A Virgin Shall Conceive

Gen. 3:15; Is. 7:14; Matt 1:18-23; Lk 1:26-38

Introduction

1. A virgin is one who never had physical relations with a man. This one gave birth to a baby. Is

it possible?

2. In one study a survey among protestant seminaries in America indicates that 56% of all

seminary students believe in the virgin birth of Jesus.

3. Satan has always tried to deny the virgin birth:

A. Jesus is the illegitimate child of a Roman soldier who had a love affair with Mary. So said

a 6th and 11th century Jewish writer and more recently The Christian Understanding of God.

B. Jewish tradition: Jesus is the illegitimate child of Jocquinin, a neighbor of Mary and

Joseph.

C. The Passover Plot by Schoenfield written in 1965: Jesus is the natural son of Joseph and

Mary, but He was only a Master conspirator who thought He could be the Messiah. So He

purposefully tried to fulfill the Messianic prophecies.

D. The liberal says the Bible doesn’t even teach the Virgin Birth.

4. Does the Word of God teach that Jesus was born of a virgin?

I. THE VIRGIN BIRTH WAS FORETOLD BY GOD Gen. 3:15; Is. 7:14

Genesis 3:1-16

A. Man Fell Gen. 3:1-6

God’s Word is always under attack.

1.God’s Word Was Doubted 1

2.God’s Word Was Distorted 3

3.God’s Word Was Denied 4

4.God’s Word Was Disobeyed 6

Satan hasn’t changed much, nor has man. Man tried to cover himself.

B. Man Failed Adam hid himself and made excuses for his sin. 3:7-13

C. Man Finalized 3:14-16

1. Satan thought this was his day. Note v. 15 there are 3 enmities: *Between Eve and

Satan *Between humans and Satan *Between God and Satan

2. Satan was now ‘God of the World’. What plans he must have had! Woman was to bring

forth the earth’s future children and like Eve these children would follow Satan!! With

the tremendous potential of reproduction Satan could have a multitude who would

follow him!

3. Wait! 3:15 There will come One who will not be of man’s seed (and therefore will not

be under Satan’s dominion). He will be uniquely the seed of the woman (miraculously

conceived, virgin born.) Though you will grievously injure Him. He will completely

crush you and your evil ambitions.

4.In a technical sense the seed belongs to the man, and Mary’s impregnation by the Holy Spirit is the only instance in history that a woman had a seed within her that did not come from a man. Jesus…born without male seed would bruise his heel. There was to be a time of conflict and even apparent victory on the part of Satan…the Cross!

Isaiah 7:14

A virgin born son is directly related to the coming Messiah.

A.The more liberal, RSV Virgin means young woman…a young woman will conceive.

B.Behold is hinneh. It announces a birth of unusual importance and significance. This is a Scriptural birth announcement. The reason it is given is to attract attention to the announcement. This is the birth of a significant child.

C.A virgin is with child…Almah is the Hebrew word and is never used of a married woman. The mother must be a good woman. What sign is going to be given to the line of David? Virgin is found 9 times in the Old Testament and 8 times is translated virgin. In other words, a virgin is going to bear a son. Impossible?! That is the ‘sign’!!

D.Shall call his name Immanuel Name means character. His character is God with us! The name cannot apply to anyone who is not God. No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, He hath declared Him (John 1:18)

Does the Word of God teach that Jesus was born of a virgin?

II. THE VIRGIN BIRTH WAS FULFILLED BY GOD Matt 1:18-23; Luke 1:26-38

Matthew 1:18-23

A.The fact of the virgin birth is given in one sentence (1:18) He descended from God by a miraculous and never repeated act of the Holy Spirit.

B.Birth is the same root word genealogy in v. 1 This is from the Father’s side. Before they came together. Mary’s virginity was an evidence of her godliness.

C.Betrothed Marriage was arranged by families, often without consulting the bride and groom. Girls were often 12 or 13. Hebrew marriage had two stages: Kiddushin (betrothal) and Huppah (marriage ceremony). A contract was made and was sealed by a dowry, payment by the groom’s family to the bride’s father. The contract was binding as soon as it was made, and the man and woman were considered legally married even though the huppah may be one year later. There was little if any social contact. A writing of divorcement to annul the betrothal was necessary to end the marriage. To all appearances Mary had been unfaithful to Joseph. The breaking of the engagement contract by divorce seemed to be his only alternative.

D.That which is conceived in her is on the Holy Spirit is the ultimate testimony to the virgin birth. (19,20)

E.V. 22-24 is a divine interpretation of Isaiah 7:14 The Greek word is parthenos It can’t mean anything but virgin. Note v. 25 One who never had sexual relations with a man.

Luke 1:26-38

You are going to have a baby Read vss 30ff and don’t miss the reply in v. 34.

A.Liberals, skeptics, agnostics can deny that he believes the virgin birth of Jesus, but they cannot deny that Isaiah, Matthew and Luke are talking about the virgin birth.

B.The greatest proof of the virgin birth is the life that Jesus lived. There is no other explanation for One who lived as He lived…taught as He taught…healed as He healed…raised the dead as He did…walked on water…calmed the storm as He did…

died as He died…rose from the dead as He did and is alive at the Father’s right hand, and HE WILL RETURN!

C.The only explanation is that Jesus is GOD WITH US. God in human flesh. He was born of God…not man. HE IS WORTHY TO BE MY SAVIOR!

Galatians 4:4, 5

In God’s time…the God-man came.

A.The Position Under the Law

B.The Problem No one can keep the law.

C.The Penalty When you break God’s law you come under God’s judgment…the soul that sinneth it shall die.

D.The Provision 5 The only hope is for someone to redeem us (pay the price…pay the penalty).

E.The Payment Jesus came into the world as a man in order that He might pay the price.

As God…He is able to bring us into His family. (Rom 3:20…6:23…10:13)

If there is no virgin birth then Jesus isn’t God.

If Jesus isn’t God, we aren’t redeemed, and we are not sons.

If we are not sons then we will have no place with Him in eternity.

BUT if Jesus is God then He is born of a virgin, and He can go to the cross as a man, pay the penalty for our sins, come to us as God, and make us sons by faith.

(John 1:12; John 3:16)

He that believeth on the Sons hath everlasting life and He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.