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The Virgin Birth of Christ – Does it matter?

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“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”

(Matthew 1:18-23)

A Superficial View

It is, in truth, a very superficial way of speaking or thinking of the Virgin birth to say that nothing depends on this belief for our estimate of Christ. Who that reflects on the subject carefully can fail to see that if Christ was virgin born—if He was truly “conceived,” as the creed says, “by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary”—there must of necessity enter a supernatural element into His Person; while, if Christ was sinless, much more, if He was the very Word of God incarnate, there must have been a miracle—the most stupendous miracle in the universe—in His origin? If Christ was, as John and Paul affirm and His church has ever believed, the Son of God made flesh, the second Adam, the new redeeming Head of the race, a miracle was to be expected in His earthly origin; without a miracle such a Person could never have been. Why then cavil at the narratives which declare the fact of such a miracle? Who does not see that the Gospel history would have been incomplete without them? Inspiration here only gives to faith what faith on its own grounds imperatively demands for its perfect satisfaction.

The Historical Setting

It is time now to come to the Scripture itself, and to look at the fact of the Virgin birth in its historical setting, and its relation with other truths of the Gospel. As preceding the examination of the historical evidence, a little may be said, first, on the Old Testament preparation. Was there any such preparation? Some would say there was not, but this is not God’s way, and we may look with confidence for at least some indications which point in the direction of the New Testament event.

The First Promise

One’s mind turns first to that oldest of all evangelical promises, that the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent. “I will put enmity,” says Jehovah to the serpent-tempter, “between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15. R.V.). It is a forceless weakening of this first word of Gospel in the Bible to explain it of a lasting feud between the race of men and the brood of serpents. The serpent, as even Dr. Driver attests, is “the representative of the power of evil”—in later Scripture, “he that is called the Devil and Satan” (Revelation 12:9)—and the defeat he sustains from the woman’s seed is a moral and spiritual victory. The “seed” who should destroy him is described emphatically as the woman’s seed. It was the woman through whom sin had entered the race; by the seed of the woman would salvation come. The early church Writers often pressed this analogy between Eve and the Virgin Mary. We may reject any element of overexaltation of Mary they connected with it, but it remains significant that this peculiar phrase should be chosen to designate the future deliverer. I cannot believe the choice to be of accident. The promise to Abraham was that in his seed the families of the earth would be blessed; there the male is emphasized, but here it is the woman the woman distinctively. There is, perhaps, as good scholars have thought, an allusion to this promise in 1 Timothy 2:15, where, with allusion to Adam and Eve, it is said, “But she shall be saved through her (or the) child-bearing” (R. V.).

The Immanuel Prophecy

The idea of the Messiah, gradually gathering to itself the attributes of a divine King, reaches one of its clearest expressions in the great Immanuel prophecy, extending from Isaiah 7 to 9:7, and centering in the declaration: “The Lord Himself will give you [the unbelieving Ahaz] a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14; Cf. 8:8,10). This is none other than the child of wonder extolled in Isaiah 9:6,7: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, [Father of Eternity], The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom,” etc. This is the prophecy quoted as fulfilled in Christ’s birth in Matthew 1:23, and it seems also alluded to in the glowing promises to Mary in Luke 1:32,33. It is pointed out in objection that the term rendered “virgin” in Isaiah does not necessarily bear this meaning; it denotes properly only a young unmarried woman. The context, however, seems clearly to lay an emphasis on the unmarried state, and the translators of the Greek version of the Old Testament (the Septuagint) plainly so understood it when they rendered it by parthenos, a word which does mean “virgin.” The tendency in many quarters now is to admit this (Dr. Cheyne, etc.), and even to seek an explanation of it in alleged Babylonian beliefs in a virgin birth. This last, however, is quite illusory.* [* For the evidence, see my volume on “The Virgin Birth,” Lecture VII.] It is, on the other hand, singular that the Jews themselves do not seem to have applied this prophecy at any time to the Messiah—a fact which disproves the theory that it was this text which suggested the story of a Virgin birth to the early disciples.

Echoes in Other Scriptures

It was, indeed, when one thinks of it, only on the supposition that there was to be something exceptional and extraordinary in the birth of this child called Immanuel that it could have afforded to Ahaz a sign of the perpetuity of the throne of David on the scale of magnitude proposed (“Ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.” Ver. 10). We look, therefore, with interest to see if there are any echoes or suggestions of the idea of this passage in other prophetic scriptures. They are naturally not many, but they do not seem to be altogether wanting. There is, first, the remarkable Bethlehem prophecy in Micah 5:2,3—also quoted as fulfilled in the nativity (Matthew 2:5,6)—connected with the saying: “Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth” (“The King from Bethlehem,” says Delitzsch, “who has a nameless one as mother, and of whose father there is no mention”). Micah was Isaiah’s contemporary, and when the close relation between the two is considered (Cf. Isaiah 2:2-4, with Micah 4:1-3), it is difficult not to recognize in his oracle an expansion of Isaiah’s. In the same line would seem to lie the enigmatic utterance in Jeremiah 31:22: “For Jehovah hath created a new thing in the earth: a woman shall encompass a man” (thus Delitzsch, etc.).

Testimony of the Gospel

The germs now indicated in prophetic scriptures had apparently borne no fruit in Jewish expectations of the Messiah, when the event took place which to Christian minds made them luminous with predictive import. In Bethlehem of Judea, as Micah had foretold, was born of a virgin mother He whose “goings forth” were “from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6). Matthew, who quotes the first part of the verse, can hardly have been ignorant of the hint of pre-existence it contained. This brings us to the testimony to the miraculous birth of Christ in our first and third Gospels—the only Gospels which record the circumstances of Christ’s birth at all. By general consent the narratives in Matthew (chapters 1,2) and in Luke (chapters 1,2) are independent—that is, they are not derived one from the other—yet they both affirm, in detailed story, that Jesus, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, was born of a pure virgin, Mary of Nazareth, espoused to Joseph, whose wife she afterwards became. The birth took place at Bethlehem, whither Joseph and Mary had gone for enrollment in a census that was being taken. The announcement was made to Mary beforehand by an angel, and the birth was preceded, attended, and followed by remarkable events that are narrated (birth of the Baptist, with annunciations, angelic vision to the shepherds, visit of wise men from the east, etc.). The narratives should be carefully read at length to understand the comments that follow.

The Real Christ

Doctrinally, it must be repeated that the belief in the Virgin birth of Christ is of the highest value for the right apprehension of Christ’s unique and sinless personality. Here is One, as Paul brings out in Romans 5:12 ff., who, free from sin Himself, and not involved in the Adamic liabilities of the race, reverses the curse of sin and death brought in by the first Adam, and establishes the reign of righteousness and life. Had Christ been naturally born, not one of these things could be affirmed of Him. As one of Adam’s race, not an entrant from a higher sphere, He would have shared in Adam’s corruption and doom—would Himself have required to be redeemed. Through God’s infinite mercy, He came from above, inherited no guilt, needed no regeneration or sanctification, but became Himself the Redeemer, Regenerator, Sanctifier, for all who receive Him. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

The above has been adapted from the BLB archives. At the Blue Letter Bible, we provide thousands of Bible study materials for free. Go check it out today.

Comments

  1. Is it possible we could have a referring link here? I am having trouble locating this. My eyesight is a real mess right now.

    * The tendency in many quarters now is to admit this (Dr. Cheyne, etc.), and even to seek an explanation of it in alleged Babylonian beliefs in a virgin birth. This last, however, is quite illusory.* [* For the evidence, see my volume on “The Virgin Birth,” Lecture VII.] *

    Yall don’t have a search engine that can include all the materials on the site so locating the fine materials can take a long time.

    Thank you I don’t want to be a bother because only the Lord knows (not cursing) how many untold BBL authors put in for us!

    You are all literally God-sends!

    • Ah ha! I think I found it?,
      Seek and ye shall…

      Which may explain who my shield was when I thought I was erring so badly. Glad you are watching over us! I must admit that really shook me up. Disappointing God I take seriously.

      [* For the evidence, see my volume on “The Virgin Birth,” Lecture VII.] *

      Blueletter Bible Institute

      http://www.blbi.org/course/catalog.cfm

      Christology
      The Virgin Birth of Christ

      Course Description
      Christology, by Dr. David Hocking, covers the study of the doctrine regarding the Lord Jesus Christ. This fourteen part course covers such topics as: the preexistence of Christ, the Messianic claims of Christ, the Deity of Christ, the death and resurrection of our Lord and much more. You can take the course by text or audio. We encourage you to partake of this course and learn about one of the most important subjects we can study, that of our Lord Jesus.,,,”

      Back to reading, eating and drinking the; word of God with this Blog’s guidance.

      Should anyone wonder why I am usually the first responder is I get up at 4 am each workday so I can launch my beloved. Saying goodbye, kisses, hugs and tender words a must. One never knows what will be either of our last moments on earth.

      Blessings to all upon this rememberance time of the Virgin birth our sweet, sweet Savior!

      • Good Morning, DD2J! I was actually wondering why you are always the first responder and then I see that you answered my question! Isn’t that awesome?

        Thank you for posting where to find that reference about “the lecture”. I was wondering that myself.

        I, too, feel the way you do about saying goodbye to someone for the day. “One never knows what will be either of our last moments on earth”, you said. How sweet, how true.

        When is your next eye surgery?
        Blessings, Debi C., Portland, Oregon

  2. I must admit, I have thought more about the Cross of Christ than His virgin birth.

    Today’s blog is particularly “meaty”, and the thoughts it is inspiring in my heart are exciting!

    It is like looking at a tiny star way up in the night sky and trying to wrap my brain around how far away that little light really is, and Who created it and when and why…

  3. I just looked up the lecture referred to in today’s blog, and I have taken that course for a grade and I got a B-Minus in the class. I think I need to study it again!

  4. Hi Debi!

    Good to see your name again.

    Absolutely on the your never know if you’ll ever see a loved one again.

    Yep a very early bird here. Even on the weekends. My internal clock is set.

    So important to say the love from the heart. Just like it’s not good to go to sleep without absolute peace. I don’t like to fuss at all.

    Once words are said they still hang in the air even though all is foregiven. Best never to say them in the first place.

    Next eye next Tuesday.
    Thank you for asking how thoughtful.
    Hope all is well for you and yours.

    What a blessing God has wrought. I am so glad we can afford it. Thank you God for supplying this new bright way of seeing the wonderful work of your hands!

    I see so much clearer now. I see the sharp edges of leaves. Colors are so very vibrant. Stars shining in clarity.

    Just think, no matter how beautiful this world is Heaven is infinitely more glorious!

    On the subject matter at hand, I believe in the Virgin birth.

    Once again we see a good and faithful servant Mary was. Blessed. Trusted with God’s most precious gift, our Lord the promised one to set up His kingdom on His glorious return.

    God called special people before her. Accounted for righteousness. Abraham, Enoch, Elias, Moses, David, the Prophets and others.

    I always remember the encounters where God calls and the response is “Here I am!” Some

    So ordinary to humans they may seem. Those chosen to do absolutely miraculous acts that fulfill the unfolding of HIStory.

    God uses who he will. The I AM calling and “here I am!” ready to be his servant. A huge leap of faith to follow God’s will. Total trust and obedience in the God.

    I am glad to know who this David is riding herd on people like me. Another called is David Hockiing. the answer “Here I am!” I look forward to working through his course.

  5. This is pretty awesome. Our minister told us about it yesterday.

    Youngest-Ever Nearby Black Hole Discovered
    Nov. 14, 2010: Astronomers using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory have found evidence of the youngest black hole known to exist in our cosmic neighborhood. The 30-year-old object provides a unique opportunity to watch a black hole develop from infancy.

    http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/14nov_babyblackhole/

    NASA Animation of Supernova Producing a Black Hole
    This animation shows how a black hole may have formed in SN 1979C. The collapse of a massive star is shown, after it has exhausted its fuel. A flash of light from a shock breaking through the surface of the star is then shown, followed by a powerful supernova explosion. The view then zooms into the center of the explosion.

    http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=29520021

    God collecting of two companion stars and will replace it with the birth of a new one.

    I heard a word picture. One imagining beyond Heaven the stars visible to us. Light but not the pure light above the firmament Universe. Tiny holes the stars hanging beneath Heaven so far away revealing a foretaste of God true light.

    King David wondered gazing at the stars in the sky. Casting eyes sky word. Not to worship the stars but what is beyond.

    Astronomers who have made computer models of what the bright light in the sky was announcing Jesus’s birth may have been binary. If true this is fitting. The God the Father and God the Son together.

  6. Deu 33:26 [There is] none like unto the God of Jeshurun, [who] rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.

    “david” AND “heaven”
    occurs in 5 verses in the KJV

    2Sa 18:9 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that [was] under him went away.

    1Ch 21:16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders [of Israel, who were] clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

    1Ch 21:26 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.

    2Ch 2:12 Huram said moreover, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.

    Jer 33:22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.

    wonderfully made

    Psa 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well.

  7. “heavens”
    occurs 133 times in 127 verses in the KJV

    Deu 10:14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens [is] the LORD’S thy God, the earth [also], with all that therein [is].

    Cite This Page:

    Blue Letter Bible. “Dictionary and Word Search for ‘”heavens”‘ in the KJV”. Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2011. 5 Dec 2011.

  8. This Psalm is also a Psalter and a Hebrew Hymn set to music.

    Psa 8:1 ¶ [[To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.]] O LORD our Lord, how excellent [is] thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

    Psa 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

    Psa 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

    Psa 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

    Psa 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

    Psa 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all [things] under his feet:

    Psa 8:7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

    Psa 8:8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, [and whatsoever] passeth through the paths of the seas.

    Psa 8:9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent [is] thy name in all the earth!

  9. Remember we have been speaking of The Feast of Tabernacles?

    Remember some of the Apostles with Jesus at the Mount of Tabernacles?

    When Jesus came to be with us to “Tabernacle” with us at His First Advent He came to set up His coming Kingdom when He will return again. He began the foundation. The GOOD NEWS!

    Read Smith’s Dictionary “tabernacle”

    Cite This Page:

    Smith, William “TABERNACLE”, Smith’s Bible Dictionary. Blue Letter Bible. 1884. 30 Dec, 2010 5 Dec 2011.

    I do not pretend to understand all this but I do KNOW Christ will come again at His appointed time. He always keeps His promises!

    Glory be to God the Almighty! Thank you for the gift of your only begotten Son.

    In Jesus’s name.

    Amen

  10. While reading through this I came upon “cedar” and “cedars”

    Make sure you check it out.

    The WORD which is our Savior calls to us. The WORD of Genesis.

    I do so love the Word of God.

  11. Cast your eyes upon Jesus.
    Be patient and wait upon the Lord.

    Not the false light the instead of.

    Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

    Jesus will come again in the blink of an eye.

  12. Job 40:14 Then will I also confess 3034 unto thee that thine own right hand 3225 can save 3467 thee.

  13. Do you consider verses like John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit and James 1:17-18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
    Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

    Or Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

  14. Jhn 3:5 (KJV) — Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

    Jhn 3:6 (KJV) — That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

    Absolutely without question!

    Jam 1:17 (KJV) — Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

    Jam 1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

    Absolutely without question!

    Mat 3:16 (KJV) — And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

    Absolutely without question!

    Act 10:38 (KJV) — How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him

    Absolutely without question!

    • “…We are coming to one of the more exciting parts of our study on Christology and that is the Messiah Himself. Take your Bibles and turn to John 20:30-31. It says, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples which are not written in this book. But these are written.” Some say that there are ten signs; others say nine; others twelve; and still others say six. This makes you wonder if they all are reading the same Gospel. However many, “These are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ [the Messiah] the Son of God.”

