FORGIVING THE UNFORGETTABLE (ACTS 15:36-40)

 

FORGIVING THE UNFORGETTABLE

BIBLE PASSAGE: ACTS 15:36-40

Picture taken from Google

Lesson Prepared by: Krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page

Lesson taken from: https://alfredStreetBaptistChurch

 

MARCH 27, 2022

MEMORY VERSE

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

LUKE 17:3-4

 

INTRODUCTION:

When was the last time somebody hurt you? Maybe somebody treated you bad, disrespect you, spoke to you harshly, or anything that made you upset. Maybe you experienced just last week or possible today before you go to church. Possible today, your mind is rewinding your past experiences and still remember the things made you angry. Because it’s still fresh in your mind, you can still remember what you were wearing that time, or you knew where the direction of the wind blowing when that happened. The details are so detailed that it’s hard for you to forget. I don’t know our individual experiences and some of us might have carrying some wounds; some deep wounds that are not still healed until today.  In Luke 17:1 says, Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanyang mga alagad, “Tiyak na darating ang mga sanhi ng pagkakasala; ngunit kakila-kilabot ang sasapitin ng taong panggagalingan niyon (Tagalog). Time will come that you’ll be mistreated, and you know what even the saved saints of God, know what is like to be hurt. When you are hurt and wounded, this is the start the devil uses these to destroy your relationship to God. Satan holds you, hostage; he uses your hurt and wounds and these is his one of the tools. Holding on to past hurt is an unproductive thing we do in our lives. We’re still holding on to anger and resentment. Devil loves to put us in a place where we believe we can’t forgive. He’ll give us more reasons not to forgive; then forgiving is hard to do. We know that forgiving is easier said than done. It’s challenge for us when Peter asked Jesus how many times a person should be forgiven in the book of Matthew which the Lord replied seventy times seven. Now, Let’s look the 17^th chapter of Luke verses 3 & 4,

³ Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. ⁴ And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

The Bible gave us a warning in verse 3 and this time somebody hurt you seven times in just one day. Imagine this hurt in one day but the Bible said we should forgive if that somebody asked forgiveness.

Every day we’ve got reasons not to forgive and every day, the devil gives you more reasons, but we are called to forgive.

 

LESSON BACKGROUND:

We have read Acts 15:36-40. This is about Barnabas and Paul. If we were asked us to describe apostle Paul, we could say many things because he is familiar especial to those who have been in the church for so long. As a matter of fact, Paul, more than anyone else, who teaches us what it means to follow after and walk in faith in Jesus Christ. He wrote more than half of the books in the New Testament. He is powerful preacher that pastor, that counsellor, and that theologian. We can say that he might be the MVP in early Christianity for no one does much in spreading the Gospel like Paul. But it might surprise us to find out that Paul, like many of us, struggled with forgiving. That Paul had an issue with learning to let things go. We’ll see that evidently in the brother named “John Mark.” We probably better know him as Mark; he is the writer of the second book of the New Testament. He had relationship with Paul that quite contentious.

 

To understand the relationship of Paul and Mark, let’s go back to Acts chapter 7. Bear with me as I tell you the story of this relationship. In this book, Stephen is stoned to death; he’s the first martyr. When this happened, disciples panic, scattered to escape. They went to different cities like Cyprus and Cyrene but in Antioch where the Christians have fled from Jerusalem where the gospel begins to thrive. The fugitives from Jerusalem goes to Antioch and the Gospel begins to grow. Antioch is important in Christian history; this is the first city and first time the followers of Jesus Christ are called “Christians.” With this success the Christians in Jerusalem want to make sure that the gospel is preached rightly so they send Barnabas to Antioch to help but the ministry So then Barnabas went to Antioch, but the spreading of the gospel is so great that he needs help too. So then, he was partner to Paul to pastor the church in Antioch.  While they were in Antioch, a prophet was sent names “AGABBus” and said there will be famine in Jerusalem and the brethren in Antioch are concern with the brothers and sister in Antioch, so they make up a love offering. Barnabas and Paul go back to Jerusalem to give the Love offering.  When they come back to Antioch, Paul and Barnabas was accompanied by a young man named, “John Mark.” Some believe that John Mark is probably a nephew or relative of Barnabas. So now, Barnabas, Paul and John Mark.

