{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Luke: The Virgin's Name Was Mary","description":"Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38 Matthew and Luke both record that Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus, but only Luke writes about the conversation between the angel Gabriel and Mary.  This account parallels, in many ways, the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist. Among other significant truths revealed in this passage, is the staggering fact that Mary would give birth to a son without a human father. Though many would discount the importance of the doctrine of the virgin birth of Christ, it is not a peripheral doctrine. Why is the doctrine of the virgin birth of Christ important?  What is at stake in discarding it, as some do?  First, the reliability of the Bible is at stake.  Luke 1:27 specifically calls Mary a virgin and she states that she was a virgin in Luke 1:34.  Additionally, Matthew 1:18 clearly states "before they [Joseph and Mary] came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit." Second, the nature of Christ is at stake.  Luke 1:35 says \u201c. . . for that reason [a birth without a human father] the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.\u201d  The virgin birth gives evidence to the deity of Jesus. Third, there are some personal implications of the virgin birth.  In considering that the virgin birth reminds us that Jesus is God in flesh, we respond in humility and reverence and heartfelt worship as we think about, talk about, and sing about the wonder of a God-man. ","author_name":"Bethel Baptist Church","author_url":"https:\/\/bethelbaptistscs.org\/","html":"