Journeys of a Former Firebrand

Want to start an argument in a large group sometime? Mention you believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.
Even in Christian circles, this well beloved doctrine seems to be dying the death of the dinosaur. Which leads to another important question…
In the Twentieth Century, is the virgin birth still relevant?

I recently read a blog on this subject. The blogger had many “fine sounding” arguments using word studies and linguistic acrobatics to prove his point. And then he concluded, “The virgin birth is over-rated.”

Hmmm. Interesting thought. It’s not a direct quotation…but it’s pretty much what he said through the whole blog.
But we must consider something first…we don’t base our belief on word studies. We base it on the Word of God.

Here are some basic facts about the virgin birth…

1. The passage in Isaiah can’t be interpreted in a vacuum. We don’t have to interpret it ourselves. Matthew, under the authority of the Holy Spirit, did it for us. (Isaiah 7:14)

2. Matthew explains that the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy is found in the birth of Jesus Christ. He begins by describing Joseph’s feelings regarding Mary. Joseph’s conclusion was that he would divorce her (in this case, breaking the betrothal according to custom.)

Why?

Because he thought Mary had committed adultery, a sin punishable by stoning according to Jewish law.
God saved the day by sending His angel, Gabriel.

Why?

God knew what He had commanded. He also knew what Joseph thought. So He needed to clarify the situation in Joseph’s mind. As proof of Mary’s purity, Matthew quotes Isaiah to prove that God had already predicted the virgin birth. So translating that word “virgin” and not “young woman” is quite acceptable. (Matthew 1:18-25)

3. Mary declared her own virginity. I guess she probably would have known! (Luke 1:34)

So there’s excellent reason why the virgin birth has embedded itself so firmly in the Christian doctrinal conscience.