The Name And Faith Of The Christadelphians
Christadelphians believe that their name is
scriptural and apostolic. The "one body" of which Christ is the Head
should not be nameless; but "Christian" has ceased to be distinctive,
and for centuries has been mocked by wars between nations in which both sides
professed Christianity.
In Psalm 22, which is prophetic of Christ,
believers in him are spoken of as "my brethren", and the Epistle to
the Hebrews, quoting the words, says, "He is not ashamed to call them
brethren" (Heb. 2:11-12). "Christ's Brethren" is in Greek
Christou Adelphoi, and from this name Christadelphian is formed.
CHRISTADELPHIANS BELIEVE
1. That there is but ONE GOD, THE FATHER. He
dwells in the Heavens, yet through His outflowing energy is everywhere present.
He alone is essentially immortal, being the fountain of all life, the Maker and
Sustainer of everything that is.
2. That there is ONE LORD JESUS CHRIST, Son
of God and Son of Man, who was born of a virgin mother by the operation of the
Holy Spirit. He revealed the Father to men, for God was in him. He is the
bringer of life, because he died in order that sin might be repudiated and
forgiveness made possible, and rose in order that through him men might have
salvation.
3. That the Spirit is the power of God
filling all space, through which He works what He wills to do.
4. That man was formed of the dust, and
condemned to return to dust because of sin. Men breathe the same breath and
live by the same kind of physical life as the animals.
5. That immortality belongs to the future,
for it will be life in an incorruptible body. It will be received as a gift by
those who have faith in what God has revealed and obey what He has commanded.
The idea that the "soul" of man is naturally immortal comes from
pagan philosophy, and has no place in Scripture.
6. That life is ended by death, and can only
be restored by resurrection. Both those who have obeyed and those who have
disobeyed God will be raised for judgment; but while the one class will receive
eternal life, the other will return to death without end.
7. That the Lord Jesus Christ is to return
from the heavens where he ascended, to raise and to judge the dead, and to set
up his Kingdom. This will be the Kingdom
of David restored, in the
land promised to Abraham; but Christ's rule will be extended over the whole
earth, and all nations will share in its blessings.
8. That the Devil is not a supernatural
being, but the principal in human nature which gives all men a bent towards
sin.
9. That Hell is the Bible name for the
grave, or the unseen state. As there are no "immortal souls" there
cannot be a place of fiery torment for them. Where in the New Testament
"hell" stands for Gehenna in the original, it means a place of
destruction for those who are rejected at Christ's coming.
10. That Eternal Life is offered only to
those who believe the Gospel, render obedience to it by baptism in the name of
Christ, and continue to obey his commands. The Gospel is defined as "The
things concerning the Kingdom
of God, and the Name of
Jesus Christ"; and baptism requires complete immersion in water.
11. That the Earth is promised as the
inheritance of Christ and those who are saved through him. it will therefore
remain as their lasting home.
12. That the men and women accepted by
Christ at his return, and given eternal life, are to reign with him for a
thousand years. Their subjects will be the mortal peoples of all nations; but
at the end of this period death will be wiped out, and the earth will be filled
only with an immortal race in perfect harmony with God, who will be "all
in all".