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The
Christadelphians are a small religious body who
have attempted to get back to the faith and character
of the early Christian church. We have been in existence
for nearly 150 years. The name "Christadelphians"
comes from two Greek words and means "brothers in
Christ".
Col
1v2, Heb 2v11 
We
are located in many countries throughout the world
with large groups of Christadelphians in the United
Kingdom and Europe, Australia and New Zealand, North
America, South East Asia and Africa. Like the early
Christians, we meet in homes, rented rooms and,
in some cases, our own halls.
Acts
1v13-14, 2v46-47, 18v7, 19v9, 28v30
We
are a lay community patterned after first century
Christianity. Each congregation is called an "ecclesia"
(the New Testament word for church). We have no
paid clergy or church hierarchy. Members of each
congregation are addressed as 'brother' or 'sister',
and all are involved in organising our activities.
All members contribute their time and energy voluntarily
in service to God. A strong common belief binds
our brotherhood together.
Rom
12v4-8,1Cor 12v4-27, Gal 3v28
We
accept the Bible as our only guide and believe
it to be the inspired word of God. Membership
is extended to those with similar beliefs after
being baptised (fully immersed in water).
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believers since the apostles have held the same
faith as the Christadelphians. There have been countless
independent communities around the world who have
eagerly studied the Bible and accepted its simple
teachings.
The
Christadelphians trace their history to the mid-1800s.
In 1830, an English physician named John Thomas
sailed to America. On the voyage, the ship met
some unexpected bad weather and nearly sank. For
the first time, Dr Thomas faced the reality of
his own mortality and was dismayed to discover
that he was not sure what lay beyond death. In
the midst of the storm he vowed that, should he
survive, he would not rest until he had found
a satisfactory answer.
He
did survive and kept his vow, beginning a life-long
search for the truth. It soon became evident that
many of the doctrines that were popularly taught
and believed were inconsistent with the Bible.
Dissatisfied, Dr Thomas devoted himself to a careful
independent study of the Scriptures. He made no
claim to any vision or personal revelation.
The
work of Dr Thomas attracted the support of others
in America and Britain who were convinced of the
truth of his conclusions. Together they formed
the Christadelphian community. Since then, Christadelphian
communities have been established in many countries
all over the world.
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The
Bible
We believe that the Bible is God's only revealed
message to mankind, given to bring responsive individuals
to the obedience of faith. The Bible is our only
authority and we teach that it should be read prayerfully
and with care at every opportunity.
Acts
17v11, Rom 16v26, 2 Tim 3v16-17, 2 Pet 1v20-21
God
There is only one eternal, immortal God. Jesus Christ
is his only begotten son and the Holy Spirit is
his power.
Isa
45v5-7, Luke 1v35, Acts 1v8, 1Cor 8v6, 1Tim
1v17, 2v5
Man
Man is mortal and a sinner before God. His whole
being is prone to sin and the punishment for sin
is death the end of all life.
Jer
17v9, Mark 7v21-23, Rom 3v23, Jms 1v13-15, Rom
6v23, Ecc 9v5-10, Psa 146v4
Jesus
In his love, God sent his son, the man Jesus into
the world to save men from their sins. Those who
believe in him will not perish, but have everlasting
life.
Mat
1v20-21, 3v17, Luke 1v35, John 3v16
Hope
The only hope of life after death is the resurrection
of the body and everlasting life in God's kingdom
on earth.
Pss
49v12-20, John 11v25-26, Acts 24v15, Rom 8v22-39,
1 Cor 15v12,50, Rev 5v10, 20v4
Sacrifice
of Christ
Jesus was sinless. He died to show God's righteousness
and to redeem those who receive this sacrifice by
faith. God raised him from the dead, gave him immortality,
granted him all authority in heaven and on earth,
and set him as the mediator between God and man.
Rom
3v21-26, Eph 1v19-23, 1 Tim 2v5-6, Heb 4v14-16
Return
of Jesus
Jesus will return to the earth soon. Then he will
raise many of the dead, judge them with the living,
and give his faithful followers everlasting life
in the kingdom of God.
Dan
12v2, Mat 25v31-34, Luke 21v20-32, John 5v28-29,
Acts 1v11, 2 Tim 4v1, Rev 22v12
Kingdom
of God
The kingdom of God will be established on earth.
Jesus will be king in Jerusalem, his dominion worldwide
and his government will bring eternal righteousness
and peace.
Pss
72, Isa 2v2-4, 9v6-9, 11v1-9, 61, Jer 3v17,
Dan 2v44, 7v14,27, Acts 3v21
The
Promises
The Gospel is inseparable from the promises which
God made to Abraham and David in Old Testament times.
These promises find their fulfilment in Jesus Christ.
Gen
13v14-17, 22v15-18, 2 Sam 7v12,16, Luke 1v31-33,
Gal 3v6-9,16,26-29
The
Way of Salvation
The way to enter the kingdom of God is by faith.
This involves belief in the Bible and obedience
to its requirements that men and women confess their
sins, repent, be baptised and follow Jesus faithfully.
Mat
16v24-27, Mark 16v16, John 3v3-5, Acts 2v37-38,
4v12, 1 Thess 2v13, 2 Tim 3v15, Heb 11v6
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we are asked, "How are you different from other
Christian groups"? Apart from our distinctive organisation
(with no clergy or hierarchy), some of our doctrines
are quite different from most churches.
For
example, we reject the doctrine of a 'Trinity'.
This doctrine developed in the 300 years after
Jesus died as a result of disputes within the
orthodox church. The Bible teaches that Jesus
was the Son of God but nowhere does it speak of
him 'pre-existing' in heaven as "God the Son".
We
also reject the idea of an "immortal soul" that
goes to heaven at death. The Bible teaches that
the only hope for eternal life is through a resurrection
when Jesus returns.
Another
difference is that we believe that baptism is
essential and for adults only. We believe that
sprinkling of babies is not baptism.
We
also believe that the Bible uses the 'devil' as
a symbol of sinful human nature, and so we reject
the doctrine of a supernatural tempter.
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Bible gives effective direction to our lives. We
try to rely fully upon God and develop a faith which
is active in prayer and good works. At the same
time, however, we recognise that salvation is by
grace.
With
God's help, we seek to please and obey him every
day, striving to imitate Christ who faithfully
obeyed his Father. We therefore endeavour to be
enthusiastic in work, loyal in marriage, generous
in giving, dedicated in preaching and happy in
our God.
A
widespread custom amongst Christadelphians is
to read the Bible every day using a reading plan
which enables us to systematically read the Old
Testament once and the New Testament twice each
year. Of course, many read much more widely than
this.
We
may also attend one or more evening Bible classes
each week. Every Sunday, we attend a service we
call the "Memorial Meeting" or "Breaking of Bread".
This is similar to the "Communion" of some churches.
All members partake of bread and wine and an 'exhortation'
is given based on the Bible. Attendance at this
service is the focus of our religious life.
We
also have Sunday Schools and Youth Groups; a weekend
away at a Bible Study camp is always popular with
Christadelphian young people.
Some
members travel overseas on mission work; others
care for the elderly in our nursing homes and
hostels. There are several monthly magazines to
read (and write).
The
Christadelphians are a close-knit community working
in God's service in whatever ways we can.
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| See
the Christadelphian page or write to
or
contact your local Christadelphians.
Hard
copies of this leaflet are available from:
Bethel Publications, P.O. Box 285, Beechworth,
VIC 3747, Australia.
Or
email
me.
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