- That the book currently known as the Bible, consisting
of the Scriptures of Moses, the prophets, and the apostles,
is the only source of knowledge concerning God and His purposes
at present extant or available in the earth, and that the
same were wholly given by inspiration of God in the writers,
and are consequently without error in all parts of them,
except such as may be due to the errors of transcription
or translation. 2 Ti 3:16; 1 Co 2:13; Heb 1:1; 2 Pe 1:21;
1 Co 14:37; Neh 9:30; Joh 10:35
TRUTH TO BE RECEIVED
1. That the only true God is He Who was revealed to Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, by angelic visitation and vision, and to
Moses at the flaming bush unconsumed and at Sinai, and Who
manifested Himself in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the supreme
self-existent Deity, the ONE FATHER, dwelling in unapproachable
light, yet everywhere present by His Spirit, which is a
unity with His person in Heaven. He hath, out of His own
underived energy, created heaven and earth, and all that
in them is. Isa 40:13-25; Isa 43:10-12; Isa 44:6-8; Isa
45:5; Isa 46:9-10; Job 38:1-41; Job 39:1-30; Job 40:1-24;
Deu 6:1-4; Mar 12:29-32; 1 Co 8:4-6; Eph 4:6; 1 Ti 2:5;
Neh 9:6; Job 26:13; Psa 124:8; Psa 146:6; Psa 148:5; Isa
40:25-27; Jer 10:12-13; Jer 27:5; Jer 32:17-25; Jer 51:15;
Act 14:15; Act 17:24; 1 Ch 29:11-14; Psa 62:11; Psa 145:3;
Isa 26:4; Isa 40:26; Job 9:4; Job 36:5; Psa 92:5; Psa 104:24;
Psa 147:4-5; Isa 28:29; Rom 16:27; 1 Ti 1:17; 2 Ch 16:9;
Job 28:24; Job 34:21; Psa 33:13-14; Psa 44:21; Psa 94:9;
Psa 139:7-12; Pro 15:3; Jer 23:24; Jer 32:19; Amo 9:2-3;
Act 17:27-28; Psa 123:1; 1 Ki 8:30-39; 1 Ki 8:43; 1 Ki 8:49;
Mat 6:9; 1 Ti 6:15-16; 1 Ti 1:17
2. That Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, begotten
of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, without the intervention
of man, and afterwards anointed with the same Spirit, without
measure, at his baptism. Mat 1:23; 1 Ti 3:16; Act 2:22-24;
Act 2:36; Mat 1:18-25; Gal 4:4; Isa 7:14; Mat 3:16-17; Isa
11:2; Isa 42:1; Isa 61:1; Joh 3:34; Joh 7:16; Joh 8:26-28;
Joh 14:10-24
3. That the appearance of Jesus of Nazareth on the earth
was necessitated by the position and state into which the
human race had been brought by the circumstances connected
with the first man. 1 Co 15:21-22; Rom 5:12-19; Gen 3:19;
2 Co 5:19-21
4. That as the first man was Adam, whom God created out
of the dust of the ground as a living soul, or natural body
of life, "very good" in kind and condition, and placed him
under a law through which the continuance of life was contingent
on obedience. Gen 2:7; Gen 18:27; Job 4:19; Job 33:6; 1
Co 15:46-49; Gen 2:17
5. That Adam broke this law, and was adjudged unworthy
of immortality, and sentenced to return to the ground from
whence he was taken - a sentence which defiled and became
a physical law of his being, and was transmitted to all
his posterity. Gen 3:15-19; Gen 22:1-24; Gen 23:1-20; 2
Co 1:9; Rom 7:24; 2 Co 5:2-4; Rom 7:18-23; Gal 5:16-17;
Rom 6:12; Rom 7:21; Joh 3:6; Rom 5:12; 1 Co 15:22; Psa 51:5;
Job 14:4
6. That God, in his kindness, conceived a plan of restoration
which, without setting aside His just and necessary law
of sin and death, should ultimately rescue the race from
destruction, and people the earth with sinless immortals.
