Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) 6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Matthew 1:18, 20b-21 (NIV) 18This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ... 20b...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Luke 1:26-38 (excerpts) (NIV) 26b...God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” ... 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. ... 34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”
“I believe in Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.”
The Nicene Creed provides more detail:
For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.
These passages of Scripture noted above are traditionally used during the Christmas season. Unfortunately the tendency to get ‘wrapped up’ (excuse the pun) in the planning and festivities of the holiday season often submerges the true significance of Christ’s birth. In fact even the phrase “Jesus is the Reason” becomes so commercialized that we utter the words without deep thought on what that truly means. On the other side of the spectrum, there are those who deify Mary, who although recognized as ‘highly favored’ is not, nor ever was, part of the One Triune Godhead – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
“I believe in Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.”
My challenge to you is to pause, clear your thoughts for a moment and consider the following:
· Jesus Christ is One with God the Father Almighty and was with God from the very beginning including the creation of the earth. John 1:1-3 (NIV) 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
· God knew in his omniscience that the world would need a Savior, someone to bridge the gap between a sinful and sin-filled, tainted and marred world and His own Holiness. Isaiah 59:2 (NIV) 2But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you. Romans 3:23 (NIV) 23For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
· The only Sacrifice sufficient to accomplish this would have to be perfect, sinless, blameless, without defect. John 1:29b (NIV) 29bLook, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
· The only perfect Sacrifice would have to be God’s Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, not conceived by mortal man, but of God’s Holy Spirit. John 3:16-17 (NIV) 16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
· Jesus willingly accepted this assignment – knowing full well it would mean leaving the throne of God, coming to earth in human form, growing up with all its human temptations and challenges and yet remaining without sin. John 1:14 (NIV) 14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 18:37b (NIV) 37bIn fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Hebrews 4:15 (NIV) 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin.
· Jesus knew this would eventually lead to rejection, persecution and death, but rising to once again resume his throne in glory at his Father’s side. I will write more on this in the coming devotions; however, my position remains clear:
“I believe in Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.”
Dear Lord God, my Heavenly Father;
Seldom do I take time to grasp the full depth of your omniscience, knowing that I would need a Savior even before the world as we know it began. Your wisdom and plan were fully in place; which also means your Son, Jesus Christ, fully knew the part he would fulfill in my Salvation. Help me, and also my readers, to pause in submission and full thanksgiving for the gift of mercy and grace you have provided.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The devotional I Believe in Jesus Christ, Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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