Want Some Answers ???
Christadelphian's IndexHi Clyde,
Thanks for your mail, glad you replied. You are certainly a man of few words, so there's little you offer the discussion. Do you want to change the subject? Then may I explain myself further on this important issue? You began by writing,
>>Oh, really? I don't know what you are a 'Dr' of Mark, but you sure don't know much about Christadelphians<<
I have studied many Christadelphian 'Bible' courses and finished my Masters on your sect. So I "know" a few things "about Christadelphians". If you can rectify my lack of knowledge, please go-ahead. I look forward to having you [or any Christadelphian] teach me "the truth". I hold a Doctorate in Theology and a PhD in Christian Apologetics.
When answering my letter you wrote, "I
agree" about four times. So I will address your main objections. When I said,
"Christadelphianism suggests that man is to be saved by his own works - Bible
reading, etc". You wrote,
>>This is nonsense. I have been a Christadelphian for over 35 years. To the
best of my knowledge we have always preached salvation by grace - through faith,
not of works as the scriptures clearly teach<<
This is the standard denial to something, which is true. Either that, or you "sure don't know much about Christadelphians". Mansfield wrote in, "The Responsibilities of a 'Born Again' Christian" "We have to do something towards our salvation" [pg.13]. And Roberts wrote,
"Nothing will serve [save] a man in the end, but an exact knowledge of the will of God as continued in the Scriptures, and faithfully carrying out of the same" [pg.231 "Christendom Astray" Roberts].
This should concern because even the greatest Biblical scholar would not claim to have "an exact knowledge of the will of God as continued in the Scriptures". And even the most humble and godly saint would not dare to suggest that he has faithfully carried out 'the same'. Most Christadelphian booklets provide the steps to "work" out salvation. The first is 'knowledge'. We must work to have a "correct" understanding of CHRISTADELPHIAN "truth". In other words the doctrines of Christadelphianism must be accepted. [ie none can be saved who believe the immortality of the soul for that "nullifies the whole system" [pg230 Roberts]. None who believe the Trinity will be saved either [pg.1-2 God is not Three. Mansfield].
And baptism of course is "essential to
salvation" without which NO ONE can be saved [pg2 'Baptism essential to
Salvation' Mansfield]. And then, one must work and live right [ie a life long
attendance keeping the Lord's Supper and a life long effort to be a good
Christadelphian]. If these Christadelphian 'conditions' are not obeyed the
result is "...the effect of shutting out from [heaven] the great majority
of mankind" [pg.226-227 Roberts]. Salvation for Christadelphians is
gained from effort, striving, faithfulness, and 'a life long process', meeting
the 'conditions'. In other words, it's WORKS. If these works don't exist there
is no salvation [pg.243 Roberts]. Do you deny this, yes or no? If 'yes' then you
have a problem with Christadelphianism. If 'no' you have a problem with the
Bible.
With the true Gospel of salvation, I'm confident of going to heaven while you
[with the gospel of the kingdom] can never be sure. You are busy full time
striving. This striving is a human work, which questions any claim of 'faith in
Christ only'. Eph.2:8 says salvation is "...NOT of yourselves" [or could you
tell me what it means?]. You're striving to keep the conditions that your
"church" leaders specify. And without this obedience you have been told you
can't be saved.
These requirements pledge your loyalty to your sect, and only then [they say] salvation is possible. Well, the fact is that, Jehovah's Witness, Adventists, Mormons, Roman Catholics, and others all have their requirement lists as well, to keep their converts. They believe one can be saved one day and lost the next, so they strive [work] for salvation. They talk about "faith" and "grace" yet redefine these words to allow for "faithful works". But we are not saved by our faith but saved by grace. The instrument of salvation was and is grace. I'm not saying good works are unimportant, but that they are insufficient for salvation. All religions teach salvation by good works, but only true Christianity offers salvation by grace alone through faith. I asked 'Have you had a conversion? And you replied,
>>Yes. Born again<<
Christadelphians believe the spiritual birth occurs "at Christ's return" and "a water birth at baptism". Don't confuse being born again with baptism. If baptism were the same as being born again, then 95% of West Germany would be children of God. Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini would also qualify. Not to mention the many whom God awakens their hearts and they have a change of heart, but then remember they have had a baptism and so think everything is okay. All the water in the world can't wash one sin away and make anyone alive to God.
You will say that before baptism one must
prove themselves a good Christadelphian in many ways. And a Christadelphian
alone can baptize, which means salvation is only found in your little group. I
tell you that's nonsense.
Water Baptism is not the 'born again' experience Jesus referred to. When
Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to
be born!" Jesus didn't refer Nicodemus to the Second Coming, or to John's
baptism or to something men do, but to something God does. The Bible says that
God's children are "born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a
husband's will, but born of God [Jn1:13]. If you have not had this new birth
you do not have God's Spirit within your heart, but are dead in sin [Jn.3:3
Rom.8:9].
You can never be sure of salvation and have "the peace that passeth understanding" which I enjoy [Phil.4:7]. If you are not truly 'born again' you can work, keep the law, hope, be baptised and pray but you won't have eternal life even after 35 years. Is there anything keeping you from accepting God's free gift of salvation now? This is what the Bible is all about, I pray you come to know Christ as Saviour.
You have a condition list for God's pardon. In
other words, you work for salvation. I believe that good works cannot be the
whole, or part of our righteousness before God. Because, the righteousness,
which can be approved of before the tribunal of God, must be absolutely perfect
and in all respects conformable to the divine law. And also, our best works in
this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin. So 'forgiveness' means to me,
that God, for the sake of Christ's satisfaction will no more remember my sins.
Nor remember my corrupt nature against which I have to struggle all life. But He
graciously imputes to me the righteousness of Christ; that I may never be
condemned before the tribunal of God. You wrote,
>>Hmmm. Paul didn't seem to think he had attained, until at least the end of his
life<<
Clyde, I strive, run, watch and work but not to earn "salvation" but because
I am saved. "Running the race" cannot make me 'worthy enough' to earn
"salvation" only Christ's payment for ALL my sin can do that. I give Christ all
the credits for He paid in full the price of my redemption [1 Cor.6:20 1
Pe.1:18-25 Rev.5:9-10]. The Bible says, "All our righteous acts are as filthy
rags" in God's sight [Isa.64:6]. Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which
we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.
So do you believe Christ died for all your sin or only past sins? Since Christ is my Saviour I was not only acquitted of sin, but also forgiven. I will never be judged for my sins. That is a settled issue. Settled in the mind of God at the moment of the new birth [Jn.5:24]. Love mercy and grace are what make God so wonderful. Since He loves me with an unconditional love, an "everlasting love" [Jer.31:3] what fine Christian I should be. Yes there's a reward to be won or lost but that is not salvation itself.
You asked concerning the annihilation theories. There are a few, their details vary however that's another subject for another time. You asked about the Trinity, again another subject. But if that's all you want to write about I'm happy to answer questions. But running from this subject is a cop-out on your part. Once you see that salvation is a work of God from beginning to end - a Divine work, not of us, or even faith [for our faith is not perfect], then you will realise that Christadelphianism is just a man-made religion. For the first time in your life you could really trust Christ as your Saviour and have peace with God. For me to walk with the Lord is a joy, for you, it's uncertain and a deceptive hope.
This answers your comments. Don't send
attachments [because of virus']. But if you want to change the subject, be
prepared to study, answer, write and read for yourself. After two or three
letters I find the big-talkers disappear fast. Because all the thinking has been
done for them, they never think. So, keep writing unless ".. you are afraid of
the truth".
Regards
Mark Purchase