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Matthew 1:18–25
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us)” (vv. 22–23).
For more than a century, theological liberalism has attempted to redefine the Christian faith, presenting it as a positive ethical code stripped of miracles and other elements of biblical supernaturalism. In response, theologians such as J. Gresham Machen have forcefully argued that a Christianity devoid of the supernatural is no Christianity at all but a completely different religion.
One supernatural act that theological liberals have fiercely denied is the virgin conception and birth of Christ. They have considered such a thing impossible, given that children are ordinarily conceived through the sexual union of a man and a woman. Yet we know that what is impossible for humans is possible for God (Matt. 19:26). Scripture testifies clearly that Jesus was born of a virgin in today’s passage and many other places.
The virgin conception and birth of Christ are a signal demonstration of God’s power. They are also theologically important. First, they demonstrate that while Jesus is truly man, He is not merely man. It is fitting for the One who is also the Son of God by nature to come into the world in an extraordinary way so that we will recognize Him as more than a man. Second, Jesus’ not having a human father except by adoption assists us in seeing that while the Savior is of the same substance as Adam and his descendants, He is not represented by Adam in the way that the rest of humanity is and is free from the stain of original sin. Had Jesus been conceived and born in the ordinary way, He would have been under the headship of Adam and thus Himself a sinner in need of saving. That would leave us without hope.
Jesus’ birth to a virgin is a fitting complement to God the Son’s unique relationship to God the Father. From all eternity, the Son is distinguished from the Father in that the Son is eternally generated by the Father, whereas the Father is not eternally generated by the Son. The Definition of Chalcedon states that Jesus is “before the ages begotten of the Father as to the Godhead.” The Son of God is eternally begotten of the Father, ever coming forth from the Father in such a way that He is identical to the Father in the divine essence. Only the Son is eternally generated. Jesus’ unique relationship to His earthly parents in His taking on a human nature in the womb of a virgin leads us to reflect on His unique relationship to the Father. No other human was ever born to a virgin, but the divine person of the Son of God united to Himself a true human nature.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
In apologetics, we provide an answer to those who have questions about the Christian faith or even deny it. Sometimes this involves putting forth evidences of the supernatural character of Christianity. Few events more clearly demonstrate that the God of the Bible is the one true God than the virgin conception and birth of Christ. This event was prophesied hundreds of years beforehand and is an act that only the Creator could accomplish.
For further study
- Isaiah 7:14
- Luke 1:26–38
The bible in a year
- Job 27–29
- Acts 12
- Job 30–35
- Acts 13