[audio:https://redeemertheologicalacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/The-Characteristics-of-the-Word-of-God-Clarity-Part-2.mp3|titles=The-Characteristics-of-the-Word-of-God-Clarity-Part-2]
Characteristics of the Word of God- Clarity Part 2
Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier
Now we are not saying that every thing is absolutely clear in and of itself. In fact, many passages are obscure regarding the intricacy of the words and sentences, but no doctrine is obscure. The obscurity is not because the subject matter is obscure, but rather because of the ignorance, blindness, and weakness of those looking at it. It is true that the things of God are obscure and not known by natural man, but the things of Scripture are clear. The Bible gives to us the things of God that He desires to reveal to us. The Bible clearly states and teaches all doctrine that must be known for salvation. It is the Father’s desire to give the Holy Spirit so that we would believe in Jesus Christ and obtain salvation. God is our Teacher who teaches us with His word.
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Dear Sir I have listened to the lectures 61-74 and I am really enjoying it. May God bless you with wisdom to always speak his Word And continue like this.
I have One question: the Jehovas always doubt that Jesus is God. My friend is One of them. Do you have anything I can send him?
This is what he Sent me:
Why is Jesus called God’s Son?
God does not have va literal wife with whom he fathered children. He is the Creator of all life. Humans were created with the capacity to imitate God’s qualities. That is why the first human that God created, Adam, is called a “son of God.” Similarly, Jesus is called “the Son of God” because he was created with qualities like those of his Father.—Read Luke 3:38; John 1:14, 49
When was Jesus created?
God created Jesus before creating Adam. In fact, God created Jesus and then used him to make everything else, including the angels. That is why the Bible calls Jesus “the firstborn of all creation” by God.—Read Colossians 1:15, 16
Before he was born in Bethlehem, Jesus lived as a spirit creature in heaven. When the time came, God transferred Jesus’ life from heaven to Mary’s womb so that he could be born as a human.—Read Luke 1:30-32; John 6:38; 8:23. So there is no way a creation could be the creator at the same time. Jesus and his disciples know quite well that Jesus is not God Almighty.
Christopher,
First, it is the teaching of the Watchtower organization that humans were created with the capacity to imitate God’s qualities to prove that a “son of God” means one who can imitate the qualities of God.
God is infinite and man is finite. Man cannot imitate this quality of God. God is eternal and man is mortal. Man cannot imitate this quality of God. God has no sin man is conceived and born in sin. Man cannot imitate this quality of God. God is omnipresent, that is, present everywhere. Man cannot imitate this quality of God. Note: the god of the Watchtower organization is not omnipresent; instead , he sits on a throne in a far off galaxy removed from earth. God knows all things and man does not nor can he know all things. Note: the god of the Watchtower organization does not know all things. God is all powerful and man is not. Man cannot be all powerful. Note: the god of the Watchtower organization is not all powerful.
To quote from Luke 3:38 to prove their point is pointless. Yes, Adam is called “the son of God,” but not because he can imitate qualities of God; rather, because he has faith. Thus, one who has faith in God, is called a “son.” Those who believe in Christ are called sons of Abraham who is called the father of all who believe as the Apostle Paul teaches in Romans 4. Paul writes that Abraham “received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well” (Romans 4:11, ESV). And again, “That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” (Romans 4:16, ESV). Likewise, Paul writes, “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Galatians 4:6–7, ESV). The reason why Adam is called a son of God is because he believed the promises of God.
To be clear this has nothing to do with the reason that Jesus is called the Son of God. The Scriptures makes it clear that He is called the Son of God because He is begotten of God the Father. In other words, He is begotten and not made. He is of the same divine nature as the Father. He is God of God. Jesus is the only One who is called the “Only begotten Son of God.” Adam was not begotten of God the Father, that is, of the same divine substance.
Here we must make the clear distinction of the sacred scriptures between being created and being begotten. A man begets children and they are of the same substance of man. They are human. A man can create a piece of art, but it is not the same substance of the man. It is a different substance. Whatever man creates is not of his same human nature. When God creates, the creation is not begotten it is made. Creation is not of the same substance of God. Creation is creation.
Now it is true that as a human being a man needs a woman to beget a son. But just because a man needs a woman to beget does not mean that God needs a wife. God is God. In the same way, God creates from nothing. He makes the very creation that He creates from. Man cannot create out of nothing. Man can only create from the creation that God has created.
