The Virgin Birth of Jesus – The Honest Truth of Jesus’ Birth
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon Outlines Tags: Sermons on the Birth of JesusINTRODUCTION:
A. If I were to tell you that I had no human biological father, would you believe me?
1. The Bible makes exactly that claim for Jesus of Nazareth.
2. Some people respond with disbelief, even as they do with other Bible miracles.
B. We need to be ready (prepared & willing) to offer a good defense, because this is not merely an academic question.
1. It goes to the heart of who Jesus is and what He did for us.
2. If He was not conceived and born of a virgin, then we have no savior!
DISCUSSION:
A. The Case of the Virgin Birth of Jesus is Damaged by Promoters of Falsehoods and Speculations
1. Jesus born on December 25
a. His date of birth is not known
b. Circumstances make it highly unlikely that it was at this time of year
2. Near simultaneous arrival of shepherds & wise men
a. Virtually every “manger scene” on display has three wise men
b. Truth is that an unknown number of wise men arrived much later, after the family had moved into a house and the newborn Jesus was a “young child”
c. Matthew 2:9-11
3. Perpetual virginity of Mary
a. This is an outright falsehood
1) Matthews 1:25 – “till”
2) Matthew 13:55-56 – Jesus had “brothers and sisters” (who had a biological father)
b. This doctrine sprang from Gnostic ideas that all physical pleasure was sinful, even intimacy between a married couple.
B. Biblical Affirmation of the Virgin Birth of Jesus
1. Old Testament Prophecy
a. Isaiah 7:14
b. Matthew 1:23
2. Gospel writers speak on the virgin birth of Christ
a. Matthew agrees with Isaiah – and also affirms Mary’s virginity in-Matthew 1:25
b. Lk. 1:26-27
c. The context goes and tells her that she was to have a child of the Holy Spirit
3. Consider Mary’s own testimony – Luke 1:34
4. Notice the angel’s testimony to Joseph – Matthew 1:18-21
a. Joseph avoided making the matter public; but he intended to put Mary away privately, believing she had been unchaste.
b. But Mary wasn’t impure! “That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost” – Luke 1:32, 35
5. The Genealogical records make it clear that Jesus had no biological father
a. Matthew 1:16 – note Matthew’s careful wording to avoid the notion that Joseph was the biological father (after all the “begots” he deliberately avoids saying Joseph “begot” Jesus)
b. Luke 3:23 – “as was supposed”
6. This array of evidence would stand up in court:
a. There is a significant number of witnesses
b. There are reliable witnesses
c. There is clear, consistent testimony
C. Objections Offered
1. Biological impossibility
a. True enough!
b. This was a MIRACLE!
c. The same God who can create life from nothing can surely take upon Himself human flesh and be born of a woman without any involvement by a human male!
2. Other religions also claim a virgin-born savior (skeptics say Christianity’s claim is no more valid than others)
a. Buddha: the oldest accounts of his birth say nothing about a virgin birth – both mother and father are mentioned.
1) Other accounts clearly affirm the agency of his father in producing him.
2) Only many centuries later did various legends arise with alleged miraculous events connected with his birth
b. Krishna (Hinduism): evidence of his existence is scarce; none of it comes from the time he supposedly lived. Accounts vary; none consistently affirms virgin birth.
c. Zoroaster (6th cent. BC Persian): Records are few and unclear; they definitely affirm the biological role of his father in producing him (though both father and mother were said to have drunk milk into which the material essence of Zoroaster had been mixed!)
d. Compare Christianity, where records are ancient, numerous, complete, clear, consistent, and reliable!
D. Why Is the Virgin Birth of Jesus So Important?
1. Important as to the Nature of Christ
a. He was 100% human
1) Hebrews 4:15 – Jesus is touched by our difficulties because, He too:
2) Became thirsty, hungry, tired, needed friends, etc., YET…
b. He was 100% God – THE Son of God (not just ‘a’ son of God)
1) John 3:16 – “only-begotten”
2) 1 Timothy 3:16 – great mystery “God was manifested in the flesh”
c. Colossians 2:9 – all the fullness of deity dwelt in Jesus in bodily form (He was God in human flesh)
2. Important as to the mission of Jesus
a. Mission: to extend forgiveness to man – something only God could do.
b. To be the supreme sacrifice for sin, He had to be God incarnate (no mere human, no matter how righteous, could fill that role).
3. Thus to deny the virgin birth is to deny the essence of Christianity
a. It would be a religion without salvation!
b. It would be Christianity without Christ!
CONCLUSION:
A. We ought to believe, and to shamelessly affirm, that Jesus the Christ was conceived and born of a virgin.
B. Therefore, He is not *just* a human being, but is the unique God/Man.
C. He lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death, and was raised in triumph over death on the 3rd day.
D. Put your confidence in Him now by confessing His name and being baptized into Him!