We believe that Christianity is about showing love and compassion even when it hurts; following the example of Jesus
We also appreciate that a church is defined by the way it reads and understands the Bible. This understanding often culminates in a set of ‘beliefs’ about God, life and death, the future etc.
Although secondary to how we live our lives and interact with each other, understanding what the Bible has been written to communicate can only come from a thorough examination of its text.
Below are the results of thousands of hours of Bible study by many hundreds of Christadelphian men and women.
It you would like to know why we come to these conclusions please get in touch.
God's Covenants
The Christadelphians believe that the Christ and his mission can only be understood in the light of a clear comprehension of the covenants he came to fulfil. Christ fulfilled the promise to Eve, that one of her seed would crush the serpent (Gn. 3:15). He fulfils 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 fulfil on his return God’s promise to David, that one of his descendants would sit on his throne in Jerusalem for ever (2 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
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 God’s 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 fulfilment 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 wilful 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)