“THE BIRTH OF JESUS”

(Matthew 1:18-25)

…1000 years ago, Anselm wrote a book, CUR DEUS HOMO, in which he unfolds the four ways in which people have come into this world.

1^st: No man, no woman…. __Adam__

2^nd: A man, no woman… __Eve__

3^rd: No man, a woman… __Jesus__

4^th: A man, and __woman__…Normal procreation.

…The Bible clearly presents the virgin birth of our Lord. This is the __essential__ truth of Christianity, it is the foundation upon which the rest is built.

…Knowing the importance of the incarnation, Jesus quizzes His __enemies__ concerning His origin.

Matt 22:41-45 “How can David call his son Lord?”

TWO REASONS WHY YOU MUST BELIEVE IN THE

MIRACULOUS VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS.

…This is __not__ an optional doctrine.

I. THE VIRGIN BIRTH IS UNFOLDED FROM COVER TO COVER IN OUR BIBLE.

…To reject this is to reject God’s __Word__!

A. The Old Testament teaches us to anticipate His blessed coming.

1. Genesis 3:15 “The __seed__ of a woman.”

2. Isaiah 7:14 “A sign, the virgin will conceive.” (Matt 1:22-23)

B. The Gospel genealogies present the virgin birth as the __only__ possible solution… to an otherwise unsolvable problem.

1. Both Matthew and Luke carefully __guard__ against any suggestion of a human father.

a. Matthew 1:16 “of whom” is a feminine pronoun in Greek.

b. Luke 3:23 “He was the son, so it was thought.”

2. Two separate genealogies are required to solve the enormous problem of Jeremiah’s __curse__ upon Jehoiachin.

a. The Messiah must inherit the throne of David through Solomon’s line. (2 Sam 7:12-16)

b. The huge problem: Messiah could not be a physical descendent through the last legitimate kin, Jehoiachin, because of the __curse__. (Jer. 22:30)

c. The __only__ solution possible:

…The Messiah is to be born of a virgin who is the descendent of David through Solomon’s brother __Nathan__.

…This virgin must also marry a man of the royal line of Solomon – adoption.

C. The Epistles stretch language to its breaking point in attempting to describe the virgin birth.

1. Phil. 2:7a “made in human __likeness__”

2. I Tim. 3:16 “__Appeared__ in a body”

3. John 1:14 “the Word __became__ flesh”

II. IF THE VIRGIN BIRTH IS PROVEN FALSE, THE RESULTS ARE TRAGIC AND INSURMOUNTABLE.

A. If no virgin birth, then Jesus was born of an __unknown__ father and Mary was impure…

B. If no virgin birth, the Bible is wrong and robbed of any __authority__. Throw it out!

C. If no virgin birth, then Jesus was the natural offspring of sinful parents. This would rule out His pre-existence and His deity. He would have no power to __forgive__ sin! There would be no salvation!

LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:

1. The Bible clearly teaches the virgin birth.

2. The virgin birth is the best test case as to your stance on miracles.

3. Marvel at the wonderful plan of God

4. What have you done with Christ? You must be born again.