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ries > The Virgin Birth of Christ Jesus by Prof. James Orr |
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"The Virgin Birth"
From the book CHRISTIAN FOUNDATIONS ---New Window
Excerpt from the chapter: "Seven
Reasons Why I Believe in the Virgin Birth of Christ"
---New Window
by Dr. Ian Paisley
excerpts by Dr. Ian Paisley and Professor James Orr
Dr. Ian Paisley--
- The whole emphasis of the Bible is on Redemption
by the shedding of the Saviour's blood. From the shedding of blood in Eden's garden
for the clothing of our fallen first parents, to the great throng of the Apocalypse
who sing of the Blood of the Lamb, the Bible is a book of blood. The crimson from
Immanuel's veins tinges every verse, every chapter and every book. With the indelible
writing of God in the crimson letters of the blood of redemption, God's eternal law
stands written across the whole volume. "Without
shedding of blood is no remission." --Hebrews
9:22.
Where, however, among the sons of men can blood be found rich enough to pay the tremendous
debt of sin, precious enough to satisfy divine justice, strong enough to cancel sin's
appalling guilt, pure enough to usher in the reign of righteousness, overcoming enough
to crush the devil and divine enough to redeem the elect of God?
God has made of one blood, we read, all the nations of the earth. By God's creation
men's blood is one in composition. By sin's ruination, [sinful] men's blood is one
in pollution. Through the veins of [sinning] humanity flows a poisoned bloodstream
The life of the flesh is in the blood. The life of [sinning] man is totally depraved,
therefore his blood is but human depravity in solution. Such blood calls for judgment
rather than appeasement. its shedding can only bring God's wrath and not God's mercy.
Although this is true, yet wonder of wonders amongst the race of sinners and in the
house of David, a house as much cursed with sin as that of any other human family,
there has been opened up a fountain for sin and for all uncleanness.
- .
What sacred fountain yonder springs
Up from the throne of God,
And all new covenant blessings brings?
'Tis Jesus' precious blood.
What mighty sum paid all my debt
When I a bondman stood,
And has my soul at freedom set?
'This Jesus' precious blood.
What stream is that which sweeps away
My sins just like a flood,
Nor lets one guilty blemish stay?
'This Jesus' precious blood.
What voice is that which speaks for me
In heaven's high court for good,
And from the curse has made me free?
'This Jesus' precious blood.
What theme, my soul, shall best employ
Thy harp before thy God,
And made all heaven to ring with joy?
'This Jesus' precious blood.
- Commenting on 1 John 1:7, Bishop Westcott says,
"Jesus His Son, the union in the one Person is
clearly marked by the contrast 'Jesus' 'His Son.' Here the human name Jesus brings
out the possibility of the communication of Christ's blood, and the divine name brings
out the all-sufficing efficacy."
- The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ has all the
essentials necessary for the accomplishment of the great work of reconciliation.
His Blood is innocent Blood as opposed to guilty blood. "I
have betrayed innocent blood." --Matthew
27:4.
- His Blood is precious Blood as opposed to corruptible
blood. "With the precious blood of Christ,
as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."
--1 Peter 1:19.
- His Blood is incorruptible Blood as opposed to
corruptible blood. "Ye were not redeemed
with corruptible things... But with the precious blood of Christ." --1 Peter 1:18-19.
- His Blood is divine Blood as opposed to human
blood. "The church of God, which He hath
purchased with His own blood." --Acts
20:28.
- His Blood is supernatural Blood as opposed to
natural blood. "Neither by the blood of
goats and calves, but by His Own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having
obtained eternal redemption for us." --Hebrews
9:12.
- His Blood is voluntarily-shed Blood as opposed
to accidentally spilled blood. "No man
taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and
I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father." --John 10:18. "For
this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of
sins." --Matthew 26:28.
- His Blood is cleansing Blood as opposed to congealed
blood. "The blood of Jesus Christ His
Son cleanseth [keeps on cleansing] us from all sin."
--1 John 1:7.
- His Blood is living Blood as opposed to lost blood.
"Now the God of peace, that brought again
from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood
of the everlasting covenant." --Hebrews
13:20.
- His Blood is peace-speaking Blood as opposed to
enmity-arousing blood. "The blood of sprinkling,
that speaketh better things than that of Abel."
--Hebrews 12:24.
- His Blood is justifying Blood as opposed to the
blood of judgment. "Being now justified
by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." --Romans 5:9.
- Christ's Blood could only have these great attributes
if He was Virgin-born... The supernatural blood necessitates the supernatural birth.
It is an established physiological fact that the mother's blood is neither the source
nor supply of the blood in the unborn infant's veins. It is the contribution of the
male which leads to the development of the blood. Without that vital contribution
no blood could be produced because the female of herself does not produce the elements
essential for the production of this new blood. Gray's Anatomy, a recognised
medical authority, states: "The fetal and maternal blood currents do not intermingle,
being separated from each other by the delicate walls of the villi."
Woman was so constructed that in the production of her child none of her blood would
enter the veins of her offspring. This brings us back to Genesis and there we read:
"And the LORD God caused a deep sleep
to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh
instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made He a woman,
and brought her unto the man." --Genesis
2:21-22. The word used in verse 22 for the making of the woman is literally "builded."
God builded, or constructed, woman and she was constructed in such a manner that
when she was producing a child, that child's blood would be a new creation and not
formed by the mother's bloodstream. Why did God so build, or construct, the woman?
