Temple Baptist Church - 12-17-2023
Matthew 1:18-25
Introduction:
A. At least once a year, especially around the Christmas Season, I preach on the precious doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Christ.
1. The Virgin Birth of Christ is often called “The Doctrine of Holy Ground!”
2. The virgin birth of Christ is the pivotal point between Promise or Prophecy and Performance.
a) The Prophecy of Israel’s Messiah looked forward to His First Advent.
b) The Performance of the birth of Israel’s Messiah was the Fulfillment of that Prophecy.
B. The Book of Matthew portrays the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the coming of the King of Israel.
1. Matthew 1:1-17 shows the lineage of Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. In these verses, we find the names of men who “begat” sons divided into three time periods.
2. From Abraham to David, from David to the Babylonish Captivity, from the Babylonish Captivity to Christ.
C. In Matthew 1:18, we find the words: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise.” Showing a deviation, a differentiation from the natural births of the last 42 generations mentioned where the seed of men begat men.
“Espoused wife” and “before they came together” declares a birth like none that preceded it and none that would come after it.
D. The word “espoused” in Matthew 1:18, speaks of Mary’s relationship to Joseph and is also found in Luke 1:27 and Luke 2:5. Espoused means betrothed or engaged to.
1. Well explained within Matthew’s context:
Matthew 1:18 - “before they came together”
Matthew 1:23 “a virgin shall be with child”
Matthew 1:25 - “and knew her not till”
2. The Virgin Birth is further explained in Luke’s Gospel. Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
E. The Virgin Birth of Christ is a doctrine both sweetly adored and severely attacked. Love by God’s people and hated by Satan’s people.
A birth like none other. There has never been nor will there ever be another virgin birth. 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.
F. The Virgin Birth of Christ is the mystery of mysteries, the jewel of all ages, the hope of mankind, and the love of God manifested. 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.
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.
1. The immortal became mortal that the mortal may become immortal.
a) Immortality or eternality is an attribute of God. 1 Timothy 6:16a “Who only hath immortality”
b) Mortal becomes Immortal in Christ. 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.
2. The untouchable became touchable.
a) The untouchable God – 1 Timothy 6:16b “dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see”
b) Became the Touchable Saviour – 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;.
G. The Virgin Birth was necessary because:
1. The Child born was the God-Man. 100% man on His mother’s side and 100% God on His Father’s side. As the Trinity is represented by 3 distinct Persons, Jesus Christ is represented by 2 distinct persons. Uniting full humanity with full deity.
2. The Child was born the sinless Son of God. Sin came through Adam’s seed, but Christ came through the Woman’s Seed without Adamic sin. Sin came through Adam’s seed, not Eve’s.
3. The Child was virgin born to guarantee that salvation would come through Christ alone and not man.
H. 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.
J. 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!)
K. 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 the 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.
L. 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.”
M. 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.”
N. 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.
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Conclusion: The Virgin Birth was an event beyond human comprehension! The Seed of the Woman: a conception and birth without man. The God-Man, our Lord Jesus Christ.
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