Why the Virgin Birth Still Matters (Even in May)

Christmas in May?
 
You might have wondered if someone mixed up the calendar when you heard the familiar strains of a Christmas hymn last Sunday. But no, it wasn’t a mistake. We’re continuing our journey through the Apostles’ Creed, and this week brought us to one of the most miraculous—and most contested—truths in the Christian faith: the virgin birth of Jesus.
It might seem out of season, but the virgin birth isn’t just a “Christmas story.” It’s a foundational claim of Christianity, embedded in our creeds and confessions, and essential to understanding who Jesus is. In the words of Albert Mohler Jr.,

“The virgin birth is true, it is essential, and it is glorious.”

The Problem of Miracles
Let’s be honest—believing in a virgin birth in our scientific, proof-driven world sounds outrageous to many. Miracles like this simply don’t happen... do they? That’s what modern skepticism tells us. But the early church fathers—men like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Augustine—boldly proclaimed the virgin birth as essential to our faith. They weren’t naïve; they were convinced. And they were close to the source.
The biblical writers were too. Matthew and Luke give detailed accounts, both affirming that Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 7:14 had even foretold this 700 years earlier: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Why It Matters
So why does this matter? Because if we deny the miraculous elements of Scripture—like the virgin birth—we begin to unravel the trustworthiness of the entire Bible. If miracles are impossible, what about Jesus healing the blind? Or walking on water? Or rising from the dead?

Rejecting the virgin birth doesn’t just challenge a doctrine—it strikes at the heart of the gospel.

The virgin birth uniquely shows us how Jesus could be both fully God and fully human. Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a woman, Jesus is God incarnate. Not 50/50, but 100% God and 100% man. That’s a mystery, yes. But it’s also the only way he could truly be our Savior—able to represent us as a man, yet perfect and divine, able to conquer sin and death.

The Trustworthiness of Scripture
The Bible’s claim isn’t blind faith. Luke, a physician, tells us in the opening verses of his gospel that he carefully investigated everything from the beginning. He consulted eyewitnesses. He wrote so that we might have certainty (Luke 1:1–4). This isn’t myth or legend—it’s history, rooted in verifiable testimony.
And what about prophecy? The Bible contains thousands. Most have already come true with stunning accuracy. As apologist Hugh Ross points out, the odds of all these prophecies being fulfilled are astronomically small—like winning the lottery 125 times in a row. That’s not chance. That’s divine design.

Living Like It’s True
If we truly believe that Scripture is God’s Word—that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, and rose again—then that belief should change how we live.
We read the Bible not just to check a box, but because it’s the very Word of God. We memorize it, meditate on it, let it shape us. And we stand firm in our faith, even when the culture mocks or questions.

Because if Jesus is who Scripture says He is—Immanuel, God with us—then we have every reason to hope, to trust, and to rejoice… even in May.