Born of a Virgin
December 7, 2025 / Cornerstone Global Methodist ChurchScripture Reading: Isaiah 7:1-14
Matthew 1:20-21 — “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:22 “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
“Jesus” means “God ”
In the Apostles Creed that Christians developed as a statement of faith in the 100’s AD, Christians said and say today: “I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Mary…”
Isaiah 7:14 can be translated in different ways: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a (prophetic indication): The * (young woman**) will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (God with us).”
- LXX = Septuagint = Old Testament translation of the Greek, by around 70 scholars around 280BC = “Virgin”
- DSS = Dead Sea Scrolls = version of the Old Testament copied around 100BC = “young woman”
- Which is “correct”? BOTH!
In Isaiah 7 and 8, God acts in human history, with humans; God influences a pregnancy as a part of God’s action; and in doing so, God shows that God is “with them” by issuing upon evil doers.
In Matthew 1, God is acting anew in human history; God influences a pregnancy as a part of God’s action and causes a VIRGIN to conceive – even MORE special and miraculous than the Isaiah 7:14 initial fulfillment in Isaiah’s day; and in doing so, God isn’t just issuing judgment on evil doers but is offering them through his life, death, resurrection and rule – the cradle, cross, and crown of Jesus!
Believe! Wonder at the miracle given us through the amazing young woman Mary, and worship Jesus as your King!
The Apostle’s Creed:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of Heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again, he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting, Amen!
O Come O Come Immanuel – from ancient chant around the 7th Century AD:
v1 O come, O come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
v4 O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem, unto your own and rescue them! From depths of hell your people save, and give them victory o’er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
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