A Virgin Will Conceive

Take your Bibles this morning and open them first of all to Isaiah chapter 7 verse 14.

! Just the first of a couple of texts we're going to be looking at. And actually Isaiah 7 verse 14 is just a beginning point and then we're going to settle on Luke chapter 1 verse 26.

So if you want to go ahead and find that passage you can as well and just hold your finger there. Before I read the text let me give you just a very quick, very brief little heads up on the preaching schedule for this holiday season.

And this morning of course I'm going to be primarily focusing on Luke chapter 1 and verse 26. Then the next two Sundays we're going to still be in Luke chapter 1 and I'm going to preach a couple of messages out of Mary's psalm of praise.

Maybe more commonly known as the Magnificat. As we discover the true spirit of Christmas. And then on the day after Christmas and literally will be the very day after on that Sunday we'll be in Luke chapter 2.

And be preaching a message on some thoughts about the day after Christmas. So that's where we're going for the next several Sundays and so you can be anticipating that.

And I hope that you will. And so now Isaiah chapter 7 and verse 14. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.

What is the sign? Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel.

All right now let me ask you a question before we move on to the second text. When Isaiah the prophet says the virgin shall conceive.

Does he mean that literally? Does he mean that? That is a literal virgin.

Shall conceive. Did he mean that or did he mean something else? Maybe it should be translated as some have translated it.

Maybe it should be a maiden shall conceive. Or a young girl shall conceive as some have erroneously translated.

Well before we answer that question let's move to the second text. And this is where we're going to stay for the rest of the message this morning. Luke chapter 1 and verse 26.

Give you a little time to find it in case you haven't already. And I'm going to read all the way through to verse 38 or through verse 38.

Starting with verse 26 of Luke chapter 1. Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth.

To a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in the angel said to her rejoice highly favored one the Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women. But when she saw him she was troubled at his saying. And considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her do not be afraid Mary.

For you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son. And shall call his name Jesus. And he will be great.

And will be called the son of the highest. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom there will be no end.

And Mary said to the angel. How can this be since I do not know a man? And the angel answered and said to her. The Holy Spirit will come upon you.

And the power of the highest will overshadow you. Therefore also that holy one who is to be born will be called the son of God. Now indeed Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age.

And this is now the sixth month for her. Who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible. Then Mary said behold the maid servant of the Lord.

Let it be to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her. Alright now let me ask this question of you. When Luke said God sent the angel Gabriel to quote a virgin.

Verse 27. Did he mean a literal virgin? Did he? Or did he mean something else? You may be thinking this is an awful strange kind of query from a pastor who believes the Bible.

But I'm just trying to get you to think about something just by way of introduction. Because we're going to be focusing this morning on the virgin birth. And so did Gabriel mean that?

Is this something to be taken literally? And so when Luke said the virgin's name. And I emphasize the word virgin because it's right there in the text.

When Luke said the virgin's name. Was Mary. And that a virgin. As a virgin she would conceive and give birth.

Birth to a child. A son. There in verse 31. Did he really mean that? Is that to be taken literally?

I guess my first answer is simply that is what the Bible says. That's what it says clearly. I know someone.

Some scholars play around with the word over in the Old Testament text. The Hebrew that in most translations of the Bible is rendered virgin. I know that some scholars I think mistakenly try to see something else there.

And maybe it could be translated maiden or young girl. But clearly when you get into the New Testament. Where the connection is made from Isaiah's prophecy.

In Isaiah chapter 7 and verse 14. When the connection is made. And now the angel is speaking to Mary. When the connection is made clearly the idea is what?

Virgin. In fact Mary even gives testimony to the fact. She's a virgin. Not just a young girl. Not just a quote maiden.

But a virgin. She said I've not known a man. How can this be possible? So the clear idea here is. That a virgin.

Will give birth to a son. Clear idea is a mirror. And so I want us to consider this morning. The virgin conception.

Virgin birth. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I want us to celebrate his birth. His miraculous birth. This morning. And to do that by first considering how unique and extraordinary.

This is. That a virgin would give birth. The birth of Jesus. A birth like no other birth.

And I want us also. Before we finish. To acknowledge. This morning. That if there had been no virgin birth. If Jesus had been born.

