Why the Virgin birth must be affirmed - Biblical inerrancy

Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel."

Introduction:

Today's post is about asserting not just a small curious teaching of scripture, but a significant and central truth - the virgin birth/conception of Jesus Christ. Touching His deity, the Son is eternal (John 1:1; Romans 9:5); God (Colossians 1:16-17; 1 Timothy 3:15-16; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:1-2) with all power and authority (Matthew 28:18). When the Son chose to come into this world (Hebrews 10:4-5) as sent from the Father (John 3:16) with Whom the Son shares in the same undivided Divine nature (John 17:1-5); He came through the vessel of a young, Jewish, virgin, peasant girl by the name of Mary (Luke 1:35). Many today scoff at the idea of the virgin birth conception, remarking the needless effort to try to prove it. For many people, the virgin birth is a seemingly small detail. Moreover, since virgin births simply don't happen, perhaps the church has misinterpreted the scriptures. Some have even opted to try to translate the word "virgin" recorded in Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23 by the phrase "young maiden" so as to dismiss the doctrine altogether. 

Is the virgin birth/conception a small trivial detail of the Christian faith? Can we do without the virgin birth of Jesus' humanity? Would Jesus had been any less qualified of a Savior in His humanity if he had been born by natural means? This writer would say that unavoidable problems result. The incarnation (the enfleshment) of the Son into true humanity required and demanded a virgin birth conception. So the question is: what is the significance of the virgin conception/birth of Jesus' humanity? 

Affirming the virgin birth affirms the inerrancy of scripture

At stake in asserting the virgin conception/birth of Jesus is the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy. When we read Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23, is the word translated "virgin" to be rendered "young maiden". Without going into the intricacies of the Hebrew and Greek words, suffice it to say, the word translated "virgin" in Isaiah 7:14, though frequently referring to young maidens who are of marrying age, can nonetheless refer specifically to young ladies in their virginity prior to marriage. The same word used in Isaiah 7:14 is used to describe the virgin is used the same way in Genesis 24:43 with reference to Rebekah. When used in Biblcial contexts that speak of young ladies prior to marriage, the implied meaning is with reference to them not having had physical relations with a man. Fruthermore, Rebekah is described earlier in Genesis 24:16 by a very technical Hebrew word that can only means "virgin", henceforth lending proof that it is very appropriate, given the contexts of Genesis 24:43 and Isaiah 7:14 to translate the prophecy as referring to a virgin birth. 

When we arrive at Matthew 1:23, we see Isaiah 7:14 quoted as fulfilled prophecy with reference to Jesus' conception and birth. Matthew 1:23 reads -  “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” In quoting the Greek translation (called the Septuagint) of Isaiah 7:14, Matthew's words as superintended by the Holy Ghost preserve the original intent of Isaiah 7:14. Matthew uses a Greek word that is specific in its meaning: "virgin" in his quotation of Isaiah 7:14, thus demonstrating the Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment as being a true virgin birth/conception of the humanity of Jesus Christ. The New Testament repeats without apology the kind of conception/birth that made possible the humanity of Jesus - namely a virgin birth. 

These observations illustrate how exact and intentional the Holy Spirit was when He superintended the process of the writing of scripture. The very words and their selection was a combination of Matthew's vocabulary in using the Greek Old Testament version of Isaiah 7:14 and the Holy Spirit's work of Divine inspiration. Furthermore, the Spirit's inspiration of Isaiah's prophecy reinforces this point of the virgin birth as highlighting the Bible's 100% accuracy and truthfulness (inerrancy).

Closing thoughts

If we deny the virgin birth, what is at stake is the very integrity and character of scripture as being without error and Divinely inspired. 

Happy Ascension Day 2015 - What Jesus' Ascension into Heaven means to you

Luke 24:50-53 "And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising God."

Today's post is featuring an event recorded in scripture that, in the words of Bible teacher R.C Sproul, puts an exclamation point on entirety of Christ's first coming: The ascension. Today many Christians all over the world are celebrating the 40th day following Easter Sunday that is called "Ascension Thursday." 

Two scriptures give us the beginning and ending points of the forty day period of time between Jesus' resurrection from the dead and His ascension into Heaven. Matthew 28:1 states: "Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave." According to Acts 1:1-3 "The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God." 

Much of course occurred in that nearly six week period of time. For our interests today, we want to consider the event of the ascension itself.  By beginning to focus upon the scriptures that speak of the event of Christ's ascension, we can begin to see why this event is so crucial to our understanding and worship of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Event of The Ascension of Jesus Christ
Jesus Himself had predicted during His trials and journey to the cross that He would be ascended and seated at the right hand of God the Father in Luke 22:69 "But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” Such a statement is important and reminds us that Jesus' ascension into heaven was only possible because of His willing "descension" from heaven to earth, in the virgin birth of His incarnation and ultimately into His passion or sufferings on the cross.

The ascension as an event is recorded in the Gospels and in Acts. For now I just want to list the scriptures that record this event. Why? To remind the reader that this was no myth or fictional hallucination in the minds of the New Testament authors. This event really happened, in time and space, in history and among eyewitnesses.


Mark 16:19 "So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. "

Luke 9:51 "When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem."

Luke 24:50-51 "And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven."

John 6:62 "What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?"

John 20:17 "Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”

Acts 1:9 "And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight."

Acts 1:22 "beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”



Thus we see that according to Jesus Himself, the New Testament scriptures and the testimonies of the early Christians, the ascension functioned as a watershed event that would fix the identity of Christ's exaltation forever in the full testimony about Him.  

Closing thoughts:
I thought I would close out this special ascension day post with a statement from the SBC "2000 Baptist Faith and Message". With other Bible-believing Christian bodies throughout the world, Southern Baptists strongly affirms the reality and significance of Christ's ascension.  Consider the following statement: "He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man." To all my readers, I bid you a happy Ascension day.  May we all think on the event of the ascension and why this event is so crucial to our understanding and worship of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Healthy Christian Souls Aim for a Good Testimony - 3 John 1:10-15 & Conclusion

3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."

Today's post concludes a series of posts that have been derived from the smallest book in the Bible - John's 3rd Epistle. The above opening verse is identified as the key verse and spells out the theme of 3 John, namely "Healthy Christianity". The phrase within 3 John 1:2 that has governed this study has been the statement John makes regarding his readers as those who have "prospering souls". In this series we have explored the idea of "the healthy Christian soul". Thus far we have looked at how healthy Christian souls....

1. Prize walking in the truth

2. Prize faithfulness to the Lord

3. Love the work of God

4. Love to do what is right

As we conclude this series, we will consider one more trait of a healthy Christian soul, namely...

Healthy Christian Souls Prioritize a Good Testimony

3 John 1:12 points to  amn who had a good testimony - "Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true." I am sure the reader has heard it said that a good testimony results from a "test" and that any message flowing from a testimony came after a "mess". 

Within the book of 3 John, we see the mess that a villian, Diotrophes, was making in the small church to which John wrote. We saw yesterday how Diotrophes typifies unhealthy Christianity by how he was self-centered, self-sufficient, accusing, divisive and argumentative. According to 3 John 1:10, Diotrophes was abusing his leadership power to the point of excommunicating people who were otherwise spiritually healthy!

To contrast Diotrophes, John mentions to Gaius and his fellow church members the testimony of a man named Demetrius in 3 John 1:12. Though we are given scant detail about this man, it is very clear that he was a man who had a very healthy Christian soul. Everyone had nothing but good to say about Demetrius and his level of Christian piety was to such a degree that even the Apostle John could say that not only God's Word, but even the Apostles themselves recognized his testimony. Ought Christian people be the type of people who can be spoken well of, whether in the church, at the workplace, the school yard or even in the lips of enemies? Demetrius' reputation seemed nearly second to none. 

Closing thoughts

As John closes out his little letter, it is clear he has much more to say as indicated by his words in 3 John 1:13-15. Healthy Christianity is what John is urging Gaius, the church to which Gaius was a part of in fellowship and what the Holy Spirit is urging us to desire. Remember, healthy Christian souls...

1. Prize walking in the truth

2. Prize faithfulness to the Lord

3. Love the work of God

4. Love to do what is right

5. Aim for a good testimony

Would we as Christ followers attain unto being those with healthy Christian souls. 

Healthy Christian Souls love to do right - 3 John 1:9-11

3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."

Today's post continues a series of posts derived from the smallest book in the Bible - John's 3rd Epistle. The above opening verse is identified as the key verse and spells out the theme of 3 John, namely "Healthy Christianity". The phrase within 3 John 1:2 has captured my attention in that the Apostle describes his readers as those who have "prospering souls". In this series we are exploring the idea of "the healthy Christian soul". Thus far we have looked at how healthy Christian souls....

1). Prize walking in the truth

2). Prize faithfulness to the Lord. 

3). Love the work of God

We continue onto the fourth trait of the healthy Christian soul expressed by the Apostle John in his third letter, namely...

Healthy Christian souls love doing right

3 John 1:11 reads - "Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God." A healthy Christian does not view good works as duties to perform but as delightful expressions of love. When the heart of a person is regnerated and converted in saving faith, God begins to take what are "have to's" and turns them into "want to's". 

Why would John urge his readers not to imitate what is evil? There was a man at the small church to which he wrote who was exercising tyranny over the flock - a man by the name of Diotrophes. The irony of Diotrophes was that even though his name in the original Greek means "nourished by love", the kind of love he fed upon was not God's love, but self-love. The result? Chaos. A quick summary of Diotrophes unhealthy soul provides a contrast to what John is urging his readers to be: namely healthy Christiani souls. Notice quickly the signs of unhealthy Christianity in Diotrophes:

1. "loves to be first", i.e self-love 

3 John 1:9

2. "does not accept what we say", i.e self-sufficiency. 3 John 1:9

3. "unjustly accusing us with wicked words", i.e accusing. 3 John 1:10

4. "does not receive the brethren", i.e argumentative. 3 John 1:10

5. "he forbids those who do so", that is, Disotrophes opposes those who are united around the cause of those advancing God's Kingdom in Christ. Hence, Distrophes is divisive .

