The virgin birth is a cornerstone of the Christian faith. Something that almost every denomination is able to agree on even when all their other views of scripture may differ. However, there still remain some individuals, even in denominations that hold to the virgin birth, who do not hold this belief. This can, of course, be for various reasons but more often than not it simply comes down to the fact they do not see how it could be possible. Those who do not believe that Jesus was born to a virgin fail to understand just how crucial it is to the Christian faith. Nor do they see all the issues that removing this belief causes.
The Bible Teaches It
No one can argue that the Bible does not teach that Jesus was born to a virgin. In fact, I would say that scripture emphasis the fact that Jesus was born to a virgin. As both Matthew and Luke record in detail Mary’s conception. Stating as fact and not poetry or hyperbole that Mary was a virgin who would bear the Child of God.
Matthew 1:18–21 (ESV)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Luke 1:26–35 (ESV)
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 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 reason we hold to the virgin birth as Christians is not based solely on traditional belief passed down through History. We place our faith in the immaculate conception because God included it in His inspired word. The very and only book from which we are supposed to gain all our beliefs. Holding to the truth it contains.
A Proof of Jesus’s Messiahship
The accounts above are not only to teach us about the birth of Jesus. They also confirm that Jesus is in fact the messiah of Old Testament Prophecy. Matthew points to this in his account linking back to a prophecy written hundreds of years earlier by Isaiah.
Matthew 1:22–23 (ESV)
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)
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.
Jesus being born to a virgin only helps confirm that He was in fact the one sent to save the world. The one come to free us from our sins and offer salvation. To take it away only hurts the view that Jesus is the messiah.
The Validity of Scripture
As we have already discussed the virgin birth is clearly taught in the Bible. The Bible also teaches that every word of scripture is inspired by God. That no prophecy of scripture is of man’s will but God’s only.
2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2 Peter 1:20–21 (ESV)
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
If the virgin birth is not in fact true then neither are these claims about the Bible. If one account is false then how can we ensure that others are not also false? Did Jesus really heal the sick? Are our sins forgiven through His death, burial, and resurrection? Did any of that even happen? Is eternal life in Heaven waiting for us when we die or is this it?
When the immaculate conception is questioned the validity of scripture is also questioned. Remove one layer and the rest come tumbling down. Turning the Bible into nothing more than a regular book and not God’s inspired word. Nice to read but carrying no real power or meaning. If you can’t believe one part is true how can you believe the rest is true.
Because God said it and included it in His letter to His church we can trust it is true. God does not lie nor did He fill the Bible with idle words. We don’t have to understand why or how everything works. The truth is we never will. Instead, all we need to do is trust God.
God Is All-Powerful
Marry also had a hard time understanding how she would be able to bear a child as a virgin. However, the angel explained to her all the events that would take place and made one other very important statement. That with God nothing is impossible. A truth that she accepted and learned first hand was the case as she soon found herself with a child having never been with a man.
Luke 1:37 (ESV)
37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
The God of the Bible is all-powerful and there is nothing we can imagine that He cannot do. He created the earth and everything in it. Light, rivers, seas, plains, mountains, plants, trees, birds, fish, beasts, and all that we know was created by the command of God. From the dust of the earth, He created man. Then from man, He created woman to be his companion. If God created life once it only stands to reason that He could manipulate that life and cause a woman to conceive without the aid of a man.
Psalm 147:5 (ESV)
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
Jeremiah 32:17 (ESV)
17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
Colossians 1:16 (ESV)
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Genesis 2:7 (ESV)
7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
Genesis 2:20–23 (ESV)
20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,
“This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.”
Believing that it is impossible for a virgin to convince and give birth only puts limits on God the supreme being in the universe. The very one who is responsible for first creating life. If you believe in the God of the Bible, creation, all He did for Israel, and all He still does for us today then you can believe He was able to cause a virgin to give birth. Like so many parts of our faith for man, it would be impossible but with God all things are possible.
Matthew 19:26 (ESV)
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Is Jesus The Son Of God?
Jesus being the son of God is the pillar of the Christian faith. Time and time again the Bible enforces that Jesus is the true son of God. Our salvation finds root in that God sent His son to die so we could live. Taking our place on the cross and granting us forgiveness for our sins.
Matthew 3:17 (ESV)
17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
1 John 5:20 (ESV)
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
So I must ask those who don’t believe in the virgin birth is Jesus the son of God? Because if Jesus was born naturally by a man and a woman then He is not God’s only begotten son but the son of that man. If that is the case then who do you place your faith in that causes you to be saved? As scripture teaches that only those who believe in the son will be saved. And that no name under Heaven and earth has the ability to save except that of Jesus. If Jesus is not in fact the son of God then who is there to put your faith in?
John 3:36 (ESV)
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Acts 4:11–12 (ESV)
11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Those questions cannot be answered at least not scripturally. Because Jesus is the son of God born to a virgin. The New Testament is built around Him. The entire Christian faith is built upon Him. All this starts at His entry into our world through immaculate conception. Something that is hard to fully comprehend but true nonetheless.
Pray and Study
Many who read this article probably find themselves in complete agreement. They came in believing in the virgin birth and their faith has only been strengthened. But there will be some who came in disagreeing and still disagree. Which it is understandable that you have your reasons for what you believe. But I do ask that you sincerely seek God regarding this subject. Don’t just take my word for it or the words of others. Take the time to really study God’s word and pray that He will show you the truth free of opinions.
My hope is that your eyes will be opened to the truth. That the gaps in your faith will be filled in by accepting the whole of scripture as truth. Placing your faith in it and the God who inspired it all. Don’t allow this cornerstone subject to be the missing piece that causes your faith to eventually come crashing down. Begin to sort it out with God today.
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