What would you say if you were told the virgin birth is superstition, a leap of faith, evidence that conservative Christians are less intellectual and more mystical? For some that is what they believe.
Perhaps the virgin birth only comes up this time of year when we focus on Christmas. Maybe that lends itself to the idea that the virgin birth is not really necessary.
To deny the virgin birth is to do irreparable damage to the foundation of scripture and all we believe. To reject the virgin birth of Jesus we compromise the authority of scripture and there remains no reason to believe anything else it says; like the creation in seven days, the bodily resurrection, the return of Christ or forgiveness through Jesus’ death.
If Joseph was the father, then Jesus would have a sinful nature like all of us and would disqualify him for being a sacrificial lamb that takes away the sin of the world. Dt. 17:1 Do not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep that has any defect or flaw in it, for that would be detestable to him. Exodus 12:5, 21 Animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. . . Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. Without the virgin birth there would be no salvation since the Lamb of God had to be without blemish and spotless. 1 Peter 2:22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.
Without the virgin birth Jesus could not be called the Son of God whose existence is from eternity and not from the first Christmas. John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
If we deny the virgin birth then the bible is a lie, prophets and apostles lied or were lied to and the bible contains mistakes and contradictions making it a human book as fallible as man.
We must adhere to an inerrant bible that is true and trustworthy from the very first verse to the last. Otherwise, we open pandora’s box to all kinds of heretical teachings ‘taught by demons’ to destroy our faith and undermine scripture.
Celebrate Christmas with the confidence that the birth narratives in the gospels are accurate, true and trustworthy pointing to the trustworthiness of all the bible as we wait for our Lord’s return.
Merry Christmas Pr. Bob Snitzer
By the Way: Today Confirmation 4:30
Friday 24, Christmas Eve Candlelight service. Sermon: Hope Was Born
Sunday 26, 9:00 Morning worship.
10:15 No Sunday school until January 9.
Prepare for the coming King
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~ Past communiques can be read on our website: www.pilotknob.org
