By: Dr. James Bachman
Dear Parson,
Why is the virgin birth so vital to Christian doctrine?
All people who have been born have been born by the seed of man (Adam), except for Jesus Christ, who was born of the seed of woman. The first prophecy of the gospel is found in Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between thee (Satan) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed (Christ); it shall bruise thy (Satan’s) head, and thou shall bruise his (Christ’s) heel.”
The prophetic sign for Christ’s birth was given in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us).” That was fulfilled in Matthew 1:23, “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.”
Yes, that was a miracle but it was also essential. A sinful nature comes down to all of us from our fathers, through Adam. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Christ did not receive the Adamic sinful nature through birth, and thus was able to go 33 years, and forever, without sin. Thus He was the only person qualified to be our substitute and to die in our place, for He had no sin of His own for which to die. “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” (I Peter 2:22) “And he is the propitiation (total payment) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:2)
To gain the benefit of what He has done for us, we must receive Him by faith according to John 1:12. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
Send questions and comments to: jamesbachman@juno.com
