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Who are the Christadelphians?
The word Christadelphian is a Greek word, and translated, it means the brethren of Christ
(Heb. 2:11), We are a body of people associated together by a belief in the things
concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12); baptism into
Christ (Gal. 3:27), the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) and a part in his resurrection
(Romans. 6:5).
We do not profess to have received any new revelation, but hold that the Scriptures of the
Old and New Testaments are able to make wise unto Salvation (2 Tim. 3:15,17). Believing in
the Divine Authorship of the Bible, we think it only reasonable to shun any interpretation
thereof which fails to harmonize all the testimonies of the Holy Scriptures; and finding
that the creeds of the various sects around are, in a great variety of ways, opposed to
the direct teaching of the Bible, we feel compelled to stand apart, making appeal in all
such matters to the statements of Scripture, and testing all creeds thereby.
We believe in the personal, visible return of Christ to the earth, to set up his power and
reign thereon, and we seek to share this knowledge with others. We offer our services in
expounding the message of the Bible without cost of any kind.
Our churches (or ecclesia's - Greek for called out ones) are independent from each other
with elected brethren serving the ecclesia, and important issues decided by the members of
that individual church by vote.
Our church was started before the civil war by a man named Dr. John Thomas. When the ship
John Thomas was traveling in was in imminent danger of sinking, he, realizing how little
thought he had given to serving God, promised God in prayer that, if spared, he would
dedicate his life to understanding God.
John Thomas was good to that promise, and after diligent bible study, and comparing the
commands and knowledge of the bible, to the teachings and knowledge of the churches around
him, determined to start up a group of bible students who would follow the teachings and
commands of the bible as God had ordained them. Not as men had understood and twisted
them.
We believe a correct understanding of many of these principles is essential to
salvation, and we encourage you to study the bible with us.
A Summary of the "One Faith" taught by the Apostles
"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your
calling; one Lord, ONE FAITH, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Who is above all,
and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4.4-6).
 The Bible
OLD AND NEW
TESTAMENTS
are both God's revelation to man, and are both equally authoritative. They are wholly
inspired and infallible bible. The New Testament supplements the Old, its teaching being
based exclusively upon it (Luke 24:27; 1 Thessalonians. 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:16; 2 Peter
1:19-21). .
The
Godhead
GOD
is one, not three. He has revealed Himself as the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ and
of all who are related to Him in faith (Dueteronomy. 6:4; Mark 12:29-32; 1 Corinthians.
8:5-6; Ephesians. 4:6; 1 Timothy 1:17; 2:5).
THE SPIRIT
is the power of God by which He created all things, and by which they subsist (Gen.
1:1-2; Psalm 104:30; Acts 17:25-28). It is also used to describe the power of Divine truth
upon the mind of a believer, for the revelation of such came by inspiration of the Holy
Spirit upon those selected to reveal it (Hebrews. 1:1; John 6:63; Ephesians. 6.17; 1 John
5.6). Thus believers are exhorted "to be led of the Spirit" or the power and
influence of the truth believed (Galatians 5:16 -18).
THE HOLY SPIRIT
though sometimes personified (as are many inanimate things such as wealth, wisdom, sin,
etc.) is not a person, but the "one spirit" of God used for special purposes,
some as the performance of "miracles, signs and wonders" (Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 2:22;
10:38).
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
were bestowed on believers for a testimony to the Truth, by the laying on of the hands,
of the Apostles (Acts 8:18). With the death of the Apostles, the power of transmitting
these gifts no longer remained, and the gifts ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8).
Jesus
Christ
JESUS CHRIST
is not God the Son, but is the Son of God, begotten of the virgin Mary by the Holy
Spirit (Matthew 2:18-23; Luke 1:31-35: Galatians 4:4). He was a man of our race, identical
in nature with all mankind (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews. 2:14-17).
