LESSON REVIEW • 32 KEY TEACHINGS FROM THE COURSE
A summary is a guide back to the Bible, not a replacement for it
These 32 points bring together the main teachings studied throughout the course. Read the Bible references for yourself and make sure that your faith rests on the Word of God. The example of the Bereans remains important: they listened carefully and then checked what they were taught against Scripture.
“they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
Acts 17:11 (excerpt) • King James Version
The gospel and God’s purpose
1
The Gospel
The gospel is the good news of the Kingdom of God and the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ. This message is rooted in promises made in the Old Testament and proclaimed clearly in the New Testament.
KEY PASSAGES • Genesis 22:17-18 • Matthew 4:23
2
The Bible is the Word of God
The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by many human writers under divine inspiration. It is the authoritative source from which these teachings must be tested.
KEY PASSAGES • Psalm 68:11 • 2 Peter 1:21
3
God is the Creator of the world
God created the heavens and the earth. His purpose is that the earth should be filled with His glory, and the Lord Jesus Christ stands at the centre of that purpose.
KEY PASSAGES • Genesis 1:1 • Numbers 14:21 • Psalm 103:8-11 • Isaiah 45:18
4
Jesus will return to the earth
Jesus came about 2,000 years ago, preached the gospel and gave his life for us. God raised him from the dead; he is now in heaven and will return personally to the earth as King.
KEY PASSAGES • Matthew 25:31-34 • Acts 1:10-11 • Acts 3:20-21 • Revelation 22:20
5
The return of Jesus may be very near
Jesus and the apostles told disciples to watch the signs of the times. Wars and international distress, earthquakes, famines and pestilences, moral decline, and the place of Jerusalem in prophecy all encourage watchfulness. Scripture does not permit us to set a date for his return.
KEY PASSAGES • Luke 21:10-11, 24-33 • 2 Timothy 3:1-5
6
The Kingdom of God will be on the earth
The Kingdom for which Jesus taught his disciples to pray will be established on earth. Jerusalem will have a central place, Christ will rule the nations in righteousness, and Revelation describes a thousand-year reign before the final removal of death.
KEY PASSAGES • Isaiah 2:2-4 • Jeremiah 3:17 • Micah 4:1-8 • Revelation 11:15 • Revelation 20:4-6
7
God made promises to Abraham
God promised Abraham land, a great family and blessing for all nations through his seed. The New Testament identifies Christ as the promised seed and explains how those who belong to Christ share in the promise.
KEY PASSAGES • Genesis 12:1-3 • Genesis 15:5-6 • Genesis 22:15-18 • Galatians 3:8, 16, 29
8
Israel has a special place in God’s purpose
Israel was called to witness to the one true God. Because of disobedience the people were scattered, yet the prophets also foretold a regathering to their land. Their history remains important in the unfolding purpose of God.
KEY PASSAGES • Isaiah 11:11-12 • Isaiah 44:8 • Ezekiel 37:21-22 • Romans 9:3-5
9
Jerusalem will be a centre of worship and government
The prophets describe Jerusalem as the place from which divine teaching and righteous government will go out to the nations. Peoples from many lands will come there to worship the King.
KEY PASSAGES • Jeremiah 3:17 • Micah 4:1-2 • Zechariah 14:16 • Matthew 5:34-35
10
God made promises to David
David was promised a descendant whose throne and kingdom would be established by God. The angel Gabriel applied this promise directly to Jesus.
KEY PASSAGES • 2 Samuel 7:12-16 • Luke 1:30-33
The Lord Jesus Christ and salvation
11
Jesus is the Son of God
Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of Mary. The Bible presents the Father as the one God and Jesus as His Son; Jesus himself said, “my Father is greater than I”.
KEY PASSAGES • Matthew 1:20-25 • John 14:28 • Romans 1:3-4 • Galatians 4:4
12
Jesus lived a sinless life
Jesus fully shared human experience and temptation, yet he never sinned. His obedient life provides the perfect example for his disciples.
KEY PASSAGES • Isaiah 53:5, 12 • 2 Corinthians 5:21 • 1 Peter 2:22
13
Jesus died for us
Jesus willingly gave his life in obedience to his Father. As the sinless “Lamb of God”, his sacrifice is central to God’s way of forgiveness and reconciliation for those who come to God through him.
KEY PASSAGES • John 1:29 • John 3:16 • Galatians 1:4
14
God raised Jesus from the dead
Death could not hold the sinless Son of God. His resurrection is the assurance that God will also raise those who belong to Christ, and it guarantees the coming judgement and Kingdom.
KEY PASSAGES • Acts 2:24 • Acts 17:31 • 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
15
The Holy Spirit is the power of God
The Holy Spirit is God’s power in action, used in creation, revelation, the birth of Jesus and the special works God accomplished through chosen servants. It is not a separate god or independent divine person.
KEY PASSAGES • Isaiah 61:1-3 • Luke 1:35 • Acts 10:38 • 2 Peter 1:21
16
The wages of sin is death
Adam’s disobedience brought mortality into human experience, and every other human being except Jesus has also sinned. The Bible presents death, not conscious life in torment, as the consequence from which we need salvation.
KEY PASSAGES • Genesis 3:17-19 • Romans 5:12 • Romans 6:23
17
Eternal life is the gift of God
Eternal life cannot be earned. God offers it in love to those who hear His Word, trust the Lord Jesus Christ and seek to live faithfully before Him.
KEY PASSAGES • John 17:1-3 • Romans 2:6-8 • Romans 5:15 • Romans 6:23
18
There will be a resurrection of the dead
The Christian hope is resurrection, not an immortal soul going to heaven at death. Scripture speaks of the resurrection of those who are accountable to God’s call; it does not teach that every human being who has ever lived must be raised.
