Conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary

Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, having faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and have shipwrecked their faith. 1 Timothy 1:18–19 CSB

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He arose again from the dead…

…He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary

Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Luke 1:34–37 CSB

Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. “And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:34–37 CSB

Why do people deny the virgin birth of Jesus?

“The Word became flesh”

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 CSB

Jesus took on flesh.

He did not have flesh prior to birth in this world.

who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, Philippians 2:6–7 CSB

What was Jesus doing before he became flesh?

He came in the likeness of “sinful flesh”, yet he was sinless.

What the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did What the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, Romans 8:3 CSB

The Holy Spirit’s connection with the conception of Jesus

The Holy Spirit was the cause of the conception in the womb of Mary.

The Holy Spirit sanctified the human nature of Jesus keeping him completely free from sin.

Why did Jesus become flesh?

To reveal God to us.

God reveals himself to us in many way, but only the Incarnation revealed the essence of God.

The only way we can “know” the Father is to “know” the Son.

The revelation of God became personalized.

What did Jesus reveal to us about God?

To provide an example for our lives

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21 CSB

The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked. 1 John 2:6 CSB

To provide an effective sacrifice for sin

Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year... Hebrews 10:1–10 CSB

...Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year... Hebrews 10:1–10 CSB

...For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said: You did not desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me. You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings... Hebrews 10:1–10 CSB

...Then I said, “See— it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, O God.” After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law) ... Hebrews 10:1–10 CSB

he then says, See, I have come to do your will ...he then says, See, I have come to do your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time. Hebrews 10:1–10 CSB

To be able to fulfill the Davidic covenant

The Messiah, Jesus, will physically occupy the throne of David.

Mary was told her child would be given the throne of David

Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Luke 1:31–33 CSB

To destroy the works of the devil

The one who commits sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s works. 1 John 3:8 CSB

To be able to be a sympathetic High Priest

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses... Hebrews 4:14–16 CSB

but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin ...but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. Hebrews 4:14–16 CSB

To be able to be a qualified Judge

The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, John 5:22 CSB

And he has granted him the right to pass judgment, because he is the Son of Man. John 5:27 CSB

The purpose of the virgin birth, was not about sinlessness, but rather about a sign of the uniqueness of the person being born.

Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 CSB

When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus. Matthew 1:24–25 CSB

Then his mother and brothers came to him, but they could not meet with him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” Luke 8:19–20 CSB

Isn’t this the carpenter’s son Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, aren’t they all with us? So where does he get all these things?” Matthew 13:55–56 CSB

Conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary