Why Was Christ Born of a Virgin

Transcription

1 Why Was Christ Born of a Virgin by Mitch Kuhn In order to understand the things of the spirit and the depths of God's word we need to realize that he uses the physical things to teach us about the spirit. (Rom 1:20 NKJV) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, Christ is the Word of God, so every word of the scriptures is spoken to us in a spiritual language. (Joh 6:63 NKJV) It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. Every verse of scripture has a deeper spiritual meaning that applies to our lives personally. To illustrate this principle we're going to study Christ being born of a virgin and see how it reveals God's work in our lives. (Mat 1:18 NKJV) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. (Mat 1:19 NKJV) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. (Mat 1:20 NKJV) But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. (Mat 1:21 NKJV) And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." (Mat 1:22 NKJV) So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: (Mat 1:23 NKJV) "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which is translated, "God with us." (Mat 1:24 NKJV) Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, (Mat 1:25 NKJV) and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS. This prophecy was originally given by Isaiah. 1

2 (Isa 7:14 NKJV) Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. This prophecy was given as a sign to King Ahaz of Judah that he and Judah would be delivered from the attacks from Syria and Israel. This was an immediate impending threat and the prophecy was fulfilled in the very next chapter of Isaiah. (Isa 8:3 NKJV) Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, "Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz; (Isa 8:4 NKJV) for before the child shall have knowledge to cry 'My father' and 'My mother,' the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be taken away before the king of Assyria." Everything in the Old Testament is a mere shadow of the truth to be revealed. So Ahaz was given a sign and fulfillment in his time, but the true fulfillment would come when Christ was born. The writers of the New Testament were able to see the Old Testament scriptures with spiritual eyes and apply them to Christ. This study series goes into depth on how to rightly divide the Word of God. The book of Isaiah records the prophecy, but the details of the events surrounding this prophecy are contained in books of the Kings and Chronicles. It is important to understand the surrounding events because it will give much more meaning to the virgin birth of Christ. In 2 Kings 16 we learn that Ahaz is not a good king; he followed after other gods. (2Ki 16:2 NKJV) Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD his God, as his father David had done. (2Ki 16:3 NKJV) But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel; indeed he made his son pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel. (2Ki 16:4 NKJV) And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. 2 Chronicles gives more details and we learn that these sacrifices to pagan gods, including the sacrifice of his own children, are done in the Valley of the Sons of Hinnom. 2

3 (2Ch 28:2 NKJV) For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made molded images for the Baals. (2Ch 28:3 NKJV) He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. When Jesus Christ speaks of the terrible punishment that awaits the wicked, he uses the word "geenna", which is a direct reference to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom. In most English translations this is rendered as "hell". G1067 geenna gheh'-en-nah Of Hebrew origin ([H1516] and [H2011]); valley of (the son of) Hinnom; gehenna (or Ge-Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem, used (figuratively) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment: - hell. He used this word because all the Jews knew how terrible the rebellion was that took place in that valley. In addition, it has become a garbage dump outside of Jerusalem where bodies and trash were burned. It was a powerful symbol of the judgment that comes upon all disobedience. I have done a study on this word and other words used for "hell" that makes is quite clear that the punishment of the wicked is not everlasting. You can read this study for more information. We must all live by every word of God, so in our own time we worship false gods and teach others to do the same, thus sacrificing our children in the Valley of the Sons of Hinnom symbolically. So back to Ahaz the King of Judah. The King of Syria and the King of Israel come to Jerusalem to make war in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. (2Ki 16:5 NKJV) Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to make war; and they besieged Ahaz but could not overcome him. Israel and Judah fought because the kingdom was split after Rehoboam succeeded Solomon as King. Rehoboam dealt harshly with the people, so many rebelled and follow Jeroboam. 3

4 (1Ki 12:11 ESV) And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions. The result was a split of the United Kingdom of the 12 tribes of Israel into 2 kingdoms - the 10 tribes of "Israel" under King Jeroboam with their capital up in Samaria and the tribes of Judah and Benjamin forming the kingdom of "Judah" under King Rehoboam at Jerusalem. Ahaz was quite distressed by the attacks of Syria and Israel, so Isaiah is sent by the Lord to deliver this message and prophesy to Ahaz. Isa 7:4 and say to him: 'Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah. (Isa 7:5 NKJV) Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have plotted evil against you, saying, (Isa 7:6 NKJV) "Let us go up against Judah and trouble it, and let us make a gap in its wall for ourselves, and set a king over them, the son of Tabel" (Isa 7:7 NKJV) thus says the Lord GOD: "It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass. (Isa 7:14 NKJV) Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isa 7:15 NKJV) Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. (Isa 7:16 NKJV) For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings. Ahaz did not trust the Lord and wait for his deliverance; instead he acts out of fear and without any faith. He goes to the King of Assyria to ask for help, but Isaiah told him that Assyria will be his destruction. (Isa 7:17 NKJV) The LORD will bring the king of Assyria upon you and your people and your father's house days that have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah." Ephraim is another way to refer to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, so the verse above is saying the attack from the King of Assyria will be as bad as the split between Israel (Ephraim) and Judah. 4

5 This is all telling us that when we trust in anything other than God, our old man will eventually be destroyed, even though our idol worship may temporarily provide some relief from other problems. Here is what Ahaz did. 2Ki 16:7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, saying, "I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hand of the king of Syria and from the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me." 2Ki 16:8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasuries of the king's house, and sent it as a present to the king of Assyria. 2Ki 16:9 So the king of Assyria heeded him; for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus and took it, carried its people captive to Kir, and killed Rezin. So Ahaz took silver and gold from the house of the LORD to try and buy the king of Assyria's support. 2 Kings 16:9 makes it sound like the plan worked out quite well, but additional information from 2 Chronicles reveals the truth of the matter. 2Ch 28:20 Also Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came to him and distressed him, and did not assist him. 2Ch 28:21 For Ahaz took part of the treasures from the house of the LORD, from the house of the king, and from the leaders, and he gave it to the king of Assyria; but he did not help him. 2Ch 28:22 Now in the time of his distress King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the LORD. This is that King Ahaz. Ahaz really needed help in Judah and Jerusalem, but the King of Assyria only assists by attacking Damascus, which is in Syria, quite a bit north of Jerusalem. So the prophecy was fulfilled and Judah was delivered from Syria and Israel, but it came at the cost of Ahaz forsaking God and giving basically all Judah had to Assyria. He also sacrificed to the gods of Syria hoping that they would deliver him. 2Ch 28:23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, saying, "Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me." But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel. 2Ch 28:24 So Ahaz gathered the articles of the house of God, cut in pieces the articles of the house of God, shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 5

6 2Ch 28:25 And in every single city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers. We all see the wicked prosper around us and we become jealous of them, so we think that following after their idols will benefit us in some way. David writes about this very subject in Psalms 73. (Psa 73:2 NKJV) But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. (Psa 73:3 NKJV) For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (Psa 73:4 NKJV) For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm. (Psa 73:5 NKJV) They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men. (Psa 73:12 NKJV) Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches. (Psa 73:13 NKJV) Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence. (Psa 73:14 NKJV) For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning. (Psa 73:17 NKJV) Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end. (Psa 73:18 NKJV) Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. (Psa 73:19 NKJV) Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. The ways of the world are quite appealing to the flesh. They promise wealth, success, and happiness, but in the end they are only death and destruction. (1Ti 6:9 NKJV) But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. (Pro 14:11 NKJV) The house of the wicked will be overthrown, But the tent of the upright will flourish. (Pro 14:12 NKJV) There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. King Ahaz even goes so far as to have a copy made of the altar in Damascus and put it in the house of the Lord. Then he commands that all 6

7 the sacrifices be made on this new altar. (2Ki 16:10 NKJV) Now King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus; and King Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the design of the altar and its pattern, according to all its workmanship. (2Ki 16:11 NKJV) Then Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus. So Urijah the priest made it before King Ahaz came back from Damascus. (2Ki 16:12 NKJV) And when the king came back from Damascus, the king saw the altar; and the king approached the altar and made offerings on it. (2Ki 16:13 NKJV) So he burned his burnt offering and his grain offering; and he poured his drink offering and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings on the altar. (2Ki 16:14 NKJV) He also brought the bronze altar which was before the LORD, from the front of the temple from between the new altar and the house of the LORD and put it on the north side of the new altar. (2Ki 16:15 NKJV) Then King Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, "On the great new altar burn the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, the king's burnt sacrifice, and his grain offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, their grain offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt offering and all the blood of the sacrifice. And the bronze altar shall be for me to inquire by." (2Ki 16:16 NKJV) Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that King Ahaz commanded. (2Ki 16:17 NKJV) And King Ahaz cut off the panels of the carts, and removed the lavers (wash basins) from them; and he took down the Sea from the bronze oxen that were under it, and put it on a pavement of stones. (2Ki 16:18 NKJV) Also he removed the Sabbath pavilion which they had built in the temple, and he removed the king's outer entrance from the house of the LORD, on account of the king of Assyria. This is rebellion of the highest order. This is exactly what we do when we look to things of the world to deliver us from our troubles rather than God. We defile the temple within each of us. Each of us does it in a slightly different way, but the end result is the same. Some sin more obviously, while others in a more subtle way that takes time to manifest. (1Ti 5:24 NKJV) Some men's sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. Either way, the temple is still defiled and we will be judged. 7

8 (1Co 3:16 ESV) Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? (1Co 3:17 ESV) If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. (1Co 10:20 NKJV) Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. (1Co 10:21 NKJV) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. (1Co 10:22 NKJV) Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? So what does God do when we turn to idols and defile his temple by worshiping them in His place? He destroys us by the very idols that we trusted in. He shows that the idol is powerless to deliver us. (Isa 57:13 NKJV) When you cry out, Let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, A breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, And shall inherit My holy mountain." Not long after the prophecy to Ahaz, under the rule of King Hezekiah, Judah is taken captive by Assyria and a heavy burden is laid upon Judah. (2Ki 18:13 NKJV) And in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. (2Ki 18:14 NKJV) Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, "I have done wrong; turn away from me; whatever you impose on me I will pay." And the king of Assyria assessed Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. (2Ki 18:15 NKJV) So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king's house. When we serve anything other than God we become slaves, slaves to sin. The burden is heavy and the peace that we were seeking through our disobedience is not found. (Isa 59:7 NKJV) Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths. 8

9 (Isa 59:8 NKJV) The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace. Just as Judah was made ashamed of their rebellion, so are we shown in due time that our rebellion only leads to death and we are ashamed as well. (Rom 6:20 NKJV) For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. (Rom 6:21 NKJV) What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. The true rest and peace that we seek is only found in obedience to Christ. (Mat 11:28 NKJV) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Mat 11:29 NKJV) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Mat 11:30 NKJV) For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Joh 8:32 NKJV) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (Joh 8:34 NKJV) Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. (Joh 8:35 NKJV) And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. (Joh 8:36 NKJV) Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. The prophesy in Isaiah 7:14 of Immanuel being born of a virgin is saying in type and shadow that Christ will be the savior and bring true deliverance from our enemies within that trouble us so. Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Immanuel means "God with us". When Isaiah has a son he is not born of a virgin, because Isaiah went unto her. The word in Hebrew for "virgin" in Isaiah 7:14 does not necessarily mean virgin, it can also mean a young woman- often translated as a maid, damsel or girl. H5959 almah למ 9

10 Isa 8:3 Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, "Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz; Isa 8:4 for before the child shall have knowledge to cry 'My father' and 'My mother,' the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be taken away before the king of Assyria." It is very significant that Isaiah is the one that sleeps with his wife to conceive the child that fulfills the prophesy for Ahaz in that time. While in the New Testament, Christ is clearly born of a virgin, because the Holy Spirit impregnates her. Born of the Flesh vs. Born of the Spirit Let's now look at the difference spiritually between being born of a physical father vs. born of the Holy Spirit. We are all first born of a physical father and a physical mother. This is symbolized in the creation of Adam when he is formed of the dust of the ground. (Gen 2:7 NKJV) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. In 1 Corinthians Paul explains the difference between Adam and Christ. (1Co 15:45 NKJV) And so it is written, "THE FIRST MAN ADAM BECAME A LIVING BEING." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1Co 15:46 NKJV) However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. (1Co 15:47 NKJV) The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. Adam was made a living being, but he was carnal, because he had not yet been born again and given the spirit of God to dwell within him. This is how we all begin. In Matthew, Christ compares being born of women with being in the kingdom of heaven. He is saying that John was the greatest man that lived prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit, which is when we are born again and brought into the Kingdom of Heaven. 10

11 (Mat 11:11 NKJV) "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. In John, Christ explains to Nicodemus the importance of being born again. (Joh 3:3 NKJV) Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (Joh 3:4 NKJV) Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (Joh 3:5 NKJV) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (Joh 3:6 NKJV) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (Joh 3:7 NKJV) Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' Christ's life is the symbol of this new birth. He was born of the Holy Spirit as we will be born again, this time by the Holy Spirit as opposed to a physical father. (1Co 15:48 NKJV) As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. (1Co 15:49 NKJV) And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. Now going back to Isaiah, his son was born of flesh, because Isaiah was the father. Isa 8:3 Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, "Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz; Let's remember Christ's words: (Joh 3:6 NKJV) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (Joh 3:7 NKJV) Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' So, Isaiah's son was a mere shadow of the true fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14. For Ahaz, there was only a temporary relief from his enemies before Assyria came back to take Judah captive, and then eventually taken captive by Babylon. The point being made is that flesh and blood cannot inherit the 11

12 Kingdom of God. We are only saved when we are born again - born of a virgin. Paul tells the Corinthians that he is laboring to present them as a chaste virgin to Christ. (2Co 11:2 NKJV) For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. The word translated as "chaste" means pure and is derived from the word for "holy" as in "Holy Spirit". A chaste virgin spiritually is someone who has been born again of the Spirit of God and is being chastened to become completely holy. G53 "chaste"α hagnos hag-nos' From the same as G40; properly clean, that is, (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect: - chaste, clean, pure. G40 α ιο hagios hag'-ee-os From ος hagos (an awful thing) compare G53, [H2282]; sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated): - (most) holy (one, thing), saint. Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy (G40) Spirit. When we are born of a virgin like Christ was, we are given the Spirit of God and come to understand things spiritually. When we are born of a physical father, we cannot understand anything of the spirit. (1Co 2:12 NKJV) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (1Co 2:13 NKJV) These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1Co 2:14 NKJV) But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 12

13 A physical man can sow his physical seed into a physical woman and the result is a carnal child that will remain carnal until being born again of a new Father in the spirit. We are all born into this world, behaving just like King Ahaz and follow the ways of the world and not the ways of God. (Eph 2:1 NKJV) And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, (Eph 2:2 NKJV) in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, (Eph 2:3 NKJV) among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. So as long as we only have a physical father, we cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, because we are only flesh and blood at that point and not Spiritual. (1Co 15:50 NKJV) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. The Veil I bought up this topic of the virgin birth on a fellowship call and James Bernini pointed out to me that the word for virgin in Isaiah 7:14 also has the meaning of "veiled". The root word further reveals that this word means "kept out of sight. עלמה H5959 almah al-maw' Feminine of H5958; a lass (as veiled or private): - damsel, maid, virgin. עלם H5958 elem eh'-lem From H5956; properly something kept out of sight (compare H5959), that is, a lad: - young man, stripling. 13

14 God's plan to save all mankind by sending this spirit though his son, Jesus Christ, has been hidden for ages. It was hidden from all the people in the Old Testament. (1Pe 1:10 NKJV) Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, (1Pe 1:11 NKJV) searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. (1Pe 1:12 NKJV) To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven things which angels desire to look into. (1Co 10:11 NKJV) Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. This mystery hidden in Jesus Christ has been revealed to His saints. (Col 1:26 NKJV) the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. (1Co 2:7 NKJV) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, (1Co 2:8 NKJV) which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1Co 2:9 NKJV) But as it is written: "EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." (1Co 2:10 NKJV) But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. There was a veil that separated the holy place from the Most Holy. God dwells in the Most Holy Place. This veil symbolizes the flesh and carnal mind. (Exo 26:33 NKJV) And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy. Through Christ's death, the veil is torn in two and we all have direct access to the spirit of the father through the work of Christ. 14

15 (Mat 27:50 NKJV) And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. (Mat 27:51 NKJV) Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, (Mat 27:52 NKJV) and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; We no longer have a veil over our hearts; we now see clearly the mystery. (2Co 3:12 NKJV) Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech (2Co 3:13 NKJV) unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. (2Co 3:14 NKJV) But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. (2Co 3:15 NKJV) But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. (2Co 3:16 NKJV) Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (2Co 3:17 NKJV) Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2Co 3:18 NKJV) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. We become the chaste virgin of Christ just as Christ is the chaste virgin of the Father. 2Co 11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (1Co 11:3 NKJV) But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Christ is the head of the body and as the head he is the first to be born of the spirit. The rest of the body is birthed and follows the same pattern. Everyone in their own order is going to be born of a virgin, born of the spirit of the Father just as Christ was. This new birth is the beginning of true life, knowing the Father and the Son and living in freedom from sin. 15

16 (1Co 15:22 NKJV) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1Co 15:23 NKJV) But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. (1Co 15:24 NKJV) Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. Joh 17:3 And this is eternal (aionios) life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. Conclusion Why was Christ born of a virgin? Because he was born of the Spirit of God and not of the flesh. He was given to us as example of how God will work in each of our lives to cause us to be born again. Christ had sinful flesh just like we all do, but he was given the Spirit of God to overcome that flesh. (Gal 4:4 NKJV) But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, (Gal 4:5 NKJV) to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Psa 51:5 NKJV) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Christ did not commit any sin because he had the fullness of the spirit. (1Pe 2:21 NKJV) For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: (1Pe 2:22 NKJV) "WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH"; (Joh 3:34 KJV) For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. (Joh 3:35 KJV) The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. We too have sinful flesh, but are not given the Spirit of God right away. We turn to idols just like King Ahaz did and are only temporarily delivered from our enemies, until the very idols that we trust to deliver us cause our destruction. 16

17 We are then given a down payment of the Spirit of God and begin to grow and mature. (2Co 1:22 KJV) Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest (down payment) of the Spirit in our hearts. At our appointed time, we will be made fully like Christ and perfected in the resurrection. For now God's elect are dying daily and laboring for that blessed and holy first resurrection. (1Jn 3:2 NKJV) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (1Jn 3:3 NKJV) And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (Php 3:12 NKJV) Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (Php 3:13 NKJV) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (Php 3:14 NKJV) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. This process of being made like Christ begins when we are born of a virgin and given the Spirit of God. 17

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