The Virgin Birth of Christ

Temple Baptist Church - 12-18-2022

Genesis 3:15; Matthew 1:18-25

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  It is the Christmas season, in which we normally celebrate the incarnation of the Son of God, the Seed of the Woman. 

 

B.  The Virgin Birth of Christ Prophesied – 6,000 years ago in the Garden of Eden.

 

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.

 

C.  The Seed of the Woman – The Virgin Birth of Christ.

 

Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

 

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 differentiates the birth of Christ from the series of “begats” found in the preceding verses. 

 

a)  “Espoused wife” and “before they came together” declares a birth like none other that preceded it. 

 

b)  A birth like none that would come after it.

 

3.  No man or woman 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.

 

D.  In Biblical Theology, the Virgin Birth is referred to as the “kenosis of Christ”. 

 

1.  The word “kenosis” comes from an ancient Greek word that was Romanized and means “the act of emptying.” 

 

2.  Most theologians take this term far beyond biblical truth as they think that Jehovah God gave up all His attributes when “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us”, but this is false doctrine.

 

3.  The description of the kenosis of Christ is found in Philippians 2:6-8 which reads:  “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

 

4.  The truth of the kenosis of Christ is found in 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.”

 

a) God was manifest in the flesh!  Christ Jesus was the “God-Man”!  100% God and 100% man. 

 

b)  No place in the Bible does it say that Jehovah God emptied Himself.  He was Jehovah God, the great “I AM THAT I AM”, the Word of God that created all things (John 1:1-3), the Voice of God that walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. 

 

c)  Jehovah God, walking in flesh, losing none of His attributes, but condescending to the form of sinful man (without sin) and dying for the sin of the world.

 

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  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;

 

E.  The world worships a “babe in a manger” and celebrates a Christmas without God.  They worship Mary giving birth, while we worship God becoming flesh: Israel’s Messiah and our Saviour and Lord.

 

1.  The Virgin Birth 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.

 

Isaiah 9:6-7  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  (7)  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

 

2.  The Virgin Birth 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!)

 

Matthew 1:21-23  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.  (22)  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,  (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.

 

Luke 2:6-11  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  (7)  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  (8)  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  (9)  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  (10)  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  (11)  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 

3.  The Virgin Birth Purposed.  Matthew 1:21-23  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 

 

a.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Sin.  Disobedience to God and God’s hatred for sin.

 

b.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Sinners.  God’s love for the sinner despite sinfulness.

 

c.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Separation.  Man hiding and God seeking.

 

d.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Substitution.  The innocent died for the guilty that the guilty could become innocent.

 

e.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about a Saviour.  The coming of Messiah, Christ Jesus, the Saviour of the world.

 

f.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Salvation.  Free to all who would repent and believe.

 

g.  The Virgin Birth of Christ was about Security.  Eternal restoration, eternal life, eternal joy.

 

Conclusion:  The Virgin Birth was a thing beyond human comprehension!  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 Virgin Birth:  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. 

 

The Virgin Birth: The Doctrine of Holy Ground!  The immortal became mortal that the mortal may become immortal; The untouchable became touchable that the mortal may touch Him; God became a child that we may become His children.