Like any other human being. In the regular way. In the regular biological way. If there had been. No virgin birth. I want you to know. Right here on the front end.

That there would have been. No. Atonement. For your sin. And therefore. There would have been. No glorious resurrection. And therefore.

You would have no salvation. There would be no salvation. For sinners. And so in order to. Kind of. Lay this all out. I want us to consider this morning.

Four. Realities. For truths. For truths. That stand upon.

His miraculous birth. Now the first truth. Is. And I'm ashamed to say it. But it'll make sense. As we go along. It may sound funny at first. But the first truth. Does not come from the scriptures.

Per se. But this first reality. Let's call it a reality. Comes from the contemporary culture. And so the first point. Is simply this.

The sinful. Mockery of his birth. The sinful. Mockery of his birth. Did you know. That not everyone. Believes in the virgin birth.

Of Jesus Christ. Surely you know that. Not everyone. Believes that. And perhaps. Just as bad. There are many. Church going.

Bible toting. Christians. Who attend churches. Like we are here. This morning. Who say. Yes. I believe in the virgin birth. But really. It's not all that important. There may be some.

Right here. This morning. Just. After hearing me say that. You might have. Thought in your own heart. You know. I believe in the virgin birth. It's a wonderful miracle.

Wonderful truth. But not everyone believes it. And you know. It's not really that crucial. But is it true? The virgin birth.

Is it true? And if it is true. Is it important? It's important. Got one yes over there. And I think all of you. Would.

Would agree. You know. Many so-called scholars. And preachers. Say. That it is not true. And therefore.

They say. It's not important. For example. One university professor. Responsible for. Teaching young men. And women. He teaches.

That quote. Jesus. Was the illegitimate. Child. Of a Roman soldier. Who had a love affair. With Mary. You ever heard.

Such a notion. And by the way. That. Seems to be. A very popular. Theory. About. The birth of Jesus Christ. That he.

May have just been. A Roman soldier. Now where that came from. I don't know. Or. That he was just. Some other man. Maybe not Joseph. Clearly from scripture. I think we're to understand.

That Joseph was not the father. And he. Was contemplating. Putting Mary away. Going through some quiet. Low profile divorce. And so clearly. Joseph is not the father.

So. The idea is. It must have been. Some other man. Very popular. Theory. As a matter of fact. I. Have. A suspicion. That it was. Somewhat of a theory. In Jesus.

This day. It's intriguing. Dialogue. Between Jesus. And the Pharisees. In John chapter 8. Verse 41. Will not turn to the passage. But Jesus is dealing.

With the issue. Of. Of man. Doing the will. Of his father. And for the Pharisees. Their father. He ultimately. Reveals. Their father. Is the devil.

And so they're just. Simply doing. The bidding. Of their father. The devil. So they have this dialogue. About fathers. About who's. Who. Father is who.

And. And they even ask the question. Who's your father. Jesus. Then they say something. Very interesting. In John 8. 41. They said.

Of themselves. We. Were not. Born. Of fornication. Now. I don't. Propose. To know exactly. What they meant. But I think.

The implication. Is here. That. Maybe. You. Jesus. Were born. Out of fornication. But we weren't. Almost a. Snide.

Kind of. Implication. And maybe. Jesus. Doesn't even know. Who his father was. And so maybe. The idea. Was prevalent. In that day. As well. That Mary.

Conceived. A child. Out of. Adultery. Another. Quote. Learned scholar. In contemporary. Times. Said this.

About it. The virgin birth. Is simply. A myth. Some of you. May have seen. That little. News report.

On Fox News. Maybe some other. News agencies. Carried it. The billboard. That's been put up. Sponsored by. Atheists. And. I think.

It said something like. You know. It's a myth. That little picture. Of the nativity. Well. That's. That's what. Many believe. Not just atheists. Even those.

Who would claim. To be Christian. Like this scholar. Who said. The virgin birth. Is simply. A myth. He went on. To say. That the bible. Takes the reader.

Out of this world. Of sober reality. Into a world. Of myth. I like what. One preacher said. He said. Scholars like that.

Myth. Defy me. But they're. Myth taken. Okay. Ridiculous. Isn't it? Or how about this.

