Searching the Scripture

Lesson 8 The Virgin Birth of CHRIST

Part 1

In last week´s study we learned that JRSUS CHRIST is DEITY. HE is the SON of GOD. In today´s lesson we will learn that HE became a man. HE took our likeness and form to HIMSELF.
Philipians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

As Christians, we believe that since Adam fell into sin, and that we all are born with a sin nature which we inherit from our parents.
Psalm 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

If CHRIST had inherited this sin nature, HE was a sinner and died for HIS own sin. Even if CHRIST had lived a sinless life, HE would be unable to save the soul of anyone. So how did GOD accomplish this requirement, that CHRIST be born without sin?

GOD the FATHER solved the problem by what is known as the “virgin birth”. The mystery of the virgin birth is to be believed, accepted, and adored by Christians. The only logical answer to the problem is that the sin nature passed from the father to the child and not from the mother to the child. JESUS did not have a human father. The HOLY GHOST was HIS FATHER. Mary was HIS mother but did not pass on a sin nature to the baby JESUS.

Virgin Birth Foretold.

No sooner had man sinned than GOD found a way to bring man back to HIM.
Genesis 3:15 is the first mention of the promised Redeemer.
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.

GOD calls Abraham to be the father of the chosen nation of Israel.
Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

This promised blessing was to be given to mankind through the tribe of Judah.
Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

The Saviour was to be born into the family of David.
II Samuel 7:8-16Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.
Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,
And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

The actual prophecy of the virgin birth is found in Isaiah7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
This same prophecy is repeated in Matthew 1:23 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.

The prophecy is that JESUS the human ONE was to be born, but JESUS the DIVINE GOD was to be given. That JESUS as GOD was eternal and could not be born is found in Isaiah 9:6 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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Fulfillment of the Prophecy

Matthew 1:18-25 gives the story of this fulfillment.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
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.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Luke 2:4-7 does also.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
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.

Mary was engaged to Joseph but they were not yet married. CHRIST was born of a virgin but a betrothed virgin so that she could be married to protect her good name. Mary´s conception was definitely from the Holy Ghost and not from her fiance Joseph or any other man. GOD guarantees this so that we might be given a perfect Saviour. GOD encouraged Joseph to marry Mary so that he could be a companion and guide to her in order to protect her from the law.
Leviticus 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

In Matthew 1:25 we read that though Joseph and Mary were married they never lived together as husband and wife until after the birth of CHRIST. GOD took care to insert this verse with intimate information in order to show us that the unborn child could not possible be contaminated by a human father.
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

The Virgin Birth Is Taught in the Scripture

Matthew states that JESUS was conceived by the HOLY GHOST and born of a virgin in Matthew 1:18,20,23 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
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 was a medical doctor and would be very interested in this medical phenomenon. Every child must have a father. Who, then, was the father of baby JESUS? If the father were human, then HE had a sin nature and we are still in our sins. Luke carefully explains the unusual conception in Luke 1:27,31, 34 and 35
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

In Luke 1:34 Mary asks the sensible question of the angel - How can I have a child when I am not married and inferred that she was a pure virgin. In Luke 1:35 the angel explained that the Holy Ghost would be the father.