Christ is not part of creation. He in fact is the Creator as the Apostles clearly testify. Christ is called the μονογενής (monogenēs) only begotten of God because he is of the same divine substance of God. The Apostle John states, “No one has ever seen God; the only begotten God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known” (John 1:18). This is way Christ is called the Son of God. John also writes, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:16–18, ESV) And again, “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9, ESV) John is making it clear that Christ is the Son of God because He is of the same substance of God. He is begotten not made being True God of True God. Adam is not called the only begotten son of God. Adam is a created being.
The Watchtower organization teaches that there were two gods who created all things. The Bible teaches that there was only One God who created all things. The idea that Jesus is a created being is fundamental teaching of the Watchtower organization. It is not a teaching from the Bible. First off, we must be clear that Christ is the Creator of all creation. He did not create part of creation or most of creation. The Apostles clearly teach that Christ is the Creator of all things. The Apostle John writes, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3, ESV) All things means all things. There is nothing that He didn’t create. Jesus cannot be part of creation. He is the Creator of all things. Thus John writes, “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him” (John 1:10, ESV). Jesus created the world. He is not a part of the world. He is not of creation. For this reason Jesus says, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world” (John 8:23, ESV). The world was created by Jesus. He is not of creation. He is the Creator of the world.
The Apostle Paul teaches, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15, ESV). The word “firstborn” does not mean created. It means heir. The Biblical usage of the term “firstborn” means to have the right of inheritance of the firstborn. Thus, Jacob is called the “firstborn” even though Esau was born first. According to His divine nature, the Eternal Son of God created all things. According to His human nature, He is given the right of the first born inheriting all things. The Apostle goes on to say, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16, ESV) Note the deception of the Watchtower organization in their translation of this passage. In order to conform the Bible to their teachings they translate this passage as follows: “because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him. Notice how they have to say twice that Christ created all “other things,” because they teach that the Son of God is part of creation. Yet, the Apostle Paul clearly teaches that the Son of God created all things. He existed before all things as Paul states, “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17, ESV)
The Apostle Paul goes on to say,“And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Colossians 1:18, ESV) Jesus is the source of all creation. He is the beginning.
In the book of Revelation, Jesus Himself says that He is the beginning, that is the source of all things. Jesus says, ““Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”” (Revelation 22:12–13, ESV) Jesus is using His own words from the book of Isaiah. Jesus is claiming to be Jehovah.
In Isaiah chapter forty-three, Jehovah says, “Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Jehovah, and besides me there is no Savior” (Isaiah 43:10–11). There is only one God who created all things. God did not make any lesser gods to create creation. There is only one Savior. Jesus is Jehovah who created all things and our only Savior. In Isaiah chapter forty-four Jehovah says, “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god” (Isaiah 44:6) Jesus says that He is the first and the last. And again Jehovah says, “Thus says the Jehovah, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the Jehovah, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself,” (Isaiah 44:24, ESV) Likewise in chapter forty-two the Prophet Isaiah writes, “Thus says Jehovah God, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:” (Isaiah 42:5) And again, Jehovah says, “I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.” (Isaiah 45:12, ESV) Again Jehovah says, ““Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together.” (Isaiah 48:12–13, ESV)
Then in Hebrews chapter one, the Father calls the Son Jehovah and tells the created angels to worship the Son. The Father says to the Son, “And, “You, Jehovah, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”” (Hebrews 1:10–12) Contrary to the Watchtower organization, God the Father testifies that Jesus is Jehovah. It is by the hand of Jesus that creation was made.
Jesus says, “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him” (John 5:21–23, ESV) Jesus teaches us that He is coequal with the Father. He does the things that only God can do. He gives life. He judges. The same honor that is to be given to the Father is to be given to the Son. If one does not give equal honor to Son, then he dishonors the Father. The Watchtower organization dishonors the Father because they do not give divine honor to the Son. “No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.” (1 John 2:23, ESV)
Pr. Kachelmeier
Good morning Pastor Kachelmaier,
I have a question. I would like to get the Book of Concord – the small catechism. Can you ship to Germany? How is the procedure?
Thank you and God bless you!
Christopher,
Here is a link to an online version of the Small Catechism:
http://catechism.cph.org/
Here is a link to an online version of the Book of Concord:
http://bookofconcord.org/
Concordia Publishing House produces both of these products. Check here and here.
I hope this helps. Were you looking for these books in English?
Pr. Kachelmeier