The Apostles’ Creed (Part 8) – Conceived by the Holy Spirit

<aside> 💡 I don’t know what’s events you’ve already put on your calendar.

Children… End of term. Birthday. Fun activity - party, trip, adventure, holiday.

But 2 events on all our calendars - same two events are on our calendars every year.

What am I thinking of?

Christmas. Easter.

Two big events we remember as a church each year - usually have special services - Carol service, Christmas Day, Good Friday etc.

</aside>

The church has decided that it is important to remember Jesus’ birth and Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Now you can understand why Jesus’ death and resurrection important - read gospels 40-60% of them about it.

But Jesus’ birth - 2 chapters in Matthew, 2 chapters in Luke.

There is more about Jesus’ teaching and miracles but we don’t have special days to remember them by.

Why make a big deal out of Jesus’ birth?

We’ve been working through the Apostles’ Creed, this summary of what Christians believe, and today we come to the line which tells us that Jesus, God’s Son was “Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary.”

This is what Christians believe.

With this line we see that the CREED like our CALENDAR makes a big deal out of Jesus’ birth.

Why is Jesus’ birth so important?

One reason is because as the creed says - HE WAS CONCEIVED BY THE SPIRIT.

That’s what we read in Luke 1:35.

”The angel replied to her (Mary) - The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

This line from the creed based on this verse from the Bible is telling us simply that Jesus did not have a human father.

The Holy Spirit formed the body of Jesus in the womb of Mary and in some mysterious way unites, joins it to the Son of God.

Now this means two things about the baby.

And this is why Jesus’ birth is so important?

Firstly, it means Jesus is God.

In Jesus, the baby in Mary’s womb, God became a man, yet remained fully God.