The Virgin Birth: Christ's Redemption

Matthew 1:23–25 KJV 1900

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. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

The Virgin Birth is a miraculous phenomenon and could have only happened through supernatural means. As Christians, our faith in Christ and the belief that he was born of a virgin have been ridiculed for decades and laughed at. This simple, but profound happening is paramount to our faith and the Bible. Jesus being born of a virgin is outside of the crucifixion and his resurrection is one the most debated and controversial aspects of our faith. The virgin birth is quite important in the fact that it reminds us firstly that how we are saved is miraculous. Secondly, is that our Savior Jesus Christ is ultimately a unique being and there is no one like him. Additionally, The miracle of the virgin birth displays God's power over nature and his ability to work out something that is impossible and make it possible. Furthermore, Christ being born of a virgin means he was born with no sinful nature, and also being born of a woman means he is connected to the human race. Again without Christ, we are helpless as stated in by Mr. Erickson, "The emphasis is that salvation does not come through human effort, nor is it a human accomplishment. So also the virgin birth points to the helplessness of humans to initiate even the first step in the process. Not only is humanity unable to secure its own salvation; it could not even introduce the Savior into human society."1

I. Marvelous Maiden.

A. A Virtuous Virgin.

Matthew 1:23 KJV 1900

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 1:27–28 (KJV 1900)

27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

B. A Validated Faith.

Luke 1:41–56 KJV 1900

41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: For, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him From generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, And exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, In remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, To Abraham, and to his seed for ever. 56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

II. A Miraculous Moment.

The Christian religion stands or falls with the person of Jesus Christ. Judaism could survive without Moses, Buddhism without Buddha, Islam without Mohammed; but Christianity could not survive without Christ. This is because unlike most other world religions, Christianity is belief in a person, a genuine historical individual—but at the same time a special individual, whom the church regards as not only human, but divine. At the center of any Christian apologetic therefore must stand the person of Christ; and very important for the doctrine of Christ’s person are the personal claims of the historical Jesus.[1]

[1] Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth & Apologetics , 3rd ed. (Wheaton, Il: Good News Publishers, 2008), p. 287.

A. A Prophesied Birth.

Isaiah 7:14 KJV 1900

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.

Genesis 3:15 KJV 1900

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.

B. A Prophecy Fulfilled.

Luke 2:7 KJV 1900

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.

Isaiah 7:14 (KJV 1900)

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.

C. A Pardoning King.

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.

Luke 19:10 KJV 1900

10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Isaiah 12:2–3 (KJV 1900)

2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid:

For the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.

3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

III. A Magnificent Miracle.

When Jesus who is God died for our sins with His death on the cross it was not a cessation of existence, but a separation from His Father (Matthew 27:46). Jesus was made a curse for us and paid the penalty for our sins Galatians 3:13 Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:. He was separated from His body as well, even though Jesus was separated from His Father and He Body and He became a curse He did not cease to exist.[1]

[1] Lee Tankersley, “‘Sermon:" The Curse Of The Law And The Cross Of Christ (Galatians 3:10-14),” Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, no. 14 (2010), https://doi.org/https://resources.wcbc.edu:2051/article/sbjt14-3-07?highlight=Christ%20becoming%20a%20curse.

A. A Cross .

Mark 15:25 KJV 1900

25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

Mark 15:37 KJV 1900

37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

B. A Tomb.

John 19:40 KJV 1900

40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

C. A Risen Savior.

Matthew 12:40 KJV 1900

40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

John 14:1–4 (KJV 1900)

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.