Critics of the Bible often "pick on" the very fundamental teachings of God’s word. Many skeptics criticize the message of creation that is found in Genesis chapter one. They attack the New Testament record of Jesus’ resurrection. They also speak out against and deny the Bible doctrine of the virgin birth of Jesus. Satan knows that if he can get us to waver on what some have called "the pillars of Christianity" (things such as our Lord’s resurrection and virgin birth), then he will get us to deny or at least doubt other Bible teachings.

We must not in the least, "no, not for an hour" (Galatians 2:5), give in to the blasphemous attacks that so many enjoy making against the Bible. Regardless of the number of people that align themselves against the word of the Almighty, we must maintain our confidence in His holy word, realizing that it is the lamp for our feet and light for our path (Psalm 119:105). That is true with everything the Bible says, including its message about Jesus’ virgin birth.

"Come on, do you really believe that Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus? Isn’t that a medical or physical impossibility? Isn’t that just some kind of fable that has been passed down from generation?" No, friends, it is not folklore. Consider these four biblical truths about the virgin birth of Jesus.

� The virgin birth of Jesus is a historical fact. Before Mary conceived, God sent the angel Gabriel to her to inform her that she would give birth to a son that she would call "Jesus" (Luke 1:31). Again, what was Mary’s status at the time when Gabriel came to her with this announcement? She was "a virgin." The Bible says so (Luke 1:27). What was Mary’s response to the news that she would give birth to God’s Son? "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" (Luke 1:34). What did she mean when she said that she did not "know" a man? It means that she had had no sexual relations with a man. What is such a woman called? Answer: a virgin.

The first chapter of the New Testament also shows the virgin birth of Jesus to be a historical fact. There we read, "Then Joseph . . . took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS" (Matthew 1:24,25). The context shows that the wife involved was Mary. According to the Bible record, when did Joseph first know or have physical relations with Mary? Answer: Not until after Mary gave birth to Jesus. Again, in the context Mary is referred to as "a virgin" (Matthew 1:23). Make no mistake about it, Jesus was born of a virgin. It is a matter of historical fact.

‚ The virgin birth of Jesus was a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. About 700 years before the birth of the Christ, by the Spirit of Jehovah the prophet Isaiah looked down the line of history and made this bold proclamation, "Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). Just who was this virgin woman that would bring forth a male child? Once more, Matthew chapter one provides the answer. There it is written that an angel of God revealed to Joseph that Mary was expecting a child, and "that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:20,21). Do not miss the point here. Why was all of this unfolding in such a fashion? Hear the Bible’s answer: "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold a virgin shall be with child . . ." (1:22,23). What is Matthew telling us? That the virgin birth of Jesus was the fulfillment of that great Old Testament prophecy recorded in Isaiah 7:14. Look at three key elements in the prophecy, and note how they are clearly and beautifully fulfilled in the conception of Mary and birth of Jesus: the "virgin" – Mary; the predicted "son" – Jesus; "Immanuel" – Jesus, being God in the flesh, was "God with us" (Matthew 1:23).

ƒ The virgin birth of Jesus is proof that He was the Son of God. When Jesus wanted to speak about His mother, He could point to Mary. When He spoke about His Father, He could truthfully point to His heavenly Father (". . . I must be about my Father’s business," Luke 2:49). The point is plain. Joseph was not the physical father of the Christ. The Lord Jesus had no physical father! Why? Because Mary conceived Jesus, not by having physical relations with a man, but rather the Holy Spirit miraculously caused her to be with child (Matthew 1:20). Jesus was "the Son of Man" in that He was born of humanity (He had a human mother). He was "the Son of God" in that He was born of Deity (He had a Heavenly Father). What was it that the angel told Mary before she conceived? That the son that she would bear "shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest . . . that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:32,35). Yes, He was the Son of God, and His virgin birth gives proof of such.

„ The virgin birth of Jesus was a unique, one-time event. The virgin birth of Jesus was a special event, but it was more than just special. Many events are special, though they may be repeated. The Olympics are a special event, but they come around again and again. The virgin birth of Jesus was unique, but it was more than unique. Every person is unique in that each one of us has a different DNA makeup from every other person. The bottom line is this: the virgin birth of Jesus was a one-time event, a miracle that never occurred before Jesus was conceived, and will never be repeated. Jesus and Jesus alone was "made of a woman" without any help from a human male (Galatians 4:4).

Scoffers poke fun at the idea of Jesus being born of a virgin. It is, however, no joking matter. The Bible speaks plainly about how Jesus was conceived and came into this world. Remember these four great truths about Jesus’ virgin birth: His virgin birth is a matter of historical fact, it was a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, it is proof that He was the Son of God, and it was a unique, one-time event.

-- Roger D. Campbell