Heidelberg Catechism
Monday, May 12, 2014 at 10:33AM 
Question 35. What is the meaning of these words: “He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary”?
Answer: That God’s eternal Son, who is and continues to be (a) true and eternal God, (b) took upon himself true human nature from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary, (c) by the operation of the Holy Spirit; (d)so that he is also be the true seed of David, (e) and like his brothers in every way, (f) except for sin. (g)
(Click through to see scriptural proofs.)
Romans 9:5… concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord … .
To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law … .
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
… and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
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.
The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: “One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.”
… concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh … .
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David
Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne … .
… but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil… .
Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
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