Christadelphians
We believe that the Bible is God’s only revealed message to mankind, given to bring individuals to faith in God and His Son. It is our only authority and should be read prayerfully and with care.
(2 Timothy 3:16–17; 1 Peter1:10–12; 2Peter 1:20–21; Acts 17:11; Ephesians 2:20; Romans 16:26)
There is only one eternal, immortal God. Jesus Christ is his only begotten son, and the Holy Spirit is his power.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Luke 1:35; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Timothy 1:17, 2:5, 6:16)
Man is mortal and a sinner before God. His whole being is prone to sin and the punishment for sin is death—the end of all life.
(Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21–23; Romans 3:23; James 1:13–15; Romans 6:23; Ecclesiastes 9:5,10; Psalm 115:17, 146:4)
The only hope of life after death is the resurrection of the body and everlasting life in God’s kingdom on earth.
The Gospel is inseparable from the promises which God made to Abraham and David in Old Testament times. These promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
(Acts 13:32; Genesis 13:14–17, 22:15–18; 2 Samuel 7:12,16; Luke 1:31–33; Galatians 3:6–9, 16, 26–29)
In his love, God sent his son, the man Jesus, into the world to save men from their sins. Those who believe in him will not perish, but have everlasting life.
(Matthew 1:20–21, 3:17; Luke 1:35; John 3:16)
Jesus was sinless. He died to show God’s righteousness and to redeem those who receive this sacrifice by faith. God raised him from the dead, gave him immortality, granted him all authority in heaven and on earth, and set him as the mediator between God and man.
(Romans 3:21–26; Ephesians 1:19–23; 1 Timothy 2:5–6; Hebrews 4:14–16)
Jesus will return to the earth soon. Then he will raise many of the dead, judge them with the living, and give to the faithful everlasting life in the kingdom of God.
(Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:31–34; Luke 21:20–32; John 5:28–29; Acts 1:11; 2 Tim 4:1; Revelation 22:12)
The Kingdom of God will be established on earth. Jesus will be king in Jerusalem; his rule will be worldwide and his government will bring eternal righteousness and peace.
(Psalms 72; Isaiah 2:2–4, 9:6–7, 11:1–9, 61:1–11; Jeremiah 3:17; Daniel 2:44, 7:14,27; Acts 3:21)
The way to enter the kingdom of God is by faith. This involves belief in the Bible and obedience to its requirements that men and women confess their sins, repent, be baptized and follow Jesus faithfully.
(Matthew 16:24–27; Mark 16:16; John 3:3–5; Acts 2:37–38, 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 11:6)
The Bible is the authority on which our lives should be based. A widespread custom among Christadelphians is to read the Bible every day using a reading plan which enables us to systematically read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice each year. Many read much more widely than this.
(Romans 15:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; James 1:22; 2 Timothy 2:15)
Following New Testament example, and Christ’s instruction, we pray to God, our Father in heaven, in the name of His Son, Jesus—rather than praying to Jesus. This does not prevent us having a personal relationship with Jesus, who knows our weaknesses.
(John 15:16, 16:26; Hebrews 2:15)
Following the teaching and example of the Apostle Paul all Christadelphians aim to support themselves and their family by honest work. Certain professions (politics, the military, the police, criminal law) are avoided.
(I Timothy 5:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:6–12)
The relationship between husband and wife is parallel to the relationship between Christ and his church. Therefore marriage must be treated with utmost sanctity. Children are brought up in a knowledge of God, attending Sunday School and in daily Bible readings with their parents. The elderly are cared for both by their families and by the brotherhood.
(Ephesians 5:22–33, 6:4; 1 Timothy 5:4)
Christadelphians are, both individually and in groups, involved in charitable work and giving. However we try not to “do our works to be seen of men.”
(Galatians 6:10; James 1:27, 2:15–16; Matthew 6:1–4; John 6:26)
Baptism must be followed by an effort to change our lives. We must live according to the teachings and model of Jesus. In Bible language, this means to live by the Spirit and not by the Flesh.
(Romans 6:1–4; Mark 14:38; Galatians 5:22–25)
We try to rely fully upon God and develop a faith which is active in prayer and good works. At the same time, however, we recognize that salvation is by grace.
