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Jun 14

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THE STORY OF SALVATION (5)

The story of salvation, as it relates to Mary, stops with her seed, Jesus of Nazareth. The “golden chain” that runs through the Old Testament is a bloodline which goes through the “seed” of woman. When understood, the words of Isaiah, chapter seven, verse fourteen, were a spell binding prophesy: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” First, how could it be that “a virgin” would “conceive?” Second, when would it happen? When was it to take place and how could it take place?
In looking at Isaiah 7:14, as it relates to “the story of salvation,” it is important to notice a few words: 1) sign, 2) virgin, 3) conceive, 4) son, and 5) Immanuel. Starting with the last of these, “Immanuel,” which means “God with us;” therefore, whoever, this “son” will be, he will be “God with us.” No one else will do in fulfilling the words of Isaiah. Second, the word “son” and this “son” must be God, dwelling among mankind; else, he is not the “son” of this prophesy. Third, is the word “conceive,” and standing by itself would not get our attention; but when coupled with our second word, “virgin,” it demands attention. For the question now comes to mind, how it is possible for a “virgin” to “conceive?” With man, it is impossible; but with God it is possible! This brings us to our first word, “sign.” This is a key word in the Isaiah prophesy. We are fully aware that some have sought to take Christ out of this text. But, what “sign” is there in a young woman conceiving and bringing forth a son? It happened every day then, and it happens every day now. Yet, Isaiah used the word “sign” and says the “sign” is that a “virgin” shall “conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Only one time in the history of mankind has this taken place. The “virgin” is named Mary and the inspired Matthew, an apostle of Christ, wrote the following: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (23) 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” (Matt. 1:21-23). These words answer our question, but only in part. Matthew identifies Mary as the “virgin” of the Isaiah prophecy, but here, he does not reveal how a “virgin” can “conceive.” Therefore, it is necessary to back up a few verses: “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 Spirit” (Matt. 1:18). Notice, it was “before” Joseph and Mary had “came together,” that “she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.” The “virgin” was “conceived” of the Holy Spirit, not man. It is through Mary that the bloodline runs, but it is by means of the Holy Spirit that the son is conceived; thus, he is “Emmanuel:” “God with us.” Before continuing with “the story of salvation,” please take the time to notice that Isaiah used the word “conceive,” while Matthew uses the word “shall be with child.” By interchanging these words, God has told us, when Mary “conceived,” she was “with child.” Of course, the son, the child, the “son of man” through Mary is Jesus, the Christ, but through the Holy Spirit he is “Son of God.” Therefore, he is human and deity!
Without this part of “the story of salvation,” there would be no “story of salvation.” Therefore, it is imperative that a better understanding be obtained. John will help us here. He wrote: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The “Word” is God, but not God the Father, neither God the Holy Spirit. The “Word,” of John 1:1, whom we shall here identify as the second person of the Godhead. John informs us, “was made,” and the Greek word (ginomai) he used means: to come into existence, begin to be. No, the “Word” did not come into existence, but he did “begin to be” flesh and blood; then, notice John’s words, “dwelt among us.” Therefore, John identifies Isaiah’s “Immanuel” with the “Word” becoming flesh: “God with us!”
With this, “the story of salvation” has taken a major step forward; as the Son of the virgin is named Jesus, which means, savior (Matt. 1:21).

— Frank R. Williams

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