VIRGIN BIRTH
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Some have thought that because the word “virgin” in the Hebrew can be rendered as both “virgin or young woman” (Strong’s), that it should not be rendered virgin. But such young women in the Bible were virgins, as the same word is used for Isaac’s bride (Genesis 24:43). The verse in Isaiah 7:14 said that this birth was to be a “sign.” It therefore could only be a virgin as it is no sign for a young woman to have a child as this happens every day.
It is clear in the New Testament that this conception was by the Holy Spirit and not by Joseph, whom Mary was engaged to. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost…Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost…spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:18, 20, 22–23). “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:34–35).
VOWS
“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay” (Ecclesiastes 5:4–5). I have known people who have made vows to God in order to stop some sin in their life. Their hearts may have been in the right place, but it is better just to stop the sin rather than bind yourself with an oath that you may not be able to keep. It is better not to vow than to vow and not keep one’s word to God, and we are not to delay in fulfilling our vows: “Defer not to pay it.”
Vows are often made when someone finds himself in trouble (Psalm 66:13–14). Vows in the Bible were often fulfilled in the giving of a sacrifice to God (Leviticus 22:18–23). Today, people make vows to God when they are married to be faithful to their spouse “till death do us part.”
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Some have thought that because the word “virgin” in the Hebrew can be rendered as both “virgin or young woman” (Strong’s), that it should not be rendered virgin. But such young women in the Bible were virgins, as the same word is used for Isaac’s bride (Genesis 24:43). The verse in Isaiah 7:14 said that this birth was to be a “sign.” It therefore could only be a virgin as it is no sign for a young woman to have a child as this happens every day.
It is clear in the New Testament that this conception was by the Holy Spirit and not by Joseph, whom Mary was engaged to. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost…Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost…spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:18, 20, 22–23). “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:34–35).
VOWS
“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay” (Ecclesiastes 5:4–5). I have known people who have made vows to God in order to stop some sin in their life. Their hearts may have been in the right place, but it is better just to stop the sin rather than bind yourself with an oath that you may not be able to keep. It is better not to vow than to vow and not keep one’s word to God, and we are not to delay in fulfilling our vows: “Defer not to pay it.”
Vows are often made when someone finds himself in trouble (Psalm 66:13–14). Vows in the Bible were often fulfilled in the giving of a sacrifice to God (Leviticus 22:18–23). Today, people make vows to God when they are married to be faithful to their spouse “till death do us part.”