READING • JOHN 15
A Bible-centred community
The intention of this Bible Course is to direct your attention to the Scriptures. However, you may naturally wonder who the Christadelphians are, so this lesson tells you a little about us.
The Christadelphians are a worldwide community of men and women who read the whole Bible and accept it as the inspired Word of God. They believe the promises in the Old and New Testaments concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and the future of the world. They wait for the return of Jesus from heaven to establish God’s Kingdom on the earth.
The name Christadelphian comes from Greek words meaning “brethren in Christ”.
Where do Christadelphians live?
Christadelphians are found in many countries across the world: in Britain and Europe; throughout Africa; across Asia; in Australasia and the Pacific; in North and South America; and in the Caribbean. The community includes men and women from many cultures and backgrounds.
What do they believe?
Christadelphians base their faith on the teaching of Jesus and his disciples nearly 2,000 years ago. They believe that the true message of Christianity has not changed. Throughout history, however, many churches have adopted teachings which Christadelphians believe are not found in the Bible. At the same time, small groups of people have continued to read the Scriptures for themselves and to hold to what they understood to be the original faith.
A lesson from history
The truth is preserved when people continue to read and study God’s Word for themselves.
How did the Christadelphian community begin?
In 1832 an English doctor named John Thomas sailed for New York because his father wanted to settle in America. During the voyage the ship ran aground in a violent storm, and Dr Thomas believed that he might die. He realised how little he knew about the future and resolved that, if he reached land, he would not rest until he had discovered the Bible’s teaching about life after death.
How did the Christadelphian community begin?
Dr Thomas did reach New York, and he kept his resolve. He spent the next 15 years carefully studying the Bible and examining the claims of many Christian groups. When he became convinced that he understood the Old and New Testament teaching concerning Jesus Christ and the coming Kingdom of God on earth, he was baptised by full immersion. He continued public preaching in America and Britain and produced religious magazines and books.
Among those who accepted the same teachings and joined his work was a Scotsman named Robert Roberts. He helped to organise the growing number of believers into ecclesias. “Ecclesia” is a Bible word meaning an assembly of people who have been called. Christadelphians often use this word rather than “church”, because “church” can suggest a building rather than the people who meet together.
Why the name “Christadelphian”?
The name Christadelphian was first used in 1864, when believers in the United States needed a name to identify themselves as a distinct religious community during the American Civil War. John Thomas chose “Christadelphian” to express the idea of “brethren in Christ”. Nineteenth-century Christadelphians travelled widely and preached in many parts of the world, and by the end of the century groups of believers existed in many lands.
How do Christadelphians organise themselves?
There are committees which help to organise missionary work, publishing and care for those in need. However, Christadelphians have no paid ministry and no central church government. Financial needs are met by voluntary contributions from members, and there is no priesthood.
Each local group, or ecclesia, is self-governing and appoints members to carry out practical responsibilities such as secretary, treasurer, steward and meeting chairman. These roles are unpaid. Christadelphians believe that Jesus, now in heaven, is the only High Priest through whom baptised believers approach God in prayer.
Some ecclesias own a hall or meeting room; others meet in rented rooms, community buildings or homes. Their shared faith and shared practices provide the essential link between ecclesias in different places.
The same essential beliefs
Christadelphians throughout the world use a Statement of Faith—a summary of Bible teaching—as a basis of fellowship. Before baptism, a person is expected to understand the important teachings of the Bible and to agree with these Bible-based beliefs and practices. This common faith is what binds Christadelphians together.
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism,”
Ephesians 4:4–5 • King James Version
This shared faith makes it possible for Christadelphians, wherever they live, to enjoy fellowship with one another.
The kind of people we try to be
We all need God’s help, so prayer is important. We also try to read the Bible every day. Once each week Christadelphians meet to remember the death of the Lord Jesus Christ by sharing bread and wine, as he commanded.
Faith is intended to shape everyday life. Christadelphians therefore seek to live clean, honest and responsible lives, preparing for the return of Jesus. They avoid drunkenness, gambling and other harmful habits. They aim to be law-abiding citizens, to do good, and to live peaceably. They do not take part in warfare or party politics, and they seek to avoid taking fellow believers to court.
Christadelphians also uphold faithfulness in marriage and believe that sexual relations belong within marriage. We recognise that some students may already be in polygamous marriages; this subject is discussed in Lesson 33.
The Christadelphian Bible Mission
The Christadelphian Bible Mission (CBM) exists to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God around the world. It provides Bible courses and literature and helps people to understand the Scriptures. The work is carried out largely by unpaid Christadelphian volunteers alongside their normal employment.
The aim of the CBM is to help men and women learn the Gospel, encourage them to repent and be baptised, and help them follow the example of Jesus and the apostles.
We want to share hope and joy with you
Christadelphians sincerely believe that their faith represents the true Gospel found throughout the Bible. We hope that you will enjoy discovering its message for yourself and that it will bring hope, joy and love into your life. May God bless you in your seeking.
Verses to read
Psalm 119:130 • Matthew 28:19–20 • John 17:3
LEARN BY HEART • JOHN 15:13–14
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
John 15:13–14 • King James Version
SOME IMPORTANT BIBLE TEACHINGS
A summary of teachings introduced in this course
These points are stated briefly here. Later lessons explain the Bible passages on which each teaching is based.
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The Bible is the only true message from God.
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There is only one God, the Creator, who is in control of world affairs.
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Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born of Mary. He was a sinless man. He died on the cross to save those who believe in him, was raised from the dead, and is now in heaven.
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Jesus will return from heaven and establish the Kingdom of God on the earth. He will rule as King, with Jerusalem in the land of Israel as the centre of his government.
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The Jews are witnesses to God’s purpose, even though many do not recognise it. God made promises to Abraham and David which will be fulfilled when Jesus returns.
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Death is the punishment for sin, and all people are sinners. The Bible’s hope of life after death is bodily resurrection from the grave at the return of Jesus.
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There will be a judgement. Faithful followers of Jesus will be given everlasting life and will share in the work of bringing peace and blessing to the nations.
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We must believe the Gospel, repent of our sins and be baptised. We seek to obey God’s commands and ask for forgiveness when we fail.
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Christadelphians believe that Bible prophecy concerning past and present world events gives strong reason to expect the return of Jesus Christ. That is why this course encourages you to study your Bible now.
Christadelphian Bible Mission
Box CBM, 404 Shaftmoor Lane, Birmingham B28 8SZ, England
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 5
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 1