Blackburn Christadelphians
Our Beliefs
The Bible
The Bible is the only place to learn about God and His purpose with the Earth.
It contains great advice for daily living, and also explains God’s future plan, how He will make it happen, and how we can be part of it.
(2 Timothy 3:16)
God
There is only one God, and He is the creator of all things. God is a literal being who is loving, wise, immortal and powerful.
God is very interested in people, and has great plans for the future of His creation.
(Numbers 14:21)
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is God’s son, provided by God to save mankind from sin and death. Following Jesus’ death, God raised him again, and he ascended into heaven.
The Bible promises that one day Jesus will return to reign as King of the world.
(Acts 1:11)
Sin & Death
In the beginning, God created man and woman and placed them in a ‘garden’, where they were tempted by a literal serpent. They failed the test. They were judged guilty by God and punished. The resultant ‘nature’ of humankind has been inherited by all without exception, in other words:- man is mortal, prone to sin and cursed as a result of Adam’s sin. “.. through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12)
Sin in the life of individuals is as the result of this inherited nature and not because of a supernatural devil or satan seeking to entice men and women away from God; “Each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desire and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin and sin when it is full grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15) Man is therefore a dying creature – he returns to dust. His soul, life or disposition ceases to exist – it perishes in the ground. The only hope of life is resurrection for the believer, at the return of Christ.
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God’s power.
He used it to create all things, and continues to use it to carry out His purpose.
(Genesis 1:2)
The Gospel
“Gospel” is a word meaning “good news”.
The Bible defines it as good news about the Kingdom of God, and Jesus Christ.
(Acts 8:12)
The Second Coming
Jesus Christ is to return from heaven to earth to establish the Kingdom of God. “Then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Luke 21:27) Originally, the people of Israel were the kingdom of God on earth. The people and the land of Israel were destined for a unique work. They failed their responsibilities and their status was temporarily suspended. After centuries of dispersion and suffering, the people of Israel have returned to their land, yet in unbelief.
This is the key event in the divine timetable for the return of Jesus Christ. However, there is also clear teaching in Bible prophesy that Israel will suffer a final invasion in order to achieve repentance, that finally Israel might be God’s land and God’s people. It will be at this time that Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, judge those responsible and give immortality. Christ will reign for 1000 years, establishing peace and goodness, a new world order and a new civilisation.
Baptism
Baptism is simple but profound, and is essential for salvation.
An adult who understands the Gospel is immersed in water, signifying a “death”, and a rising to a new life following Jesus’ example.
Jesus was baptised, and requires his followers to do the same.
(Mark 16:15-16)
Prophecy
The Old Testament contains this information together with teaching about Israel and the affairs of the world – particularly with reference to the time of the second coming of Christ. It is therefore important in providing us with this valuable information and should be read and studied.
Promises
The Gospel was preached in the form of promises made to the Jewish Fathers. The seed of the woman described in the judgements of God to the serpent refer to Christ. Promises given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Jewish fathers, and to King David all ultimately refer to Christ and to believers ‘in Christ‘.
Salvation
To be saved, we must have our sins forgiven through baptism into Jesus Christ, and then try to follow his example in our lives.
Those who are saved will live forever on Earth, which will be ruled in peace and love by God and Jesus Christ.
(Mark 16:15-16)
Discipleship
Following baptism, a believer must make a reasonable attempt to obey the teaching of Christ and the Apostles by developing Christ-like characteristics and lifestyle. Baptised believers have a duty to meet with other brothers and sisters of similar belief – to regularly break bread and drink wine in memory of Christ’s sacrifice. To pray, read and study the Bible together and to preach the Gospel to others.
Unless other people hold the same beliefs as outlined above, we are not at liberty to worship and share in fellowship with them. Those who cease to believe or practice the truth as defined and described in the Bible cease to be in fellowship with the body of true believers.