2-Minute Theology - TRINITY BIBLE CHURCH

The Humanity of Christ: Part 9 - The Virgin Birth, Sonship, Lordship, Redeemership

11/28/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Humanity Of Christ: Part 9 - The Virgin Birth, Sonship, Lordship, Redeemership

After examining the evidence, it is clear that Mary was a virgin when she conceived the human body of Jesus. As previously stated, the virgin birth of Jesus is key to maintaining Jesus’ deity. If Jesus had a human father, then He had a sin nature and ceased to be God. Thus, to deny the virgin birth is to deny that Jesus is God come in the flesh. Anyone who denies this truth does not possess salvation but instead possesses the spirit of antichrist.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. - 1 John 4:1-3

The modern religious leaders, like the Pharisees, want to deny the virgin birth.

You are doing the deeds of your father. They said to Him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God. - John 8:41

The Pharisees called Jesus the son of fornication. Today, modern religious leaders want to make Jesus a good man, a great teacher, and a godly prophet. They hold the virgin birth in contempt. Like the Pharisees, by rejecting Jesus’ virgin birth, they reject His Sonship and thus His Lordship. If Jesus is not God, then He is not Lord. Sadly, if Jesus is not the Son and not the Lord, then He cannot be the Savior of humanity.

The Humanity of Christ: Part 8 - Pauline References to the Virgin Birth

11/28/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Humanity Of Christ: Part 8 - Pauline References To The Virgin Birth

Often, it is stated that Paul is silent on the virgin birth and therefore, did not believe in the virgin birth. Arguing from silence, even supposed silence, is always a faulty line of argumentation. Consideration should be given however to the relationship between Luke and Paul. Luke was Paul’s companion and coworker.

The greater portion of Acts, referring to Paul’s missionary exploits, include Luke as part of Paul’s missionary team. In fact, Luke’s gospel is the only gospel account quoted by Paul.

For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing, and The laborer is worthy of his wages. - 1 Timothy 5:18

It is completely reasonable that Luke and Paul would have discussed Luke’s research and findings as contained in Luke 1 and 2.

While Paul did not explicitly state that Jesus was born of a virgin, he does imply it in two key passages. First, Paul quoted from the protoevangelium (cf. Genesis 3:15) in Romans 16:20.

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. - Romans 16:20

The crushing of Satan is explicitly accomplished by the seed of the woman.

Second, Paul confirmed that Jesus was born of a woman in the fullness of time.

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law. - Galatians 4:4

The fullness of time refers to God’s timetable. At the appointed time, God sent Jesus into the world. That God sent Jesus into the world confirms Jesus’ preexistence and therefore deity. The phrase born of a woman emphasizes not only Jesus’ humanity but His virgin birth. Born of a woman again goes back to the prophecy contained in Genesis 3:15 — the seed of the woman.

The Humanity of Christ: Part 7 - The Virgin Birth, the Geneaologies

11/25/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Humanity Of Christ: Part 7 - The Virgin Birth, The Genealogies

In the New Testament, two genealogies are given for Jesus (cf. Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-38). The Matthew genealogy furnishes the reader with Jesus’ lineage through Joseph’s ancestors. Throughout this record, the phrase was the father of is the active form of the verb gennáō. The active voice of gennáō means to be the “male agent responsible for the conception of a child.” Therefore, Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, and so forth. However, in verse 16, gennáō is changed to the passive voice. The passive voice of gennáō translates as was born. The passive voice indicates that Joseph did not sire Jesus. As well, verse 16 states that Joseph was the husband of Mary by whom (ek hós) Jesus was born. The phrase by whom (ek hós) is a feminine pronoun. Thus, the pronoun points back to Mary, not Joseph. Joseph was the husband of Mary, but it was solely Mary who was involved in Jesus’ birth. While Joseph was not the progenitor of Jesus, Jesus was considered his legal heir. By attaching Joseph’s lineage to Jesus, indicates that Joseph had adopted Jesus as his legal heir. As the legal heir of Joseph, Jesus has the right to the Davidic throne.

The Luke genealogy provides Jesus’s lineage through Mary’s ancestors. While it is Jesus’ genealogy through Mary’s lineage, it is traced through the paternal side (Luke 3:23-38). Note verse thirty-two — “When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli.” Joseph was not the physical father of Jesus, but after almost thirty-years, Joseph was accepted as Jesus’ father. Also, note that Joseph is listed as the son of Eli. Matthew records Joseph’s father as Jacob. Again because Hebrew genealogies record the paternal line, even though Eli is Mary’s father, her husband Joseph is listed as the son of Eli. While the gospels of Matthew and Luke are independent accounts of Jesus’ birth, both confirm the fact that Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus and remained a virgin until after she birthed Jesus.

but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son… - Matthew 1:25

The Humanity of Christ: Part 6 - The Virgin Birth, the Protoevangelium

11/25/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Humanity Of Christ: Part 6 - The Virgin Birth, The Protoevangelium

Following the disaster of the Fall, God cursed the serpent, the earth, and humanity. In the midst of spelling out the curses upon the woman, God revealed that from the woman, a descendant would come who would destroy the Devil.

