DOES THIS REALLY MATTER?
BIBLE PASSAGE: LUKE 1:26-37
Picture taken from
Google
Lesson Prepared by:
Krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page
Lesson ideas taken from: https://baptistlessons/
JUNE 26, 2022
MEMORY
VERSE
Behold,
a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call
his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
MATTHEW
1:23
INTRODUCTION:
From the passage itself we can say
that our topic for today is about the birth of Christ. Personally, I was amazed
of the modern way of conception in today’s generation. I know you have ideas
about this matter but I tell you some of it:
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI). Sperm cells are inserted directly into
your womb (uterus) at the time of ovulation.
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF). Eggs are gathered from your ovaries and
combined with your partner’s sperm in a laboratory dish. The resulting
embryos are transplanted into your womb.
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). A single sperm is injected straight
into a single egg in the laboratory and the resulting embryo is
transplanted into your womb.
- Donated sperm. If your partner has a low sperm count, or produces
no sperm at all or if you are a same sex female couple, donor sperm may be
used for donor insemination or IVF.
(https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a4093/assisted-conception-treatments)
We know this is unnatural, but we don’t tackle
today the arguments about this kind of procedure. The Bible has answers for
this, anything outside of marriage and anything takes you to become unfaithful
to your spouse is not God’s will. Why I say this? I say this for us to become aware of the modern way of
conception today. Today it is possible to bear a baby that is not yours; either
the egg cell doesn’t come from you or the sperm from your partner or husband. You
just become the surrogate mother. How about the conception of Jesus and His
birth? Do we believe in the virgin birth of Christ? Before we proceed to
that topic, we first talk about …
LESSON OUTLINE:
THE INCARNATION –means that
God the Son took upon Himself a complete, sinless human nature (body, soul, and
spirit), so that everything can be asserted of sinless man can be asserted of
Him. It includes His self-emptying, conception and birth, the fact of His
humanity, the union of Divine and Human natures, His human character,
Development and Activity.
A. HIS SELF EMPTYING
Let this mind
be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no
reputation, (From G2756; to make
empty, that is, (figuratively) to a base neutralize, falsify: - make none
effect, of no reputation, void, be in vain), and took upon him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a
man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the
cross (Phil.2:5-8).
When Jesus took upon Himself a human nature, there were certain features
of His deity that, with rare exception, He did not bring into His human
experience. Some of the features of “SELF EMPTYING” are, that AS A MAN…
· He rarely manifested His reincarnate
glory (Jn.17:5) – While the glory of His character was manifested throughout
His earthly life (Jn.1:14), Christ did not radiate the visible glory of God,
which shines as a blinding light (exception, Matt.17:2), nor did He occupy upon
His ascension into Heaven (Acts 26:13; Eph. 1:20-22)
· He did not exercise His inherent
divine power: Being the Messiah (the Anointed One), He did all of His works in the
power and by the direction of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1, 14,18; Acts 10:38)
· He did not exercise certain divine
attributes such as omnipresence (Jn.11:6-7), and omniscience (Mark 13:32; Jn 8:26,
28, 40). As a Man he was localized, and He knew only what the Father revealed
to Him, there were flashes of deity in His human experience (Jn.1:48;
2:24-25;18:5-6; Mark 6:48)
· He did not exercise independent
divine authority: He was the Father’s servant (slave: cf.Phil.2:7; Is.42:1-7;49:1-6;
52:13-53; Jn.6:38; 8:28-29). Only in this sense He was less than the Father
(Jn.14:28). Being subordinate to the
Father’s authority. Jesus never acted in His human experience independently of
Him (Jn.8:28; 12:49; 14:9-10) or disobeyed Him (Jn.17:4; 8:29). Yet, being God,
He possessed equal authority with the Father (Jn.1:3; 17:24; Heb. 11:3).
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave
me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that
his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the
Father said unto me, so I speak. (Jn.12:49-50)
B. JESUS CHRIST’S
CONCEPTION AND BIRTH
Ordinarily,
conception takes place when a male sperm unites with a female ovum. This union
results the beginning and development of human life. The unique feature of
Christ’s birth is that…
· MARY CONCEIVED BY THE AGENCY
OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
(Matt.1:20/Luke 1:35). It is this fact that makes Jesus’ birth a virgin one.
While the prenatal development of the child of the holy Child within Mary and
the subsequent birth event were natural processes, Jesus’ conception was
uniquely and radically different from all others. It was only of the Holy
Spirit, who created of Mary’s substance a complete human nature, consisting of
body, soul, and spirit (Matt. 26:12, 38; 27:50).
This work of the Holy Spirit
did not include the creation of Jesus’ personhood, for this, together, with His
divine nature, existed from eternity (Mic.5:2; Gal.4:4; John 8:42, 1:1).
· MARY WAS NOT THE MOTHER OF
GOD:
With this truth in view, we can understand why the angel described that which
was conceived in Mary as being a holy “thing” (Luke 1:35; Matt.1:20, “that” is
a neuter demonstrative pronoun). The neuter gender indicates that Mary was only
the mother of Jesus “human nature.” She was not the mother of His Person; she
was not the mother of God.
C. THE FACT OF HIS
HUMANITY
His prenatal development and birth were a normal and natural processes (Luke 2:5-7; cf. 1:57).
