Note: Part 1 of this series.
Passage of Focus: Luke 1:26-38 (cf. Isaiah 9:6-7)
Cur Deus Homo. Translation: “Why God Became Man.” Such a phrase encapsulates one of the greatest mysteries that has ever been pondered by mankind, and it serves as the title for one of the most significant theological works to ever be published in church history.[1] It was at the end of the eleventh century when Anselm of Canterbury authored this brilliant publication, which was largely the culmination of his 65 years spent in Christian ministry.[2]
As an elderly believer, Anselm could conceive of few subjects more worthy of contemplation than Immanuel (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23). In fact, Anselm’s conviction was that the incarnation of God’s Son should not only be held in the highest esteem by God’s people, but that it must be seen as absolutely necessary to bring forth the salvation of sinners (John 1:12-14). Listen to how Anselm develops this foundational belief in his magnum opus.
[The restoration of human nature] could not have been done unless man paid what was owing to God for sin. But the debt [for man’s sin] was so great that, while man alone owed it, only God could pay it; so that the [payee of this debt] must be both man and God. Thus, it was necessary for God to take manhood into the unity of his Person, so that [man]—who in his own nature ought to pay and could not [pay the debt for sin]—should be in a person who could [pay the debt for sin. That person is none other than the Godman: Jesus Christ].[3]
Upon surveying the comprehensive testimony of Scripture, Anselm realized that man’s sin problem could only be remedied by his holy Creator; salvation must come from the Lord (Jonah 2:9; 1 Pet. 2:24). While the Bible has much to say about how far God has gone to redeem sinners through the person and work of Jesus Christ, one of the most drastic measures employed by the Most High is seen in the virgin birth. As a corollary to the arguments shared throughout the previous installment of this series, Scripture is not the only thing that depends on the virgin birth.[4] On the contrary, the Saviorhood of Jesus is likewise dependent on Him being conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. According to the written word of God, this line of reasoning can be defended from at least two perspectives.
1. The Virgin Birth Safeguards the Deity of Jesus Christ
Throughout the Old and New Testaments, it is declared that God’s Messiah—and Savior—for sinners would be God Himself. For the sake of a simple illustration, consider how Isaiah 9:6-7 and Luke 1:30-33 expound this principle at length.[5]
6 For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of armies will accomplish this (Isa. 9:6-7).
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:30-33).
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Luke’s allusion to the Isaiah prophecy affirms that Jesus can only embody its fulfillment insofar He is an eternal and divine person.[6] Stated differently, the offspring of Mary cannot be a temporal consequence of a man and woman’s act of procreation.[7] If the Messiah was born through a normal reproductive process, then he would have been regarded as somebody with a fixed beginning in existence.[8] So while Jesus’ human nature had a temporal beginning, His divine nature—and His divine personhood—is from everlasting (Micah 5:2; Rev. 22:13).[9] Thus, in accordance with God’s infinite wisdom, the virgin birth was utterly necessary to safeguard the deity of Jesus Christ.
2. The Virgin Birth Safeguards the Sinless Humanity of Jesus Christ
Based on the teaching of the Old and New Testaments, all physical descendants of Adam inherit a sinful nature through the normal reproductive process, and all physical descendants of Adam inherit a sinful standing before God due to his sin carried out in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:1-8). The former reality is demonstrated in Psalm 51:5, and the latter implications are explained in Romans 5:12-14, 18-19.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in guilt,
And in sin my mother conceived me (Ps. 51:5).
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned— 13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not counted against anyone when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the violation committed by Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come… 18 So then, as through one offense the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness the result was justification of life to all mankind. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous (Rom. 5:12-14, 18-19).
In the final analysis, had Jesus not been God—and had Jesus been the natural offspring of Joseph and Mary—then He would have been a sinner just like the rest of us (Rom. 3:23).[10] Moreover, since the Holy Spirit brought forth the conception of Jesus, His human nature was supernaturally protected from receiving any corruption from the sinfulness of Mary.[11] Although this is an incomprehensible mystery that we will never fully understand, Luke 1:34-35 provides us with the best description of how God executed the virgin birth.
