We expect non-Christians to disbelieve Christ was born of a virgin,
but I find it really disturbing when people who claim to be Christians
don’t believe in His virgin birth.
A couple of decades ago, more than 7,000 clergy were asked if they
believed in the virgin birth. Of those asked, the following percentages
of clergy from the following denominations did NOT believe that
Jesus was born of a virgin:
19 % of American Lutherans didn’t believe.
34% of American Baptists didn’t believe.
44% of Episcopalians didn’t believe.
49% of Presbyterians didn’t believe.
60% of Methodists didn’t believe.
These were ministers!
Hmmm.
Is it really that important that Christian truly believe Jesus was born of
a virgin?
Yes.
After all, the Bible declares it.
I believe the Bible truly is God’s holy Word.
And I believe in a God who keeps His promises.
Old Testament Prophecy: “Therefore the Lord himself will give
you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and
will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
Fulfillment: Mary received this same prophecy when the angel
Gabriel visited her, and we see this fulfilled in Scripture.
New Testament: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a
son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with
us’)” (Matthew 1:23).
You see, if God didn’t keep His promise about how His Son would be
born, we have reason to doubt all of His other promises.
In fact, why believe the Bible at all?
But God does keep His promises!
Here are just a few pieces of proof:
“The Lord said to me, ‘You have seen correctly, for I am
watching to see that my word is fulfilled’ ”
(Jeremiah 1:12 NIV).
“The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his
word, which he decreed long ago. . . “ (Lamentations 2:17 NIV).
“ ‘whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the
Sovereign Lord’ ” (Ezekiel 12:28 NIV)
“God faithfully keeps his promises”
(1 Corinthians 1:9 God’s Word Translation).
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that
he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19 ESV)
And because God keeps His promises, we can know for sure
that the Bible is true!
“The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God
and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize
what is wrong in our lives” (2 Timothy 3:16 LB).
So yes—if we claim to be Christ-followers—it’s essential that
we believe in the virgin birth.
Thoughts?
I’m excited to be home for a few weeks. This will give me an
opportunity to relax during the holidays before I begin traveling and
speaking in 2020. Thank you so much for those of you who pray for
me. I can’t tell you what a gift that is!
December can be a lean month for evangelists. If God nudges you to
make a financial donation to this ministry, you can write a check to
Susie Shellenberger Ministries and mail to me at: 7012 N. Lake Front
Drive; Warr Acres, OK, 73132. I’ll send you a tax donation receipt for
your files.
