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Matthew 1:18. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit”. Some Deny The Virgin Birth. Some claim Mary was a “sexually questionable woman.”
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Matthew 1:18 • “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit”
Some Deny The Virgin Birth • Some claim Mary was a “sexually questionable woman.” • The birth narratives are “the atmosphere of legend, not of history.” • It runs “against the laws of nature.” • It was “based on pagan myths.” • “It is only taught in Matthew & Luke.” • It is “not essential to the Christian faith.” What is the Truth?
Why Believe in the Virgin Conception? • It was prophesied (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; Gen. 3:14-15).
Is the Woman of Isaiah 7:14 a virgin? Hebrew hmlu almah “young woman of marriageable age” Never used of a married woman! Greek OT (LXX) Gr. παρθένος parthenos “a virgin” Jews before Jesus thought it was a virgin!
Why Believe in the Virgin Conception? • It was prophesied (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; Gen. 3:14-15). • It is Taught in All of the New Testament (Matthew 1:16; 18-24; Luke 1:26-38; Gal 4:4-5; John 8:23; 19:26-27; John 1:1-3; 14; phrase “only begotten”).
Why Believe in the Virgin Conception? • Without it Jesus is not God (Col 2:9-10; Heb 1:1-4; John 20:26-29). • Without it Scripture is not Inspired (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). • What is the alternative?
What About the Charges? • The Jews claimed Mary was a “sexually questionable woman” but Scripture teaches she was “highly favored” & “had not known a man” (Luke 1). • The birth narratives are presented as history (Luke 1:1-4). • A miraculous itself sets aside “the laws of nature”— “No event like this had ever occurred before,…how do we know but that it was the natural way for divinity to become humanity?” (Boles, p. 31).
What About the Charges? • It is true that many pagan myths described pagan gods taking human women (Caesars, Alexander, Pharaohs, etc.)—yet there are distinct differences: • Pagan myths portray deities subject to carnal weakness. • Scripture describes no such foolishness. • All the supossed offspring of pagan divine couplings are dead. • Jesus conquered death and ever lives!
Matthew 1:20-21 • “…Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins”