A Shocking Idea
Today we start a new series called: Incredible Christmas. Of course this is the Christmas season and I want us to take a new look at an old story and see how incredible the story really is. Follow along with me as I read from Matthew chapter one:
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, 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 bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "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." And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.”
Matthew 1:18-25 (NASB)
Folks this story is a historical fact. It was a historical event in a category by itself! It never happened before and will never happen again! “A virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son.”
The story starts out normal enough but it quickly gets out of hand!
A young couple wants to get married. They want to settle down and raise a family. But before they get married – she becomes pregnant. But here is the real twist to the story – she is still a virgin. She has had sex with no man – yet she ends up pregnant. It never happened before and will never happen again!
What does this fact mean to me? How does the virgin birth affect my life? I think it affects my life in three ways. First of all:
1. The Virgin Birth Opens The Door For My SALVATION
I think it’s pretty amazing how matter-of-factly Matthew states the most stunning news of all time. He says: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:18
It takes only one verse to say something that would send shock waves through all human history.
Notice Matthew does not try to explain how it happened. He doesn’t go into elaborate details. He just says, “This is how it happened – take it or leave it – it’s true.” A virgin has become pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
You may ask, “Why was it so important that Mary was a virgin? What difference does it make?” I can answer that question with two simple words – Original Sin. You see, everyone born of man in this world has been affected by the sin of Adam. Everyone has been touched by it. Paul understood this fact when he wrote:
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”
1 Cor. 15:22 (NASB)
The sin of Adam has affected us all. “In Adam we all die.” We have inherited from Adam physical death as well as spiritual death. We all die. In other words we are born spiritually dead and at some point we will die physically as well because we are descendants of Adam.
The best way that I can explain it is by using an illustration: Suppose that when your parents went out on their first date had a very bad accident. They got into their car hoping to have a good time. They were enjoying themselves – enjoying each other’s company – enjoying the ride. They were having fun. But as they are traveling down the road – the car starts going faster and faster. They don’t seem to notice how fast they are traveling and to tell you the truth – the speed of the car was the last thing on their minds. Little do they know that up ahead there is a curve in the road. It is called “Dead Man’s Curve”. It was sharp and there is a cliff along the edge of it. It is called “Dead Man’s Curve” for a reason. When the car reaches the curve – it flies off the cliff. Both of your parents are killed. Let me ask you, “Would their death affect your life? Would their death have an impact on you?” Yes! I would never be born – for when they died – any chance of my being born died with them.
When Adam sinned – it affected us all. When he sinned he became spiritually dead. All of his children are born spiritually dead. I have been born spiritually dead – you have been born spiritually dead – because of the sin of Adam. But that is not all that happened when Adam sinned. Not only have I been bore spiritually dead – I also have inherited a sinful nature because of him too.
What is a sinful nature? It means that I have a predisposition and an inclination to sin. No one had to teach me how to sin. But guess what – no one had to teach you either. We sin because we now have a sinful nature. You see that sinful nature is somehow passed on from one generation to another. It seems to be a part of our human DNA. In Adam all of us have been born spiritually dead and we have a sinful nature. But God gave the human race a second chance. Because of the virgin birth – there has now been one born who could break that cycle. He was not born with a sinful nature. He was not born with a human father. He was born to be sinless. That is why Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit – so that he could change the destiny of the human race
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”
1 Cor. 15:22 (NASB)
The second way the virgin birth affects me is:
2. The Virgin Birth Changes My DIRECTION
Notice what the last part to verse twenty one says:
“He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21b
Since I’m a sinner, I need someone who can save me. I need someone who’s standing on higher ground than I am. It’s like the tragic story I heard in the news of a grandmother who was taking care of her two year old granddaughter when the toddler fell into the swimming pool. Even though the grandmother didn’t know how to swim – in an attempt to save her granddaughter’s life – she jumped in the pool after her. Hours later not one but two bodies were found at the bottom of the pool! Both her and her granddaughter died together. Listen – when you’re drowning, you need help, but it has to come from:
(A). Someone who’s WILLING to save you and;
(B). Someone who’s ABLE to save you!
When it comes to sin – Jesus meets both requirements! He is both willing and able to save you. He is standing on higher ground than you are. He knows how to swim – he knows how to save – and he is willing to save you.
Before I move on though – let me give you another aspect about drowning. Do you know what the biggest danger that the lifesaver has when he is trying to save someone from drowning is? It’s not the water – the lifesaver is an expert swimmer. The biggest danger to a lifesaver is being pulled under by the person that he is trying to save. You see the problem is – a person who is drowning either still thinks they can save themselves or that the lifesaver does not have the ability to save them. They are not willing to put their trust in the ability of the lifesaver. Look at what the scripture says again:
“He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21b
Who is doing the saving in this passage of scripture? Who is the savior? It is Jesus. He is the only one who has the ability to save.
Let me ask you – how much effort – how much energy have you spent in trying to save yourself? Have you been thrashing about in the water? Do you think you can save yourself? Have you been thrashing about in your sin? Have you been trying to keep yourself afloat? How good a job have you been doing? Do you think you can save yourself? The answer is – only Jesus can save you from your sins.
In studying this passage of scripture this past week I found several commentaries that went into great lengths talking about the righteousness of Joseph. You know the scripture does say of Joseph that he was a “righteous man”. I wonder though – do you think the righteousness of Joseph saved him? Do you think he got to heaven because of his own righteousness? Folks – the answer is no. No one’s righteousness can ever save them. It will never happen. The Bible tells us:
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isa 64:6 (KJV)
Folks we cannot save ourselves. We need a Savior who is both willing and able to save us.
The third way that the virgin birth affects me is:
3. The Virgin Birth Requires My RESPONCE
Did you notice how Joseph responds in the story? At first he believes that Mary has become pregnant by another man – so his plan is to send her away secretly. But then he has a dream and an angel of the Lord appears to him and tells him not to worry – she has become pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. The child she will give birth to be a special child. He will save people from their sins. His name will be Jesus. Joseph believes the dream – he believes the angel and because he believes his plans change. Did you know that what you believe matters. It did for Joseph. His behavior changed because of his belief.
Did you know that it’s recorded in the Bible that Jesus used the word “believe” over 60 times in the New Testament? He said things like:
"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:26
Or –
"For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light." John 12:36
Or –
"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” John 14:1
Why would Jesus talk so much about what a person believes? You want to know why? Because what we believe makes a difference. What you believe can change your behavior. What you believe can change your plans. Folks here is a fact – What you believe drives the way you behave. Joseph believed that Mary was pregnant by another man. He was going to put her away quietly. But after an angel came to him – he believed she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit and he married her. His belief changed his action.
The early church fathers knew that what a person believes is vitally important. So they came up with a statement of belief centuries ago – it goes like this:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. AMEN.
Do you believe in the virgin birth? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe that he is the Savior of the world? What you believes matters.
I want to thank Chris Kelly for the sermon starter idea.