 

Then in Acts chapter 13, the Christians are praying and fasting and when they were praying and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” Paul and Barnabas ordained by the Holy Spirit to leave Antioch and to sail cities to preach the good news. The Holy Spirit says, “Go to Pergus, to Pamphylia, go to Iconium, go to Lystra go to Derbe and preach the good news of Jesus Christ. So, Paul and Barnabas with the ordination of the Holy Spirit grabbed John Mark and they sailed to begin preaching the good news. The first stop on their journey is the little town called Paphos. When they got there, they had unpleasant experience there with a sorcerer named Elymas who also called BarJesus. It had some tensions, but Paul worked it out. They had success in Paphos and then sailed in island called Pamphylia. When they got there, Mark tenders his letter of resignation. They’d been to one city and they’d one issue and then he quitted and say “No” to proceed. Mark quits. He went back to Jerusalem then Paul and Barnabas kept on their journey. They go to: Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe and they kept preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. After their journey in Acts 15, they went to Jerusalem to have a debate over the necessity of circumcision with the apostles in Jerusalem. After Paul won that debate, the Holy Spirit says to him, “Go back to the cities you’ve just came from and see how the gospel is.” Then Paul told Barnabas that they needed to back to the cities they’d preached but Barnabas wanted to bring Mark with them. In Acts 15:37 & 38 say, “And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.” Let’s paraphrase, “Oh no, this can’t be. Don’t you forget he left us in our previous trip?” Paul in Acts 15 hasn’t forgotten that Mark left them in chapter 13. Paul didn’t like to bring Mark and in Acts 15:39 says, “And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;”

They argued about Mark so deeply that they split ways. In Acts 15 you see a Paul hasn’t forgotten and forgiven.

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.  SOME RELATIONSHIP CANNOT BE RESTORED AND YOU CANNOT RUSH RESTORATION

 

Hurt can be damaging that can’t be restored. Sometimes things don’t go back to the way they were. You can forgive but still the relationship is not restored the way it was. Forgiveness can be granted but restoration (panunumbalik) is not automatically there. Even the disciples are not exempted with this; Mark is the writer of 2^nd book of the New Testament and Paul wrote half of the New Testament. Even leaders and pastors are prone to this kind of contention. That’s why I’m encouraging you to look unto Jesus not to the people around you because they are not perfect like you do. If you look to them, you will fall. I remember one of my personal experiences in living with pastors, leaders, pastors’ sons and daughters, workers and also “fake workers.” I lived with male workers here in the church and one of them is I think had the weakness that he can’t control. He used to peep every time I took a bath. I caught him and made me angry. I mentioned this to our pastors that time, but I don’t know what discipline they did. If you were in situation like that, you will be careful next time, am I right? You won’t get too close to that person anymore, it takes time. For clarification, “some relationships not all relationships.” Let’s go back to the person I was talking. This person hadn’t asked forgiveness so what I did I talked to him and told him that what he did hurt me and got disappointed to him but at the end, I gave him my forgiveness.  After that, we didn’t eat and sit together, everything changed. I realized he still a “man” and prone to temptation, so I gave a space.

 

I searched if Paul and Barnabas had come together after this contention but nothing found but there’s one verse in Colossians but that is not clear about this matter. So, we can say that they never work together again like what they were. Then Paul refused to partner with Mark again.

 

If you remember in Acts chapter 13 that Paul and Barnabas are ordained by God, but they took John Mark. God hasn’t ordained someone to be part in your life or in the ministry, but you allowed it. Sometimes God allows an offence to break the relationship he never ordained for you in the first place. God ordained Paul and Barnabas to be together, but John Mark came by their own invitation. John Mark was never ordained by God to be part of the partnership of Paul and Barnabas and sometimes the offence comes for God to exit out of your life people He never ordained to be part of His plan. Barnabas didn’t see this. You can’t force in partnership with God hasn’t created in providence (protective care of God).

 

We mentioned earlier that it’s hard to find in the Bible that Paul and Barnabas worked together again after the contention but there is one in Colossians Paul mentioned Barnabas. So we see that Paul and Barnabas didn’t work together as they were. How about Paul and Mark? In 2 Timothy 4:10-11, where Paul dying moment when he wrote this letter.

