I consider myself a Christian. The Sermon on the Mount is my inspiration. I don’t believe in virgin birth, and see this as a parable. It doesn’t make any difference to me.
The Bible says it is possible to deceive oneself in the matter of whether one is a Christian or not.
Be careful.
Do you believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead?
Do yourself a favor write down all the other things you believe God couldn’t have possibly done..... Then imagine standing before the creator of the universe and read them out loud to His face.
Let me know how that works out for ya.
It is a nice albeit common historical story.
Rape of Jewish women was rampant. Sanitation was horrible a fertile woman could be ensembles incidentally from baths or other facilities and not even know.
And then there is the divine birth story.
All the Pharoes were divine gods or sons of god. Achilles/Hercules were born of gods. This was by no means a unique story at the time.
But whatever happened it is all good to me. M/C to all...
Satan wants Christians to argue about things like this and not focus on the importance of Jesus and his sacrifice and message. It makes not one wit of difference if he was born of a virgin or born in the natural way. I always felt God adopted him when he was baptized in the River Jordan. The same if Jesus was married or if he really turned water into wine. We are saved by his grace—not his miracles. If he was married I have even more respect for him to have finished his ministry with a wife in tow. Jesus was made flesh and lived as we do.
Parthenogenesis is a form of reproduction in which an embryo is conceived and develops in a female without male fertilization.
It has been observed naturally occurring in reptiles, birds, other species.
It has never been reported naturally occurring in a mammal, let alone a human.
But it is theoretically possible. And it is not at all illogical or irrational to believe that the virgin birth did happen as the Gospels report.
Inspiration for what??? To be a good enough person to be accepted by God???
Take heed:
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
It isn't about what you consider yourself. The TRUTH is that it is about what God knows you to be. And He makes that quite clear in scripture.
...is my inspiration
It isn't about inspiration. It is about which master you serve. The Lord God Almighty, or...
It doesn’t make any difference to me.
You may not think it makes a difference now. But it is clear that it will make a difference to you eternally. Whether we think it does or not does not change God.
A lot of Buddhists also think the Sermon on the Mount is inspirational.
A "Christian" by definition regards Jesus as the unique Son of God. He is the eternally existing 2nd Person of the Trinity, Who, 2000 years ago, chose to be born from a virgin as a human male.
Ever since, those named "Christian" have affirmed those beliefs--sometimes to the point of torture and death. If you cannot affirm those facts, by definition, you are not a Christian.
It is false advertising to claim you are a Christian--in the same way as it would be false advertising to say you are a proud "Republican" but believed in the State ownership and control of all capital...
Just as Republicans believe in private ownership of property, so too Christians believe in the virgin birth.