The Lord also has a complete human nature: body (Mt.26:12), soul
(Mt.26:38), and spirit (Mt.27:50; Jn.11:33). Jesus had human appearance
(Jn.4:9; 8:57; 10:33). He experienced normal human development
physically (Lk.2:40,52); intellectually (Lk.2:40,52); spiritually (Lk.2:46-50),
that is, in spiritual awareness (not morally), for at the age twelve He was
aware of His personal relation to God the Father and of the necessity of being
about the things of His father; and socially (Lk.2:51-52), submitting Himself
to the authority of His parents and advancing in favor with God and man. This
means that He pleased the Father (Mt.3:17) and maintained people’s admiration
and respect… The reality of Jesus’ humanity was also manifest in His living an
ordinary human life in Nazareth, fulfilling His domestic, vocational and
religious duties (Mt.13:55-56; Mk.6:3: Lk.4:16). Moreover, He experienced the
sinless limitation of human nature, such as hunger (Mt.21:18), sleep (Mt.8:24),
weariness (Jn.4:6), and confinement to place (Jn.11:6-7). There is no
indication that He was ever sick (these results from the inherent corruption of
fallen physical nature). He experienced human emotions, such as grief (MK.3:5);
Jn.11:35), love (Jn.11:36), agitation (Jn.12:27), exultation (Lk.10:21), anger
(Mk.3:5), trust (Lk.23:46), suffering (1 Pet.3:18), and compassion (Mk.9:36).
He was tempted as we are yet without sin (Heb.4:15). Finally, He died
(Heb.2:14-17). While physical death is a natural result of sin, Jesus did not
die naturally. Uniquely, He laid down His life in obedience to the Father
(Jn.10:17-18).
Therefore doth my Father love
me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but
I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take
it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (Jn.10:17-18)
His human
nature is perfect and sinless:
While Jesus possesses a complete human nature as we do, it differs
qualitatively from ours in its being perfect and sinless. Concerning the
perfection of Jesus’ human character (Jn.1:14).
Regarding the sinless of
Jesus’ humanity, the Scriptures testify that He never sinned, nor was He a
sinner. He never confessed sin, nor did He ever ask forgiveness
Seeing then that we have a
great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let
us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high
priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in
all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Heb.4:14-15)
We who are saved look forward to the time when our bodies will be
delivered from inherent corruption and the sin principle (Rom.8:10,23). Then we
shall be like Him in His humanity (1 Jn.3:2; Phil2:20-21; Rom. 8:29)
2. THE IMPORTANCE OF
JESUS CHRIST’S VIRGIN BIRTH
While we often place
an emphasis on Christ’s deity to prove that He is God, His humanity is also
important.
a)
OUR LORD’S VIRGIN BIRTH WAS NECESSARY FOR
HIS ATONING WORK (Mt.1:21)
It was necessary for Him to become a man in order that He might be
identified with mankind and experience death, the penalty for humanity’s sins
(Heb.2:9,14-18)
But we see Jesus, who was
made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with
glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,
he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might
destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through
fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him
the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it
behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for
the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath
suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Yet, as
a man He had to be sinless, for a sinner can neither discharge himself from the
debt of his sins nor deliver others from obligation. The Lord’s unique
conception prevented His receiving from a human father the hereditary
corruption and imputed guilt of Adam’s initial sin (Rom. 5:12-19); Gen.5:3; 1
Cor. 15:22; 1 Jn.3:5), Jesus was qualified to bear our sins and to pay their
awful debt (Rom.5:8; 1 Pet.2:24; Heb. 9:26)
b) OUR LORD’S VIRGIN BIRTH
MADE HIM OUR MEDIATOR (Heb.4:15-16):
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
c) THE LORD’S VIRGIN BIRTH
QUALIFIED HIM TO RULE FROM DAVID’S THRONE:
Because Mary was of the
tribe of Judah and the lineage of David (Ps.132:11; Lk.1:32) and was connected
by marriage with Elisabeth who was of the lineage of Aaron (Lk.1:36), Christ as
her son, became true descendant of David (Rom.1:3). Also, because Joseph was the
lineal heir to David’s throne (Mt.1:1-16, LK.3:21-31), by becoming the eldest
legal son to Joseph, Christ legally inherited the title to the throne. Luke
gives Mary’s lineage through her father Heli (3:23), and Matthew shows Jesus’
legal connection to Joseph through Mary (1:16). In short, because of His legal connection with Joseph who was the
lineal heir to David’s throne, and His blood relation to David through Mary, Jesus is the last heir to David’s throne
and the only one who can rule with God’s blessing. In fulfillment of divine
prediction, Jesus will rule over the earth when He comes again (Rev. 19:11-16;
Lk.1:32-33; Gen.49:10; Is. 9:6-7).
CONCLUSION:
The virgin
birth shows us that our redeemer is fully, truly a man—yet without sin. Jesus
was born supernaturally, but not in a way that makes his humanity different
from ours (Heb 2:10–11).
The virgin
birth also assumes the preexistent, divine sonship of Jesus. The virgin birth
is fitting for one who is already Son of God before the incarnation. Our Savior
is not only a man, but he is the divine Son of God. He is uniquely the
God-man—the only one who can accomplish salvation. He is Immanuel—God with us (Matt 1:23). This is covenantal language, reflecting the high covenant
promise of God walking among us as our God (cf. Lev 26:12).
The virgin
birth shows us God’s initiative in salvation. Salvation is a gift. Before the incarnation of the Son of God, many
had tried to bring lasting salvation. But God’s plan is worked out in his
timing, and in his way. The power of God is contrasted with the weakness and
powerlessness of human beings to accomplish lasting salvation.
1 Corinthians
15:21
“For since by man came death, by man came
also the resurrection of the dead.”
If one does
not accept [the Son of God’s] birth from a Virgin, how can he accept His
resurrection from the dead?”
How thankful we should be! Because of the virgin birth, we have
salvation.