34 Mary said to the angel, “How will [I give birth to this promised Son], since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to [Mary], “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35).
Through the conception and eventual birth of Jesus, we can see the virgin Mary as a picture of what happens when the Holy Spirit works in the life of a ransomed sinner. Just as the Holy Spirit was able to take from Mary what was fallen and broken to produce something “holy” (i.e., the human nature of Christ), so also is the Holy Spirit able to take from believers what is fallen and broken to produce something “holy” (i.e., their progressive sanctification and consummate glorification).[12]
From this standpoint, the virgin birth not only safeguards Jesus’ sinless humanity, but it likewise functions as a redemptive promise for the people of God (Heb. 2:17-18). The same God who orchestrated the virgin birth will bring to completion the good work He has begun in all who call on His Name (Phil. 1:3-6). Indeed, praise be to God for becoming man, so that men might become knowers of God. Over the course of this Christmas season, be sure to recall the lavishness of God’s grace that has been shed abroad through the virgin birth of our Lord and Savior.
[1] R. C. Sproul, “Cur Deus Homo ,” Ligonier Ministries, September 1, 2005, https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/cur-deus-homo.
[2] “Who Was Saint Anselm?,” Saint Anselm College, accessed December 20, 2022, https://www.anselm.edu/about/history-mission/who-was-saint-anselm.
[3] Eugene R. Fairweather, ed. and trans., A Scholastic Miscellany: Anselm to Ockham, The Library of Christian Classics, X (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1956), 176. Edited lightly for readability.
[4] Dewey Dovel, “Why Does the Virgin Birth Matter? Scripture Depends On It,” Covenant Confessions, December 17, 2022, https://covenantconfessions.com/why-does-the-virgin-birth-matter-scripture-depends-on-it/.
[5] Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture citations are derived from the New American Standard Bible (2020 edition).
[6] John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue, eds., Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017), 262.
[7] Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000), 530.
[8] James P. Boyce, Abstract of Systematic Theology (Cape Coral, FL: Founders Press, 2006), 287-288.
[9] Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2013), 770.
[10] Herman Bavinck, The Wonderful Works of God: Instruction in the Christian Religion According to the Reformed Confession (Glenside, PA: Westminster Seminary Press, 2019), 318.
[11] Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics: Sin and Salvation in Christ, ed. John Bolt, trans. John Vriend, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2006), 291-292.
[12] Stephen J. Wellum, The Person of Christ: An Introduction, ed. Graham A. Cole (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021), 78, SCRIBD.
Dewey is a licensed and ordained minister in the Southern Baptist Convention. He was raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, is happily married to Beall, and is a proud father of Isabelle Ruth. Dewey played college baseball at Western Texas College, receiving the Associate of Arts degree in General Studies. Following his time at Western Texas College, Dewey would continue as a student-athlete at The Master’s University, earning the Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Ministries. Upon completion of his undergraduate work, Dewey went on to acquire the Master of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from The Master’s University, as well as the Master of Theology degree in Historical Theology from Campbellsville University. Dewey is currently a doctoral student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, with an emphasis in Christian Worldview and Apologetics. Over the last decade, Dewey has served local churches in a variety of ways, focusing on next generation ministries. He has experience teaching children in AWANA, serving as youth pastor, as well as leading college students and young adults. He is also passionate about personal evangelism, and has led groups in gospel outreaches in cities around the country. To strengthen his service to the church, and in conjunction with his seminary studies, Dewey has participated in several academic fellowships and cohorts. He specializes in the disciplines of apologetics, biblical theology, historical theology, and systematic theology. Dewey is also actively involved with Covenant Confessions—a ministry of Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary. Today, Dewey serves as the Associate Pastor of Next Generation and Outreach at Metro East Baptist Church (Wichita, Kansas).
You can follow Dewey on Twitter @SlaveofChrist17
Pingback: Why Does the Virgin Birth Matter? Our Savior Depends On It: Part 2 – Covenant Confessions