We are part of a world-wide community of bible students
called the christadelphians, whose fellowship is based on a common understanding
of the Scriptures.
The Christadelphians believe that Jesus the Christ is the son of God, who came
to fulfill the Old Testament promises and covenants of God with mankind, primarily
the covenants with Eve, Abraham, and David.
We believe that Jesus is a man, who was tried and tempted as we are, yet who resisted
sin even till death. Three days later, the only true God, the Father raised him
to eternal life, after which Christ ascended to his Father's side to await the
appointed time of his return.
The Christadelphians embrace the hope of resurrection to eternal life at the return
of Christ. We believe that this will take place soon. At that time the kingdom
of God will be established from Jerusalem, growing to encompass the whole world,
offering freedom, hope and salvation to all mankind. The people of Israel,as the
literal descendants of Abraham, will have a special place in this kingdom.
The Christadelphians believe that salvation is attained through faith in Christ.
It is through faith that we are baptized into Christ for forgiveness of sins,
and thereby participate in the promises to Abraham: to inherit the earth forever.
Doctrinally, the Christadelphians are unique in Christendom in our understanding
of the nature of Christ, and the way in which we are redeemed by his death. We
reject as unbiblical the idea that Christ could die as a replacement sacrifice
for us, thus covering all our sins forever with that one act. Certainly it is
through his sacrifice that we may be forgiven, but only if we walk the path of
self-denial that he marked out for us.
If you wish to know more about what we believe and preach, a detailed Statement
of Faith is online. You can also get in touch through e-mail,
and we'll happily send you some material on any of the above topics.
The Christadelphians World-wide
The Christadelphians
became a distinct group about the middle of the last century, in the eastern United
States. Since then, we havegrown across the world, with core communities in the
U.S., Canada, Great Britain and Australia. There are also smaller groups throughout
the rest of the world, including Central and South America, Africa, Eastern Europe
and the Pacific Rim. For the location of the ecclesia closest to you, just drop
us an e-mail with where
you are, and we'll get right back to you.
A Community of Bible Students
The Christadelphians believe that the Bible (66 books)
isthe inspired word of God, complete and self-sufficient to instruct us in theway
of salvation. We do not believe that any Christadelphian, past or present, has
received any type of special revelation. It is only through sustained and prayerful
reading of the Scriptures that we come to an understanding of the purpose of God
in our lives, and how He would have us conduct ourselves day to day.
How We Are Organized
The Christadelphians have no central leadership. The highest
level of organization is the ecclesia (i.e. local church) which is typically led
by a rotating selection of the more mature members. It is our distinct beliefs
and dedication to hospitality that have enabled us to survive as a separate community,
though in most places we are quite thinly spread.
Communication is sustained between ecclesias through
much travel, mail, and several magazines which publish not only articles, but
also ecclesial news and announcements of ecclesial study days, fraternals and
young people's gatherings.
God's Covenants
The Christadelphians believe that the Christ and his mission
can onlybe understood in the light of a clear comprehension of the covenants he
came to fulfill. Christ fulfilled the promise to Eve, that one of her seed would
crush the serpent (Gn. 3:15). He fulfills the covenant with Abraham, that in his
seed would all the nations of the earth be blessed (Gen 22:18, Gal. 3:16). And
he will fulfill on his return God's promise to David, that one of his descendants
would sit on his throne in Jerusalem for ever (II Sam 7:12-16).
It was always the understanding of these men and women that the Messiah would
be their descendant. To present that Jesus was born more than a man, or that he
existed as a person before Eve, Abraham and David, is to reject the clear presentation
of God's purpose to these people of faith.
Jesus is a Man, Not God!
We believe that the Bible is quite clear in its presentation
that Christ is a man. The Son of God, but certainly not God Himself. The bulk
of mainstream Christianity has staked its life on the assertion that Jesus is
God. However, this is to be rejected for the following inescapable reasons, and
many more:
• God is one. There can only be one true God. It is undeniable that Jesus
referred to himself and the Father as separate. To fly in the face of this the
most fundamental of Biblical teachings, in any way, is to venture out onto very
thin ice.
• Mortality and immortality are mutually exclusive characteristics. God is
immortal, and cannot die. Jesus died. If you alter this, all Scripture is inexorably
weakened.
• Jesus always very clearly pointed out his subservience to God; in power,
teaching and life itself. To assert their equality is untenable.
The God of the Bible
The Christadelphians believe that the God of the Bible
is one, the Father alone (1 Cor. 8:6). God stands alone and unrivalled in the
universe, the source of all good and evil (Is. 45:5-7). We reject the idea that
the devil is one of Gods' angels that was permitted to rebel in the very heavens
(thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven) and now wrestles with God for control
of the world. We likewise reject the idea of a God with multiple independent personalities
as not being in harmony with the teachings of scripture.
The Hope of Resurrection
The Christadelphians believe that the covenant of God
with Abraham laid the framework for our hope. To Abraham and his descendants was
promised the world as an inheritance (Gen 26:3-4 [to Isaac], Rom 4:13, Ps. 37).
Hebrews points out that Abraham received nothing, and that the covenant will be
fulfilled in the resurrection (Heb. 11:39-40). We believe then that the literal
earth, restored and renewed, is the inheritance of the Abraham and his descendants
in faith. While awaiting this inheritance, all await resurrection in the sleep
of death, where there is no consciousness (Ps 146:3-4, Ecl. 9:10).
The Kingdom of God
We believe that God will establish a Kingdom on earth at the return of Christ.
This kingdom will be a restoration of the kingdom of David, with Jerusalem as
its' capital, in fulfillment of II Sam. 7.
Israel
Israel, as the literal descendants of Abraham, will always
have a place in the plans of God. This is not through any particular righteousness
of theirs, on the contrary, both the Bible and history have shown them to be a
stubborn and willfull people (much like us all). However, God is bound by his
promise to Abraham his friend to care for his descendants for ever. Those who
believe in Christ, the seed of Abraham, join the ranks of his descendants, but
do not replace the people of Israel. (Rom 11:1, 11, 25-29; Jer 33:25-26)
Baptism
The Christadelphians believe that baptism is the outward
sign of a repentant and contrite heart, of a person convicted of their sinfulness,
and desiring redemption. We believe that through baptism you participate symbolically
in the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ, and thereby attain forgiveness of
sins. We do not believe that baptism is optional. (Mark 16: 15-16; Jn. 3:3-5)