Really intelligent. Comment. By a. Again. Quote. Scholar. He said. The virgin birth. Is a story. On the level. Of a marvel. Comic book.

It's only. True. In our imagination. Talk about. The sinful. Mockery. Of his birth. Now folks.

Listen to me. This morning. The virgin birth. Is not only. True. Straight out. Of the pages. Of scripture. But it is. Necessary. And that's really.

What I want us. To get. This morning. Of maybe. Other things. It's not just. Simply true. And we ought not. Just to take it. As fact. As truth. From God's word. That Jesus was.

In fact. Born. Of a virgin. That his. Birth. Was miraculous. That's not only. True. But I want us. To understand. It's necessary. Absolutely. Crucial. To the validity.

Of the gospel. And therefore. To your salvation. Of a virgin. Of a virgin.! But if you do not. Believe in the virgin.

Birth of Jesus Christ. Then. You have some. Very serious problems. But one thing. You have a problem.

With the moral character. Of Mary. The mother. Of Jesus. You ever thought about that? You have a problem. With her. Moral character.

If Jesus was not born. Of a virgin. Then. The critics are right. About Mary. And. And therefore. Mary was a harlot.

Or at the very least. An adulteress. And. Therefore. Jesus was born. Out of adultery. But you have another problem.

If you have a problem. With the virgin birth. Then you have a problem. With the. The nature. Of Jesus Christ. Himself. Think about this. This brings into play.

Some very important. Doctrine. From scripture. If Jesus. Was not born. Of a virgin. Then Jesus. Would have been. The blood. Offspring. Of either.

Joseph. Or some other man. You say. Okay. Well. What's the big deal. About that? Well. That would have made him. No different. Than any other. Person. Born. Or any other.

Quote. Son of Adam. He would have been. Just like you. And just like me. But the Bible. Says very clearly. That in Adam. All have sinned. And so.

If you don't believe. In the virgin birth. Then you have a problem. With the nature of Jesus. And he was a sinner. Just like you. Just like me. In Adam. The Bible says. All die. And that would apply.

To Jesus. Let me tell you. Another problem you have. If you do not believe. In the virgin birth. You have a problem. With the. Truthfulness.

Of God's word. These are big problems. Now. You have a problem. With the truth. Truthfulness. Of God's word. You say.

How so? Well. Because. The Bible says. That Jesus. Was conceived. And born. Of a virgin. And so. If the Bible. Was wrong. About that. Then the Bible. Apparently.

Is wrong. About a lot. Of other things. And it can't be trusted. Let me tell you. Something else. If you do not believe. In the virgin birth.

You have a problem. With your. Eternal. Future. As one preacher. Put it.

I wouldn't give you. Half a hallelujah. For your chances. Of heaven. If you do not believe. In the virgin birth. He said. If you take. The virgin birth.

Out. The house. Of Christianity. Will collapse. Like a house. Made out of cards. It's true. The virgin birth.

Is absolutely. Crucial. Crucial. Crucial. To the gospel. And to your salvation. And mine. The sinful mockery.

Of the birth. Of Jesus Christ. But now. Let's turn. To the scriptures. And notice. The second truth. This morning. Not only. The sinful mockery. Of his birth. But secondly. I want you to notice.

Or consider. The sacred. Mystery. Of his birth. The sacred. Mystery. Of his birth. The virgin birth. Is a mystery. It is.

It's a mystery. Do you have a problem. With that? With it being a mystery. It is a mystery. And I suppose. Mary had a problem.

With. With it. At first. She did ask. The angel. Remember. In verse 34. How can this be? I mean. The angel. Just laid this. You know. Just drop this bombshell.

You're going to have a child. And Mary's thinking. I've never even. Had any kind of. Relationships. With a man. How can this be? And of course. Mary is speaking.

Biologically. Isn't she? She's speaking. To the. To her own. Understanding. That biologically. For me to have a child. Would be impossible. And so the angel says. In verse 37.

Nothing will be impossible. With God. So you see. What we're talking about here. Is a miracle. And you don't have to understand it. See.