Simply because He was anticipating the Virgin Birth and making ready the woman for
the great incarnation of God in human flesh.
Satan used the woman as the instrument to ruin the race, but God who is always ahead
of the devil, forestalled him and had already constructed the woman so that she would
be the instrument to produce the Redeemer of the race. If the woman had not been
constructed in this manner and the production of blood in the unborn infant not so
ordered, than Christ's blood would have been common with the whole race and valueless
to redeem. The Virgin Birth of Christ, which took place with no male contribution
which would originate the infant's blood in the usual way, but by a supernatural
act of God thus originating supernatural blood, is absolutely essential to the work
of redemption. By such a birth and by such a birth alone could blood be produced--
precious, incorruptible, supernatural and divine, to redeem the fallen sons of Adam's
accursed race.
As I view the almighty wisdom of God in the production of such blood the words of
the angelic announcement of the Virgin Birth come with fresh authority to my heart.
"For with God nothing shall be impossible." --Luke 1:37.
Dr. De Haan of the Radio Bible Class, in his great message "The Chemistry of
the Blood" commenting on this tremendous truth, states:
"Not only is this a scientific fact, but it is
plainly taught in Scripture that Jesus partook of human flesh without Adam's blood.
In Hebrews 2:14 we read: 'Forasmuch then as
the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part
of the same.' You will notice that the 'children', that is,
the human children, are said to be partakers of flesh and blood, and then, speaking
of Jesus, this verse says that He Himself likewise 'took
part of the same.' The word 'took part' as applying to
Christ is an entirely different word from 'partakers' as applied to the children. In the margin of my Bible,
I read that the word translated 'took part' implies 'taking part in something outside one's self.'
The Greek word for partakers in 'koynoncho' and means 'to share fully,' so
that all of Adam's children share fully in Adam's flesh and blood. When we read that
Jesus 'took part of the same' the word is 'metecho' which means 'to take part but not all.'
The children take both flesh and blood of Adam but Christ took only part, that is,
the flesh part, whereas the blood was the result of supernatural conception."
I therefore believe in the Virgin Birth of Christ
because His supernatural Blood necessitates His supernatural birth.
Professor James Orr--
- The critics speak of the discrepancies of the
narratives. Much more remarkable, it seems to me, are their agreements and the subtle
harmonies that pervade them. The agreements, if we study them carefully, prove to
be far more numerous than may at first strike us. Here, e.g., is a list of twelve
points, which lie really on the surface of the narratives, yet give very nearly the
gist of the whole story.
- (1) Jesus was born in the last days of Herod.
- Matthew 2:1-- "Now
when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king..."
- Matthew 2:13-- "Arise,
and take the young Child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until
I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."
- (2) He was conceived by the Holy Ghost.
- Matthew 1:18-- "Now
the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise... she was found with Child of the
Holy Ghost."
- Matthew 1:20-- "The
angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David,
fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is
of the Holy Ghost."
- Luke 1:35-- "And
the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and
the Power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy Thing
which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
- (3) His mother was a virgin.
- Matthew 1:18-- "When
as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together..."
- Matthew 1:20-- "Fear
not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of
the Holy Ghost."
- Matthew 1:23-- "Behold,
a virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call
His Name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."
- Luke 1:27-- "To
a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and
the virgin's name was Mary."
- Luke 1:34-- "Then
said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?"
- (4) She was betrothed to Joseph.
- Matthew 1:18-- "When
as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph..."
- Luke 1:27-- "To
a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph..."
- Luke 2:5-- "To
be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with Child."
- (5) Joseph was of the house and lineage of David.
- Matthew 1:16-- "And
Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, Who is called
Christ."
- Matthew 1:20-- "Joseph,
thou son of David..."
- Luke 1:27-- "to
a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David..."
- Luke 2:4-- "And
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto
the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and
lineage of David)."
- (6) Jesus was born at Bethlehem.
- Matthew 2:1-- "Now
when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king..."
- Luke 2:4,6-- "And
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto
the city of David, which is called Bethlehem.. And so it was, that, while
they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered."
- (7) By divine direction He was called Jesus.
- Matthew 1:21-- "And
she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His Name JESUS..."
- Luke 1:31-- "And,
behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call
His Name JESUS."
- (8) He was declared to be a Saviour.
- Matthew 1:21-- "He
shall save His people from their sins."
- Luke 2:11-- "For
unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ
the LORD."
- (9) Joseph knew beforehand of Mary's condition
and its cause.
- Matthew 1:18-20-- "Now
the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused
to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with Child of the Holy
Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public
example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these
things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying,
Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that
which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost."
- Luke 2:5-- "To
be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with Child."
- (10) Nevertheless he took Mary to wife, and assumed
full parental responsibility for her child-- was from the first in loco parentis
to Jesus.
- Matthew 1:20-- "But
while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him
in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee
Mary thy wife..."
- Matthew 1:24-25-- "Then
Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the LORD had bidden him, and took
unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn
Son: and he called His Name JESUS."
- Luke 2:5-- "To
be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with Child."
- (11) The annunciation and birth were attended
by revelations and visions.
- Matthew 1:20-- "the
angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream...", etc.
- Luke 1:27-28-- "And
the angel came in unto her, and said...", etc.
- (12) After the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary
dwelt in Nazareth.
- Matthew 2:23-- "And
he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which
was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene."
- Luke 2:39-- "And
when they had performed all things according to the Law of the LORD, they returned
into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth."
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