QUEST TO UNDERSTAND ELEMENTARY SCRIPTURAL TRUTH

Significance of the Virgin Birth

Gen. 16:10-13 · Pastor Craig R. Jarvis

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1Examination of Terms: Doctrine vs. Preference

What is a doctrine?
Why is doctrine important?
What is a doctrine to the Christian faith?
What is a preference?
How are preferences important?
How could doctrine and preference be mixed up?

2The Doctrine of the Virgin Birth

The Virgin Birth: Matthew’s genealogy record intentionally points out that Jesus was born without the assistance of .
Greek: ex hes = Relative Pronoun – Indicates Mary as the physical mother – points not at all to Joseph.
Matthew gives the side of Jesus’ genealogy in 1:1. He then makes a distinctive difference in 1:18 to Jesus’ side with the words, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this way…”
Mary Jesus’ mother
Joseph was Jesus’ father
Jesus was already fully God in His pre-incarnate form
Occasions of “Christophanies” – IE: “ of the ” in the Old Testament.
The angel of the Lord speaks for God in the person Gen. 16:10
The human addressed often attributes the experience to directly Gen. 16:13
- The functions of the “Angel of the Lord” in the Old Testament prefigure the ministry of .
- No mention of the Lord in the New Testament.
Jesus Christ was involved with the of the world – present with the Triune God Col.1:16-17
- Jesus Christ is an being. He does not need the help of mortal man to exist.

3Incorrect Interpretations of the Virgin Birth

Typically, the Catholic Church has taught the virgin birth in a manner that is -Biblical.
Catholic beliefs are largely based in reasoning.
- IE: Jesus was sinless, therefore He had to come from a sinless .
“What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ.” –Catechism of the Catholic Church, p.123, 1994 ed.
Representation #1: Mary was
“Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, ‘full of grace’ through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception.” –Catechism of the Catholic Church, p.123, 1994 ed.
“By the grace of God Mary remained free of every personal sin her whole life long.” –Catechism of the Catholic Church, p.124, 1994 ed.”
Problem with this theory:
Jesus saw that Mary was as much in need of a as any other human being Mark 3:31-35
Jesus was called the “second Adam” because of He was born with a nature that did not have . 1 Cor.15:45-47
Because of Adam, has received a sin nature – except Jesus Christ 1 Cor.15:22
- Representation #2: maintained
- “The deepening of faith in the virginal motherhood led the Church of confess Mary’s real and perpetual virginity…the Aeiparthenos, the “Ever-virgin.” –Catechism of the Catholic Church, p.126, 1994 ed.
Problems:
- Jesus had “ and ” (Mk.3:31-35; 6:3; Gal.1:19)
- The Catholic Church says that these are not “…other children of the Virgin Mary…They are ”
- Representation #3: is co-redemptrix with
- “The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an “epitome of the whole Gospel”…” –Catechism of the Catholic Church, p.253, 1994 ed.”
- “You (Mary) conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.” – Byzantine Liturgy, Troparion, Feast of the Dormition, August 15.
- “This union of the mother with the Son in the work of salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ’s virginal conception up to His death” – Lumen gentium 57.
Problem:
- There is redemption in none other than . (Col.1:12-14; Heb.5:9)
- Salvation is only possible through the of Jesus. (Heb. 9:14,22; 10:19; 13:11-12; 1 Jn 1:7; & many more)
- Representation #4: is co-mediatrix
- “Taken up to heaven she (Mary) did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation…Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.” –Catechism of the Catholic Church, p.252, 1994 ed.”
Problem:
- This is circular reasoning:
There is between God and men – not two choices. Jesus Christ is our means to come before God in prayer and relationship. 1 Tim.2:5-6
Jesus Christ is our . In other words, He is our only route by which we may enter the presence of God. Heb.4:14-16
- Representation #5: and never .
- “The Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course fo her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things…” –Catechism of the Catholic Church, p.252, 1994 ed.”
Problem:
- Absolutely no proof – an imaginative idea birthed by continued circular reasoning.
- The Bible clearly lists those upon whom this gift was bestowed: and .
- Is the Virgin Birth necessary to our Doctrinal Beliefs?
- This doctrine is clearly stated in most catechisms and church documents as to salvation.
- If Joseph were the father of Jesus, His “sinless” nature would be more than to His nature.
If Joseph were the father of Jesus, He would be the “seed of mortal man” physically. No seed of mortals would ever occupy the of . Jer.22:30
- Jesus had to be Virgin Born as fully and fully
- If Jesus had mortal parents, one would question His
- If Jesus had mortal parents, one would question His .
- Jesus had to be Virgin Born to fulfill .
- As early as the protoevangelium (Gen.3:15), the ‘seed’ would be of a that would crush the head of the serpent. Normally, the seed is ascribed to the .
- There were many fables of great men being “virgin born.”
- prophesied of the virgin birth: Isaiah 7:14

4(Please Note: Differences of “Virgin birth” between Isaiah and Matthew.)

Conclusion:
- Joseph and Mary both are incredible examples of . Their significance should not be understated because of a popular misconception of their importance in the redemptive process.
- The doctrine of the Virgin Birth is essentially impossible to remove from the significance of our in Christ.
Your conclusions:
- “…and you shall call His name JESUS;
- For He shall save His people from their sins.”