      What if I asked you the question, “Do you need to believe that Jesus is the Messiah in order to be saved?” I rarely see anybody saying that you do in a gospel tract. Yet, according to the Bible it is absolutely critical. The question is, “Who is Yeshua? Do you believe that Jesus is the Messiah?” All of this was written, John said, “So that you might believe that He is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through His name.” So is it critical to believe that He is the Messiah? Absolutely! That should be one of our essential points of belief in order to become a Christian…”

      • The Virgin Birth

        From David’s Lecture:

        The Messianic Claims of Christ

        http://www.blbi.org/course/part.cfm?Series_ID=1&Course_ID=22&Part_ID=342

        “…This goes on and on. It is so remarkable as I have quote after quote after quote. Another interesting one relates to Genesis 49:10, which we will be looking at it in a moment. It is a prophecy about the tribe of Judah, which tells us that “the scepter will not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between the feet, when you come out of a womb of a woman in that line of Judah, until Shiloh comes.” Now people do not know whether Shiloh was a proper name or whether we should break it down in its Hebrew letters, which would mean “he whose it is.” In other words, the one to whom the scepter belongs. It will never depart from Judah until the one to whom it was intended finally comes.

        Shiloh has a numerical value. Every Hebrew letter has a numerical value. For instance, my name has a numerical value of fourteen. That is extremely important for you to know. Why do I want to know that the teacher’s name has a numerical of fourteen? Because in Matthew 1 it says “This is the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of Abraham, the son of David.” Then it proceeds to divide history from Abraham all the way to Joseph and Mary in sets of fourteen. Three sets of fourteen to be exact. Everyone who has ever studied it knows that it does not represents all the people that are in that line. There are far more than 14 generations. Why did the Bible organize it in three sets of fourteen? Because the numerical value of David’s name, He who is a son of David. It is a messianic/Jewish poetic way of saying the Messiah is the only thing we are talking about here.

        Now, Shiloh has a numeric value in Hebrew of 358. It is also interesting that the word for Messiah is 358. Masheach in Hebrew has exactly an equivalent of 358. Is that a coincidence? I do not think so. With Shiloh (“he who comes”) there is a play on the word. In other words, we have Messiah there.

        By the way, the numerical quantity of the word “snake” in Hebrew also is 358. It is the word nachash. In the rabbi’s writings on Genesis 3:15 (which we are going to look at right away), it speaks of the seed of the woman that will crush the head of the snake. Now they write these words on the basis of the fact that the numerical quality of the word serpent is identical to the Messiah. Here is the official Jewish interpretation, which they deny today, but unfortunately it is in print. It says, “The Messiah alone will crush the head of the serpent.” That is the official Jewish interpretation on Genesis 3:15, and the average Jew you witness to will deny it…”

        I will never deny Shiloh, Y’shua is the Messiah!

        Praying: Thank you Father for sending your only Begotten Son to us. He will come again!

        Amen.

      • God be praised!
        Messiah is Heaven sent and will return again!

        See the difference between Astrologers and Magi.

        Wade through these about Heaven.

        Hebrew/Aramaic Results (Old Testament) Strongs # Translit. Pronunciation English Equivalent
        H8064 שָׁמַיִם shamayim shä·mah’·yim heaven, air, astrologers
        H8065 שְׁמַיִן shamayin (Aramaic) shä·mah’·yin heaven
        H1534 גַּלְגַּל galgal gal·gal’ wheel, heaven, rolling thing, whirlwind
        H7834 שַׁחַק shachaq shakh’·ak cloud, sky, heaven, small dust
        H6160 עֲרָבָה `arabah ar·ä·vä’ plain, desert, wilderness, Arabah, champaign, evenings, heavens
        H6183 עֲרִיפִים `ariyph ä·rēf’ heavens

