[audio:https://redeemertheologicalacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Isaiah-Chapter-1-Part-2.mp3|titles=Isaiah-Chapter-1–Part-2]

The Gospel According to St. Isaiah- Chapter 1 Part 2

Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier

The Prophet Isaiah was sent to Israel to speak God’s word, but they would not listen. The LORD calls them a rebellious children who do not know or understand. They are offspring of evil doers and children who deal corruptly. They have forsaken the LORD and despised the Holy One of Israel. Thus, they have become like Sodom and Gomorrah and they have crucified the Author of Life. Yet, those who are in Christ are sons of God through faith. In holy baptism we are clothed with Christ the Only-begotten Son of the Father who took upon the form of a servant and was obedient to the point of death on the cross.

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Isaiah- Chapter 1 Part 2

Pastor Kachelmeier is the guest on Issues, Etc. talking about Christ in Isaiah chapter 42. Christ is the Light to the Nations. The Gentiles are brought into the Kingdom through His light. He opens the eyes of the blind and leads them in paths that they did not know. In contrast, Israel refuses to see and believe. (click here to listen to the interview on Issues, Etc.)

(Click Here to listen to the show)

Sixth Commandment – what it means and how that applies to today.  The host and guests discuss the raw meaning of the words of the Sixth Commandment from the Small Catechism, the institution and gift of marriage, procreation, and all of the modern (and not so new) ways in which this commandment is a favorite for sinners to break.  Also discussed is the forgiveness of sins upon hearing the condemnation of the Law.

Hosted by Rev. Joshua Scheer, Sr. Pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming. With guests Rev. Evan Goeglein (Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Rogue River, Oregon; Co-host of Table Talk Radio)and Rev. Brian Kachelmeier (Pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Los Alamos, New Mexico; host of Redeemer Theological Academy).

(Click Here to listen to the show)

[audio:https://redeemertheologicalacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Isaiah-Chapter-1-Part-1.mp3|titles=Isaiah-Chapter-1–Part-1]

The Gospel According to St. Isaiah- Chapter 1 Part 1

Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier

The Gospel According to St. Isaiah opens with these words, “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah” (Isaiah 1:1). In this lecture, we take a look at these sons of David. We compare them to the promised Son of David who would sit on the throne and usher in the eternal kingdom.

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Isaiah- Chapter 1 Part 1

Pastor Kachelmeier is the guest on Issues, Etc. talking about Christ in Exodus chapter 17. Yahweh said, “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel” (Exodus 17:6, ESV). The Apostle Paul writes, “they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4–5, ESV). (click here to listen to the interview on Issues, Etc.)

Why is Jesus Called the Son of Man?

According to the Watchtower organization Jesus is called the Son of Man in order to show that he is of the human race by virtue of his fleshly birth.  In other words, to be called the Son of Man means that Jesus is truly human. He receives his human nature from his human mother. He is true human of true human. He is a son of mankind.

However, the Watchtower organization is completely inconsistent. When Jesus is called the Son of God, the Watchtower denies that it means that Jesus is truly divine being True God of True God, begotten, and not made. They deny that the Word of God receives His divine nature from His divine Father. They deny that Jesus is the only-begotten God. They refuse to believe that Jesus is truly God.

Regarding Jesus being called the Son of Man, the Watchtower teaches:

Jesus’ application of this expression to himself clearly showed that God’s Son was now indeed a human, having ‘become flesh’ (Joh 1:14), having ‘come to be out of a woman’ through his conception and birth to the Jewish virgin Mary. (Ga 4:4; Lu 1:34-36) Hence he had not simply materialized a human body as angels had previously done…(here)

Again, notice the inconsistency. When Jesus is called the “Son of Man” that means that he is indeed a true human. Yet, when Jesus is called the “Son of God” the Watchtower refuses to believe the Bible that Jesus is indeed True God. Instead they teach that “Son of God” just means that Jesus has “qualities” like God in the same way that Adam was called a “Son of God.” The reason that the Watchtower gives for their new teaching is that “God does not have a literal wife with whom he fathered children.” In other words, in order to be a True Son of God, there had to be a mother. Without a father and a mother, there cannot be a true son.

Again, the Watchtower is completely inconsistent. To use the same logic that they apply to being  the Son of God, it would be necessary to have an earthly father in order for Jesus to be a True Son of Man. As they have stated they teach, it takes both a father and a mother in order to have a true son. Jesus is born of the Virgin Mary. He has no earthly father. Thus, Jesus cannot be truly a Son of Man. Watch out for the Watchtower, the organization that makes up a set of rules to prove their teachings, but refuses to use the same set of rules consistently lest it disprove their other teachings. This is a sleight of hand magic trick. Does it make sense to say that to be the “Son of God” means to share the qualities of God, but to be the “Son of Man” means to be truly man?

