The Embryo of Jesus

When the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary about the birth of Jesus, he said, And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son. . . . (Lk. 1:31a NKJV) Mary wondered about this and asked, How can this be, since I do not know a man? (v. 34b)

Gabriel explained that the Holy Spirit would move upon her: the power of the Highest will overshadow you. (v. 35b) And it happened as Gabriel said. Mary conceived the embryo of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. The new life within her came from both God and a human.

Many doctrines rest upon the concept of the Virgin Birth. One of those doctrines is the redemptive value of Christ’s blood. Blood forms at conception. After conception there is an embryo with blood, but before conception there is only egg and seed. The baby’s blood can be quite different than that of either parent. And the blood of Jesus was quite different from that of His mother. It carried not only her characteristics, but also the characteristics of His Heavenly Father.

Impossible? Yes. But Gabriel reminded Mary that, with God nothing will be impossible. (v. 37) Mary replied, Let it be to me according to your word. (v. 38b)

Originally published December 13, 1991.
Picture: Lindenwood Park, Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig.

Sound Doctrine

When people today use the word doctrine, they usually refers to specific concepts about truth and/or about God. Most Christians agree that doctrine based on Biblical teaching is important. We should examine our beliefs carefully—study them in light of God’s Word.

But a passage in Paul’s letter to Titus challenges our ideas about doctrine. Paul uses the word in a different context. He begins, You must teach . . . sound doctrine. (Titus 2:1 NIV) So far, so good. But the verses that follow indicate that his doctrine relates to lifestyle rather than concepts. For example, [T]each the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. (v. 2)

Paul continues with similar standards that are directed toward older women, then younger men and women, and then others. He concludes the segment of his letter with, For the grace of God . . . teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions. . . . (v. 11a,12a)

This doesn’t mean we should abandon doctrine as a belief system. It does mean we should expand the meaning to include applications. How do our beliefs affect our daily life? That is the true measure of doctrine.

Originally published May 6, 1983.

Search God's Word

It’s dangerous to build a belief system or doctrine on a single portion of Scripture. Unless we draw from the multi-faceted wisdom of our Bible, we become hard or narrow in our response to life.

For example, on one occasion Jesus supported an open confrontation. He said to His disciples, If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault. . . . (Mt. 18:15a NIV) His teaching was based on Leviticus 19:17, and it applied to settling disputes quietly and peacefully with another believer. Involving others was necessary only if agreement wasn’t reached.

Other Old Testament Scriptures seem to contradict that approach. For example, Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. (Prov. 9:7,8)

There are no pat answers to relationship problems; each circumstance requires individual attention and wisdom. We need to search God’s Word for direction—we need to search our hearts to determine our own error—and we need to be sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Originally published September 13, 1985.
Picture: Potted garden plants, West Fargo, 2009. Photo by Solveig.