        Greek Results (New Testament) Strongs # Translit. Pronunciation English Equivalent
        G3772 οὐρανός ouranos ü-rä-no’s heaven, air, sky, heavenly
        G2032 ἐπουράνιος epouranios ep-ü-rä’-nē-os heavenly, celestial, in heaven, high
        G3771 οὐρανόθεν ouranothen ü-rä-no’-then from heaven
        G3321 μεσουράνημα mesouranēma me-sü-rä’-nā-mä midst of heaven
        G932 βασιλεία basileia bä-sē-lā’-ä kingdom (of God), kingdom (of heaven), kingdom (general or evil), (Thy or Thine) kingdom, His kingdom, the kingdom, (My) kingdom, misc

        And to think this all started with Debi and I expressing our wonderment of the stars!

        God allows our wonderment. We cannot begin to comprehend our MIGHTY Great Invisible Father!

        Jesus is our bridge to the Father. Seek Jesus with all your hearts! I seek Him daily. My very first thoughts are of Him!

        Wow! Such an amazing trip today.
        Keep walking!

        Praying: Father thank you for your only Begotten Son.

        Our Hope and Joy is to see our Savior’s face!

        Praying: Thank you for the WORD, Father!

        In Jesus’s Holy Name,
        Amen!

  15. David, Steve, James, Yitzak, others,

    Please explain the different kind of lights.
    Please explain the Three Heavens.

    Words fail me. Your explanations much more clear to others I am sure!

    Cite some Scripture. i.e. The Mount of Transfiguration.

  17. I HOPE this helps everyone!
    Now to get it back on track, read about the Special Star that announces Jesus’s Birth. It could actually move to guide the Magi.

    Ok now check on Satan false light.

    Satan when he comes will be able manifest false light.
    The false Star of the Morning.
    Check into astrologers worshipping the sky.

    Jesus is the True Light of the Morning.

    The Magi were not astrologers.
    They were Holy Men.

    Read again David’s Psalm 8.
    How he is in wonderment of the stars. He does not worship the stars, He worships their Creator.

    And the whole Chapter of Job 40.
    God is describing Himself to Job.
    God says the proud are trying to be god.
    They want to worship other men or themselves.
    Clearly that is wrong!

    I read today the Pagans actually worship trees! Yes, God made all trees but He wants worship not the object.

    Pagans worship animals. God makes all animals but we aren’t supposed to worship them.

    Praying:
    Forgive me Father for bringing this up! I hope I have fairly and rightly explained to your satisfaction.
    I am so very inadequate! You are PERFECT!
    All PRAISE and HONOR to YOU!
    I love you with all my heart!

  20. I am reviewing this devotion, for I have had it saved on my browser this long, and am just now reading the comments (please excuse my timing, its not always punctual). I read about the three heavens. I had discussions with others on this subject and had thus explained it by pointing to the firmament, the expanse, and God’s abode (as is described in 2Cor. 12:2 and comparing it with Acts 7:47-50).