(Ephesians 2:8)
With God’s help, we seek to please and obey him every day, trying to imitate Christ who faithfully obeyed his Father. We therefore endeavor to be enthusiastic in work, loyal in marriage, generous in giving, dedicated in preaching, and happy in our God.
Once a week we meet to worship God, and remember the sacrifice of His Son Jesus by breaking bread and drinking wine. All baptized members take bread and wine.
(1 Corinthians 11:23–26, 12:13; Matthew 26:26–30)
Apart from the bread and wine this meeting consists of prayers, the reading the Bible, several hymns, and an ‘exhortation’ (word of encouragement) based on the Bible. A different brother will speak every week. The Richmond Chapel broadcasts its services on the internet so that anyone wishing to listen in can do so regardless of where they are.
(Ephesians 5:19; 1 Timothy 4:13; Hebrews 3:13)
Participation in this meeting is the focus of our religious life. We learn about the Bible in Sunday school.
(Acts 2:42, 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2)
Christadelphians do not have theological schools or seminaries, instead Bible Schools exist for all members. Every year many Christadelphians spend a week or some weekends at a Bible School or Bible Study Camps which are held at facilities rented from colleges or other churches.
At such schools there will usually be two or three speakers, each taking a different Bible topic.
Each ‘ecclesia’ is self-governing. There is no national, or international ‘leadership’ or ‘central office’. But Christadelphians do share a fellowship worldwide based on a common faith. In this way the relations between assemblies are more like a family than in many traditional churches. This is the New Testament model.
Each ecclesia tries to preach the Good News of the Kingdom and teach the name of Jesus Christ in their local area.
(Acts 8:12, 28:31; 2 Timothy 4:2)
Some members travel overseas to preach and assist the local brothers and sisters.
(Acts 20:33–34; 1 Thessalonians 2:9)
Christadelphians run series of Bible seminars, and Bible camps in many countries, and distribute free Bible literature and magazines. Like Paul we aim to “preach the Gospel free of charge.”
(1 Corinthians 9:18)
(copied from the Richmond Chapel Website)
"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; They are new ev'ry morning, new ev'ry morning. Great is Thy faithfulness, O LORD, great is Thy faithfulness."-Lamentations 3:22-23
(2 Timothy 3:16–17; 1 Peter1:10–12; 2Peter 1:20–21; Acts 17:11; Ephesians 2:20; Romans 16:26)
There is only one eternal, immortal God. Jesus Christ is his only begotten son, and the Holy Spirit is his power.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Luke 1:35; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Timothy 1:17, 2:5, 6:16)
Man is mortal and a sinner before God. His whole being is prone to sin and the punishment for sin is death—the end of all life.
(Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21–23; Romans 3:23; James 1:13–15; Romans 6:23; Ecclesiastes 9:5,10; Psalm 115:17, 146:4)
The only hope of life after death is the resurrection of the body and everlasting life in God’s kingdom on earth.
The Gospel is inseparable from the promises which God made to Abraham and David in Old Testament times. These promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
(Acts 13:32; Genesis 13:14–17, 22:15–18; 2 Samuel 7:12,16; Luke 1:31–33; Galatians 3:6–9, 16, 26–29)
In his love, God sent his son, the man Jesus, into the world to save men from their sins. Those who believe in him will not perish, but have everlasting life.
(Matthew 1:20–21, 3:17; Luke 1:35; John 3:16)
Jesus was sinless. He died to show God’s righteousness and to redeem those who receive this sacrifice by faith. God raised him from the dead, gave him immortality, granted him all authority in heaven and on earth, and set him as the mediator between God and man.
(Romans 3:21–26; Ephesians 1:19–23; 1 Timothy 2:5–6; Hebrews 4:14–16)
Jesus will return to the earth soon. Then he will raise many of the dead, judge them with the living, and give to the faithful everlasting life in the kingdom of God.
(Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:31–34; Luke 21:20–32; John 5:28–29; Acts 1:11; 2 Tim 4:1; Revelation 22:12)
The Kingdom of God will be established on earth. Jesus will be king in Jerusalem; his rule will be worldwide and his government will bring eternal righteousness and peace.
