“That’s absurd! Why would anyone believe such utter nonsense? Look, it may be a nice, sweet, sentimental tale designed to indicate he was unique but come on, born of a virgin?” Maybe it would be best if we just didn’t mention that part? Folks are more sophisticated today, maybe we just let that part of the story go? I understand the questions. I understand why some might think it would just be easier and less embarrassing to jettison that part of the Christmas story. We could do that. Of course, if we jettison the virgin birth, we lose Christianity. “Oh pastor, isn’t that a bit dramatic?” No, it isn’t. If Jesus of Nazareth was not born exactly as the Bible tells us, then He is not who we say He is. If He is not who we say He is, there is no gospel, no good news and we are still in our sin. The story of Christmas, and in turn the whole gospel, is that God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, became man. That Jesus of Nazareth was fully, genuinely human and fully, genuinely God at the same time. If He was not uniquely conceived, by the work of God, then He was conceived the same as any other man. If He was conceived just as any other man then He is just another man. If he is just another man, then He was conceived in sin and brought forth with iniquity. He was not sinless. If not sinless then He is not the perfect sacrifice for sin. Of course, as just another man, He can still set a wonderful example of how to live but that still leaves us in our sin and ultimately damned.
I understand virgins don’t conceive. I understand that’s not the normal course of things but then that’s the point isn’t it? We don’t live in a “closed system” with natural law governing everything. We live in a world governed by a Sovereign who rules over His creation. We serve a God who spoke a world into existence. Once there was nothing then God said, “Let there be” and there was! This God, determined to save a people for His own glory, became a man to redeem sinful humanity. That’s the glory and wonder of Christmas. The virgin birth is not excess baggage it is essential truth. Doctrinal truths are connected. When you pull one string, the whole thing begins to unravel. The truths of the Christmas story may be foolishness to those who are perishing but to those of us who believe, it is the power of God unto salvation. This Christmas, believe, embrace and tell the whole story of God’s great love in sending His one and only Son to save sinners like you and me.
Praying that you and your family have a safe, blessed Christmas. I hope that you are able to join us in person on Thursday for our annual Christmas Eve Service. If not, you can join us online @ www.youtube.com/tbctulsa. The service begins at 10:00 pm.
Rod