THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
MATTHEW 1:18–24
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit
(Matthew 1:18).
Because the role of Christ has been given increasing prominence in Romans, for the next several days we will feature a series on the life of Jesus. Beginning with His birth, each day’s study will highlight a significant aspect of His ministry.
Notice how Matthew begins his account: “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.” Matthew is clearly making a straightforward historical claim here, and there is absolutely no doubt but that the Bible teaches the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ.
The Virgin Birth Controversy
For some reason, the miracle of the Virgin Birth has been one of the most hotly contested facts of the Gospel in this century. Liberal theologians have insisted that it is a biological impossibility, did not happen, and has no theological significance anyway.
But the New Testament is not suggesting that Jesus was born without any natural biological processes. Instead, the New Testament is saying that there is a normal reproductive process, and that a special Power was at work in that process on this occasion. It was not the potency of Joseph that generated this Child, but the power of God the Father.
The New Adam
This Child was to be different. He was to be the new Adam, the Sin-Bearer, who would deliver the fallen human race from its very “fallen-ness” and wipe away the power of original sin. And it was certainly appropriate for God to introduce this Child to the world in a very special way.
Matthew was no fool. He knew the same things we know about natural reproduction. He knew what he was writing when he wrote that Jesus was born of a virgin. He wrote it because it was what had really happened.
CORAM DEO
The virgin birth of Jesus inaugurated a new beginning for humanity and for the world. That new beginning is what made possible your new birth into the kingdom of God. Today, thank God that He made the fact of that new beginning so crystal clear in causing His Son to be born of a virgin.
For further study: Isaiah 7:10–16; 1 Corinthians 15:35–49
thursday
may