The Miracle Of The Birth Of Christ

Temple Baptist Church - 12-12-2010

Matthew 1:18-25 (vs. 18, 23)

Introduction: Oft times, as we think of the coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ—we fail to contemplate upon the marvelous miracle of His birth. God became man! Many religions recognize Jesus in one way or another as either an angel who came to earth or a great prophet but He was much more that that! He was Jehovah God born in the flesh! The “seed of the woman” born without the seed of man! The absolute purity of a young virgin womb gave birth to the absolutely pure Son of God!

A. Matthew 22:41-42a While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?

B. There are many doctrines that are called “Cardinal Doctrines” or “Fundamentals Of The faith.” The doctrine of the Virgin Birth is one of the most sacred. It is a miracle beyond human comprehension!

1. The Virgin Birth Of Christ Is “A Doctrine of Holy Ground!” The wording in verse 18 differentiates the birth of Christ from the series of “begats” of the preceding verses. “Espoused wife” and “before they came together” declares a birth like none other that preceded it. The virgin birth of Christ is the pivotal point between Promise or Prophecy and Performance. It is a doctrine both Sweetly Adored and Severely Attacked.

2. It is the mystery of all mysteries, the jewel of all ages, the hope of mankind, and the love of God manifested. It was a miraculous event. The Virgin Birth of Christ is the piviotable point between Promise or Prophesy and Performance!

3. A miracle is a phenomenon that cannot be explained outside the realm of supernatural intervention. It is an event that supersedes natural law.

a) 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.

b) The untouchable became touchable - 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.
C. 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.”

D. G. Campbell Morgan said that in the presence of such a holy miracle “there can be no fitting attitude of the human intellect save that of acceptance of the truth without any attempt to explain the mystery.”

E. Another writer expressed it this way, “I will seek to believe rather than to reason, to adore rather than to explain, to give thanks rather that to penetrate; to love rather than to know; to humble myself rather than to speak.”

F. In the Virgin Birth, God and man became one Person, our Lord Jesus Christ! (100% God! 100% man! Otherwise, He would have been less that God and less than man!)

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 - 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.

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,

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!)

espouse 5x to woo her and ask her in marriage; to be promised in marriage, be betrothed

Matthew 1:18 - “before they came together”

Matthew 1:23 “a virgin shall be with child”

Matthew 1:25 - “and knew her not till”

Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

John 1:14 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.

1 John 1:1-2 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; (2) (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

Just How Important Is This “Cardinal Doctrine” or “Fundamental Of The faith?”

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.

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 man had been His father, then He would have had inherent sin!)

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:

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.

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;

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.

Conclusion: Our eternal destiny depends upon how we answer the question, “What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?”