The Virgin Birth

Isaiah 7:14 ~ “Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
 
A war was soon to break out upon the people of Judah as the northern kingdom aligned with Syria set their armies against king Ahaz in Jerusalem. And though Ahaz was no godly king, nor did he walk in the paths of righteousness, the LORD God gave him an opportunity look to the LORD and stand by faith in the Almighty. We read in Isaiah 7:9, “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.” God instructed the king of Judah to ask for a sign, but Ahaz refused the opportunity (see Isaiah 7:10-12). Understand, beloved, that faith in the LORD is to do as He commands, trusting that He will accomplish what He has promised. Ahaz’s refusal was nothing more than an act of false humility. He refused God’s command to ask for a sign, yet the LORD would give a sign nonetheless.
 
The sign that the LORD will provide is a birth with meaning. We read from our text today, “Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign.” From Ahaz’s rejection of the LORD’s command, the Almighty will provide a sign anyway. And this sign will not be misinterpreted. Dear ones, God does nothing frivolous. Nor is there anything of triviality in the actions of the LORD. Thus, when God offers a sign, it will be one that carries significant meaning for those who have faith. The LORD offers signs all through the Scriptures for those who are willing to see and believe. There is something coming, and God will reveal it to all who are paying attention. This birth that is promised is a sign—not for the moment but for the future, a coming Deliverer who will rescue all those who have faith in Him. When challenged by the Pharisees, Jesus offered another sign to prove His authority, “Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up’” (John 2:19). His resurrection is the sign.
 
But a sign from God cannot be something that would naturally occur. This birth will be miraculous. We continue reading our text today, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son.” It would be no great wonder that a woman might give birth to a child. Unless, of course, that woman is a virgin. The promised birth must be, then, a miraculous act of God. But the virgin birth of our LORD Jesus has a profound implication upon it, for this is the means by which the LORD will enter this world without a trace of the original sin. Lest we forget, we read 1 Corinthians 15:22, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” If Jesus was born of Adam—through the natural process of conception—He would be burdened as all mankind with the same fallen nature. But Jesus has no original sin, and He lives His life with no actual sin as we read in Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” And all of this through the virgin birth. We read its fulfillment in Luke 1:34-35, “And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’ And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.’”
 
The coming of Christ Jesus is also a birth with a message. We read the conclusion of our text today, “and shall call his name, Immanuel.” There is much to be found in a name. And this name addressing the LORD Jesus is one that is rich with meaning, for the name means, “God with us.” The great hope of Israel was to have God with them. And such is the hope of all who believe. Christian, you have not only God with you, you have God IN you! Consider these words of our LORD Jesus, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). There is a connection we shall have with the LORD, and He will never depart from His people. Understand this: the Child promised will be the Son of God and forever it will be: “God with us!”
 
Let us do as spoken by the LORD and stand firm in our faith. Our great hope and full salvation are found in Him. This Christmas season, look unto Jesus Christ and know that He is still Immanuel—God with us.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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