¹⁰ For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

Paul was forsaken by Demas and Crescens went to Galatia and Titus in Dalmatia and see only Luke with him, a disciple who wrote the 3^rd book of New Testament. When he said to Timothy to visit him and told him to bring Mark with him too for he is profitable in the ministry. This time, he wants to deal with Mark again; he wants to restore the relationship.

2.  UNFORGIVING HEART WILL CAUSE YOU TO LOSE OTHER PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS IN YOUR LIFE (ACTS 15:39)

 

If you look in the Bible and, in any relationship, there was no more productive than that with Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas together get the job done. When Paul was converted from Saul he went to Jerusalem and tried to become an apostle, who was there to recommend him to be accepted? Barnabas did that. When the church in Antioch was growing and Barnabas needs help, guess who he got – Paul. When the gospel spread in the cities who preached for revival work? – Paul and Barnabas. When Paul was stoned in Derbe and left for dead guess who laid hands on him – it’s Barnabas. Their relationship ws productive and there’s no relationship in the Bible as productive as Paul and Barnabas. BUT Paul’s unwillingness to forgive Mark caused him to lose his partnership with Barnabas.

 

Barnabas wants John Mark, but Paul didn’t. Paul made a critical mistake to force Barnabas to choose between him and Mark but sad to say, Barnabas chose Mark. Possible, Paul assumed he would be chosen but it’s painful that was not he expected. Only to find out that Barnabas had a deep attachment to John Mark. Sometimes we want somebody especially our friends or partners in the ministry to have the same feelings as we have. If we have a bad feeling with another person, we want our friends to feel the same way or understands our feelings. If you’ve hurt and offended and you won’t forgive, you naturally have an issue with anybody else who favors the person who hurt you and your unforgiving heart can sit still with people who like the one you won’t forgive. For example, I got you offended, and you won’t forgive me. Let’s see how the enemy works on this to make the relationship unproductive. You attended a choir practice and as you enter you heard how much they like me maybe because of something I did to them or in the ministry. Then in your unforgiving heart can’t stand to hear somebody talking about nice things about me. Then now you’ve got to tell everybody the real truth about me because you need everybody else to not like me the same way you don’t like me. The result, the people who like doesn’t want to be bother with you. An unforgiving heart makes you unattractive person. People don’t want to hear your bitterness. People don’t want to be with someone who always angry and telling stuff of others. Bitterness makes you ugly.

 

3.  AN UNFORGIVNG HEART IS ALSO AN UNGRATEFUL HEART

 

When you don’t forgive you literally are saying, you’re not grateful. When Mark left Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13, Paul was hurt, felt disrespected and he was angry. By the time we get to chapter 15 of Acts, he was still holding on to the anger what John Mark did. The problem, he seemed to forget everything God had done since Mark hurt him.

In chapter 13-15 we can see the cities the journey they went through. After Mark hurt him, they sailed from Pamphylia to Pisidia, then from Pisidia to Iconium, from Iconium to Lystra, from Lystra to Derbe, from Derbe to back to Antioch, from Antioch to Jerusalem and from Jerusalem to Antioch. God gave him travel to twelve different cities after Mark hurt him. After Mark hurt him, look at the success of the gospel. After Mark hurt him, they preached the good news to the whole city in Pisidia. After Mark hurt him, the Holy Ghost filled thousands of disciples in Iconium.  After Mark hurt him, he preached in Lystra and raised the crippled brother. Look how God protected Paul after Mark hurt him, After Mark hurt him, he was stoned in Derbe and God allowed him to survive. Also, he won in the debate in Jerusalem. All of these things happened after Mark hurt him. 

Let’s ask, what did Paul lose? … Even somebody hurt you, God still bless you! Even Mark disrespected Paul, God gave him more what he deserves. Don’t let your bitterness on what they did to you causes you to be ungrateful for what God has done for you.

 

CONCLUSION:

I know some situations in our life where somebody deeply hurt us. It’s not in the skin surface. it’s in the core; it’s deep. Let’s remember that the enemy gives us more reasons not to forgive. The question is, in spite of people did to you, has the Lord been good to you? In spite of what they said, did the Lord bless you anyhow? In spite of how much they hurt you, did God make a way anyhow? If you know how good God has been don’t come in bitter; come in grateful because God has blessed you, in spite of it. God was still good. Let’s learn to forgive what you can’t forget.

