The Virgin Birth Of Christ

Temple Baptist Church - 12-22-2013

Galatians 4:1-5; 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.

B. The virgin birth of Christ is 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 - 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. In our text found in Matthew, the Holy Ghost used the words “espoused wife.”

1. espouse 5x - a) to woo her and ask her in marriage b) 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?

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,

2. The Promise of the woman’s seed. 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.”

a) A “seed” (Christ) would be born of a woman, without a man being involved (Gal 3:16; 4:4-5).

b) The word “seed” is used over a hundred times in the Bible, but always in reference to and in connection with the male. The only exception is here.

c) The woman has no reproductive seed within her, unless it is put there from another source.

d) The seed is always resident in the male. Biologically, the man delivers the “seed” to the woman so it said that a child is the father’s offspring (see Lev. 15:16 cf. Jer. 33:26).

3. The Purity of the woman’s seed. 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:

a) Sin made man’s blood corrupt. The sin nature is passed down from generation to generation through the blood (Rom. 5:12-“For by one MAN sin entered the world…”).

b) Jesus blood was pure and without sin, because God was His Father. The life of the flesh is in the blood (Lev. 17:11). There is no blood in the female ovum until fertilized by the male seed (sperm).

ILLUS– Egg of a hen. Unfertilized it is simply a shell with a white and yoke. You could incubate it, but nothing would happen. However, if it were fertilized by the seed of a rooster, an embryo would form and blood veins would appear (candling eggs). Since the life of the flesh is in the blood, the question of when does life begin is settled! Life begins with the formation of the blood cells.

4. Because there was no male seed in the conception of Christ, His blood is untainted by sin! The blood of the unborn baby is completely separate from that of the mother. Christ’s blood was DIVINE BLOOD (Acts 20:28).

D. 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!)

E. 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.”

F. 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.”

G. One 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.”

The Ancient of Days became a babe at Bethlehem

He who thunders in the heavens crying in a cradle

He who gives to all their meat in due season, nursing at his Mother’s breast.

He who made all flesh now made of flesh

He who could summon legions of angels, while wrapped in infant’s clothes.

The mighty God, now a helpless child

God and man became one Person.

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 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.