November/December 2014 • $3.95 FrontLine BRINGING THE TRUTH HOME November/December 2014 | VOLUME 24 | NUMBER 6 The Miraculous Birth of Our Savior 8 16 12 FEATURES A Small-Town Chaplain Key Interpretational Elements in 34 Dan Cleghorn 6 Isaiah 7:14 Randy Jaeggli Isaiah 7:14 gives us an astounding prediction, DEPARTMENTS over seven hundred years in advance, of the miraculous birth of our Savior. 5 Mail Bag & News from All Over The Virgin Birth of Christ in On the Home Front 8 Matthew 1 20 Mark Minnick Wit & Wisdom It is significant that Matthew 1:16 reads that 23 David Atkinson Joseph was the husband of Mary “of whom was born Jesus.” The Genius of Apostasy, 24 Part Two The Ardennes Counteroffensive and David C. Innes 10 Luke’s Account of the Virgin Birth Mark L. Ward Jr. At a Glance The price of doctrinal fidelity may be eternal 26 The Kingdom of God vigilance, and a few unexploded rounds from Layton Talbert the old fight are still lying around. Why Is the Virgin Birth So Important? 29 Newsworthy 12 Joel Arnold Robert Condict Amazingly, the original mission God gave On Language & Scripture Adam and Eve would become the means of 31 Mark Lee Ward Jr. their deliverance. Regional Reports Behind Objections to the Virgin Birth 32 John C. Vaughn 14 Timothy Berrey The virgin birth of Christ is the second most Mentoring Those We Love disputed event in His life. 38 Jerry Sivnksty The Humanity of Christ 16 Brian Collins Why does Christ need to be fully man? We would like to thank Dr. Brian Collins for coordinating this issue of FrontLine magazine. 2 Brian Collins The doctrine of the virgin doctrine. The first article examines the foundational prophecy of the virgin conception: Isaiah 7:14. Though birth of Christ—perhaps better stated some claim that Isaiah is simply speaking of a young as His virgin conception—was a flashpoint woman who will soon give birth, a sign that is typo- in the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy. James logically applied to Jesus’ virgin birth by Matthew, Orr, writing in The Fundamentals, explains the sig- Randy Jaeggli demonstrates that, in fact, Isaiah was nificance of this attack: “The attack is not confined, prophesying the virgin conception of Jesus seven hun- indeed, to the article of the Virgin birth. It affects the dred years before it happened. whole supernatural estimate of Christ—His life, His We then turn to the New Testament. Mark Minnick claims, His sinlessness, His miracles, His resurrection draws our attention to six indications in Matthew 1 from the dead. But the Virgin birth is assailed with that Jesus was definitely conceived of a virgin. Mark special vehemence, because it is supposed that the Ward points us to six indications in Luke 1 that chal- evidence for this miracle is more easily got rid of than lenge some recent claims that the virginal conception the evidence for public facts, such as the resurrection” is inconsistent with Jesus’ full humanity. (“The Virgin Birth of Christ,” 2:247). Joel Arnold continues the look at the theological Modernists claimed the virgin conception could be implications of the virgin conception. He alerts us to discarded with little cost. The Holy Spirit could have possible dangers in our ideas about its significance, ensured the sinlessness of Christ without a virgin con- and he shows how the virgin conception fits into the ception, the Modernists said. The hypostatic union, the Bible’s storyline. Tim Berrey walks us through com- union of God and man in one Person, could have taken mon theological objections to the virgin conception. place without a virgin conception. Doubtless. But if He traces these objections for ancient times all the God can work the miracles of the hypostatic union and way through the present and demonstrates that the the resurrection, then surely He can work the miracle fundamental challenge to accepting the virgin concep- of the virgin conception. But if the virgin conception tion is the challenge of believing that God works such is incredible, so also are the hypostatic union and the miracles. And yours truly rounds out this theologi- resurrection. For this reason Fundamentalists stoutly cal study by looking more broadly at why Jesus’ full defended the virgin conception and must continue to humanity was absolutely necessary for Him to fulfill do so in the face of continued challenges. His roles as Prophet, Priest, and King. This issue of FrontLine magazine meets these con- Our hope is that this issue will strengthen your tinued challenges by looking first at the Scriptural faith in the supernatural conception of our Lord and passages that ground the doctrine of the virgin con- that you will come away with a greater appreciation ception and then by examining the significance of this for the