The Doctrine of the Virgin Birth

The Doctrine of the Virgin Birth

Luke 1:26-35

The Meaning of the Doctrine (The virgin birth of Jesus is the belief that Jesus was conceived in the womb of His mother Mary through the Holy Spirit without the agency of a human father and born while Mary was yet a virgin.)

Fundamental Doctrine = Foundational to the Faith

With out this doctrine it is impossible to believe any other doctrine in the Bible.

If Christ was not born of a virgin, then He was not the Messiah, therefore He was not qualified to become the ransom for our sins

Misconceptions of the Doctrine

Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic)

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Christ was sinless because of the overshadowing and Mary being kept from sin. They state that Mary was consecrated to the Lord at her birth by her mother, St. Anne.

Here is an official statement that has Church endorsement:

“The immaculate conception is the doctrine that our Lady ‘in the first instant of her conception was, by a unique singular grace and privilege of Almighty God in view of the merits of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the human race, preserved exempt from all stain of original’” (Donald Attwater, A Catholic Dictionary, New York: Macmillan, 1961, p. 246).

The Catholic Church released this following statement in a book they use to explain their dogmas.

This point of doctrine [the immaculate conception] is not expressly dealt with anywhere in the Bible, nor was it preached by the Apostles, and for many centuries it was not mentioned at all by the Church. Gradually, however, as the idea of the future dogma began to develop among the faithful, theologians submitted the point to the closest examination, and finally, the view then generally prevailing was formally pronounced as a dogma of the Church by His Holiness Pope Pius IX in 1854” (p. 238).

Please note the devastating concessions:

The doctrine of the “immaculate conception” is not taught “anywhere in the Bible.”

The idea was unknown to the apostles.

It was alien to the church for centuries.

The notion gradually evolved with time

Other Misconceptions of the Doctrine

Allegory

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one: “Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the spiritual journey"

According to Uta Ranke-Heinemann the virgin birth of Jesus was meant to be, and should be understood as, an allegory of a special initiative of God and not a biological process.

It could be compared to the creation of Adam in the sense that both creations were by God. It suits the legends and diction of the allegories of the antiquity according to which famous people originate from gods (like Augustus as the son of Apollo, or Alexander the Great, as the son of lightning).[12]

Illegitimacy

Among other theories that have been proposed as explanations of the origin of the accounts in Matthew and Luke of the birth of Jesus from a virgin is that of Stephen L Harris, who proposed that these were written to answer Jewish slanders about Jesus' illegitimate birth,[11]

A charge of illegitimacy against Jesus can be traced back at least to about 177-180, when Celsus, drawing on Jewish sources, wrote: "It was Jesus himself who fabricated the story that he had been born of a virgin.

Where it took place

The place of the conception

Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

The city of Nazareth

Nathanael asked the question, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? (Joh 1:46)

The city was known for its dishonesty (Roman soldiers and Greek merchants)

Old Testament Promise

Gen. 3:15 is the first promise of a virgin birth

The “seed” of the woman

The “seed” here is masculine

No where else is “seed” used with woman, it always references a male. i.e seed of Abraham, etc.

Isa. 7:14 ; 9:6-7

Isaiah 7:14 KJV 1900

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 KJV 1900

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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 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.

The Truth

What it reveals about Christ

Luke 1:31-35

The Doctrine of the virgin birth reveals

I. Christ’s Humanity

(v31; John 1:14)

“thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son,..”

Notice the word “son” here is lower case compared to v 35 where it is capitalized.

In Luke 1 he begins his trace of Christ from Adam, revealing Christ as the son of man.

John declares his humanity John 1:14

John 1:14 KJV 1900

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.

II) The Doctrine of the virgin birth reveals

II. Christ’s Deity

(v.32,33, Matt. 1:25)

Matthew traces the lineage of Christ from Abraham to David to Joseph

Luke traces from Adam to Mary (Heli is the father of Mary)

Both show the human side of Christ’s deity

Luke 1: 32 shows the Heavenly side of Christ’s Deity

Luke 1:32 KJV 1900

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Regardless He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

III) The doctrine of the virgin Birth reveals

III. Christs Authority

(v35, John 1:1-5)

How He came

“Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee:…”

Who He was to be called.

“shall be called the Son of God.”

Isaiah prophesied this authority (Isa.9:6,7)

Isaiah 9:6 KJV 1900

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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

John declares His authority

in John 1:1-5

John 1:1–5 (KJV 1900)

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. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Final thoughts

Regardless of what the world would lead people to believe, Jesus Christ was born of a virgin and was conceived by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost

Mary is not the center of the attention

All other beliefs lead to utter ruin

The virgin birth was to reveal Christ in His entirety.

Stand firm on the Word of God, Know what you believe!!!!!