 

FALLING AWAY (1 TIMOTHY 4:1)

 

FALLING AWAY

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 TIMOTHY 4:1

Picture taken from Google

Lesson Prepared by: Krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page

Lesson ideas taken from: https://www.blueletterbible.org/

 

JUNE 19, 2022

MEMORY VERSE

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;.

1 TIMOTHY 4:1

 

INTRODUCTION:

How sad to remember that one of our members before, professed her faith to Jesus Christ and now she is a Muslim. She was closed to me, and I know to some of you here. I used to stay to their place, bonding with her family and got a free lunch almost every Sunday. She and her family took care of me when I was a full-time worker in this church. Before, she posted different Christian thoughts and now is different (show one of her posts- slides). Look at her post now. How sad, right? When I saw her the first time after converting to a new religion, I had no knowledge about her new belief, but I felt something different, and she didn’t talk about it. Also, she avoided to have fellowship and short talks; she declined the invitation. 

 

How come what happened? Is she still saved or not? This is the lesson we’re going to discuss today. Baptist believes that ONCE SAVED IS ALWAYS SAVED because it’s biblical; there are lot of verses support to this doctrine and this is important.

 

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;.

 

The expression “depart from the faith” is where we want to center our attention. The word “depart” is the Greek aphistemi, formed by the little preposition apo, which means “away from,” and histemi, meaning “to stand.” The apostasy (for we bring it over into English by transliteration) means “to stand away from.” It means to one time profess something and another time deny that which you once professed. Webster, who always does a good job of defining words, says that the apostasy is the “abandonment of what one has voluntarily professed; total desertion of the principles of faith.” Abandonment of that which was voluntarily professed. Our Lord used that expression when He was giving the parable of the sower. Referring to the seed that fell on the rock, He said:

 

They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. (Luke 8:13)

“Fall away” is the Greek aphistemi — they apostatize. They professed to believe, then they moved away from it. They no longer believe; they have departed from the faith. Apostasy would be impossible among those who are not evangelized tribes who have never heard the gospel. An apostate is one who has not only heard the gospel, but who has professed to believe it, and then departs from it. That’s apostasy. This word occurs also in Hebrews:

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12)

Here are those who have professed to believe, and then they no longer believe. They have departed from it. To be honest, we need to examine ourselves to make sure we are in the faith. These are the days when God’s people need to examine their relationship with Christ.

(insert short testimony of acceptance of the gospel shared)

⁴ For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, ⁵ And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, ⁶ If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6)

 With the lesson about apostasy, what are things we need to consider becoming aware of this great sin.

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.  MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ACCEPTED CHRIST IN YOUR HEART BY FAITH AND NOT BY HEAD KNOWLEDGE.

 

Let’s recite John 3:16 and Romans 6:23 by heart. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Romans 6: 23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

 

Remember we are not saved by following the Ten Commandments which is impossible to follow. James 2:10 says, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” Of course, we are not saved by our good works which is mentioned in Ephesians 2:8-9. We need to memorize these verses; it’s important. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Also, you are not saved by your religion because Bible says in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

 

With this, we need to answer the two diagnostic questions:

·       Have you come to the place in your life where you know that if you died, you would go to heaven?

·       If God were to ask you why He should let you into His Heaven, what would you say?

 

Remember your basis should be base from the Bible:

     1 John 5:13 – These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

     John 10:28 - And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

     John 3:36 - He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

     Ephesians 1:13 - In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

 

2.   BUILD UP YOURSELVES ON YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH (JUDE 20)

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost

 

Jude has given us instructions. He warns us that we are flying over dangerous territory. If we want to survive, these are some things we must do, and it is mentioned in verse 20.