When we take all five of the traits of unhealthy Christianity: self-loving, self-sufficient, accusatory, divisive, argumentative; we can see why John is urging his readers not to imitate such a man. Instead, John is urging his readers to not just be good people, but to be the kind of people that have works flowing from God's goodness flowing through them. Galatians 5:22-23 explains perfectly what such a lifestyle ought to be: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Therefore healthy Christian souls love to do right.

More tomorrow

Healthy Christian Souls love God's work - 3 John 1:6-8

3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."

Today's post continues a series of posts derived from the smallest book in the Bible - John's 3rd Epistle. The above opening verse is identified as the key verse and spells out the theme of 3 John, namely "Healthy Christianity". In this series we are exploring the idea of "the healthy Christian soul". Thus far we have looked at how healthy Christian souls prize walking in the truth and aim at being faithful to the Lord. Today we continue by noting a third traith of healthy Christianity, namely...

Healthy Christian souls love God's work

3 John 1:6-8 tells us - "and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth." We can never seperate the Person of Jesus Christ from His work. God's presence and His work are inseperable. A healthy follower of Jesus Christ cannot claim to love Jesus with all of their heart and yet not have some interest in wanting to serve Him and encourage others to do the same. John's readers both loved the church and loved those who were advancing the cause of Christ outside in the mission field. This is one of the most detailed descriptions we have in the New Testament of how early churches sent forth missionaries. Healthy Christian souls light up whenever there is opportunity to do anything for Jesus. Hence, healthy Christian souls love God's work.

More tomorrow...

Healthy Christian Souls are faithful - 3 John 1:5

3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."

Today's post continues a series of posts derived from the smallest book in the Bible - John's 3rd Epistle. The book of 3 John comprises only 215 words and fits on one page in the average Bible. Though small in size, this inspired text is just as profitable as the other 65 books in the canon of scripture. The above opening verse is identified as the key verse and spells out the theme of 3rd John, namely "Healthy Christianity". The phrase within 3 John 1:2 has captured my attention in that the Apostle describes his readers as those who have "prospering souls". In this series we are exploring the idea of "the healthy Christian soul". Yesterday we began by first noting that the healthy Christian soul walks in the truth. Today we consider the second trait of a healthy Christianity or a healthy Christian soul, namely... 

Healthy Christian souls are faithful

3 John 1:5 reads - "Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers." What does it mean to be faithful? Starting from conversion, every time I am faced with a decision to exercise faith in obedience or be disobedient out of fear determines how consistent I am in the walk of faith. Everytime I choose to trust God over myself, I am building in a track record of "faithfulness". Faithfulness always looks beyond self to the needs of others and the cause of God's Kingdom. Faithful people will never meet a stranger who is all about advancing God's kingdom work. God's kingdom is the domain of His reign in the hearts of men, the heavenly realms and will be made manifest in the soon return of Jesus Christ. Healthy Christianity thrives on faithfulness. Faithfulness, not success, is what defines healthy Christianity. 

More tomorrow.... 

Healthy Christian souls walk in the truth - 3 John 1:1-4

3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers."

Today's post begins a series derived from the smallest book in the Bible - John's 3rd Epistle. The book of 3 John comprises only 215 words and fits on one page in an average Bible. Though small in size, this inspired text is just as profitable as the other 65 books in the canon of scripture. The above opening verse is identified as the key verse and spells out the theme of 3 John, namely "Healthy Christianity". The phrase within 3 John 1:2 has captured my attention in that the Apostle describes his readers as those who have "prospering souls". Certainly his bidding for them to be physically healthy is worthy of a blogpost itself, however in couching such an command within an already existing state of healthy Christian spirituality makes me want to ask: "What does a healthy Christian soul look like?" It is with these thoughts in mind that we will explore over the next several posts the idea of "the healthy Christian soul". 

To get started, we can note the first characteristic of a healthy Christian soul, namely....

Healthy Christian souls walk in the truth 

John writes in 3 John 1:3-4 "For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth." When Christians are regularly conducting themselves around the Word of God, it causes joy in the hearts of other Christ-followers who have given their lives to the truth. Truth is the food and drink of the Christian and commitment to the truth of God's word is a premier sign of true conversion. (see John 14:21) We are told in Ephesians 4:1 to "walk worthy in the manner of our calling". What is the manner of our calling? To walking in the truth, the light of God's presence. (1 John 1:5-7) Jesus Himself is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and thus believers are urged in 1 John 2:6 to "walk as Jesus walked". Hence a healthy Christian soul will prioritize walking in the truth.

More tomorrow...