We, the Christadelphians (Brethren of Christ*), are a group of people associated by a common belief in the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ. This association is by the believer's submission to baptism (immersion) into Christ for the remission of sins and for a part in his resurrection, to Life Everlasting.
We accept the Bible as being the Word of God. It is the only source from which God and His purpose for mankind and the earth can be learnt.
Following is a summary of our beliefs with verses which provide a scriptural basis:
THE BIBLE is the inspired and infallible Word of God, the only authoritative source for the saving truth of the Gospel. 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Isaiah 8:20
There is ONE GOD, the Father and Creator of all things, dwelling in the heavens. He is immortal, and all wise, filling all space by His spirit. He has revealed His divine will and purpose with mankind and with the earth, in the Bible. Deuteronomy 6:4, 1 Timothy 2:5, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Psalms 139:7-10, Jeremiah 23:24, 1 Kings 8:27, Hebrews 1:1,2 Peter 1:21
The HOLY SPIRIT is the Power of God; the divine energy by which He fills all space and creates and sustains all things. (The miraculous gifts of the Spirit possessed by the believers of the first century were withdr awn in accordance with 1 Corinthians 13.6-10.) Luke 1:35, Psalms 51:11; 104:30; 139:7-12
MAN is a mortal creature because of sin. He ceases to exist at death. Eternal life can come only through a bodily resurrection (see section THE REDEEMED below). Genesis 3:19, Ezekiel 18:4,Ecclesiastes 9:5-6,1 Corinthians 15:13-21,John 5: 28-29
THE DEVIL is not a supernatural being but the evil principle in human nature styled "sin in the flesh" which gives all men a bent towards sin, the disobedience of God's commandments. Hebrews 2:14, Romans 8:3, 1 John 3:4
JESUS OF NAZARETH is Son of God and Son of Man. He was conceived through the action of God's Holy Spirit on Mary, a virgin of the royal house of David. He was human like us all, having no existence prior to his birth, although foreordained to fulfil God's purpose. He was put to death on the cross as a sacrifice for sin, both for himself and those he came to save. Because of his perfect life of obedience, he was raised from the dead to immortality. This provides a pardon for all believing in him. Luke 1:30-35, Isaiah 53:1-12, Hebrews 4:15, Acts 2:24, Romans 4:25; 8:3
THE REDEEMED, who will inherit the promised blessings, are those drawn out of all nations by the power of the Gospel, by obeying its principles in baptism and a life of faith. These blessings will be given when Christ returns to judge the responsible dead and living. Those found faithful will receive eternal life, but the rejected will receive everlasting destruction. Acts 15:14, Romans 6:3-5, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 2:5-9, Luke 14:14, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, 2 Timothy 4:1-8
THE EARTH shall abide for ever. It will ultimately be filled with a race of righteous, immortal people revealing the glory of God in their divine nature. Num 14:21, Psalms 72: 19, Acts 15:14, Revelation 3:12; 20:6; 21:3, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Ecclesiastes 1:4, Isaiah 45:18
THE KINGDOM OF GOD was the ancient Kingdom of Israel. God's Kingdom will be re-established on earth with its King, the Lord Jesus Christ, reigning from Jerusalem. To this end Christ, at his coming, will complete the restoration of the Jews to the land, and will establish his rule over all the earth. His reign, with the assistance of his glorified believers, will continue for 1000 years, at the end of which another judgement will take place of those who have lived during the millennium . The righteous will be given eternal life; the unrighteous will be delivered unto eternal death; and a perfected earth, in which death itself will have been eliminated, will be delivered unto God that He might be "all in all". 1 Chronicles 28:4-5; 29:23, Jeremiah 3:17, Isaiah 1: 11; 14:1, Jeremiah 23: 5-8, Zechariah 6:13, Isaiah 2:1-4, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28
THE GOSPEL or good news is not just the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, but incorporates the promise of: a) a land Genesis 13:15, Romans 4:13, b) a king 2 Samuel 7:12-29, Luke 1:31-33 c) Redemption from sin and death by the promised seed - Christ - by whose sacrifice, death and resurrection God's righteousness was declared and through whose grace we are saved Romans 3:21-26; 5:12-21, Acts 2:22-32 d) a blessing for all peoples in the age to come. Genesis 22:18, Galatians 3:8
A PERSONAL NOTE - God has reconciled us to Himself through His Son Jesus. He requires that we believe the things of the Gospel and, through our faith in the saving work of Christ and baptism, our sins are forgiven and we, through God's grace, can stand justified at the day of judgement. 2 Timothy 4:1-4 Acts 20:28-31
We believe that the churches and sects of Christendom have departed from the faith and practice of the Bible as the Scriptures themselves prophesied they would.