt and we would perish!)

1 Timothy 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.