Bible Questions and Answers

Christadelphians

The name ‘Christadelphian’ was chosen because it describes the relationship between Jesus and his disciples. The New Testament was written in Greek. ‘Christadelphian’ is made up of two Greek words, adelphos and Christos, and means ‘Brethren in Christ’. This phrase is found in the Bible in Paul’s letter to Colossae.

Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

John Thomas, a 19th century preacher, decided on the name ‘Christadelphian’ for registration purposes during the American civil war. Christadelphians are conscientious objectors because they believe that followers of Christ cannot fight their fellow men.

Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

Also that God decides who rules in the kingdoms of men.

Dan 4:17… to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

Romans 13:1… there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

For the same reasons Christadelphians do not involve themselves in politics or civil disorder.

John Thomas travelled widely in both the USA and Britain, preaching the gospel. His clear understanding and explanation of the Bible message led to others being convinced that he preached the truth. They were baptized into Christ and became members of the Christadelphian community, meeting together in worship. At first, they were to be found mainly in the USA and Britain, but there are now Christadelphian communities on every continent. It has truly become a worldwide fellowship.

Christadelphians trust in the Bible as their only source of beliefs and authority. The scriptures which comprise the Old and New Testaments are inspired by God and are given to men and women for their salvation. As a result of this emphasis, Christadelphian beliefs are identical to those taught by Jesus and the apostles in the first century.

Christadelphians read the Bible every day. Using a plan, they read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice, every year. One of the many benefits of this is that every day they can personally check their beliefs against the authority of Scripture. This plan is available at the following websites: http://www.christadelphia.org/readplan.htm and

http://www.dailyreadings.org.uk/

Christadelphians have no paid ministry or central government. Each Ecclesia is autonomous. They have a common statement of faith derived from scripture. As a body we are not without schisms due to human nature. The main body adheres to what is known as the BASF or the Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith. This can be readily located on line.

What do Christadelphians believe?

Christadelphians believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God and is inerrant apart from minor errors due to transcription (copying out) and translation. These errors do not affect doctrine.

2 Timothy 3:15… from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

The Bible is the only source of information concerning God’s purpose and man’s salvation.

God is the eternal Creator of the universe. He created life on earth, and made man in His own image

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth… 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Acts 17: 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Angels are immortal beings who carry out God’s will

Hebrews 1: 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

God created the earth to be inhabited and his purpose is to fill the whole earth with His glory.

Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

Numbers 14:21… as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

His glory will be in the form of men and women raised to the divine nature and made equal to the angels, with whom God will live forever.

Luke 20:35… they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Man (Adam) was given a choice by God. He could obey God, and live, or disobey Him and die. Adam sinned by disobeying God. By eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he brought sin and death upon himself and his posterity. He was sentenced to death.

Genesis 3:17… unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

We are all descended from Adam. Because he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil we inherit mortality and a propensity to sin which we are not able to overcome. As a consequence, we all sin and die. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

Like Adam, we are all responsible for our own actions. If we were not, a fair-minded God could not call our wrong actions ‘sin’. We cannot blame a supernatural devil. We sin because of our own desires.

James 1:14… every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Jesus explains that evil comes from within:

Matthew 15:19… out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man…

When we die we corrupt back to dust in the grave. We do not have an immortal ‘soul or spirit’ which continues in a conscious existence and goes to heaven or a place called ‘hell’ at death.

‘Hell’ is the translation of the Hebrew ‘sheol’ and the Greek ‘hades’ both of which mean grave.

When we are dead we remain unconscious in the dust.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing,

Psalms 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

For this reason, it is referred to as ‘sleep’.

1 Kings 2:10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

No one other than Christ has ascended to heaven.

John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Without resurrection the dead are perished.

1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

God is the Father of Jesus Christ. Jesus existed before his birth only in the plan and purpose of God. Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was, therefore, both Son of God, and Son of man.

Luke 1: 35… the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

The ‘trinity’ is a false doctrine adopted by apostate Christianity in the fourth century AD.

Jesus is not equal with God.

John 14:28… my Father is greater than I.

God is Jesus’ God in the same way that he is our God.

John 20:17… I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

The Holy Spirit is God’s power, to use as he chooses:

Genesis 1:2… the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

The Holy Spirit is not a person.

Jesus was born with our nature. He could have sinned, but he did not.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus gave his perfect life as a sacrifice to redeem men and women from their sins.

Hebrews 9:26 but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself… 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Because of his perfect obedience, God raised Jesus from the dead and gave him everlasting life.

Acts 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Jesus said:

Luke 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Jesus, after his resurrection, still had a body.

Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

During his ministry Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God is to be established in the future upon the earth.

Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

It will be the restored kingdom of David.

Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

After his resurrection Christ ascended to heaven. He will remain there until the day that God has chosen for his return. When he returns he will judge the world.

Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

At his return he will raise the dead and judge them.

John 5: 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

The faithful will be given immortality:

Philippians 3: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Christ will rule from Jerusalem over the mortal population of the earth for 1000 years.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Isaiah 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Israel will be resettled in the promised land as prophesied in Ezekiel 40 onwards. The apostles will have authority over the twelve tribes.

Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

After the millennial reign there will be a final resurrection and judgment and all who live on will be given immortality. There will be no more sin or death.

Paul explains what is going to happen:

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Whilst he remains in heaven Jesus acts as our high priest and mediator

Hebrews 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Those who believe the gospel and want to have part in the kingdom of God are required to respond by repenting of their sinful way of life and be baptised by immersion in water into Christ for the remission of past sins.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

After baptism we must lead a new life by the commandments of Christ.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:

John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

We must follow his example of obedience to God and practical service, and remember him by breaking bread and drinking wine regularly, “till he comes”

1 Corinthians 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

After baptism we cannot live a sinless life; but if we are doing our best to follow Christ, the sins we commit will be forgiven when we confess them in prayer

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Finally, we must remember that God chose to reveal His character to the Jewish nation. He made promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David and to the nation of Israel. Many of these promises will be fulfilled when Jesus returns to the earth. Watch Israel!

Genesis 23:14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

Genesis 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16  And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17  That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

2 Samuel 7:12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son.

Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; 8 But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

Ezekiel 36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. 23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. 24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Ezekiel 37:21… say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: 22  And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: 23  Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. 24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. 25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28 And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

In Christ we become Abraham’s seed and heirs of the promise made to him

Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

In the Bible, important Bible teachings are always mentioned many times. The return of Jesus, resurrection, judgement, everlasting life for Christ’s faithful followers, and the Kingdom of God on earth are all taught in many places. Use your Bible to test all your beliefs. Faithfully following God’s word leads to eternal life. It is God’s greatest gift to mankind.

Christmas

Concerning the celebration of Jesus’ birth, there are no instructions to celebrate it. It is unlikely that Jesus was born at that time of the year. Apostate Christianity appropriated a pagan festival.

The only celebration enjoined upon Christians in scripture is to break bread and wine in remembrance of his sacrifice.

This can be done any time on any day.

Christadelphians do not celebrate Christmas as a Christian festival.

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,

Glenn