How was God Born?
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Here is another excellent question from one of our youth. It shows that these young minds are thinking about spiritual matters and wondering how things came about. That is a healthy thing. This question could be construed a couple of different ways. First, one might be wondering if God had a beginning, that is, if he was born like humans are born. Second, it might have reference to the birth of Jesus and how he, being God, was born into the world in a special way. Let’s look at both of those possibilities.
First, if we are thinking about God’s existence, He was not born like human beings are born, and neither did he ever have a beginning. The Bible teaches that God existence has always been. In Psalm 90:1-2 says, “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” In other words, God never had a beginning and He will never have an end. He is eternal. This is a hard concept to understand, but that is what the Bible says about God. How could He not have a beginning? God has the explanation for Himself inside Himself. He is wholly self sufficient and self sustaining. He lives in eternity. Isaiah 57:15 affirms this: “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’” God’s existence isn’t like ours. He exists in a very special way outside the boundaries of the way that we live. So, to answer this question, God wasn’t born at all. He has always existed.
What about the birth of Jesus Christ? The Bible teaches that Jesus is God. John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” How could God be born as a human being? The Bible says that this was a very special event that God specifically made happen. In Luke 1:34-35 Mary had some questions about this herself. “Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’” So, God conceived Jesus in the womb of Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. This was a very special act of creation that God performed that did not happen according to the normal process. While the conception of Jesus Christ was miraculous, the birth of Jesus Christ was perfectly normal. Jesus was born to His mother Mary in a stable. Luke 2:6-7 says, “So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Today, Jesus continues to be a human being, though, He has been glorified to sit at the right hand of God, and He will remain a human being forever. This is a great comfort to us because it means that God loved us enough to take on the same life that we live while we are on the earth. Hebrews 2:17-18 says, “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”