25. Born Of The Virgin Mary Series

[IN GOD’S IMAGE 25 – BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY]

This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with God in prehistory and finishing with humanity joining God in eternity as His loving sons and daughters. It is at times, a painful yet fascinating story, not only for humanity, but also for God. As the sermons follow a chronological view of the story of salvation, it is highly recommend they be presented in numerical order rather than jumping to the more “interesting” or “controversial” subjects as the material builds on what is presented earlier. We also recommend reading the introduction prior to using the material. The free book version along with any graphics or figures mentioned in this series can be downloaded at www.ingodsimage.site - Gary Regazzoli

Last time we witnessed God’s divinely inspired plan put into effect in order to heal and restore mankind’s broken relationship with his Creator (Revelation 13:8).

• If the first creation was about creating “man in God’s image,” the plan to restore mankind’s relationship to God relies incredibly on “God condescending to take on the image of man.”

• The Son of God lovingly gives up his heavenly privileges, takes off his crown, sets aside his sceptre, rolls up his sleeves and trades the splendour of heaven for the poverty of a stable.

• The message that accompanies His birth is “Mankind no longer needs to be afraid as a Savior is born in Bethlehem” (Luke 2:10).

Now we need to go back to the virgin birth.

• The history of mankind usually revolves around the mighty male and his conquests – Nebuchadnezzar, Julius Caesar, Napoleon, Hitler, etc.

• But in the most important event in human history the mighty male is excluded.

• The husband as the representative head of the family plays no part in the process.

• Instead God chooses to work through a humble faithful female.

• Despite the shame and humiliation associated with a pregnancy outside of wedlock, this was Mary’s response.

• Luke 1:38 I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

• The response of this humble maiden to this act of pure grace on God’s part (In choosing to become one of us) is one of willing submission.

• Mary’s response of faith is an example for all humanity on how we are to respond to God’s gift of grace in the remarkable act of the Incarnation and the Atonement.

• Unlike her sister Eve in the original creation, Mary at the conception of the new creation willingly accepts and submits to God’s claim on her life.

• Instead of exerting her independence and wanting “to be like God,” she willingly cooperates with God’s plan of redemption.

The other question that arises with this passage concerns the question of “How did Mary become pregnant”?

• Luke 1:34-35 How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

• If we’re looking for a biological answer, we won’t find one, any more than we will find a scientific answer to how God created the universe from nothing.

• This is one of those events that involve the crossover between the physical dimension of time and space and the spiritual realm God inhabits.

• Jesus became flesh purely by the Word of God in the same way He spoke at the original creation and all things came into existence “out of nothing.”

• These events along with questions like the mystery of the Trinity are part of our walk of faith, the answers to which will be revealed when we too inhabit the spiritual realm, we will “see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).

But there is another reason the mighty male is excluded, as he plays no part in the conception of Jesus.

• The creation of Jesus in the womb is an act of the Holy Spirit.

• This is significant as this was the beginning of the new creation, and just as the Holy Spirit was active in the original creation, now we see Him playing a significant role in this new beginning (Genesis 1:2).

• While the origin of the birth of the original Adam was born of the “dust of the earth” in other words from “below,” now we see the last Adam born from “above” (1 Corinthians 15:45-46).

• The last Adam came into existence from “above” through a divine act of the Holy Spirit, but His humanity was formed on earth in Mary’s womb.