That's the problem. That we have. We think we've got to understand it. That we've got to dig. And find some kind of. Indisputable. Or scientifically. Empirical.

Proof of it. But miracles. Are not to be understood. If you could understand the miracle. It wouldn't be a miracle. Would it? Vance Havner used to say.

I don't understand electricity. But I don't intend to sit around in the dark. Until I do. There are a lot of things. We don't understand. I mean. Even. The.

Non. Miraculous. Many of those things. We do not understand. But a miracle is something. You don't explain. You don't explain it. You just simply. Believe it. You believe it to be true.

The virgin birth. Is a God thing. We might put it that way. You can't explain the virgin birth. Any more than you could explain God.

I want you to listen. To something. Paul said. Paul wrote. To a young preacher. By the name of Timothy. In 1 Timothy. Chapter 3.

And verse 16. Just listen to this. Paul said. Without controversy. Great is the mystery. Of godliness. It's a tremendous statement.

There's no debate about it. No controversy about it. No question about it. Great is the mystery. Of godliness. I mean. That is. There's a whole lot. About God.

That is a mystery. That in this life. At least. And I think a certain amount of it. Even in the next life. We're not going to understand. Completely. It's a mystery. Great is the mystery. Of godliness.

And then I want you to listen. To just what. He attached that to. God. Was manifested. In the flesh. See. Right off the bat. He's saying.

That this mystery. I'm talking about. The greatness. The. The indisputable reality. Of the mystery. Of godliness. Is first illustrated. By the fact. That Jesus. Or God. Rather.

Was manifest. In the flesh. What is that? That's the virgin birth. God. Was manifest. In the flesh. Justified.

In the spirit. Seen. By angels. Preached. Among the gentiles. Believed on. In the world. Received up. In glory. Without controversy.

Great. Is the mystery. Of godliness. Don't try to explain. The miraculous. Just believe it. It's pretty simple. Isn't it? Just.

Believe it. That is. Just believe. God. I read something. Several years ago. That was written. By the great. Preacher. And scholar. Among southern baptists.

Dr. Lee Scarborough. And he used to tell this story. He said. I was preaching. On the story. Of Jonah. And the whale. One Sunday. And when we got home.

My son. Asked me. He said. Daddy. Do you really believe. What you were preaching today. About Jonah and the whale. Do you really believe. All that. That a fish.

Could swallow a man. And keep. That man alive. For three days. And three nights. In the belly. In his belly. Do you believe that to be true. And Dr. Scarborough. Said. He sat his son down. And he said. Let me ask you a question.

If. God. Could make a man. Out of absolutely nothing. Nothing. And if God. Could make a fish. Out of absolutely nothing. Do you think.

That God. Could make. A fish. That could swallow a man. And keep him alive. Three days. In his belly. And his son said. Well. Dad.

If you're going to bring God. Into it. That's different. To him. Well. How about. If we bring God. Into the virgin birth.

You see. This is a miracle. This. This. This is a God thing. And as the angel said. All things are possible. God. Nothing is impossible. So you have.

The sinful mockery. Of his birth. Very prevalent. In our world. Today. You have the. Sacred mystery. Of his.

Birth. People without faith. Can't stand mysteries. And then third. I want you to consider. The sovereign. Majesty.

Of his birth. The sovereign. Majesty. I want you to look. Again. There. Verse 32. Verse 32. And 33. And this is what the angel said.

To Mary. He will be great. That is. This son. Who's going to be born to you. He will be great. And will be called. The son. Of the highest.

And the Lord. God. Will give him. The throne. Of his father. David. And he will reign. Over the house. Of Jacob. Forever. And of his kingdom. There will be no end.

That's a tremendous. Statement. By the angel. You see. Jesus. The virgin. Born. Son of Mary.

This Jesus. Was God. In human flesh. You know that. Don't you? God.

In human flesh. The angel said. The son. Of the most high. That's God. The angel said.

That he would be. Heir. To the throne. Of his father. David. That is his predecessor. Messiah would come. From the lineage.

The house and lineage. Of David. But his kingdom. Of course. Unlike David. Will never end. Remember.

Isaiah chapter 9. Where Isaiah. Said. In fact. Let me just turn to. And read it. Real quick. Possibly.