    As touching the “Virgin Birth”, I had previously looked over some things to the necessity and purposes of the virgin birth, and would like to share theory. I had heard that the reason those in the Roman Catholic church beseech Mary, the mother of Jesus, was that there is an assumption that Jesus will harken unto His mother’s requests (probably put together in their minds by taking the situation at the wedding, where the water was made wine, out of context, and not applying the totallity of Scripture to their reasoning, of the which practise, I disagree with BTW). With that in mind, I have also heard it said that among the Roman Catholics, there is an assumption that Mary was without sin. It seems that they surmise since Jesus did not receive the iheritance of the original sin, that Mary must have been without sin herself to not affect her Son. I do not agree with this conclusion either, for even she called “God” her “Saviour” in Lk. 1:47. I did think there was a possible solution to this idea of how Jesus Christ was not accounted affected by the original sin, and having came forth without having a sinful nature. All this is based on Him being born of a virgin and Him being the Son of God, and not a product of Joseph, the husband of Mary, knowing his wife before the conception (or even before the birth for that matter, as saith the Scriptures). Romans 5 speaks about a contrasting figure as the relationship of the first and Second Adam. Through the first Adam’s disobedience, many were made sinners. Through the Second Adam’s obedience, many are made righteous. The Scriptures state that the woman was in the transgression first, but Romans 5 and others says in Adam all die. The possibility of the transgression being inherited and passed down to the posterity through the father might explain this. All conceptions/births need a man. Thus through the man the inheritance of death may have been passed down. With Mary being a virgin, and having not known a man to conceive the Seed, but God Himself being the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, having no sin in God, could make it possible that He Who was made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, so that we can be made the righteousness of God in Him, accounting His righteousness unto This Seed. Thus Jesus Christ not having a sinful nature, but was in all ways tempted as we are, but yet was without sin, could dwell in a body of flesh but not be accounted sinful, and thus through obedience never yield over to sin. As I said before, this is a theory, but it seems to be a possible solution if the doctrine of original sin be so as it is taught. I have tried to explain this theory with others, but I at times get strange looks and find it difficult to engage in conversations regarding deep spiritual matters with many of my peers locally. Thank you for lending ear. May God bless you all this Christ-mas season and beyond. Praise Him for His Word!

    > stephanos

  21. There were a few typos and I reworded this some:

    I am reviewing this devotion, for I have had it saved on my browser this long, and am just now reading the comments (please excuse my timing, its not always punctual). I read about the three heavens. I had discussions with others on this subject and had thus explained it by pointing to the firmament, the expanse, and God’s abode (as is described in 2Cor. 12:2 and comparing it with Acts 7:47-50).

    As touching the “Virgin Birth”, I had previously looked over some things to the necessity and purposes of the virgin birth, and would like to share a theory. I had heard that the reason those in the Roman Catholic church beseech Mary, the mother of Jesus, was that there is an assumption that Jesus will harken unto His mother’s requests (probably put together in their minds by taking the situation at the wedding, where the water was made wine, out of context, and not applying the totallity of Scripture to their reasoning, of the which practise, I disagree with BTW). With that in mind, I have also heard it said that among the Roman Catholics, there is an assumption that Mary was without sin. It seems that they surmise since Jesus did not receive the inheritance of the original sin, that Mary must have been without sin herself to not affect her Son. I do not agree with this conclusion either, for even she called “God” her “Saviour” in Lk. 1:47. Sinners need a Saviour (Rom.3:23). I did think there was a possible solution to this idea of how Jesus Christ was not accounted affected by the original sin, and having came forth without having a sinful nature. All this is based on Him being born of a virgin and Him being the Son of God, and NOT a product of Joseph, the husband of Mary, knowing his wife before the conception (or even before the birth for that matter, as saith the Scriptures). Romans 5 speaks about a contrasting figure as the relationship of the first and Second Adam. Through the first Adam’s disobedience, many were made sinners. Through the Second Adam’s obedience, many are made righteous. The Scriptures state that the woman was in the transgression first, but Romans 5 and others says in Adam all die. The possibility of the transgression being inherited and passed down to the posterity through the fathers might explain this. All conceptions/births need a man. Thus through the man the inheritance of death may have been passed down. With Mary being a virgin, and having not known a man to conceive the Seed, but God Himself being the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, having no sin in God, could make it possible that (He Who was made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, so that we can be made the righteousness of God in Him), Jesus could be untouched by the “original sin”, as to not have a sinful nature, but accounting the righteousness of God unto This Seed. Thus Jesus Christ not having a sinful nature, but was in all ways tempted as we are, but yet was without sin, could dwell in a body of flesh but not be accounted sinful, and thus through obedience never yield over to sin. As I said before, this is a theory, but it seems to be a possible solution if the doctrine of original sin be so as it is taught. I have tried to explain this theory with others, but I at times get strange looks and find it difficult to engage in conversations regarding deep spiritual matters with many of my peers locally. Thank you for lending ear. May God bless you all this Christ-mas season and beyond. Praise Him for His Word!

    > stephanos