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel. - Genesis 3:15

This is known as the protoevangelium (i.e., first gospel) or first messianic prophecy of Scripture. This Savior would be from the seed of the woman (i.e., her seed). The term seed (zeraʿ) is a singular, masculine noun meaning offspring. According to Strong’s Concordance, the term seed, “Designates the whole line of descendants as a unit, yet it is deliberately flexible enough to denote either one person who epitomizes the whole group (i.e., the man of promise and ultimately Christ), or the many persons in that whole line of natural and/or spiritual descendants. Precisely so in Genesis 3:15. One such seed is the line of the woman as contrasted with the opposing seed which is the line of Satan’s followers.”

Biologically, seed always traces through the male lineage. Hence, in Scripture, the genealogies trace the male lineage. That the seminal emission is associated with the woman, in Genesis 3:15, indicates something unusual happened in the conception process. A woman conceiving a child without copulating with a male partner is miraculous.

The seed of the woman (i.e., her seed) denotes one son who would bruise the serpent on the head. Satan bruising Jesus’ heel refers to Satan’s seeming victory at Jesus’ death. Bruising Satan’s head refers to his ultimate defeat by Jesus. Ironically, Satan’s seeming victory at the cross was the means of Jesus’ complete and permanent victory over Satan.

ENDNOTES:

Walter C. Kaiser, “582 זָרַע,” ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 253.

The Humanity of Christ: Part 5 - The Virgin Birth, Isaiah 7:14

11/21/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Humanity Of Christ: Part 5 - The Virgin Birth - Isaiah 7:14

There are three Hebrew terms rendered virgin: naʿărâ, bĕtûlâ, and ʿalmâ. The term naʿărâ refers to an older adolescent female of marriageable age. Esther and the other woman of the Persian Empire were noted to be naʿărâ.

So it came about when the command and decree of the king were heard and many young ladies (naʿărâ) were gathered to the citadel of Susa into the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s palace into the custody of Hegai… - Esther 2:8

The term bĕtûlâ denotes a young woman, who is characterized by her virginity. In these cases, the term virgin best translates the Hebrew term.

Can a virgin (bĕtûlâ) forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me Days without number. - Jeremiah 2:32

The term ʿalmâ denotes a marriageable girl, young woman (before the birth of her first child). This term is used seven times in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin (ʿalmâ) will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14

In each of these seven references, the term ʿalmâ describes a young woman who was a virgin. Genesis 24:43 uses the term to describe the potential bride for Isaac. Exodus 2:8 describes Moses’ sister. She was unmarried and still a virgin. Song of Solomon refers to three types of women: queens (i.e., married women) concubines (i.e., women having sexual relations with the monarch) and maidens (i.e., virgins).

Interestingly, the translators of the Septuagint understood the meaning of this term. When translating, they consistently rendered the Hebrew term ʿalmâ with the Greek term parthénos, which strictly refers to a woman who has not had sexual relations with a man (i.e., a virgin). As well, when the Isaiah 7:14 prophecy is quoted in Matthew 1:23, it translates the term ʿalmâ with parthénos.

Behold, the virgin (parthénos) shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with us. - Matthew 1:23

The Humanity of Christ: Part 4 - Denying the Virgin Birth

11/21/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Humanity Of Christ: Part 4 - Denying The Virgin Birth

Denying the virgin birth affects the accuracy and authority of passages such as Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23.

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14
Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with us. - Matthew 1:23

Isaiah 7:14 has historically been translated as a virgin will birth a child. However, in line with those who deny the virgin birth, several modern versions of Scripture, translate the verse to say a young woman. Yet, Matthew 1:23 continues in these same translations of Scripture to refer to Mary as a virgin. This results in undermining Scripture’s authenticity and authority in the minds of the modernists. Claims are made that this proves the Bible is in error. If the Bible is in error, then it is not the source of truth, and therefore not authoritative for faith and life.

Denying the virgin birth effects the deity of Jesus. If Jesus’ father was human, the Scriptures lied about the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit within Mary’s womb.

The angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. - Luke 1:35

Furthermore, if Jesus had a human father, then Jesus inherited a sin nature. The sin nature is passed seminally through the male to his progeny.

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned - Romans 5:12

While a woman has a sin nature, she does not pass it down to the next generation. If Jesus had a sin nature, then He could not have been the spotless sacrifice required to appease God’s wrath against sin.

The Humanity of Christ: Part 3 - The Virgin Birth, Foundational to the Christian Faith

11/18/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Humanity Of Christ: Part 3 - The Virgin Birth, Foundational To The Christian Faith

During the early part of the twentieth century, many of the fundamental issues of Christianity came under attack, not only from outside the church, but from within the church. One of those fundamental beliefs was the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. Liberal scholars claimed that the virgin birth narrative was merely a rehash of the old religious myths. These same liberal scholars bolster their claim on two fronts. First, they claim that since only two gospel account refer to the virgin birth it was not universally accepted. Two, they purport that the supposed lack of Pauline evidence for the virgin birth undermines its legitimacy.

Mary’s virginity is not merely necessary from a biological perspective, but from theological perspectives. The virgin birth of Jesus is foundational to the Christian faith. Regarding the vitality of the virgin birth, John MacArthur states, “The virgin birth is an underlying assumption of everything the Bible says about Jesus. To throw out the virgin birth is to reject Christ's deity, the accuracy and authority of Scripture, and a host of other related doctrines that are the heart of the Christian faith. No issue is more important than the virgin birth to our understanding of who Jesus is. If we deny Jesus is God, we have denied the very essence of Christianity.”(1)

As well, Millard Erickson states,“If we do not hold to the virgin birth despite the fact that the Bible asserts it, then we have compromised the authority of the Bible and there is in principle no reason why we should hold to its other teachings. Thus, rejecting the virgin birth has implications reaching far beyond the doctrine itself.”(2)

ENDNOTES:

R.C. Girard & Larry Richards, The Life of Christ, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2007), 8.
Albert Mohler, Must Christians Believe in the Virgin Birth?, Ligonier Ministries, Retrieved: December 11, 2017 <http://www.ligonier.org/blog/must-christians-believe-virgin-birth/>

The Humanity of Christ: Part 2 - The Virgin Birth, Foundational to Christ's Humanity

11/18/2020

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Humanity Of Christ: Part 2 - The Virgin Birth, Foundational To Christ’s Humanity

Any study of the humanity of Christ, must begin with a discussion of the virgin birth. The entrance of sin, into the realm of humanity, marred and maligned a perfect creation. Kurt Strassner, in his commentary, Opening Up Genesis, states, “Perfection was replaced with pain (3:16a). A joyful marriage became an unequal partnership (3:16b). Happy cultivation became sweaty toil (3:17). The beautiful garden became a briar patch (3:18). Once-imperishable bodies began slowly to decay and die (3:19). And they were thrust out of their garden home forever (3:22–24).”

Sin also effected the entire human race. When Adam sinned, he sinned as the representative of the human race. Thus, when he chose to sin, he chose on behalf of everyone. As well, because Adam is the progenitor of the entire human race, his sin nature is inherited by all.

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned - Romans 5:12

The sin nature is passed on through the male to his progeny.

For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. - Romans 5:19

While a woman has a sin nature, she does not pass it down to the next generation. This is why the virgin birth of Jesus is foundational. If Jesus had a sin nature, then He could not have been the spotless sacrifice required to appease God’s wrath against sin.

ENDNOTES:

Kurt Strassner, Opening up Genesis, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2009), 36.

The Virgin Birth of Christ

6/19/2020

Trinity Bible Church · The Virgin Birth Of Jesus

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14
Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with us. - Matthew 1:23
to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. - Luke 1:27

Like the Father, Jesus is eternal with no beginning and no end. Jesus was with God at creation and was God at creation. In order for Christ to be the payment for the sins of humanity, He not only had to be wholly God, but He also had to be completely human. Within Mary’s womb, Jesus took on His human nature. Like any other person, He had flesh, bones, and blood. As well, Jesus experienced feelings such as hunger, sleep, and thirst.

Since the sin nature passed down through the male progenitor, Jesus had to be born of a virgin in order to be the sinless sacrifice for sins. Being a virgin, Mary had no relations with a man when she conceived the human body of Jesus. The Holy Spirit was the agent of conception. Thus, Jesus was born without a sin nature.

Jesus did not give up His deity, nor did He change His deity. He was and is one hundred percent deity while becoming one hundred percent flesh. The two natures of Christ have never mixed; they are distinct and will remain as such forever. Without Christ taking on flesh, He would never have tasted death for humanity and become the Savior.