Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard Sunday, December 30, 2012

The Importance of the Virgin Birth. Mat 1:18-25

1. To bring forth the God/Man in Hypostatic Union. Emmanuel, “God with us” and Jesus, “savior.”

Jesus was 100% God without losing one once of His Deity, plus He was 100% Man in all aspects just as we are human beings, John 1:1-5, 9-10, 14.

2. To bring forth a human who was without a sin nature, passed down through the male in copulation, Rom 5:12.

The sin nature is referred to as the “Old Self” or “Old Man” in Rom 6:6; Eph 4:2; Col 3:9, and “the flesh” in many other verses.

3. To cause Jesus to be born spiritually alive in perfection, just as Adam was created. Having no sin nature He was born physically, soulishly and spiritually alive.

4. It allowed Jesus to be impeccable. He had no sin nature and no sin of His own; which qualified Him to go to the Cross as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Rom 8:3; Heb 2:14; John 3:16

With His body, soul and spirit Jesus remained impeccable throughout His life, He never committed one sin. Heb 4:15

Heb 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”

In Deity Jesus is: “Non Posse Pecare” “Not Able to Sin.”

In humanity He is, “Posse Non Pecare” “Able not to Sin.” Phil 2:5-8; Heb 12:2; Mat 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13

Heb 12:2, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

5. It qualified Jesus to be the mediator between God and man. 1 Tim 2:5-6; Heb 2:18; 9:15

1 Tim 2:5 ‑ 6, “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”

6. It qualified Him to be our High Priest who intercedes on our behalf. Rom 8:34; 1 John 2:1; Heb 4:14-15; 7:25-28; 9:24

1 John 2:1, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

Heb 7:25, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

7. It qualified Him to be the King of Israel. 2 Sam 7:8 ‑ 16; Psa 89:20 ‑ 37 Cf. Mat 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38

8. It fulfilled prophecy. Gen 3:15 ‑ 16; Isa 7:14, 9:6-7 with Mat 1:19-25.

Isa 7:14, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

Grace Offering 1 Tim 5:18, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing, and the laborer is worthy of his wages.”

Grace Fellowship Church Sunday, December 30, 2012 Tape # The Importance of the Virgin Birth Mat 1:18-25; Rom 5:12; Heb 4:15; Phil 2:5-8 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2012