We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Seven Important Facts concerning the Virgin Birth of Jesus: 1. The virgin birth was not a demonstrable event. I.e., it was not the sort of miracle that was subject to empirical investigation and proof (as were, for example, the resurrection and the healing of Acts 3-4). We either believe the virgin birth or not based upon our belief in the reality of the supernatural and the integrity of Scripture. 2. The virgin birth was not the beginning of the Son of God. The Son of God was eternally pre-existent (cf. John 1:1; 8:58). The virgin birth is only the beginning of the God-man, Jesus. 3. The virgin birth does not entail a reduction or denial of the deity of Christ. There was not in the virgin birth a transformation of deity into humanity, as if to suggest that the second person of the Trinity has been transmuted into a man. God the Son did not cease to be God when he became a man. 4. The virgin birth does not entail a reduction or denial of the humanity of Christ. There are three ways of coming into being: born of man and woman (us), born of man but not woman (Eve), and born of neither man nor woman (Adam). All admit that we, as well as Adam and Eve, are all human. So why not then a fourth way of coming into being: born of woman but not man (Jesus). The New Testament provides overwhelming evidence both for the reality of the virgin birth and the full humanity of Jesus. 5. The virgin birth does not require us to believe in the immaculate conception of Mary (as proclaimed by Pope Pius IX on Dec. 8, 1854). The doctrine of the “immaculate conception” is the idea that Mary herself was conceived without sin. The RCC also teaches that “in consequence of a Special Privilege of Grace from God, Mary was free from every personal sin during her whole life” (Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, p. 203). But there is not one word in the New Testament that remotely suggests Mary was conceived in a way different from any other human being. Furthermore, Mary herself confessed she was a sinner in need of a savior (Luke 1:47). 6. The virgin birth does not require us to believe in the perpetual virginity of Mary (as proclaimed by the Council of Trent in 1545-63). a. See Matthew 1:25. b. See Luke 2:7 where Jesus is described as her “first-born” son. If she had remained a virgin, would not Luke have described Jesus as her “only” son? c. Jesus’ half-brothers and half-sisters are mentioned in the New Testament (Mk. 3:31-35; 6:3; Lk. 8:19-21; Jn. 2:12; 7:1-5, 10; Ac. 1:14; 1 Cor. 9:5; Gal. 1:19). These were not, as the RCC claims, his cousins. Even if Mary did not have other children, this does not prove she remained a virgin all her life. d. This doctrine would also require us to believe in the perpetual virginity of Joseph! e. This idea is based on an ascetic, un-biblical view of sex, according to which sexual relations are defiling or demeaning. 7. The virgin birth does not elevate Mary to a place of worship and veneration. Note these unbiblical declarations of the RCC: “As no man goes to the father but by the son, so no one goes to Christ except through his mother” (Pope Leo XIII, 1953). “It is the will of God that we should have nothing which is not passed through the hands of Mary” (Pope Pius XII, 1953).

Sam Storms

It is important that you let your children in on the fact that there is a sexual dimension to mom and dad's relationship. Some Christians have the mistaken idea that their children should never see mom and dad in any intimate embrace. The result is that the fraudulent affairs on TV and in the lives of wicked people are the only expressions of sexuality that they ever see. I am not talking about inviting children into the bedroom, but about the importance of knowing that there is a sexual dimension to mom and dad's relationship.

Tedd Tripp

We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Cappuccino Cheesecake

January 22, 2023

CATEGORY	CUISINE	TAG	YIELD
Dairy, Grains, Eggs		Cakes, Cheese	6	Servings

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2	c	Finely chopped nuts
2	tb	Sugar
3	tb	Margarine, melted
4	pk	8-ounce cream cheese, soften
1	c	Sugar
3	tb	Flour
4		Eggs
1	c	Sour cream
1/4	c	Cold water
1	tb	Instant coffee
1/4	ts	Cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

BASE
BODY
BASE: Combine nuts, sugar and margarine; press onto bottom of 9-inch
springform pan.  Bake at 325, 10 minutes.
BODY: Combine cream cheese, sugar and flour, mixing at medium speed on
electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well
after each addition. Blend in sour cream. Bring water to boil. Add coffee
granules and cinnamon; stir until dissolved. Cool; gradually add to cream
cheese mixture, mixing until well blended.
Pour over crust.  Bake at 450, 10 minutes.  Reduce oven temperature to
250; continue baking 1 hour. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before
removing rim of pan. Chill. Garnish with whipped cream and whole coffee
beans, if desired.
From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini

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