Want Some Answers ???

Hi  Jonathan

Thanks for your reply. It’s interesting you believe I have a “false impression of your community and our beliefs”. I’m afraid I have been told different stories from different Christadelphians, but am grateful for you clearing up “some misperceptions about Christadelphian beliefs”.  Are Roberts, Tennant and Mansfield good scholars I should read to learn more? I have a few of their books.

My experience generally with Christadelphians [not yourself] is that they don’t like those who differ with their doctrines. When I explain why I differ, they ignore my comments and questions and seem close-minded. You protest my judging you whom I have never met. Sorry if my letters sounded like they were judging you personally. It’s my overall experience with Christadelphians. I have been told since that not all Christadelphian groups are the same. But I’m yet to find one Christadelphian who differs from the standard Christadelphian belief. They all believe [more or less] the same things without offending the main corpus of teaching. Just like Jehovah’s Witnesses. Have you ever met a Witnesses who believes the Trinity is Biblical? That would be “remarkable to say the least”. It would be just remarkable if you hold different views than other Christadelphians. You wrote,

>>The most remarkable thing about Christadelphians is that they are not a "system" but a community of people whose head is Christ<<

I read the word “system” in Robert’s book. He applied it not to people but to his doctrine. For example, Roberts wrote that the immortality of the soul doctrine must be removed from the mind before the gospel can enter, “for it nullifies the whole system” [pg.230 Christendom Astray]. He used this word a number of times regarding his doctrine. You wrote,

>> we do not have a central organization, we do not have a Pope or an archbishop, we do not have a Utah or a Watchtower organization, we simply share the same beliefs. The highest human "authorities" are the elected elders in our individual ecclesias, and they too have to answer to the members, because the members fundamentally only accept the Word of God as an authority<<

Thanks for that. I wasn’t objecting regarding, “organization, elders, members” etc but the doctrinal “system”. As I wrote, “My concern is about Christadelphian doctrine”. That they focus on "the Gospel of the Kingdom" which was preached 'only to the Jews' and was rejected by them. And they ignore "the gospel of the grace of God" [Ac.20:24]. Regarding this you wrote,

>> Paul clearly told us all that "for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain" and that was when he was in Rome towards the end of his life<<

  The expression, "for the hope of Israel” is not referring to the coming kingdom. Paul is saying that he was delivered to the Romans; because he proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah. He maintained that though Jesus was crucified by the Jews he rose again. And, through Jesus he preached the general resurrection of mankind: this all Israel professes to hope for; and yet it is on this account that the Jews persecuted Paul. Both the Messiah and the resurrection might be said to be the hope of Israel; and it is hard to tell which of them is here meant: see Acts 13:6; 24:15, 21; 26:6. But it is not referring to a coming Messianic kingdom which Christadelphians emphasize. You went on,

>>Moreover (Act.28:23) he "expounded and testified concerning the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus" and after failing to reach the Jews he turned to the Gentiles (v.28) and spent two whole years in his own hired house (v.30) "preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord  Jesus Christ"<<

What was this "preaching" in Act.28 ? Paul said, "..the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God BY HIS RESURRECTION from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" [Rom.1:2-4 see also 1 Cor.15:1-3]. Ignore this gospel to your peril. You wrote,

>>Paul also made the point in Galations that the gospel was preached to Abraham (3:8) which doesn't fit too well with your theory that the gospel couldn't have been preached while Jesus was alive on the earth, especially after berating them about "preaching another gospel" in ch.1<<

The message “to Abraham” wasn’t preached while Jesus was alive on earth. Find me one verse in the gospels saying otherwise. The Gospel was to be realised at an appointed period [Jn.1:17]. Although the Jews hoped Jesus would, "….rescue us from the hand of our enemies" [Luke 1:74], yet that was NOT the Gospel. Christ's coming was "to give knowledge of SALVATION…by the remission of…SINS" [Lk.1:77]. Abraham's experience was faith [Gal.3:6-7]. But the “gospel of the kingdom” relates to  Israel and their laws ["not faith" Gal.3:12]. The kingdom agreement depended on Israel's covenant keeping and receiving the Messiah [Rom.10:21]. The Good News of the new agreement is all nations can enjoy God's unconditional love. Yes, Jesus will one day establish the kingdom but the Church needs to proclaim the Gospel of grace [John 3:16].

So I wrote "Christadelphianism contradicts this gospel and suggests that man is to be saved by his own works - Bible reading, etc.” And you replied,

>>This is simply false. We are saved by faith (and that by grace), but it is also true that faith without works is dead<<

Can you see your contradiction here? Christadelphians are quick to say ‘salvation is by grace’ but slow to say what their ‘gospel of the kingdom’ really teaches. H.Tennant wrote, "This work of salvation continues throughout the life of the disciple. He is saved finally because he has held fast to the lifeline secured in Christ" [pg.212 "The Christadelphians What they Believe and Teach" Birmingham 1986]. This “work” of salvation is not according to grace but “because” someone “has held fast” [did the right things, faithful etc]. It’s a “works” salvation by effort. The Bible says, ‘by grace ye are saved, not of yourselves” [Eph.2:8]. Perhaps you could explain what that verse means?

Christadelphians are busy working and hoping that “at the coming of the Lord” they will “participate in salvation” [pg.226 Christendom Astray]. Then what of ‘faith and works’? The “faith” James speaks of is faith that a person claims to have. Many claim they are Christians but have no evidence in their life and actions. Their ‘faith’ is not real. Jas.2:14 “though a man say he hath faith”. James is a book written not merely to believers but also to those who profess to believe. They were "brethren" after the flesh [Cp. Rom.9:3-4]. They needed to be saved. Many today claim also to believe in God [but are not genuine]. Just as many observe ritual, the commandments, diet, religion, customs, yet they need to be saved. James is saying, “I will show thee my faith by my works” [2:18]. So James does not conflict with Paul, he uses words differently.  For example -

I'm not saying good works are unimportant, but that they are insufficient for salvation. All religions teach salvation by good works, but only the true gospel offers salvation by grace alone through faith. You wrote,

>>On that score we wouldn't even regard Bible reading as "works". Bible reading is simply what we do to grow in our understanding of the mind and purpose of God...because we love it! There is precious little value in it if we think we are earning our salvation or something equally bizarre<<

I agree. But I don't think Christadelphians are truly God’s children. Roberts wrote, “The Holy Spirit is given to none in the present day” [pg.83,86 Christendom Astray]. Universally Christadelphians deny the Trinity, the personality of the Holy Spirit and apparently have not accepted the Holy Spirit as a person. The Bible says,

“The Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” [Rom.8:9]. Those who do not have the Spirit of God are not God’s Children, they are not saved.  So you could know the Scriptures perfectly and all about salvation yet never truly enter into it. Never have received the Holy Spirit, the gift of eternal life. Jesus said, “Ye shall die in your sins if ye believe not that I AM He”.

In no religion does God leave heaven to save man. Through Jesus God became a man: the Word became flesh and lived for a while among men - “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” [John 1:14]. You concluded by writing,

>>I trust that I have relieved you of some of your objections, and I hope that you will be more circumspect in your judgements and accusations against me in the future<<

Thanks again for writing and your time. I shall be more circumspect in my judgments regarding you. The email you received went to a number of people [some are still passing it on]. I look forward to hearing from you, in due course and trust I have given you some points to ponder.

Kind regards

Mark Purchase

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