Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Is it necessary to believe that Jesus was born of a virgin? When I was sixteen years old my Methodist pastor told me that he didn’t believe in the virgin birth of Christ. Because of that and other things he told me regarding his unbelief in the Bible I asked my parents if they would allow me to go to the Del Norte Baptist Church. They allowed me to.

I believed what the Bible told me regarding the birth of Christ, and I still do. If you believe the Bible you must also believe in the miracle birth of Christ. He was born of the virgin Mary. In Galatians 4:4 we read “God sent forth his Son, made of a woman.” We don’t see Joseph’s name nor any other man named here. Most genealogies of the Bible name the men and their sons. In Matthew 1 it is so and so begat, but it does not say that Joseph begat Jesus. It names him as the husband of Mary. Jesus was born of a woman without a man.

At least two Old Testament passages were fulfilled in the virgin birth of Christ:

• Here God speaks to Satan regarding Eve. Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. – Jesus is the promised “Seed.”
• Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew and Luke make it very clear that Mary was a virgin when Christ was conceived in her womb. Mary remained a virgin during her pregnancy.

• Matthew 1:18-25 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. … behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him [Joseph] 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. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. … 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 1:26-38 – Twice states that Mary was a virgin. Mary knew that she was a virgin and asked the angel Gabriel how it would be possible for her to conceive. “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” 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.

The virgin birth exalts Christ and is an essential truth in regard to our faith and practice.



Ron Cox – Director of HOPE Ministry