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Home , Christadelphians

WWhhoo AArree tthhee CChhrriissttaaddeellpphhiiaannss?? We are often asked to write about the , the community who produce . We rarely do so, because our focus is the as the Word of , and we encourage every- Each Christadelphian ecclesia one to read it for themselves. However, selects from its members a secretary, we hope this summary is helpful. a treasurer and a small committee to administer day-to-day affairs. The name ‘Christadelphian’ consists of two Greek words: christos and All Christadelphians are independ - adelphi . Together they mean Brothers ent, and encouraged to preach the (and Sisters) in , that is, associ - whenever the opportunity ated with or belonging to Christ. arises. Some are chosen to speak at public meetings or are asked to be Members of the community meet in . small and large groups, which are usually called ecclesias. This is the community Greek word for an assembly or , relies only on its own members to con - is used to make it clear we are talking tribute money to expenses of about the people, not the building. individual ecclesias or shared activi - ties, to help the sick and elderly, to pay There are Christadelphians in many for Sunday Schools, Youth Clubs, Child - countries of the world, for example in ren’s Homes and work Australia and New Zealand, across (such as literature, travel and adverts). Africa, in the Caribbean, South America, Canada, and the USA; across We are not a charity organization Europe from the UK to Russia and that collects money from the general Norway to Italy; across Asia, including public and distributes it to those in India, Nepal, and the Philippines. need. We do, however, contribute to several national and international We are brothers and sisters ‘in charities. Christ’. We have no priests, pastors or bishops, and no one is in any way superior to another. The Lord Christ is our Head.

Christadelphians believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and is the only basis for our beliefs and teaching. We have no controlling church council.

133 rd Year 17 We are not paid for any of the servi - Christadelphians are no better than ces we perform, whether we are anyone else. We acknowledge that we secretary, preacher, missionary or are sinners and continually in need of teacher. All is done in a forgiveness. We will only be made spirit ‘as to the Lord’. perfect when Jesus returns to the earth and invites his followers to be in We do not spend vast sums of his Kingdom. money building churches and temples. Ecclesias may meet in homes or hired We do not take part in politics or vote public rooms, but often in their own for human governments. We are simply furnished halls. waiting for the Kingdom of God under the one and only world ruler, the Lord If someone wants to become a Jesus Christ. member of the Christadelphian com - munity, the procedure in the Bible is Christadelphians do not join the followed: a person hears , army, navy, air force or police. Such understands it, it, repents of service would be opposed to the his or her sins and associates with teaching of Jesus (John 18:36; Christ by being baptised. Matthew 26:52). Most countries allow conscientious objection to these types of services.

Christadelphian teaching seeks to follow exactly that taught by the Lord Jesus Christ and his apostles. It is not influenced by man –made doctrines or , nor does it change to suit mankind’s ideas.

Christadelphians Believe and Teach That... ① The Bible is God’s written message to men and women. The writers were instructed and inspired by God.

② The God revealed in the Bible is the only true, living God, the Creator of all things. He is immortal. We meet together as often as possi - ble for , to give and receive ③ God has a wonderful purpose with encouragement and to remember the the earth and with men and women of Jesus Christ by sharing upon it. bread and wine as taught by Jesus himself. We also meet for preaching ④ Jesus Christ is the . He the Gospel and for Bible Study. was born to the Virgin Mary by the

18 Glad Tidings operation of God’s special power understood and believed the Gospel called the . and repented of our sins. as ⑤ taught in the Bible, is a complete The Kingdom of God will be set up immersion in water. It marks the end on earth when God’s appointed King, of our old way of life and the beginning Jesus Christ, returns in person to the of a new life. earth. He will establish peace, justice, true worship and right living among all ⑫ When Jesus returns to the earth, nations. all people from throughout history who ⑥ are judged faithful will be granted The Christian Gospel, or Good and will live for ever in his News, as taught by Jesus Christ, kingdom. invites men and women to believe this good news and live for ever in God’s ⑬ The nation of Israel are God’s new world. special people. Their return to their ⑦ land was foretold by the Bible and they The Bible teaches that we are all must eventually accept Jesus Christ sinners, and that we are all mortal and whom they crucified. will eventually die. Death is really the end of life and we know nothing when ⑭ God’s Kingdom will begin with we are dead. We need to be saved Israel, and will eventually include all from remaining dead. the population of the earth. ⑧ God has appointed Jesus Christ as ⑮ Events in the Middle East are a the Saviour of mankind. He lived a life sign that God is still concerned with of service and obedience to his Father the nation of Israel. (God). He taught people about the hope of living for ever in God’s ⑯ In obedience to the command of Kingdom. He did no sin. Wicked men Jesus Christ, true Christians meet reg - killed him by crucifixion (that is nailing ularly to remember the sacrifice of him to a cross) and his body was Jesus by sharing bread and wine. placed in a grave. ⑨ This is a very short summary of Because Jesus did no sin, he could God’s plan with the earth and with not justifiably stay in the grave. God men and women upon it. Glad Tidings raised him from the dead and gave regularly covers the different aspects him immortality, which means he now of it in more detail, so please do keep lives for ever. reading. ⑩ God accepted the death of Jesus If you wish to know more, please do as a sacrifice for sin, and will forgive access our previous articles and mag - the sins of all who believe the teaching azine editions online at: of Jesus and associate themselves http://www.gladtidingsmagazine.org/ with him. previous-articles/ ⑪ We show that we belong to Jesus Christ by being baptised after we have Ivan Sturman

133 rd Year 19