incarnation from its very inception. Visit us on the Web at www.fbfi.org 3 Finding joy on your path? Steve Pettit’s Bible Study Walking in the Spirit: A Study Through Galatians 5 examines the often misunderstood subject of freedom in Christ. Explore what it looks like to live out Christian liberty, and discover the joy God desires for those who choose to walk with Him daily. © 2014 BJU Press. All rights reserved. All BJU Press. © 2014 4 Order today at journeyforth.com I 800.845.5731 Mail Bag & News from All Over hank you for the box of books [When Trouble In March, Wayne Bley TComes and The Wilds “Emergency Packs”]. I’ve (chair of FBFI Chaplaincy already given some of them away. Commission) and his FBFI CH (CPT) Alan Findley, wife, Brenda, both ended deployed to Incirlik, Turkey their jobs in Virginia and (Editor’s Note: After a nine-month deployment to Incirlik, drove west, finally settling Turkey, Alan has returned to the US and recently been in Chandler, Arizona, in accepted into Active Duty status with the Air Force.) late June. Both are now busy at the International Baptist College and Seminary. hank you very much for allowing us to use your Brenda is volunteering in the front office, and Wayne is Tarticle “[Is Modesty a Lost Cause?”] in our quar- teaching and working on his DMin with a focus on the terly magazine last time. It was . a great blessing selection and development of military chaplains. to a lot of our young ladies here at the church and in our other Independent Baptist Churches in Nigeria. You are highly appreciated. Dr. Marty Herron began his new duties as pastor I will please like to ask for your permission again of Harvest Baptist Church and Harvest Ministries in to reprint one of your articles, “Biblical Sexual Ethics Barrigada, Guam, in 2000, after first coming to Guam in Light of God’s Institution of Marriage” in our quar- in September 1999. The ministry at Harvest includes terly magazine (Eye Opener magazine, Psalm 119v18.) Harvest Baptist Bible College, training almost one hun- It will be a great blessing if we are granted the dred Micronesian islanders; Harvest Christian Academy permission to do so again. Thank you, and may God with more than a thousand students from over fourteen bless you is my prayer. nationalities in K3 through twelfth grade; and KHMG, Samuel Akande Harvest Family Radio, a local Christian radio station at Associate/Young Adults’ Pastor 88.1FM. Marty also serves on the FBFI Advisory Board. NIGERIA he articles on the text and version issue were Thomas L. Nieman repre- Twell written. sents Galilee Baptist Church of The Lord graciously permitted me to begin [a] Kent, Washington, in the posi- teaching ministry in 1938. Being eager to have and tion of missionary/pastor at to teach Scripture that was closest to the Original large. He has had the privilege set me on a long and intensive search for the truth. of serving the Lord as a pas- I had sought to become more effective in counter- tor for nearly forty-five years ing the false doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and presently serves with Northwest Baptist Assistance so I obtained a Watchtower Bible. Unexpectedly, Ministries. NWBAM assists pastors, missionaries, and it was their love of the Alexandrian Text that other servants in local churches, primarily focusing shed light on this confusing issue. The following on the northwestern United States as well as British is a statement from the Foreword in The Kingdom Columbia and Alaska. Dr. Nieman assists in numerous Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures: “The Greek Text that we have used as the basis for our areas, including starting new churches, helping exist- New World translation is the widely accepted ing struggling churches resolve crises, and conducting Westcott and Hort text (1881), by reason of its prophecy conferences. He can be contacted at north- admitted excellence.” My resulting thought was [email protected]. immediate—If they think that a manuscript seques- tered in the Vatican Library serves their purposes bet- ter than the time-tested Byzantine manuscripts, then something must be wrong! So, it would seem that We want to hear from you! the inclusion of information regarding the planned deception by Westcott and Hort would add much Let us know what you like or don’t like light on the confusing textual debate. (Hort, Life about FrontLine. Address your comments to Managing Editor, FrontLine and Letters, Vols. 1 and 2 give much solid evidence 2801 Wade Hampton Blvd, Suite 115-165, of their plans to mislead and deceive.) Taylors, SC 29687 or send them by e-mail to [email protected]. We appreciate all the good articles that come to us You may request that your letter not be published or that your in FrontLine.