There must be many people who feel that there is something outstandingly significant about the person and the teaching of Jesus Christ. Yet when they survey “Christianity”, both in its history and its modern forms, they find a wide variety of churches and communities, all with their differing foundations, teachings and practices. Feeling bewildered by the existence of so many groups claiming the name “Christian”, they may well give up the quest for “the truth” as hopeless.
This web page is written to draw your attention to the existence of a community of believers in Christ, calling themselves “Christadelphians”, organized in groups found throughout the world. Wherever they exist they have a fellowship founded upon an agreed basis of beliefs. Fundamental to their faith is the principle that what Christ and his apostles taught in the first century was truth, and it is still the truth today. The Holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are their sole authority. Continue reading to discover more about our beliefs…
There is only one true God. He dwells in heaven, immortal and invisible and all powerful.
(Isaiah 45:5,6; 1 Timothy 1:17)
God created the entire universe and has a great purpose for the world.
(Genesis 1; Nehemiah 9:6; Revelation 4:11)
The Bible is the inspired word of God given by Him to benefit mankind.
(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21)
The Holy Spirit is the power of God which made and maintains all life.
(Job 33:4; Psalm 139:7–12)
Jesus Christ is the Son of God (a divine being), and Mary (a human being).
(Luke 1:35; Romans 1:3-4)
Jesus overcame all temptation and died to save his followers from sin and death.
(Romans 10: 9-13; 1 Timothy 1:15,16)
Jesus was raised from death by God. Later he ascended into heaven but he will return to be king.
(Acts 2:22-27; 1:11)
The Old Testament prophets predicted a time when there will be a king (Jesus) over the restored Kingdom of God in Israel and over the whole world.
(Isaiah 9:6,7; Zechariah 14:9)
Our selfish desires cause us to rebel against God (or sin).
(Mark 7:20-23; James 1:14,15
When we die we cease to exist. The only hope of life is by resurrection at Christ’s return.
(Ecclesiastes 9:5,6; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Romans 5:21)
To be saved from eternal death, a person needs to repent and be baptised into Jesus by full immersion in water then follow a Godly way of life.
(Mark 16:15,16; Romans 6:4)
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE CALS
The Christadelphian ALS (or Auxiliary Lecturing Society) started life many years ago, in the days when men and women attended lectures and listened to public speakers to improve their learning. The title might sound a little dated now, especially in an age when everyone searches the internet to find things, but the principles are unchanged. The CALS is interested in teaching men and women the gospel message – the truth contained in the Bible.
We are a limited company, a registered charity and are staffed and funded entirely by volunteers and voluntary contributions. We are a non-profit making organisation with charitable objectives.
FURTHER INFO
THE NAME “CHRISTADELPHIANS”
In the early days, members found that to preserve their identity they had to give themselves a name. “Christadelphians” was chosen because it means “brothers (and of course sisters) in Christ”. It has been used to distinguish the community for more than 120 years.
Since 1864 The Christadelphian Magazine has appeared monthly, issued from Birmingham, U.K. It provides informative articles and contains items of news from the ecclesias worldwide. Pamphlets and books are also produced for the use of members and their friends. Other organizations throughout the world promote the preaching of the Gospel in areas where the ecclesia is small or non-existent, and there are special committees responsible for preaching the Gospel in other countries. Still another organization circulates typed exhortations and Bible studies to those members who live some distance from an ecclesia.
FURTHER INFO
A DISTINCTIVE FOUNDATION
But why should the Christadelphians deserve any more attention than other groups of “believers”, many claiming to be based on the Bible?
The brief answer is this: their understanding of the teachings of the Bible is quite different from that of other denominations. The difference arose from the conviction of one, John Thomas, that the teachings he was encountering in “Christendom” 150 years ago did not truly represent the faith of Christ and his apostles. Persuaded that the truth must be sought only in the Bible, he embarked upon a conscientious study of the Scriptures. He eventually came to an understanding of “the gospel of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12) which was different in a number of important points from that of the churches and other religious sects. The distinctive views of the Christadelphians today are the result of his labors.
