Originally posted by karoly aczel
You believe that? (the virgin birth) And if so , why?
You believe that? (the virgin birth) And if so , why?
Well, firstly I believe it because I have been persuaded that the Bible should be taken at face value. It is not reported as a parable. It is reported as an event [edited] in history. But this virgin birth of Jesus is not an event in a total vacuum. There are some contributing factors which enfluence me to take it matter of fact style.
1.) The miracle was prophesied centries before, that it would occur. So we were given a "heads up" that a miraculous birth of a special person was on its way.
2.) It was not the first time that God brought about an unusual birth. Abraham and Sarah's birth of Isaac was somewhat a foretaste of what God could do. And a few other places in the Old Testament displayed God's sovereign control over unusual human births and deaths too for that matter.
So when the virgin birth of Jesus arrives, (a singular event in history), we have already seen some manifestation of God's power.
3.) The wonderfulnesss of the virgin birth of Jesus is consistent with the wonderfulness of His personality. His splendid life, His glorious words and deeds are
consistent with His miraculous arrival.
This is not the virgin birth of anyone. It is the special birth of a special Person.
4.) The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is necessary for Him to qualify to be in the Davidic line as the Messiah king. If Joseph has actually been the physical father of Jesus that would have
disqualified Jesus from being the promised son of David to sit on his throne as the Israelite messiah king.
So Jesus had to be related to David throug a family line,
BUT not through the family line which included any male descendents of the dismissed line from
Jeconiah. So being related to David through Mary the mother, yet NOT through Joseph the husband of Mary, qualifies Jesus as a legitimate candidate to be the promised Messiah.
Having said all of this, I would add - the New Testament does not seem to hold the virgin birth of Jesus as a necessary belief for salvation. It is not mentioned much except by the Gospel of
Matthew and the Gospel of
Luke. It is not nearly as emphasized as His redemptive death and resurrection.
5.) Though I am not sure about this, the virgin of Jesus
may have something to do with Jesus Christ not having the sin nature, yet being a typical man otherwise. I am not positive though.