Christmas as a stumbling block

Pastor Jerry McGhee

The Apostles Creed, formulated in the second century A.D., confesses that its Lord and Savior was “conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.”

That statement is based upon two New Testament passages: Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-27. The Matthew passage comes from Joseph, Mary’s husband, and Dr. Luke’s passage from Mary herself.

These two passages are the only two New Testament references which deal explicitly with the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Although these two references are independently recorded, they are complimentary. Matthew and Luke affirm this miracle as a matter of fact, a matter of history. They present no arguments to support it. They draw no conclusions from it. They simply state it as an event of indisputable truth.

What, then, does the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ mean and why is it so important?

It means that Jesus of Nazareth entered into the stream of human life without the mediations, or help, of an earthly father, whereby He would have inherited a sinful nature. He was conceived by the supernatural “overshadowing” of the Holy Spirit, fulfilling the word of Genesis 3:15, Jesus became the “seed of women.”

There are many who claim to be Christians who fail to recognize the significance of the biblical doctrine. They view the virgin birth of Jesus as a myth, something to be believed optionally; it is even rejected out of hand. But it was in the supernatural “overshadowing” of the Virgin Mary that God first declared Jesus of Nazareth worthy to atone for the sins of the world.

It was through the process of supernatural “overshadowing” and virgin birth that Jesus entered the world sinless, faultless and fit to be the ultimate Lamb of God, the blameless sacrifice for our sin.

To reject that virgin birth of Jesus of Nazareth is to reject the sinless sacrifice God provided for our salvation. If we do not have a grasp of this great truth, we cannot understand what Christmas is really all about.

May the virgin born Son of the living God be the focus of your Christmas celebration this year.

Merry Christmas to you and your family from the members of Sun Lakes Community Church.

Sunday Services are at 9:30 a.m. at the Sun Lakes Chapel, 9240 E. Sun Lakes Blvd. N (across the street from Sun Lakes Country Club); phone: 480-895-9147; website: www.sunlakescommunitychurch.org.