HE IS THE CENTRAL
FIGURE IN GOD'S PLAN OF REDEMPTION,
being the Son promised in Eden (Genesis 3:15; Galatians 4:4), to Abraham, David and
others, through whom the promises are to be realized, and the inhabitants of the earth
blessed (cp. Genesis 22:17-18 with Galatians 3:8,16; Psalm 89:34-37 with Acts 13:22-23.
See also Galatians 3:14,19,26-28; Acts 4:12; Romans 15:8).
JESUS CHRIST IS TO
RETURN
personally and visibly to the earth, at the end of Gentile times (Acts 1:11; 3:20-21; 2
Timothy 4:1; Revelations 1:7). He will set up the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:25;
Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14; Revelations 11:15).
JESUS CHRIST WILL BE
KING OF KINGS
for he will have as his associate kings and priests, those who have been faithful in
all preceding ages, and who will be clothed upon with immortality (Revelations 19:16; 5,9;
1 Timothy 2:12; Revelations 20:4; Psalms 149:5-9).
The
Nature of Man
MAN IS A CREATURE OF
THE DUST,
energized by the breath of life (Genesis 2:7; 3:19; 7:21-22; 18:27; Psalms 103:14).
Apart from the resurrection he is without hope (1 Corinthians 15:17-18; Ephesians 2:12).
THE SOUL,
in its primary meaning stands for the creature. It is rendered variously
"life," "living," "man," "persons,"
"self," "body," and "beast." It can eat, live, die, corrupt
and perish, and it can be slain, strangled and destroyed. (Genesis 2:7; Joshua 10:28; Job
7:15; Psalm 56:13; 78:50; 89:48; 116:8; Isaiah 29:8; 53:12; Ezekiel 18:4,20; Acts 3:23).
IN THE DEATH STATE
man is entirely unconscious and (apart from a resurrection) must inevitably perish
(Ecclesiastes 3:16-21; 9:5,19; Isaiah 38:18; Psalm 6:5; 49:12; 14,19-20; 146:3-4; 1
Corinthians 15:13-18).
"HELL" IS THE
PLACE OF DEATH.
The word is the equivalent of the Hebrew word Sheol, and the Greek word Hades
. Both words signify "a hidden place," and are mostly rendered "grave"
or "pit". The Revised Version Bible and marginal references show
"Grave" and "hell" as the translation of Sheol and "Hades".
Both words should be consistently rendered as "grave." (Compare Psalm 9:17 with
31:17; Psalm 30:3; Acts 2:27,30-32).
"GEHENNA"
is the name of a place outside Jerusalem where a fire was kept burning to consume the
garbage from the city. The term symbolizes the everlasting destruction (i.e. perishing in
death) of the wicked (Mark 9:47-48).
The
Cause of Sin
"DEVIL"
comes from the Greek word Diabolos, signifying "false accuser"
or "slanderer." It is translated "slanderer" in 1 Tim. 3:11, and
"false accusers" in 2 Tim. 3:3; Titus 2:3. its general meaning is sin or
lawlessness, whether manifested individually or politically. It is also applied to the
unlawful lusts and tendencies of human nature which invariably lead to sin. it is not a
supernatural being (Compare 1 John 3:8 with James 4:1. Also Hebrews 2:14 with I
Corinthians 15:56. See Romans 5:12,21; 6:23).
"SATAN"
is a Hebrew word signifying '"adversary," "enemy," or "ac
cuser." It is sometimes applied to a good adversary (Compare 1 Chron. 21:1 with 2
Sam. 24:1). It is used of an angel withstanding evil (Numbers 22:22,32, where the word is
rendered "adversary" and "with stand"). The Apostle Peter was a
"satan" on a certain occasion when he opposed his Master (Matthew 16:23). Kings
and powers have been adversaries, or "satans" (See 1 Samuel 29:4; 2 Samuel
10:22; 1 Kings 11:14,23,25, where the word "adversary" is "satan" in
Hebrew. I Timothy 1:20).
The
Plan of Redemption
A LAW
was given to the first man (Adam) whom God had created "very good": and
continuance of life was dependent upon obedience to it (Genesis 2:17; 3:1-3).
