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| Beliefs - Bible Studies Why the Virgin Birth |
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The virgin birth of Christ is a very important part of the Doctrine of Salvation. Yet
I believe that many Christians haven’t a clue to why Christ had to be born of a
virgin. It wasn’t just to fulfill prophecy, but prophecy was given because there
had to be a virgin birth to have a fit sacrifice for sin.
In the book of Isaiah we find the prophecy given, in the 7th chapter Isaiah is
giving a prophecy to Ahaz king of Judah regarding his enemies. After he gives
the word of God to Ahaz, Isaiah tells Ahaz to ask a sign of God and Ahaz
refuses. Then in verse 14 Isaiah gives him a sign anyway, “Therefore the Lord
Himself shall give you a sign: Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall call his name Immanuel.” This prophecy was offered as proof that in
Sixty-five years the kings that bother Ahaz would be no more.
Now I know you are seeing holes in God’s plan already. If this prophecy is of
Christ, then how will it assure Ahaz of the imminent demise of these two kings,
especially since Christ doesn’t come before the sixty-five years are up?
As with many prophecies there is a dual fulfillment given, first here in Isaiah 8:1-
8 Isaiah identifies Mahershalahashbaz, as the fulfillment that Ahaz was looking
for. “For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the
land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.” Isaiah 7:16 is part
of the prophecy given by Isaiah. “For before the child shall have knowledge to
cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria
shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.” Isaiah 8:4 is part of the link to
that prophecy fulfillment, and then in verse 8 Isaiah calls Mahershalahashbaz,
Immanuel. This is a fulfillment to a physical end, that is to say that the birth of
Mahershalahashbaz was a true fulfillment, but for the purpose of a physical
salvation. He could not die for the sins of the world; it was the prophet who went
in unto her.
In Matthew 1:22-23 we find that Christ is also identified with this prophecy, and
that his birth was the fulfillment of it. The second fulfillment, but He could die for
sins, because the Holy Spirit was the one who brought about the conception.
So what matter does it make? Why must the Holy Spirit be the one that formed
Jesus and not Joseph?
The fall of man brought many curses to both the serpent and mankind. (Genesis
3:14-19) But, Adam’s fall caused a greater problem. In Romans 5:12, Paul
states “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:” We understand by
this and other scriptures, (I Cor.15: 22) that we all, that is mankind, are guilty of
sin. That we are born in sin as the Psalmist says. That we have a sin nature
inherent to us because of Adam’s sin, we are fallen creatures separated from
the Creator.
What can we do? Well, the law requires a blood sacrifice for sin. This sacrifice,
by the law, must be spotless and without blemish. The idea is without sin. Man is
born with the sin nature, a sinner by birth.
From whence comes the sin? The only thing a child has totally from its earthly
father is his blood. That is to say that the child’s blood type and condition is
totally and only dependent upon the father’s blood. It doesn’t mean that the child’
s blood type is the same as the father’s, but only is conditional upon his blood.
Look at Romans 5:9 “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall
be saved from wrath through Him.” By Christ’s death on the cross, His shed
blood, we receive salvation from sin. From its power, its penalty, and its prince.
We have received a spiritual blood transfusion by accepting Christ’s payment for
our sin. The blood received from our earthly fathers is tainted, spiritually ruined
by sin. We pass the sin nature through the generations, through the blood. The
Adamic curse that affects us most was the separation from God, and only
through a blood sacrifice can this be remedied. But, in his sin nature is not
righteous enough to pay this debt. Isaiah 64: 6 Says, “our righteousnesses are
as filthy rags”. No man has the ability to stand in the gap for our sins. That is
why Christ was born of a virgin. Man had no part in His birth, so Christ had no
part in man’s sin. Spotless was He.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way;
and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53: 6
Trivial note: Mahershalahashbaz is the longest name in the Bible.
Jonathan Baker
I believe that many Christians haven’t a clue to why Christ had to be born of a
virgin. It wasn’t just to fulfill prophecy, but prophecy was given because there
had to be a virgin birth to have a fit sacrifice for sin.
In the book of Isaiah we find the prophecy given, in the 7th chapter Isaiah is
giving a prophecy to Ahaz king of Judah regarding his enemies. After he gives
the word of God to Ahaz, Isaiah tells Ahaz to ask a sign of God and Ahaz
refuses. Then in verse 14 Isaiah gives him a sign anyway, “Therefore the Lord
Himself shall give you a sign: Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall call his name Immanuel.” This prophecy was offered as proof that in
Sixty-five years the kings that bother Ahaz would be no more.
Now I know you are seeing holes in God’s plan already. If this prophecy is of
Christ, then how will it assure Ahaz of the imminent demise of these two kings,
especially since Christ doesn’t come before the sixty-five years are up?
As with many prophecies there is a dual fulfillment given, first here in Isaiah 8:1-
8 Isaiah identifies Mahershalahashbaz, as the fulfillment that Ahaz was looking
for. “For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the
land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.” Isaiah 7:16 is part
of the prophecy given by Isaiah. “For before the child shall have knowledge to
cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria
shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.” Isaiah 8:4 is part of the link to
that prophecy fulfillment, and then in verse 8 Isaiah calls Mahershalahashbaz,
Immanuel. This is a fulfillment to a physical end, that is to say that the birth of
Mahershalahashbaz was a true fulfillment, but for the purpose of a physical
salvation. He could not die for the sins of the world; it was the prophet who went
in unto her.
In Matthew 1:22-23 we find that Christ is also identified with this prophecy, and
that his birth was the fulfillment of it. The second fulfillment, but He could die for
sins, because the Holy Spirit was the one who brought about the conception.
So what matter does it make? Why must the Holy Spirit be the one that formed
Jesus and not Joseph?
The fall of man brought many curses to both the serpent and mankind. (Genesis
3:14-19) But, Adam’s fall caused a greater problem. In Romans 5:12, Paul
states “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:” We understand by
this and other scriptures, (I Cor.15: 22) that we all, that is mankind, are guilty of
sin. That we are born in sin as the Psalmist says. That we have a sin nature
inherent to us because of Adam’s sin, we are fallen creatures separated from
the Creator.
What can we do? Well, the law requires a blood sacrifice for sin. This sacrifice,
by the law, must be spotless and without blemish. The idea is without sin. Man is
born with the sin nature, a sinner by birth.
From whence comes the sin? The only thing a child has totally from its earthly
father is his blood. That is to say that the child’s blood type and condition is
totally and only dependent upon the father’s blood. It doesn’t mean that the child’
s blood type is the same as the father’s, but only is conditional upon his blood.
Look at Romans 5:9 “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall
be saved from wrath through Him.” By Christ’s death on the cross, His shed
blood, we receive salvation from sin. From its power, its penalty, and its prince.
We have received a spiritual blood transfusion by accepting Christ’s payment for
our sin. The blood received from our earthly fathers is tainted, spiritually ruined
by sin. We pass the sin nature through the generations, through the blood. The
Adamic curse that affects us most was the separation from God, and only
through a blood sacrifice can this be remedied. But, in his sin nature is not
righteous enough to pay this debt. Isaiah 64: 6 Says, “our righteousnesses are
as filthy rags”. No man has the ability to stand in the gap for our sins. That is
why Christ was born of a virgin. Man had no part in His birth, so Christ had no
part in man’s sin. Spotless was He.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way;
and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53: 6
Trivial note: Mahershalahashbaz is the longest name in the Bible.
Jonathan Baker