March 26, 2025 - Luke 1:35 - "The Holy One Born of God"

Luke 1:35

"And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."

God, according to His eternal purpose, sent forth His Son to accomplish salvation apart from human effort, as demonstrated in the miraculous conception of the Lord Jesus in the virgin womb of Mary. This divine act reveals that salvation is solely the work of God, without human contribution or will. The Gospel of Luke begins with the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary, a virgin in Nazareth, declaring that she would conceive the Messiah, not by natural means, but by the sovereign power of the Holy Ghost.

This moment marks the mystery of the divine incarnation: God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). In this inspired declaration, the angel reveals God's sovereign initiative in the work of redemption. The eternal Son of God would take on human flesh, humbling Himself for the salvation of His people (Philippians 2:9-11). This passage is a profound testimony that salvation is wholly of the LORD. Just as Mary had no part in initiating the conception of Christ, so too man has no part in the salvation that Christ accomplished, nor in the work of the Spirit in revealing Him. Salvation is entirely the work of God the Father, through the Son, and made effectual in the hearts of His people by the Holy Ghost.

The Divine Origin of Salvation: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee..."

Here, we behold the sovereign work of God in the incarnation. Mary was chosen not for any merit of her own, but solely by God's free and sovereign grace. Likewise, the new birth of every child of God is the result of the Spirit's sovereign work (John 3:3,8). Salvation is not of the will of man but of God (John 1:13).

The phrase "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee" emphasizes that salvation is entirely a work of the Spirit. As Mary could not conceive the Savior by her power, so man, dead in trespasses and sins, cannot bring forth spiritual life. As it is written, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). The Spirit's work is to give life, to quicken the dead, and to bring about the new birth, which is wholly a work of God's grace, apart from human effort.

The Mystery of the Incarnation: "Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."

Jesus Christ, both fully God and fully man, is the Divine Gift of sovereign grace. He was born holy, without the stain of Adam's sin, for the Holy Ghost conceived him. The term "thing" was added by the translators. The underlying Greek text simply uses the word "holy" and therefore would be better translated as "holy One." This truth is foundational, for our salvation depends upon a perfect Substitute, a sinless Savior. As God sovereignly brought forth Christ in the womb of Mary, so He sovereignly brings forth spiritual life in His elect, by the Spirit revealing Him in their heart (Galatians 4:19).

The declaration, "That holy (one) which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God," affirms the Divinity and Holiness of Christ, the spotless Lamb of God. It is throgh His holy life and effectual death that redemption is accomplished, and those elected by God from eternity are declared justified forever by His death. By sovereign grace, Christ was given as the Substitute for His people, effectually obtaining their salvation (Hebrews 9:12). He did not come to make salvation possible but to save His people from their sins, according to the Father's eternal purpose (Ephesians 1:4-5).

The Manifestation of God’s Power: "The power of the Highest shall overshadow thee..."

This statement reveals the omnipotence of God. The same power that brought forth Christ in Mary’s womb is the power that calls sinners to life. No heart is too hardened, no soul too lost, for when God purposes to save, none can resist His will (Romans 9:16). The electing grace of God ensures that all whom He has chosen will be drawn to Christ in faith. As the LORD Jesus declared: "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day" (John 6:37-39).

Furthermore, "the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee" highlights God’s supreme authority. Just as He accomplished the incarnation apart from human means, so too does He bring about the salvation of sinners apart from human works. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). Mary humbly submitted to the will of God, calling God her Savior, showing that she was herself a needy sinner for the work of Christ (Luke 1:46-47). So we who are His chosen, redeemed ones rest in the sovereign work of God's grace, trusting that He Who has began a good work in us will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).

Let us marvel at the sovereign grace of God in the incarnation of the LORD Jesus, God in the flesh, to work out our complete salvation as a Man. May we, like Mary, respond in humble faith and submission, rejoicing that salvation is not of ourselves but is the gift of God, accomplished by His infinite power and made sure by the work of the LORD Jesus according to His eternal decree. To Him be all glory forever. Amen.