One of the most. Familiar. Passages. Out of Isaiah. Especially. For this time. Of the year. Isaiah. The prophet. Said. For unto us.

A child. Is born. You know. What that means. He would be born.

A human. And unto us. A son. Is given. You know. What that means. He would also be God.

His humanity. His deity. And. The government. Will be upon his shoulder. And his name. Will be called. Wonderful counselor. Mighty God.

Everlasting father. Prince of peace. Of the increase. Of his government. And peace. There will be. No. End. Upon the throne.

Of David. And over his kingdom. To order it. And to establish it. With judgment. And justice. From that time forward. Even forever. The zeal of the Lord. Of hosts. Will perform this.

You see. Both. Side by side. His humanity. His deity. The sovereign majesty.

Of the Lord Jesus Christ. See. Jesus is. The earthly child. Of a heavenly father. He is God. But also.

Jesus is. The heavenly child. Of an earthly mother. He is a man. Through his birth. The incarnation. Jesus became. The God man.

All God. All man. The God man. Jesus. Did not have his beginning. There in Bethlehem. That's not where he began.

He did not. Have his beginning. In maternity. He had his beginning. In eternity. And when he was born. He was. Older than his mother. And as old as his father. Never been anybody like him.

No one. Is like Jesus. Never ever. Be. One like him. Buddha. Many worship him. But he was not a God man.

Mohammed. There are many. In fact. They say. Maybe a third. Of this world's population. Worship Mohammed. But Mohammed.

Was not a God man. Some worship. Hare Krishna. Buddha. But he was not a God man. Buddha was a man. Mohammed was a man.

Hare Krishna. Was a man. They lived. And they died. And as far as I know. They're still dead. Still dead. But Jesus. Is all God.

And all man. He lived. He died. And he rose again. And he ascended. To the right hand. Of the father. In glory. That's Jesus. The sovereign majesty.

Of his birth. And of his kingdom. There shall be no end. But. We don't. Stop there. There's more. To his miraculous birth.

At least one other thing. I mean. We have the. The cradle. Of Jesus. It's kind of what we focus on. This time of the year. The nativity.

We have the cradle. The cradle. That's. His incarnation. We have. The cross of Jesus. His.

Substitution. Sacrificial. Atoning. Substitution. And we have. The crown of Jesus. That's his. Exaltation.

And. All. Three of these. Are inseparable. They're. Separably linked. And so. I would have you notice. One additional truth. Concerning the virgin birth.

Of the Lord Jesus Christ. And that is. The saving ministry. Of his birth. The saving ministry.

Of his birth. You of course. Remember what the angel said. To Joseph. There. In Matthew chapter one. Joseph. In his bewilderment.

The angel said. To Joseph. Of Mary. Of Mary. Will give birth. To a son. And you. Are to name him. Jesus. For he shall. Save his people. From their sins. That's what the name.

Jesus means. Jehovah. Is salvation. He. Will. Save. His people. From their sins. In Luke chapter two.

The angel said. To the shepherds. Today. As. Savior. Who is. Christ. The Lord. Was born. For you. In the city. Of David. A savior.

Now. Early on. In this message. I. Made the point. That without. The virgin birth. You would have. No hope of heaven. And I believe that. To be true. And here's why. In the first place.

In order. For you. To be saved. There must. Be a. Blood. Atonement. For your sin. There's no salvation. Apart from that. Someone has to pay.

And the only payment. That God will accept. Is blood. Leviticus. Chapter 17. And verse 11. Listen to this. For the life of the flesh.

Is in the blood. And I have given it. To you. Upon the altar. To make atonement. For your souls. For it is the blood.

That makes atonement. For the soul. And Hebrews 9. 22. Without the shedding. Of blood. There's no remission.

No forgiveness. Of sin. And so. We need someone. To make an atonement. For our sin. No. Apparently. That's what the Bible said. The only thing.

Acceptable to God. We need someone. To become a substitute. For the judgment. That we deserve. Right. But who. Who could it be.

Who be able to do that. The blood required. It cannot be just any blood. It must be worthy.

Blood. That is the blood. That God requires. Must be innocent. Pure. Undefiled.