KEY PASSAGES • John 5:28-29 • 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
19
There will be a judgement
Those accountable to the gospel will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ. The faithful will receive everlasting life; those rejected will face final death. Scripture also describes judgement upon nations that resist Christ at his return.
KEY PASSAGES • 2 Timothy 4:1 • Daniel 12:1-2 • John 5:28-29 • 2 Corinthians 5:10 • 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
20
The faithful will live and reign with Christ
Those granted immortality will serve the Lord Jesus on the earth and share in the righteous government of his Kingdom. Revelation describes a thousand-year reign followed by a further resurrection and judgement, after which death is finally abolished.
KEY PASSAGES • Psalm 37:9-11, 22 • Daniel 7:27 • Revelation 20:4-7, 11-15 • 1 Corinthians 15:24-26
God’s messengers, human sin and our response
21
The angels are God’s messengers
Angels are God’s immortal servants. They carry out His commands and are sent to minister in the fulfilment of His purpose, including His care for those who are heirs of salvation.
KEY PASSAGES • Exodus 23:20-21 • Psalm 103:20 • Hebrews 1:13-14
22
The Bible’s teaching about the Devil and Satan
The Bible uses “devil” and “satan” in ways connected with sin, accusation and opposition. Christadelphians understand temptation to arise from human desires rather than from an immortal evil angel who rivals God.
KEY PASSAGES • Matthew 16:23 • John 8:44 • Acts 10:38 • James 1:14
23
We must repent
God calls us to recognise our sins, be genuinely sorry for them and turn towards a new way of life. Repentance is more than regret: it is a change of mind and direction that seeks to follow Jesus.
KEY PASSAGES • Psalm 51:1-10 • Matthew 4:17 • Luke 13:1-5 • Acts 3:19
24
Believers must be baptised in water
Baptism follows understanding, belief and repentance. The New Testament baptism is an immersion in water associated with dying and rising with Christ and beginning a new life as his disciple.
KEY PASSAGES • Matthew 28:19-20 • Mark 16:16 • Acts 2:38
25
Disciples of Jesus do not fight
Jesus commanded his followers to love their enemies and rejected the use of the sword in his defence. Christadelphians therefore conscientiously object to military service and avoid roles in which they may be required to bear arms or use violence against others.
KEY PASSAGES • Matthew 26:52 • Luke 6:27-29 • Luke 22:25 • Romans 13:1-2
26
Christian marriage
The Bible presents marriage as the lifelong union of a man and a woman, with faithfulness, love and the godly care of family at its heart. Disciples should honour marriage and should not treat divorce or sexual unfaithfulness lightly.
KEY PASSAGES • Genesis 2:21-24 • Matthew 19:3-6 • Hebrews 13:4
27
Our duty to the State
Christians should obey the laws of the country in which they live and show proper respect to rulers, except where human commands conflict with obedience to God. Christadelphians therefore remain separate from party politics and political power.
KEY PASSAGES • Matthew 22:21 • Romans 13:1-7 • 1 Peter 2:17 • Acts 5:29
28
Disciples can pray for forgiveness
Those who belong to Christ may come to God in prayer, confessing their sins and seeking forgiveness. The Lord Jesus is the one mediator and high priest through whom believers approach the Father.
KEY PASSAGES • Philippians 4:6 • 1 Timothy 2:5 • Hebrews 7:24-26 • 1 John 1:9
The daily life and fellowship of disciples
29
Daily Bible reading is necessary for spiritual growth
As ordinary food sustains the body, regular attention to God’s Word nourishes the mind of a disciple. Through Scripture we learn God’s character, His purpose, His commandments and the lessons found in the lives of His servants.
KEY PASSAGES • Psalm 119:89-112 • Acts 17:11-12 • 2 Timothy 3:16-17
30
Disciples remember the death of Jesus by breaking bread
Jesus commanded his disciples to remember him in bread and wine. Christadelphians normally keep this memorial each week, examining themselves and remembering both his sacrifice and the hope of sharing fellowship with him in the Kingdom.
KEY PASSAGES • Mark 14:22-25 • Luke 22:14-20 • 1 Corinthians 11:23-28
31
True fellowship is based on shared apostolic faith and practice
The New Testament links fellowship with continuing in the apostles’ teaching, worship, mutual encouragement and walking in the light. Christadelphian fellowship is therefore based on a shared understanding of the gospel and a shared commitment to live by it.
KEY PASSAGES • John 17:16-18 • Acts 2:41-42 • Hebrews 10:24-25 • 1 John 1:3-7
32
The call of the Gospel is for people of all nations
God is calling people from every nation to become disciples of Jesus, to be baptised into Christ and to prepare for his coming Kingdom. The course ends with a personal question: how will you respond to that call?
KEY PASSAGES • Matthew 16:24-26 • Acts 15:14 • 1 Corinthians 1:26-27 • Galatians 3:27-29
Bringing the whole course together
These teachings belong together. The Bible reveals the one God and His purpose with the earth. It points to the Lord Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection, his future return and the Kingdom he will establish. It explains our need for forgiveness, the hope of resurrection and eternal life, and the response God asks from us in faith, repentance, baptism and a changed life.
Knowing these things is not enough by itself. The gospel calls for a response. Each student should continue to read the Bible, ask questions, test what has been taught, and decide whether he or she is ready to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
Will you respond to this call?
If you believe the gospel and are considering baptism, speak with your tutor. Baptism should follow personal understanding, conviction, repentance and a sincere desire to begin a new life in Christ.
VERSE TO LEARN • ACTS 17:30-31
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 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.”
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 5
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 5