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What
do Christadelphians believe?
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Christadelphians
are a community of believers found all over the world
and although their name has only been used in the last
150 years, their beliefs were those preached by the Apostles,
2000 years ago. The name 'Christadelphian' means; 'Brothers
in Christ' describing both men and women who believe 'things
concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ'.
In particular Christadelphians believe in the following;
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Bible
- That the Bible is the only true message from God and
was entirely given by him. It is sufficient to teach men
and women the way of life, being a self-revelation of
the thoughts of God. It is in part literal and part symbolic
- as defined by the text and providing a logical and reasonable
explanation of creation and life upon planet earth. Christadelphians
do not believe that any of their members, past or present,
have received any special revelation direct from God.
They base their faith solely on the Bible as the Word
of God. ".. all Scripture is given by inspiration
of God and is profitable for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness". (2 Timothy 3:16)
and that "holy men of God spoke as they were moved
by the Holy Spirit". (2 Peter 1:21) |
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God
- That God exists as a being with power and personality.
That he dwells in heaven with the angels
his messengers. That he is the creator of the heavens,
the earth, and all life on the earth including humankind.
That he is the father of Jesus Christ and that he has
a purpose for his Son to reign on earth at a time yet
future.
God is all powerful, he does not share his power with
any sinful being who is opposed to his ways. (Satan is
a term which refers to 'adversary' or 'an enemy' and can
refer to good and bad people, figuratively, the terms
the devil and satan can refer to sin and the flesh). |
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Holy
Spirit - That God's Spirit refers to his breath and
power through which he has achieved all things and is
everywhere present. It is Holy because it is 'of God'
and used by him for specific activities - revelation of
his thoughts, conception of his Son, establishment of
the early Christian community and the guidance of nations
and individuals to achieve his purpose. It is always his
power, never man's - in the past men possessed that power
to heal and to teach at the direction of God. They were
specifically given that power for 'a season', which was
subsequently withdrawn. Today, God's power is now revealed
to us in His word "you received the word of God ...
which also effectually works in you that believe."
(1 Thessalonians 2:13) |
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Sin
& Death -That in the beginning, God created man
and woman and placed them in a 'garden', where they were
tempted by a literal serpent. They failed the test. They
were judged guilty by God and punished. The resultant
'nature' of humankind has been inherited by all without
exception, in other words:- man is mortal, prone to sin
and cursed as a result of Adam's sin. ".. through
one man sin entered the world, and death through sin,
and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned."
(Romans 5:12)
Sin in the life of individuals is as the result of this
inherited nature and not because of a supernatural devil
or satan seeking to entice men and women away from God;
"Each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his
own desire and enticed. Then when desire has conceived,
it gives birth to sin and sin when it is full grown, brings
forth death." (James 1:14-15) Man is therefore a
dying creature - he returns to dust. His soul, life or
disposition ceases to exist - it perishes in the ground.
The only hope of life is resurrection for the believer,
at the return of Christ. |
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Promises
& Prophecies - That the Gospel was preached in
the form of promises made to the Jewish Fathers. The seed
of the woman described in the judgements of God to the
serpent refer to Christ. Promises given to Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob, the Jewish fathers, and to King David all ultimately
refer to Christ and to believers 'in Christ'. The Old
Testament contains this information together with teaching
about Israel and the affairs of the world - particularly
with reference to the time of the second coming of Christ.
It is therefore important in providing us with this valuable
information and should be read and studied. |
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Jesus
Christ - That Jesus Christ was born of the virgin
Mary, who was an ordinary woman of human nature. Jesus
did not pre-exist nor was he the second person of the
trinity. He was the Son of God, conceived by the power
of God but inheriting a human nature from his mother.
He was tempted yet was sinless. He died on a cross as
a sacrifice for sins, as our representative not as our
substitute. He was raised from the grave and given immortality
by his father. He ascended to heaven where to the right
hand of the father until he returns to the earth at his
second coming. He is now the only mediator between men
and God, prayer is made through Jesus to the father and
forgiveness is obtained from him. There is therefore no
need of human priests and pastors. Christ is our Priest
and him alone. |
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Second
Coming - That Jesus Christ is to return from heaven
to earth to establish the Kingdom of God. "Then shall
they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and
great glory." (Luke 21:27) Originally, the people
of Israel were the kingdom of God on earth. The people
and the land of Israel were destined for a unique work.
They failed their responsibilities and their status was
temporarily suspended. After centuries of dispersion and
suffering, the people of Israel have returned to their
land, yet in unbelief. This is the key event in the divine
timetable for the return of Jesus Christ. However, there
is also clear teaching in Bible prophesy that Israel will
suffer a final invasion in order to achieve repentance,
that finally Israel might be God's land and God's people.
It will be at this time that Christ will return from heaven,
raise the dead, judge those responsible and give immortality.
Christ will reign for 1000 years, establishing peace and
goodness, a new world order and a new civilisation. |
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Salvation
- That salvation is the gift of God given to those men
and women who are obedient to his commandments, the first
of which is to 'Repent and be Baptised'. Belief and baptism
allow us to share in the promises given to Abraham and
in the future age described in Bible prophesy. It allows
the forgiveness of sins and the possibility of resurrection
and eternal life. |
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Baptism
- That baptism is total immersion in water of an adult
who knows the Gospel followed by a life of discipleship.
Baptism is a symbolic death in water and a 'resurrection'
to a new life as a son or daughter of God with new brothers
and sisters in the family of believers. This symbolic
death and resurrection enables disciples to have faith
that even if they literally die, they will be raised from
death when Jesus returns and have a hope of eternal life
in the Kingdom of God. |
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Discipleship
- That following baptism, a believer must make a reasonable
attempt to obey the teaching of Christ and the Apostles
by developing Christ-like characteristics and lifestyle.
Baptised believers have a duty to meet with other brothers
and sisters of similar belief - to regularly break bread
and drink wine in memory of Christ's sacrifice; to pray,
read and study the Bible together; and to preach the Gospel
to others.
Unless other people hold the same beliefs as outlined
above, we are not at liberty to worship and share in fellowship
with them. Those who cease to believe or practice the
truth as defined and described in the Bible cease to be
in fellowship with the body of true believers. |
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Organisation
- Christadelphians are a community of ordinary men and
women who have read the Bible, believe its teaching and
try to obey its demands. We do not have any central authority
or committee structure, we seek to hold faith without
distinction as to race or class, and without bishops or
clergy, we worship and witness in a simple and consistent
way. We do not observe any day or feasts other than the
breaking of bread each week, nor do we practice rituals
other than baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We believe
in a lifestyle which reflects our faith - marriage and
family life are important, care for those in need and
a commitment to sound principles in all aspects of life
will hopefully characterise our discipleship.
Christadelphians do not become involved in politics and
associated activities as they see themselves as temporary
citizens of this world - responsible and law-abiding but
believing that the present constitution is temporary and
that involvement in such organisation is incompatible
with the hope of the coming Kingdom. |
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Christadelphians
are committed to Bible reading and study, to prayer
and to fellowship. To preaching and preparation for
the return of Jesus Christ. We ask you to consider these
things that you may also share in our fellowship by
belief, baptism and a 'new life in Christ' to enable
you to prepare for the return of Jesus from heaven to
earth.
For
further information and details of
where Christadelphians meet in your area,
please contact us at...
southampton@ukchristadelphians.com
Above
Statement of Beliefs compiled by Colin Edwards, based
on the B.A.S.F.
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