They teach that Jesus had to be like Adam without an earthly father in order to provide a ransom for the sin of Adam. Yet, they fail to recognize that Jesus is not like Adam, because Adam did not have an earthly mother. Jesus had an earthly mother. The only reason that they make a connection to the similarity between Jesus and Adam not having an earthly father is to prove that Jesus is called a “Son of God” just like Adam is called a “Son of God.” Yet, they fail to recognize that Jesus is called the “Only-begotten Son of God.” Adam was never called the “only-begotten Son of God.” Adam was created and not begotten of God the Father. The Bible clearly teaches us that Jesus alone is True God of True God. He is begotten not made being of the same divine substance as God the Father just as Jesus is of the same human substance of the Virgin Mary.

According to the Watchtower, the human birth of Jesus highlights the fact that he was truly a man. Please note that they say Jesus “was” truly a man. According to their teaching, in the death of Christ, his human nature was sacrificed as a ransom for mankind. In other words, Jesus “was” truly human. After his death, he is no longer human. Jesus is no longer a man. Instead, he is a “spirit being.” Before his death, the Watchtower organization teaches that Jesus “did not simply materialized a human body as angels had previously done.” In other words, Jesus did not merely appear to be a man. He “was” truly human. However, after his death the Watchtower falsely teaches that,

Jesus appeared to his disciples on different occasions in various fleshly bodies, just as angels had appeared to men of ancient times. Like those angels, he had the power to construct and to disintegrate those fleshly bodies at will, for the purpose of proving visibly that he had been resurrected (here)

 Likewise, the Watchtower falsely teaches,

Jehovah God evidently disposed of Jesus’ fleshly body in his own way (possibly disintegrating it into the atoms of which it was constituted). (here)

Notice how the Watchtower says “evidently” the body of Jesus was disposed. They do not even know what happened to the body of Jesus in the His Resurrection; yet, they refuse to believe that Jesus was actually resurrected in His own body. In other words, they erroneously maintain that Jesus is no longer human. The Watchtower falsely teaches that Jesus did not rise again in his own body. They falsely teach that the body of Jesus no longer exists. Jesus deceived his disciples into thinking that he was human by “materializing” a human body. Thus, the Watchtower teaches that Jesus is not truly human. Instead, they teach that he was temporally human, but has returned to his status as a “spirit being.” Therefore, Jesus really and truly cannot be called the Son of Man any longer since he is no longer a true man. This is a false teaching of the Watchtower organization. Just as the Watchtower deceives its disciples, the fabricated Jesus of the Watchtower deceives his disciples by “materializing” a body so that his disciples would think that he was still human. The Jesus of the Watchtower is not the Jesus of the Bible.

The Bible teaches that Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man. As Son of God, He is True God being of the same divine nature from God the Father before all things were created. Christ is the Only-begotten God. He is begotten and not made. As Son of Man, He is true man being of the same human nature from the womb of Mary. He still is the Son of Man. He maintains His human nature into all eternity. In His resurrection from the dead, there was no deception in Christ. The True Jesus does not deceive His disciples. In fact, the Evangelist Luke tells us that when the disciples saw the resurrected Christ in His body, they thought that they saw a “spirit being.” Jesus showed them His body to prove that He is not a “spirit being;” instead, He is truly human and has raised from the dead. Luke writes,

“As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”” (Luke 24:36–39, ESV)

The Bible does not teach that Jesus is no longer a true man after His crucifixion. There is no passage from the Bible and the Watchtower cannot produce a single one to support its false claim. On the contrary, the Bible teaches that Jesus is truly human from the time of His conception in the womb into eternity.

Stephen saw that resurrected and ascended Christ. Before his martyrdom Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56). Jesus still is the Son of Man. Jesus is still truly human.

Likewise, the Apostle Paul writes, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time” (1 Timothy 2:5–6, ESV). Jesus is not a “spirit being.” Jesus is true man. The man Christ Jesus is the one mediator.

In the Holy Incarnation, divinity and humanity are permanently joined into union in the one Christ. He is the one mediator being both truly God and truly man who reconciles creation with Himself. As Paul teaches, “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:19–20, ESV). Christ is the Creator of all things and He has reconciled His creation to Himself.

[audio:https://redeemertheologicalacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Isaiah-Introduction-Part-2.mp3|titles=Isaiah-Introduction-Part-2]

The Gospel According to St. Isaiah- Introduction Part 2

Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier

The Evangelist Isaiah writes, “For out of Zion shall go the Torah, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3). Again in chapter fifty-one Yahweh speaks through the hand of Isaiah saying,“Give attention to Me, My people, and give ear to Me, My nation; for a Torah will go out from Me, and I will set My justice for a light to the peoples. My righteousness draws near, My salvation has gone out, and My arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for Me, and for My arm they wait” (Isaiah 51:4–5). And again in chapter fifty-two, the Evangelist Isaiah writes, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns”” (Isaiah 52:7, ESV). After the resurrection, Christ sent out His apostles to the nations in order to make disciples by baptizing them and teaching them. Isaiah foretold the proclamation of Christ to the Gentiles before the apostles were even sent.

