DAY 21 Non-negotiable.

 “And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’

And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.’”  (Luke 1:34-35)

 A non-negotiable of our Christian faith is the conception of Jesus in the womb of the virgin Mary.  His birth was unique.  There was never anything like it before nor will there ever be anything like it again.  He had to be born in this manner.  He was born of the Holy Spirit and of flesh and blood.  The manner in which he was born shows his two natures.  He is both God and man.  If Christ were only Spirit, he could not identify with those he came to save.  If he was only man, he could not be the perfect sacrifice needed for our atonement.  Let us rejoice in him who is the “offspring of a Virgin’s womb.”

 HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING

 Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies,
With th’angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

 Christ by highest heav’n adored,
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

 Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”