MORTALITY
became the inheritance of mankind due to the transgression of God's law by Adam and
Eve, so that man is now inherently death -doomed (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 5:12.18; 1
Corinthians 15:21-22; Psalms 89:48; Job 4:17; Ecclesiastes 3:19-20; 9:5-6; Job 3:15-19;
Isaiah 38:18-19; Psa. 6:5; Acts 13:36; 2:29).
RECONCILIATION AND
REDEMPTION
were ordained by God in His mercy, to be manifested through a promised Son who would
bruise the "serpent" (figurative of sin and death) in the head. Christ was
therefore manifested to effect the abolition of sin and death (Genesis 3:14-16; Romans
7:24; Hebrews 2:14; Romans 8:1-4; 1 Peter 1:19-20; 1 John 3:5).
ABRAHAM AND DAVID
were promised that this Seed would be among their descendants, and were given
"great and precious promises" which constitute the plan of God for the
redemption of man. It is necessary to become related to them, otherwise we are without
hope (2 Peter 1.4; Genesis 123; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Romans 4:13; Ephesians 2:11-13; 4:18;
Hebrews 11:10 -13, 39-40).
Our
Personal Responsibilities
BELIEF
is a first essential to salvation, for to become related to the promises of God we must
understand them, and their relation to the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans. 1:16; 1 Corinthians
15:1-3; Acts 8:12).
BAPTISM
must follow a knowledge of God's will and purpose. It is burial or immersion in water
after believing the gospel, and is for the remission of sins, and relationship to Christ
(Mark 16:5; Acts 2:38; 8:12,36,37; 10:6,47; 22:16; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12).
OBEDIENCE
to the commandments of our Lord must follow baptism (Matthew 28:20; John 14:15,23;
Romans 2:6-7; Philippians 2:12; 2 Peter 1:3-11).
The
Ressurection
will take place at the return of Christ (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15.
Contrast Psalms 49:19-20; Isaiah 26:14; Jeremiah 51:39,57 - which teach that many will not
rise from the grave being ignorant of the Gospel - Ephesians 4:18). Those found approved
will experience a change from mortality to immortality (John 6:39; 1 Corinthians 15:50-53;
Philippians 3:21; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Timothy 4:8; Matthew 5:5; 25:31-34).
The
Kingdom of God
THE GOSPEL
consists of the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (Luke
9:2,6; Acts 8:12; 19:8). and was preached to Abraham in the promises given him (Gal. 3:8).
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
will be a Kingdom established on earth. it will overthrow all existing kingdoms,
supersede them, and last forever (Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14,27; Revelation. 11:15; Psalm 72;
Micah 4; Isaiah 11).
THE RESTORATION OF THE
THRONE OF DAVID
is an element of this kingdom, and involves the complete restoration of Israel in the
Land of Prom ise. Jerusalem will be the capital city of the world, and from it the laws
will issue to govern all mankind (Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:12; 24:23; 51:3; Jeremiah 3:17; 31:10;
Ezekiel 37:21-22; 39:25-29; Joel 3:17; Amos 9:11-15; Micah 4:6-8; Matthew 5:35; Luke
1:32-33).
THE MILLENNIUM
relates to the thousand years' reign of peace that will follow the return of the Lord
Jesus and the setting up of his kingdom (Revelation 20:6). The mission of Christ will be
to subdue enemies, the last being death. At the conclusion of the 1000 years reign, there
will be a further resurrection of those who have died during that period, and those worthy
will be given eternal life, whilst those unworthy will be consigned to the "second
death." Death itself will thus be eliminated, and the Kingdom will then be delivered
to the Father Who Will then become "all in all." (Isaiah. 25:6-8; 1 Corinthians
15:24-28: Revelation. 20:7, Revelation 11-14 ).
Thus the plan of God that commences with the statement, "In the
beginning, God ..." (Genesis 1:1), ends with the final picture of glory: "God
all and in all" (1 Corinthians 15:28). Within the compass of that purpose you can
find a place by belief of the Gospel and obedience to its requirements (Mark 16:15-16).
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