Download this lecture by clicking on the link below:

Isaiah- Introduction Part 2

Pastor Kachelmeier is the guest on Issues, Etc. talking about Christ in Genesis chapter 12. Moses writes, “Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.” (Genesis 12:7, ESV) The Eternal Son of God is the One who appeared to Abram. (click here to listen to the interview on Issues, Etc.)

Why is Jesus called God’s Son?

The Watchtower organization teaches:

God does not have a 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. As God’s firstborn Son, Jesus was a spirit creature in heaven before he was born as a human on earth.

First, it is the teaching of the Watchtower organization (the self proclaimed “Jehovah’s Witnesses) 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. Second, the Bible never defines “son of God” as one who can imitate God’s qualities.

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. Mann cannot imitate this quality of God. 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. Man cannot imitate this quality of God. Note: the god of the Watchtower organization is not all powerful.

When the Watchtower Organization quotes 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 Paul writes, “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, “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through fait.” (Galatians 3:26, ESV). And again he says,“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, Adam being called “son of God” has nothing to do with the reason why Jesus is called the Son of God. The Scriptures makes it clear that Jesus 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. Adam is a created being.

Here we must make the clear distinction taught to us in 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 furniture, 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 called the μονογενής (monogenēs) only-begotten of God because he is of the same divine substance of God. The Apostle John teaches us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Here we learn that the Word of God is eternal. Only God is eternal. The Word of God is True God. John goes on to teach us, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only-begotten (μονογενής) from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The Apostle John makes it clear that the Eternal Word is begotten not made. He is the only One who is begotten of the Father.

Contrary to the Bible, the Watchtower organization deceptively teaches that the Eternal Word of God is a created spirit being. This is a teaching that is not found in the Bible. The Watchtower has to peddle its deception by intentionally mistranslating the Greek scriptures to read,

“So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory such as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father; and he was full of divine favor and truth.”

Please note that they had to refer to the Eternal Word as “an only-begotten son” in order to conform the Bible to agree with their teachings. They make it out as if Jesus is “an only-begotten son” as if there could be more than one “only-begotten.” The Greek word μονογενής (monogenēs) means that there is only one begotten One of the Father. Jesus alone is the only-begotten God. There is no other “only-begotten” One.

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, because He is begotten of the same divine essence. John also writes, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten 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-begotten 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-begotten 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. He is True God of True God. Christ is the only Son who is begotten of the Father, that is, being of the same divine essence. Adam is not called the only-begotten son of God. Adam is a created being. By faith, Adam is called a “son of God” just like all other believers.

[audio:https://redeemertheologicalacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Isaiah-Introduction-Part-1.mp3|titles=Isaiah-Introduction-Part-1]

The Gospel According to St. Isaiah- Introduction Part 1

Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier

Apostle Peter teaches, “But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled” (Acts 3:18, ESV). And again, “To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43, ESV). Of all the prophets, Isaiah proclaims the person and work of Christ the boldest and clearest. He foretells the birth, suffering, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ as if they had already happened. He teaches about the coming of John the Baptizer and the sending out of the Apostles. He writes his gospel before the other four Evangelists write their gospel accounts. In fact, his words are used by them to preach Jesus into our ears. For this reason, Isaiah the Prophet is truly an Evangelist. Thus, we will take an in-depth look at the Gospel According to St. Isaiah.

Download this lecture by clicking on the link below:

Isaiah- Introduction Part 1

Pastor Kachelmeier is the guest on Issues, Etc. talking about Christ in Genesis chapter 3. The Apostle John writes, “Jesus said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.” (John 8:23–25) (click here to listen to the interview on Issues, Etc.)

[audio:https://redeemertheologicalacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/The-Attributes-of-God-Similar-and-Dissimilar-Wisdom.mp3|titles=The-Attributes-of-God-Similar-and-Dissimilar-Wisdom]

The Attributes of God- Similar and Dissimilar: Wisdom

Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier

The Apostle Paul makes such a distinction between knowledge and wisdom when lists out the gifts of the Spirit.  He says this in First Corinthians chapter twelve, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,” (1 Corinthians 12:7-8, ESV) God is the source of all knowledge and wisdom.  In the letter of James, we are told this, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5, ESV) Again, in humanity both knowledge and wisdom our acquired attributes.  On the other hand, God has this attributes from His divine essence.  He has all knowledge and wisdom from eternity.  God gives knowledge and wisdom to humanity through His word.

Download this lecture by clicking on the link below:

The Attributes of God- Similar and Dissimilar- Wisdom

Pastor Kachelmeier is the guest on Issues, Etc. talking about Christ in Exodus chapter 24. Moses sees the God of Israel, that is, he sees Christ. The Apostle John teaches us, “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) Christ is the Visible Image of the Invisible God.   (click here to listen to the interview on Issues, Etc.)