THE FUNDAMENTAL NECESSITY OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH

                 

ISAIAH 9:6                                           

Pastor Rick Jackson

During the Christmas season our thoughts are naturally drawn to the birth of Christ. Christians should constantly keep the empty manger, the empty cross, and the empty tomb together to remind them of the full salvation, the abundant life, and the blessed hope which we have in the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Those of us who believe the Bible believe, of course, in the virgin birth of Christ but do we realize the virgin birth is a fundamental necessity? The virgin birth is not just a "supernatural" touch to the Christmas story, the virgin birth is a theological, historical, and redemptive necessity. Why? I am glad you asked. Let us examine 7 reasons showing the fundamental necessity for the virgin birth.

THE VIRGIN BIRTH WAS NECESSARY:

I. SO CHRIST WOULD NOT HAVE A SIN NATURE [Ps. 51:5, Lk. 1:35] an earthly father would mandate a sin nature

-Behold, I was shapen in iniquity,; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

-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.

II. SO JESUS CHRIST WOULD BE HUMAN AS WELL AS DIVINE IN HIS NATURE [Phil. 2:5-8]

If Jesus had not been born a human he would not have been truly human. It did not just appear human as some early cults tried to say, He was human!

-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.

Note “form of God” in v. 6 and “Form of a servant” in verse 7. In other words, Jesus was as much God as if He had never been man, and as much man as if He had never been God”

III. SO JESUS CHRIST WOULD BE DIVINE AS WELL AS HUMAN IN HIS NATURE [Mt. 22:41-46]

-While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?  If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

IV. SO JESUS CHRIST COULD SERVE AS MEDIATOR [1 Tm. 2:5]

-For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

V. SO JESUS CHRIST COULD MAKE AN ADEQUATE PAYMENT FOR SIN [1 Jn. 2:1-2]

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus had to be human in order to die but He had to be God so that His death would be able to pay for all sin.

VI. SO JESUS CHRIST COULD FACE TEMPTATIONS AS ANY MAN [Heb. 2:15-18, 4:15-16]

-And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

-For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

VII. SO CHRIST COULD, WOULD & SHOULD FULFILL SCRIPTURE [Gn. 3:15, Is. 7:14, Jer. 31:22, Mt. 1:20-25, Lk. 1:35]

[God told Satan in Eden] -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.

-Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

- the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.

- 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.

- 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.