As I was given the title for this article, I spent a long time in study, and as mentioned in the other article for December's issue, this is the article titled - the fundamental truth of the virgin birth.

May I ask you turn to Isaiah Ch 7v14? It reads this - "therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel".

Did you really take note of that verse? It does say "conceive and bear a Son" so even in the Old Testament it was already known that the Lord would be born of a virgin, and that it would be a 'successful' birth if I can phrase it that way. We must remember that in today's world, not all birth's go to plan. Just a few pages forward, in chapter 9v6, it reads "For unto us a child is born, Unto us a Son is given: And the government will be upon his shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace". It was prophesied who this man, born of a virgin would be. Amazing!

If you now turn with me to Matthew chapter 1v18-25 and Luke chapter 1v26-35, we read of the prophesied conception, actually coming true. In Matthew's gospel, verse 22, it reads "that it might be fulfilled". Matthew is pointing out the fact that this was really happening. Matthew points out fulfilling of Old Testament prophecies no less than a dozen times. Many Bible scholars and teachers have debated the word 'virgin' in the past. In Isaiah, the prophesy reaches forward to the 'real' event, but the Hebrew word 'virgin' refers to an unmarried woman, so the birth of Isaiah's son could not have fully satisfied the prophesy.

The man Jesus Christ, who is remembered yearly (more often by Christians!) was truly born of a virgin. He, who was told of before His birth, was conceived and from the moment He was born, He was perfect and today is a Saviour of many. How wonderful it is to know that right from the start of His life to the end, the Lord had everything planned out to the last detail. Remember Him and His birth this Christmas.

	Click here to read January's article in the Fundamental Truths series. It is on Christ as creator.
		Index
	Click here to read November's article in the Fundamental Truths series. It is on the eternal Sonship of Christ.

All quotes are from the King James version of the Bible unless otherwise specified.