 

The word “faith” is actually the faith, the body of truth that has been given us in the Word of God. When the first church came into existence, it is said that they “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42), which was the body of truth that has come down to us in the Word of God. We must build up ourselves in that if we are to stand. In other words, we are to study the Word of God. Let’s ask ourselves, “Why don’t we study the Word of God?” If we are going to build ourselves up in our most holy faith, we must have the Word of God. We can’t build a house without a foundation. https://www.blueletterbible.org

 

 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

 

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)

¹⁹ Ipinapangako nila ang kalayaan, subalit sila mismo ay alipin ng kasamaan, sapagkat ang tao ay alipin ng anumang dumadaig sa kanya. ²⁰ Sapagkat kung nakatakas na sa kasamaan ng sanlibutan ang mga taong kumilala kay Jesu-Cristo na Panginoon at Tagapagligtas, ngunit muli silang maakit sa dating masamang gawain at tuluyang mahulog dito, ang magiging kalagayan nila ay masahol pa sa dati. ²¹ Mabuti pang hindi na nila nalaman ang daang matuwid, kaysa pagkatapos malaman ang banal na utos na itinuro sa kanila ay talikuran nila ito. ²² Ang nangyari sa kanila ay nagpapatunay na totoo ang mga kasabihang: “Ang aso pagkatapos sumuka ay muling kinakain ang nailuwa na,”at, “Ang baboy na pinaliguan ay bumabalik sa putikan.” (2 Peter 2:19-22)

 

 

 

3.   PRAYING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT (EPHESIANS 1:13/ ROM. 8:26)

Ephesians 1: 13 makes it clear that once we have heard the gospel and trusted the Savior, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit.  If God the Holy Spirit is in us, He helps us.

Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26)

This is a little different from saying your prayers at night. Paul, in writing to the Ephesians, told them to take the armor of God (you’ll notice that, with the exception of two, every piece of that armor is for defense). Finally, he says to them, “…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17) — that is that offensive weapon. We have no other offense than that plus “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…” (Ephesians 6:18). This is the type of prayer that touches the throne of God. It is the type of prayer that gets things from God.

This is one of the reasons why we should prioritize praying and also attending prayer meeting.

 

CONCLUSION:

Let’s read John 13:18-30. This passage is a clear picture of betrayal and apostasy. Have you imagined that the betrayer eats with Christ, yet his heel is against Christ? Judas actually ate bread with Jesus. He was a friend of Jesus, not an enemy. He didn’t hate Jesus; he cared for Him. He often walked into the house of God with Jesus and had close fellowship with Him. Judas was a follower, a choice disciple, yet Judas lifted up his heel against Jesus. This is a picture of a horse lifting up his hoof to kick. Judas kicked Jesus in a sense. He struck Him with the fatal blow of disloyalty, of contempt, and of betrayal.

And we know that God knows every person’s heart. Even a person’s inner thoughts are known to God, as well as what a person does. No one can hide what He does from God, not even a thought. God knows if a man is betraying His Son. He even knows if a man is thinking about sinning and turning his back on Jesus. The more man thinks about sinning, the more likely he is to turn back. So, his betrayal can be predicted.

Jesus wanted His disciples to be assured of the dignity of their call as servants of God. Judas had betrayed the call, and his betrayal had left a bad image in people’s minds and reflected a poor image of the ministry. It could affect some people, causing them to question the power of Christ, even causing others to actually withdraw and turn away from the ministry. The betrayal could cause some disciples to become discouraged, feeling that God’s call and ministry didn’t have the dignity that Christ claimed.

Jesus wanted His disciples to be assured of God’s indwelling presence. Christ put Himself on par with God. To receive Christ is to receive God. What a promise to the believer!

Judas was a counterfeit disciple. In public he was ideal; moral, decent, upright. No one ever suspected him. It was what Judas did in secret that doomed him, not what he did in public. He was a deserter, a man of the world behind the scenes.

 

It is possible to follow Jesus outwardly, so that everybody thinks we are a Christian. But if we do not accept Jesus truly in our hearts, we will not inherit eternal life.

 

Judas’ life is a sobering example. It should drive us to examine ourselves whether we are really in the faith. Yet is should not make us doubt the possibility to faithfully serve Jesus in our own lives. When we have put our trust in Him, nobody can snatch us from his hand. Jesus himself prayed in John 17:12: “I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” When we have become disciples of Jesus through a saving faith, He will guard us and lead us to eternal life.

DOES THIS REALLY MATTER? (LUKE 1:26-37)

 

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:

1.  JESUS CHRIST’S INCARNATION

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.