(Psalms 72; Isaiah 2:2–4, 9:6–7, 11:1–9, 61:1–11; Jeremiah 3:17; Daniel 2:44, 7:14,27; Acts 3:21)
The way to enter the kingdom of God is by faith. This involves belief in the Bible and obedience to its requirements that men and women confess their sins, repent, be baptized and follow Jesus faithfully.
(Matthew 16:24–27; Mark 16:16; John 3:3–5; Acts 2:37–38, 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 11:6)
The Bible is the authority on which our lives should be based. A widespread custom among Christadelphians is to read the Bible every day using a reading plan which enables us to systematically read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice each year. Many read much more widely than this.
(Romans 15:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; James 1:22; 2 Timothy 2:15)
Following New Testament example, and Christ’s instruction, we pray to God, our Father in heaven, in the name of His Son, Jesus—rather than praying to Jesus. This does not prevent us having a personal relationship with Jesus, who knows our weaknesses.
(John 15:16, 16:26; Hebrews 2:15)
Following the teaching and example of the Apostle Paul all Christadelphians aim to support themselves and their family by honest work. Certain professions (politics, the military, the police, criminal law) are avoided.
(I Timothy 5:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:6–12)
The relationship between husband and wife is parallel to the relationship between Christ and his church. Therefore marriage must be treated with utmost sanctity. Children are brought up in a knowledge of God, attending Sunday School and in daily Bible readings with their parents. The elderly are cared for both by their families and by the brotherhood.
(Ephesians 5:22–33, 6:4; 1 Timothy 5:4)
Christadelphians are, both individually and in groups, involved in charitable work and giving. However we try not to “do our works to be seen of men.”
(Galatians 6:10; James 1:27, 2:15–16; Matthew 6:1–4; John 6:26)
Baptism must be followed by an effort to change our lives. We must live according to the teachings and model of Jesus. In Bible language, this means to live by the Spirit and not by the Flesh.
(Romans 6:1–4; Mark 14:38; Galatians 5:22–25)
We try to rely fully upon God and develop a faith which is active in prayer and good works. At the same time, however, we recognize that salvation is by grace.
(Ephesians 2:8)
With God’s help, we seek to please and obey him every day, trying to imitate Christ who faithfully obeyed his Father. We therefore endeavor to be enthusiastic in work, loyal in marriage, generous in giving, dedicated in preaching, and happy in our God.
Once a week we meet to worship God, and remember the sacrifice of His Son Jesus by breaking bread and drinking wine. All baptized members take bread and wine.
(1 Corinthians 11:23–26, 12:13; Matthew 26:26–30)
Apart from the bread and wine this meeting consists of prayers, the reading the Bible, several hymns, and an ‘exhortation’ (word of encouragement) based on the Bible. A different brother will speak every week. The Richmond Chapel broadcasts its services on the internet so that anyone wishing to listen in can do so regardless of where they are.
(Ephesians 5:19; 1 Timothy 4:13; Hebrews 3:13)
Participation in this meeting is the focus of our religious life. We learn about the Bible in Sunday school.
(Acts 2:42, 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2)
Christadelphians do not have theological schools or seminaries, instead Bible Schools exist for all members. Every year many Christadelphians spend a week or some weekends at a Bible School or Bible Study Camps which are held at facilities rented from colleges or other churches.
At such schools there will usually be two or three speakers, each taking a different Bible topic.
Each ‘ecclesia’ is self-governing. There is no national, or international ‘leadership’ or ‘central office’. But Christadelphians do share a fellowship worldwide based on a common faith. In this way the relations between assemblies are more like a family than in many traditional churches. This is the New Testament model.
Each ecclesia tries to preach the Good News of the Kingdom and teach the name of Jesus Christ in their local area.
(Acts 8:12, 28:31; 2 Timothy 4:2)
Some members travel overseas to preach and assist the local brothers and sisters.
(Acts 20:33–34; 1 Thessalonians 2:9)
Christadelphians run series of Bible seminars, and Bible camps in many countries, and distribute free Bible literature and magazines. Like Paul we aim to “preach the Gospel free of charge.”
(1 Corinthians 9:18)
(copied from the Richmond Chapel Website)
"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; They are new ev'ry morning, new ev'ry morning. Great is Thy faithfulness, O LORD, great is Thy faithfulness."-Lamentations 3:22-23