A Virgin Will Conceive

Chuckle: (church bulletin blooper): "The pastor will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, 'Break Forth Into Joy.'"

Quote: "Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from (within) it. He did not evolve out of history; He came into history from the outside." --Oswald Chambers

A VIRGIN WILL CONCEIVE

"Look! A virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him 'Immanuel,' (which means) God is with us" (Isaiah 7:14b NLT). "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6 NLT).

It's important for believers to have an appreciation for God's plan to send his Son into the world to live among us and to pay the price for our sins through his shed blood. Our passage was written some 800 years before Jesus' birth. This gives great credence to the fact that all Scripture is inspired of God and written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Belief in the virgin birth of Jesus is a cornerstone of our Christian faith. The term "virgin" in our text is the translation of a Hebrew word which describes a young woman who is unmarried even though she is sexually mature and of the age to be married. This young woman was destined to bear a son to be named Immanuel which means "God with us." Matthew 1:23 quotes Isaiah 7:14 to show fulfillment of this prophecy and identifies the virgin as Mary who bore a son, Immanuel the Christ.

God's people were experiencing dark and difficult times when Isaiah foretold Jesus' birth, as they were at the time of his actual birth. The coming Messiah would be the light of the world even in the darkest of times. The Holy Spirit being his Father, and the titles given him in Isaiah 9:6 allude to the deity of the Son to be born of a virgin. With Jesus birth came a message of hope foretold by Isaiah, and the establishment of his eternal kingdom in the hearts of people. He came as the redeemer of all people to deliver them out of the bondage of sin and the consequences thereof.

It is absolutely mind-boggling when we try to fully grasp the magnitude of God's love, mercy, and grace revealed in the Christmas story -- the story of the birth and ministry of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! "God gave him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9b-11 NIV).

God made one of the most complex and mind-boggling events in history so simple that even the common man could have enough understanding to stand amazed and rejoice in them. Let's take the time this Christmas to thank God for the gift of his love and the gift of his Son. And let's do so with great rejoicing!

Love, Jerry & Dotse