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).
It is not the main part of [the evangelist] to tell men to make their peace with God, but to tell them that God has made peace with the world. At bottom, the Gospel is not good advice, but good news. All the good advice it gives is summed up in this - Receive the good news!
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9 X 5 X 3-inch loaf
pan. In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients except the nuts. Beat
with a spoon for 30 seconds, then stir in the nuts. Pour the batter into
the prepared pan. Bake for 65 to 70 minutes or until a wooden pick,
inserted in the center, comes out clean. Cool, on a wire rack in the pan,
for 10 minutes then remove the loaf from the pan. Wrap tightly in Aluminum
foil and cool completely before cutting.
A Message from our Provider:
“We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good, because it is good, if bad, because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country. #C.S. Lewis”
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