Why is the virgin birth so important?
The Devotional Answer
The Virgin Birth is the ultimate demonstration of God’s power and faithfulness. Devotionally, it reminds us that God is not limited by human nature or biological rules; He can—and did—supernaturally intervene in history to accomplish His plan of salvation.
When you meditate on the Virgin Birth, you are honoring the Incarnation—the moment God became human. It assures you that your Savior is not just a human teacher, but the Almighty God who knows exactly what it’s like to live as a human, yet lived entirely without sin.
This foundational truth gives you complete confidence in His ability to save you completely.
The Simple Answer
The Virgin Birth is essential for two main theological reasons:
It Confirms His Deity (Fully God): The miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35) is the guarantee that Jesus is the Son of God and not just the son of Joseph. This affirms His unique divinity.
It Preserves His Sinlessness (Perfect Man): Because Jesus did not inherit a fallen nature from a human father (the mechanism through which original sin is traditionally passed), He was born without the taint of original sin. This qualified Him to live a perfect life and serve as the spotless Lamb necessary for the world's atonement.
Without the Virgin Birth, Jesus would have been only a man, and therefore, a sinner, disqualified from being the world's Savior.
The Deeper Dive
The importance of the Virgin Birth is rooted in the biblical solution to the problem of human sin.
1. The Only Way to be Fully God and Fully Man
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is a unique person with two distinct natures: He is 100% God and 100% man.
He inherited His humanity from His mother, Mary.
He inherited His divinity (His eternal nature) and sinlessness from the Holy Spirit's intervention at conception.
This is the only way He could fulfill His role: He had to be man to represent humanity, and He had to be God to pay an infinite price for sin.
2. Fulfilling Prophecy
The Virgin Birth was not a surprise; it was foretold in the Old Testament centuries before it happened:
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." — Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)
The literal fulfillment of this prophecy validates Jesus' claim to be the Messiah and underscores the reliability of all Scripture.
3. Securing the Perfect Atonement
Every human being who is a natural descendant of Adam has a "sin nature" (Romans 5:12). If Jesus had been conceived naturally, He would have been born under the same curse of original sin, and therefore would have needed a Savior himself.
The Virgin Birth ensured He was the only human ever born who could offer a spotless sacrifice—a necessary requirement for the atonement that saved us all.
God’s Assurance
God assures you that the miracle of the Virgin Birth is the guarantee that His plan of salvation is flawless and complete.
"For nothing will be impossible with God." — Luke 1:37 (NIV, the angel’s words to Mary)
You are assured that the power that brought forth the Son of God from a virgin's womb is the same power that provides your salvation and sustains your life today.
Your Takeaway Thought
Do not treat the Virgin Birth as a mere historical detail. See it as the essential, supernatural truth that secured your salvation. It confirms that the one who died for you was not just a great teacher, but God incarnate—the only one qualified to pay your debt. Let this truth fill you with awe and gratitude this week.
