A Shocking Idea Series

A Shocking Idea

Today we start a new series called: Incredible Christmas. Of course this is the Christmas season and I want us to take a new look at an old story and see how incredible the story really is. Follow along with me as I read from Matthew chapter one:

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.”

Matthew 1:18-25 (NASB)

Folks this story is a historical fact. It was a historical event in a category by itself! It never happened before and will never happen again! “A virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son.”

The story starts out normal enough but it quickly gets out of hand!

A young couple wants to get married. They want to settle down and raise a family. But before they get married – she becomes pregnant. But here is the real twist to the story – she is still a virgin. She has had sex with no man – yet she ends up pregnant. It never happened before and will never happen again!

What does this fact mean to me? How does the virgin birth affect my life? I think it affects my life in three ways. First of all:

1. The Virgin Birth Opens The Door For My SALVATION

I think it’s pretty amazing how matter-of-factly Matthew states the most stunning news of all time. He says: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:18

It takes only one verse to say something that would send shock waves through all human history.

Notice Matthew does not try to explain how it happened. He doesn’t go into elaborate details. He just says, “This is how it happened – take it or leave it – it’s true.” A virgin has become pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

You may ask, “Why was it so important that Mary was a virgin? What difference does it make?” I can answer that question with two simple words – Original Sin. You see, everyone born of man in this world has been affected by the sin of Adam. Everyone has been touched by it. Paul understood this fact when he wrote:

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”

1 Cor. 15:22 (NASB)

The sin of Adam has affected us all. “In Adam we all die.” We have inherited from Adam physical death as well as spiritual death. We all die. In other words we are born spiritually dead and at some point we will die physically as well because we are descendants of Adam.

The best way that I can explain it is by using an illustration: Suppose that when your parents went out on their first date had a very bad accident. They got into their car hoping to have a good time. They were enjoying themselves – enjoying each other’s company – enjoying the ride. They were having fun. But as they are traveling down the road – the car starts going faster and faster. They don’t seem to notice how fast they are traveling and to tell you the truth – the speed of the car was the last thing on their minds. Little do they know that up ahead there is a curve in the road. It is called “Dead Man’s Curve”. It was sharp and there is a cliff along the edge of it. It is called “Dead Man’s Curve” for a reason. When the car reaches the curve – it flies off the cliff. Both of your parents are killed. Let me ask you, “Would their death affect your life? Would their death have an impact on you?” Yes! I would never be born – for when they died – any chance of my being born died with them.