The Virgin Birth

Bryan Loritts

Hope This Christmas

Full Service Sermon Only Sermon Audio

Dec 6, 2020

Matthew 1:18-21

In this message, Pastor Bryan Loritts begins our December sermon series Hope This Christmas by teaching about how the incarnation of Jesus Christ and why it is so significant that God came to earth at Christmas!

Sermon Notes

Hope This Christmas

The Virgin Birth

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for [e]He will save His people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:18-21

“Over the years I’ve had fruitful dialogs with many members and leaders of other religions. I have asked them how in their faith the individual’s relationship with God actually works. In general, these are the answers I received. Eastern religions do not grant the possibility of personal communion. God is in the end an impersonal force, and you can merge with that force but cannot have personal communication with it. For other faiths God is personal, but too removed to be said to have intimate, loving communion with believers. I’ve become convinced that what makes the difference for Christianity is the incarnation. No other faith says God became flesh”- Tim Keller, Hidden Christmas.

The Purpose of the Virgin Birth- Matthew 1:21

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, ‘for he will save his people from their sins’”- Matthew 1:21.

The How of the Virgin Birth- His Humanity

“When we speak of the humanity of Christ it is appropriate to begin with a consideration of the virgin birth of Christ. Scripture clearly asserts that Jesus was conceived in the womb of his mother Mary by a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit and without a human father”- Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin”- Hebrews 4:15.

The How of the Virgin Birth- His Deity

Responding to the Virgin Birth

“And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word’”- Luke 1:38