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The God I believe in…
‘Jesus Christ, ... conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary’
Bible Verses: Luke 1:26-38 and 1 John 4:7-16
When it comes to believing in the miracles of Jesus, or in what the gospels proclaim about the death and resurrection of Jesus, many people struggle with believing the credibility of the events and spend much time arguing the case.
However, many would contend, that this is the wrong way to approach such issues. Instead, people would be best advised to ask questions about the identity of Jesus, rather than focus on his acts or claims made about them.
If the identity of Jesus is exactly the same as that of any other person, then we are deluding ourselves in thinking of Jesus as anything other than a wonderful human being. But if the identity of Jesus is that he was God made flesh, then that changes absolutely everything: his incarnation, nature, actions, life and death would have extraordinary significance.
It all flows from this issue.
So, though it is not seasonal, we are looking at the theme of the ‘virgin birth’, ’the immaculate conception’. Is it important? Many people outwith, and inside the church, would say that it is not important, what would you say?
The Apostles’ Creed gives it a key place in understanding the significance of the mission of Jesus Christ. Why?
How would you describe what Jesus’ mission was?
(Read Matthew 1:21) What does this verse say about what Jesus came to do?
What does this next verse say about Jesus’ identity? (Read Luke 1:32-33)
Thinking back to the point made in the second paragraph, how does being convinced about the identity of Jesus, according to the Bible, make it possible to believe what seems impossible?
(Read Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:34-35)
Consider this: there are four seeming ‘impossibilities’:
1. The virgin birth
2. God becoming human
3. God saving human sinners
4. Human beings receiving salvation
Which of these are a real issue for you? Let’s discuss each in turn:
*The virgin birth
Are your issues with this biological or theological?
Biological: If we believe in an Almighty Creator God, is it impossible that he could bring this miracle about, without Josephs biological involvement?
Theological: why would the Bible consider this an important issue?
(see John 1:29: how could Jesus not have fulfilled this calling if he had been born with a sinful nature, like us? Equally, see Hebrews 2:14: how could Jesus not have fulfilled this ministry if he had not become flesh?)
*God becoming human
Are your issues with this metaphysical or conceptual?
Metaphysical: how can the Almighty be limited in any way to human form?
How can Jesus be tired, hungry, weary, frail, sad, and even die?
(see what Paul’s answer was Philippians 2:6-7)
Conceptual: how can Jesus really be fully human and fully God at the same time? (see Hebrews 4:15-16 for a possible answer).
*God saving human sinners
That God could feel pity for human beings, one could understand, but that God should respond as described in John 3:16 and 1 John 4:9-10 is way beyond that kind of response.
Why would you say that God went to such lengths for you and me?
Are your issues believing this personal or experiential?
Personal: do you have a sense of your own unworthiness and a low self-esteem, such that you do not think God could love you enough to want to save you? (see Titus 3:4-7)
Experiential: are you a person who has not had any powerful feelings of God at work in your life?
Why is it important to believe the truth of the scripture and not just our feelings?
*Human beings receiving salvation
Are your issues practical or emotional?
Practical: how exactly does a person avail themselves of the saving power of Jesus Christ for sinners?
(See John 1:12. But what does this involve? See Romans 10:9-10) Have you done this? Ask your Housegroup leader if you would like to discuss it more fully.
Emotional: Are your issues with this matter factors like pride, control, admission of need, that keep you from declaring your personal need of salvation to God and other people?
What have you got to lose, and what have you got to gain?
One of the key verses in our passage we read was Luke 1:37, how is this idea not only key for believing the virgin birth, but also for the miracle of how the Lord can save people like us? (see Matthew 19:25-26)
A well know sports manufacturer has coined the phrase, ’Impossible is nothing’
Now where have we read that before, I wonder?!
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