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Conclusions Thus Far

I was amazed no Christadelphian correspondent enquired what I had read on the Christadelphian web site. Some distanced themselves from the site, but none explained any of my so-called ‘misunderstanding’ about the web site. How quickly they might have cleared up 'misunderstanding' if they had done that? I wrote, “Christadelphians ignore the gospel of God’s grace” yet none could go to the web site and prove that wrong because it’s true!

When trying to win converts, Christadelphians tolerate differences of opinion, the Trinity doctrine, been misunderstood and differences over ‘salvation’, but they are basically all the same. I predicted they would be ‘close minded’ that they had already made their minds up and wouldn’t change. At this stage with all the correspondence those things remain true.

 Those who glossed over differences suggesting there was no disagreement between my letter and Christadelphian doctrine apparently had no intention of continuing correspondence to prove it. All stopped their correspondence. The impression is that a closer examination of the Christadelphian doctrine of salvation is not their desire. If I have misunderstood or still misunderstand Christadelphian doctrine it’s because Christadelphians don’t care to purse and establish the truth. Those who KNOW they walk in the truth are usually eager to contend for it. Since they haven’t been, I conclude they don’t have the truth.

There’s division in Christadelphianism. Some want to move away from the likes of Roberts, Thomas and Mansfield. Some want to become closer to conservative Christianity.

I found most replies were quick to argue that I didn’t know what Christadelphians believe, yet they didn’t seem to know much about the Christadelphian web site and the doctrine of their own sect. Two quotes from the web site -

[1] “The Christadelphians believe that salvation is attained through faith in Christ. It is through faith that we are baptized into Christ for forgiveness of sins, and thereby participate in the promises to Abraham: to inherit the earth for ever”.

My comment - Do Christadelphians who read this know what it says? It says, “salvation is attained” [not a gift, no mention of grace]. We are ‘baptised [what for?] “for forgiveness of sins”. This is only for “past sins” [pg23 A Declaration of the Truth. Birm.1981]. That is a serious Roman Catholic error. I don’t deny baptism is a step of obedience to the Lord, but it is in no way effective to save. Or half the people in Europe would be saved. Regeneration is a work of the Holy Spirit apart from any ordinance. It is symbolical and representative but it does not take away sin.

[2] Clause 16 “Doctrinally, the Christadelphian’s are unique in Christendom in our understanding of the nature of Christ, and the way in which we are redeemed by his death. We reject as unbiblical the idea that Christ could die as a replacement sacrifice for us, thus covering all our sins forever with that one act. Certainly it is through his sacrifice that we may be forgiven, but only if we walk the path of self-denial that he marked out for us”.

Clause 16 contradicts Scripture which teaches “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” [1 Jn.1:7]. And that Christ is our substitution. 1 Pet 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree”. 1 Pet 3:18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins” 1 John 4:10  God send - sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins”. 1 Cor.15:3 “Christ died for our sins”. 2 Cor.5:21 “He was made sin for [instead of] us” .

Clause 16 is the clear reference to “works” that Christadelphians deny they taught or believe. It says salvation is “only if we walk the path” This is the error of “Synergism”, the teaching that we cooperate with God in our efforts of salvation. Cults are synergistic in that they teach that God's grace, combined with our efforts are what makes forgiveness of sins possible.  Note the sentence, “but only if we walk the path of self-denial.”  If our eternal salvation was on the basis of works and we could earn it successfully, God would be our debtor: He would owe us something [Rom.4:1-3]. The Bible teaches that God owes no man anything and our righteousness is as filthy rags [Isa.64:6]. The simple reason is that God has a perfect standard and all of us have sinned and come short of this mark [Rom.3:23]. We like to compare ourselves to others and feel we are not so bad after all. But God compares us to Christ and next to Him we cannot help but fall far short. Otherwise, the words of Jesus are not true, 'no Man cometh to the Father but by Me' [Jn.14:6].

Yes, love is displayed in our obedience to Him which is the visible fruit of faith, but that does not mean salvation comes from works of obedience. No! I have peace in my heart towards God and the certainty of eternal life because salvation is a work of God. I earnest await any Christadelphian to explain how I misunderstand clause 16.

I doubt Christadelphians are God’s children and there's no true salvation message taught in the whole movement. Roberts wrote, “The Holy Spirit is given to none in the present day” [pg.83,86 Christendom Astray].

 Universally Christadelphian's deny the Trinity, the personality of the Holy Spirit and don’t accept 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]. Jesus said, 'You must be born again' (Jn.3:3,7). It's by this spiritual birth one becomes God's child and receives the Holy Spirit (Jn.1:12-13, 1 Pe.1:3-4, 23, Rom.8:15-16  1 Cor.2:12, Gal.3:2-3).

That means, those who have not received the Holy Spirit are not God’s Children, they are not saved.  One could know Scripture perfectly, yet don’t “belong to Christ”. And by insisting Christ is someone other than Who He claimed, means that His warning is “Ye shall die in your sins if ye believe not that I AM He”. [Jn.8:24]  “He was in the world, the world was made by Him, yet knew Him not” [Jn.1:10]. Apparently Christadelphian's also don’t know Him either.

Helpful books -

“Unmasking Christadelphianism – the hopelessness of ‘The Hope” by Branson Hopkins. “Some Modern Faiths” by MC Burrell & JS Wright (Inter Varsity Press 2nd Edn. 1983).  “Small Sects in America” TE Clark (Rvd Edn 1947 The Psychology of Religious Awaking, NY).  “Three Curious Cults”  KE Ditterich (The Methodist Publ. House Aldersgate Press nd).  “Heresies and Cults”  JO Sanders (Marshall Morgan & Scott London 1962).  “Some Modern Religions” JO Sanders (Tyndale Press. Foundations for Faith 1965). “Sects and Society”  BR Wilson (William Heineman Ltd London 1961).