Untainted. By sin. And so. Here's the. Why of the virgin birth. And why without it.

You would have no hope of salvation. Because. No son of Adam. Could ever qualify. As an atonement. His blood.

Could not make. An atonement. No son of Adam. Could be a substitute. For me. Or for you. The blood. Line. Of Adam. Could not make atonement. For sins.

The Bible says. In Romans. Chapter 5. And verse 12. Therefore. Just as sin. Entered the world. Through one man. That's Adam. And death. Through sin. In this way.

Death spread. To all men. Because all. Have sinned. All sinned. Bible says. In 1st Corinthians. 15. 22. In Adam.

All die. And so. You see. You and I. Have. A problem. With our blood. That's. That's. That's. The bottom line. We have a problem. With it. We have. Bad blood.

Literally. Spiritually. We have bad blood. Because. It was tainted. By sin. Before you and I. Ever committed. The first sin. By the way. Defiled.

And corrupted. By sin. We. Inherited. That. Bad blood. From. Mom. And dad. Who inherited. Herited it.

From. Their mom and dad. And their mom and dad. Before them. And the mom and dad. All the way back. To Adam and Eve. Blood is. Tainted. And the death.

Of. Sin. Then. Has spread. To every. Man. All. Mankind. But one.

Jesus. And what makes him different. He was born. Right. He was a man.

What makes Jesus different. Well let me ask you. A biological question. Who determines the bloodline. Is it the mother.

No. The father. Bingo. The father. Determines. The bloodline.

Right. Biologically speaking. That's right. You see. None of the blood. Of. A baby. In the womb. Circulates. In the body.

Of the mother. In fact. The baby's blood type. Many times. Is different. Than the mother's. Who determines the blood.

The father. Father determines the blood. Okay. You check that out. Now. Whose blood.

Was in Jesus. Whose blood. Was in the Lord Jesus Christ. The blood of his father. His father.

Joseph. No. Or some other. Unnamed man. No. Jesus had no earthly father.

Did he? No. Jesus. Was. Virgin. Conceived. Virgin.

Born. And yet. It was still. The blood. Of his father. That flowed. Through his veins. God. The father. You say.

Well. That's absurd. God. Doesn't have blood. Well. He did. When Jesus. Was on this earth. You say. That's crazy. Is it?

Acts. 20. 28. Speaking to. Pastors. Elders. Bible says. Be on guard for yourselves. And for all the flock. Among whom the Holy Spirit.

Has appointed you. As overseers. To shepherd. The church. Of. Now listen to this. To shepherd. The church. Of. God. Which. He.

Purchased. With. His. Own. Blood. Do you understand? Jesus.

Came. The way he came. Virgin. Born. So that he could. Be. Who he needed to be.

The God man. And Jesus. Was. The God man. So that he could. Do. What he needed to do.

What you and I needed him to do. To die for us. And he did what he did. Died.

For me. So that he could change what I am. Hopeless. Lost.

Hell. Bound. Sinner. When I was seven years old. I knelt by my father's bedside.

And I prayed. And I asked Jesus to save me. I trusted him as my Lord and saved me.

And he did. He saved me. And that was a. Bigger miracle. A greater miracle. Than the virgin birth. The virgin birth was no problem for God.

Don't. Don't. Don't. Don't approach. The virgin birth as some. Huge. Difficult thing for God to do. It was no problem for him. The creation of this world.

Speaking into existence. This world. And the. In all creation. Was no problem for God. It was no problem for him. He just spoke.

And it was. Breathing. The breath of life. Into man. So the man. So the man would be a living soul.

That was no problem for God. The only time God went to any trouble. Was at the cross. As his son.

Hung there. Bled. Died. They say. The new birth. Is a greater miracle.

Than the virgin birth. And that's exactly. What it took to save me. So.

Get this. Straight. In your head. And you'll understand. Not only. Is the virgin birth. True. But it's absolutely crucial.

Because no virgin birth. No. Deity. Of Jesus Christ. No deity. Of Jesus Christ.

No. Sinless. Savior. No sinless. Savior. No atonement. For sin. No atonement.

For sin. No. Hope. No hope. Thank. God. For the virgin birth. Of Jesus Christ.