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What does the Bible say

Christadelphians in the world

There is one God, who revealed His name in the Bible (Hebrew Old Testament) as "Yahweh" -"I AM WHO I AM" or "I WILL BE"

He is the creator of heaven and earth. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David and the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He is a single being, separate from his son, Jesus.

He is all-powerful, who dwells in heaven in "unapproachable light", and who desires that we seek an eternal relationship with Him.

Jesus was and is a human being, the "Son of God," but not God himself.

Jesus Christ was all God’s promises and intentions made flesh - ie the physical demonstration of God's promises and will, fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament.

Sharing our nature, he revealed God to us, not in physical form or feature, but in his respect and obedience for His Father God, with righteousness, goodness and boundless love, qualities which run through his every word, every act of compassion, in every part of his life. He was sinless, although of human nature so had the ability to sin, but resisted it.

His death on the cross is seen as a means to provide forgiveness for sin but not as a substitute for human works and actions in achieving salvation.

Jesus died (wages of sin is death - mortal/human nature) but as he did no sin, the death state could not hold him, so he was raised to life again (resurrected by God).

Since his resurrection and later ascension to heaven, detailed in the New Testament, Jesus is alive and immortal (cannot die) and is now at the right hand of God, in the heavens.

Thus he is immortal but not divine, as he is not God.

Many prophecies(foretold events) detailed in the Bible have happened. A ferw examples:

A saviour was foretold in the Old Testament - written more than 500 years before his birth:

The promise of a rescuer from sin (Genesis 3:15)

A virgin-born son called Immanuel, or "God with us" (Isaiah 7:14). The name Jesus means "saviour" or "Yahweh saves" and is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua. He was also called Immanuel, saving people from sin.

A king from the line of Jesse (Jeremiah 23:5). He was briefly called King, a week before he was crusified and will be King of the whole world, forever in the future (see Bible prophesies still to be fulfilled),

Israel: the Jews are God’s special people, since promises were made to Abraham. Their entire history has been foretold including events which have taken place in the 20th century.

Though scattered throughout the world, Israel would be preserved. Jeremiah 30, 10-11, 31, 10

They would return to the land and regain control of Jerusalem. Luke 21: 24-31. The state of Israel was established in 1948.

World History foretold in a Dream: in Old Testament book of Daniel chapter 2. The King Nebuchadnezzer, of Babylon captured the Jews, but he respected the Jew Daniel so God, by His spirit, gives Daniel the interpretation of the dream, about all the future world nations that would unfold, which now with the benefit of hindsight - has all happened.

We are living today in the “feet stage” of the human figure vision. Just as all the stages of the prophecy have come true, so also we can expect the destruction of the image by the STONE.

Who then is the stone? The Bible itself reveals who the stone is.

Jesus, quoting the Old Testament and talking about himself said, “The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: … And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken.. but on whomsoever it shall fall it shall grind him to powder” Matthew b21: 42-44.

The rejected one, Jesus will return to the earth and destroy the human figure - human rulers completely and set up Gods Kingdom on earth.

The Bible (66 books - the Old (39) and New Testament (27)) is the Word of God, written by human authors (40 over many centuries, including prophets, kings, fishermen, and scribes), communicating God's message and carrying His authority.

The words are "God-breathed" so verbally inspired and completely without error (historically, scientifically, morally, and spiritually) in its original writings - in Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament).

In the New Testament: 2 Timothy 3:16-17: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work".

Therefore, the Bible is seen as a collaborative work with both a divine and a human element. While God superintended the writing of the Bible, the human writers were guided by God's Holy Spirit to record His message using their own cultures, languages, and literary styles.

Transalations of the Bible from the original Hebrew and Greek into other languages, Latin and also current modern languages has also complicated some of the ortiginal understanding of the Word of God, so detailed study of the Bible to understand God's message is necessary.

The Bible reveals the being, nature, and character of God, the nature of God’s creation, and especially God's will for the salvation of human beings through Jesus Christ.

The Bible is therefore our supreme and final authority in all matters that it addresses, written by God through human authors.

The New Testament consistently links baptism with belief and repentance.

The biblical requirement is "He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16),

Baptism is a full immersion in water, symbolising a person's death to their old, sinful life and their resurrection to a new life in Christ. The act of being "buried" under the water and "raised up" represents their identification with Jesus' death and resurrection, as described in Romans 6:4.

It is also a public commitment to follow Jesus' teachings, identify with his death and resurrection, and join the community of believers.

The Bible indicates that full immersion as an adult is an essential part of the salvation process, not an optional one. By being baptized, a person is showing they have understood the gospel message in the Bible and are making a decision that aligns them with God's purpose.

Christadelphians therefore practice adult baptism.

The Bible does not provide any examples of infant baptism, seeing it as a practice not supported by scripture.

God’s desire to save all people is seen in the promises He made, particularly to Abraham and David, who were part of his chosen Israelite people. Also, in the new Testament, as well as Israelites or Jewish people, Gentiles (all non Jews) are included in these promises - through Christs death.

These promises concern God’s plan for all people on the earth, who are willing to follow Him.

God will establish a Kingdom on earth at the return of Christ (Christs second coming).

This Kingdom will be a restoration or rebuilding of the kingdom of David, with Jerusalem as its capital, in fulfillment of the Bible - 2nd book of Samuel, chapter 7.

God's Kingdom on earth will have Christ as King of the wole earth and the current world order, of Governments, Kings and leaders will be destroyed.

In the Bible, Jesus said at the last supper or meal, with his disciples before he was crusified, Jesus commanded his followers to "Do this in remembrance of me".

Therefore, a memorial (memory) service is held, of Jesus's sacrifice for the sins of believers and his victory over death through his resurrection.

It is held weekly and is a time for those who have become baptised members to reflect on their own lives and their mortality. To consider their personal behaviours, ask God to foregive and forget their less than Godly standards, ask for God's support and guidance for their future actions, to try to be more suitable followers of God and Jesus Christ in the coming week.

Also, to look forward to the hope of a new life through Jesus' resurrection and the future Kingdom of God to be on the earth, which by God's grace, or kindness they pray they may have a part in.

The bread and wine themselves are symbols, not special objects and are not transformed into the body and blood of Christ.

The act of sharing the meal physically unites believers of the same Biblical core beliefs in their faith, as they participate in the service.

Who is God?

Is Jesus divine?

Have foretold events in the Bible happened?

Did God or people write the Bible?

What does the Bible say about full immersion adult baptism?

Where is the Kingdom of God?

What is the significance of the bread and wine service?