THE MESSIANIC IMPORTANCE OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH Like Father, Like Son

Keep in Mind Context: (Framework) & Thinking: Greek vs Hebrew

Like Father, Like Son Need to think Hebraically  Ontology – branch of Metaphysics – nature of being  Plato/Neo-Platonists – schools of philosophy  Attempted to give meaning to physical aspects of life  Most Christian teachers – Greek based schools  Bible read/understood from Greek perspective

Like Father, Like Son Yeshua and His Father – debate Questions asked – about essence and being Essence and Being – foreign to Hebrew mind

Like Father, Like Son Contrasts  G-d of Israel – Tanach  G-d of Christian church – Church Creeds  Tanach - G-d Defined by works Relationship to creation

Like Father, Like Son Relationship with creation – encompasses all Relationship with Israel – specific covenant Tanach – G-d – “made heavens and the earth” Psalms – 69:34, 115:15, 121:2, 124:8, 134:3, 146:6 G-d – “I am Adonai your G-d Who brought you out from the land of Egypt.” Ex20:2, 29:46, 32:11, Lev 19:36, 22:33, 25:38 Num, Deut, Josh, Judges, Jeremiah, Daniel

Like Father, Like Son Tanach  G-d is one, Unique, the Only God  Only one worthy of worship – Israel and the Nations

Like Father, Like Son Church Creeds  include activities of God  Also – statements of essence and being  Nicene Creed (325 CE)  “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty; Maker of Heaven and earth, and of all things, visible and invisible And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God Begotten of the Father before all worlds; Light of Light, True God of true God, Begotten, not made, One essence with the Father By whom all things were made.

Like Father, Like Son Scriptures – no essence or being Hebrews  Know God by His deeds  Know Yeshua by describing His works 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" 4 And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

Like Father, Like Son Challenge: To see who Yeshua was/is  The way scripture says  Not forcing ontological statements  Identity and definition – His works  Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God”

Like Father, Like Son What does this have to do with the Virgin Birth of our Messiah and Master?

Like Father, Like Son Nothing!! Well……maybe something!

Like Father, Like Son Messiah’s dual nature  Human and Divine  Virgin birth – forms view/opinion

Like Father, Like Son Apostolic writings  Matthew 1:  “before they had come together”  Betrothal – shiduchin = settlement, arrangements  Legal requirement of marriage – woman was virgin  Fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Is. 7:14)  Luke 1:26-38  Visit from angel - Mary protests

Like Father, Like Son Hebrew – ‘almah – young girl Tanach – Rebecca – is an ‘almah Hebrew society – “marriageable woman” Isaiah’s reference – sign of something “out of the ordinary” Gospel writers – Greek – parthenos =marriageble woman

Like Father, Like Son Ramifications of Virgin Birth answers prophecy of Isaiah  Marks Yeshua as fulfillment of that prophecy  Isaiah 7:14; 9:6  Child – human and divine  Immanuel  El Gibor – (Mighty God)  Owner of eternity – (Father of Eternity)

Like Father, Like Son Reveals His human nature  Galatians 4:4 – “born of a woman”  Tempted  Sinless  Hebrews 4:15  Hebrews 7:26  1 Peter 2:22-24

Like Father, Like Son Mystery  Fully human, fully divine  Tempted yet remained sinless  Felt full force of temptation but did not yield to its power  Yeshua – born by divine decree – similar to Adam

Like Father, Like Son Qualifications of Yeshua haMashiach Perfect unity of human/divine natures Pure, holy in every way Fit to be Lamb of God as sacrifice for sins High priest of His people