Rev 21:4; Joh 3:16; 2 Ti 1:10; 1jo 2:25; 2 Ti 1:1; Tit 1:2;
Rom 3:26; Joh 1:29
7. That He inaugurated this plan by making promises to
Adam, Abraham and David, and afterwards elaborated it in
greater detail through the prophets. Gen 3:15; Gen 22:18;
Psa 89:34-37; Psa 33:5; Hos 13:14; Isa 25:7-9; Isa 51:1-8;
Jer 23:5
8. That these promises had #reference to Jesus Christ,
who was to be raised up in the condemned line of Abraham
and David, and who, through wearing their condemned nature,
was to obtain a title to resurrection by perfect obedience,
and, dying, abrogate the law of condemnation for himself,
and all who should believe and obey him. 1 Co 15:45; Heb
2:14-16; Rom 1:3; Heb 5:8-9; Heb 1:9; Rom 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5;
Rom 8:3-4; Heb 2:15; Heb 9:26; Gal 1:4; Heb 7:27; Heb 5:3-7;
Heb 2:17; Rom 6:10; Rom 6:9; Act 13:34-37; Rev 1:18; Joh
5:21-22; Joh 5:26-27; Joh 14:3; Rev 2:7; Rev 3:21; Mat 25:21;
Heb 5:9; Mar 16:16; Act 13:38-39; Rom 3:22; Psa 2:6-9; Dan
7:13-14; Rev 11:15; Jer 23:5; Zec 14:9; Eph 1:9-10
9. That is was this mission that necessitated the miraculous
begettal of Christ of a human mother, enabling him to bear
our condemnation, and, at the same time, to be a sinless
bearer thereof, and, the#refore, one who could rise after
suffering the death required by the righteousness of God.
Mat 1:18-25; Luk 1:26-35; Isa 7:14; Rom 1:3-4; Rom 8:3;
Gal 4:4; 2 Co 5:21; Heb 2:14-17; Heb 4:15
10. That being so begotten of God, and inhabited and used
by God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Jesus
was Emmanuel, God with us, God manifested in the flesh --
yet was, during his natural life, of like nature with mortal
man, being made of a woman, of the house and lineage of
David, and the#refore a sufferer, in the days of his flesh,
from all the effects that came by Adam's transgression,
including the death that passed upon all man, which he shared
by partaking of their physical nature. Mat 1:23; 1 Ti 3:16;
Heb 2:14; Gal 4:4; Heb 2:17
11. That the message he delivered from God to his kinsmen,
the Jews, was a call to repentance from every evil work,
the assertion of his divine sonship and Jewish kingship
and the proclamation of the glad tidings that God would
restore their kingdom through him, and accomplish all things
written in the prophets. Mar 1:15; Mat 4:17; Mat 5:20-48;
Joh 10:36; Joh 9:35; Joh 11:27; Joh 19:21; Joh 1:49; Mat
27:11-43; Joh 10:24-25; Mat 19:28; Mat 21:42-43; Mat 23:38-39;
Luk 4:43; Luk 13:27-30; Luk 19:11-27; Luk 22:28-30; Mat
5:17; Luk 24:44
12. That for delivering this message, he was put to death
by the Jews and Romans who were, however, but instruments
in the hands of God, for the doing of that which He had
determined before to be done -- namely, the condemnation
of sin in the flesh, through the offering of the body of
Jesus once for all, as a propitiation to declare the righteousness
of God, as a basis for the remission of sins. All who approach
God through this crucified, but risen, representative of
Adam's disobedient race, are forgiven. Therefore, by a figure,
his blood cleanseth from sin. Luk 9:47; Luk 20:1-26; Joh
11:45-53; Act 10:38-39; Act 13:26-29; Act 4:27-28; Rom 8:3;
Heb 10:10; Rom 3:25; Act 13:38; 1jo 1:7; Joh 14:6; Act 4:12;
1 Pe 3:18; 1 Pe 2:24; Heb 9:14; Heb 7:27; Heb 9:26-28; Gal
1:4; Rom 3:25; Rom 15:8; Gal 3:21-22; Gal 2:21; Gal 4:4-5;
Heb 9:15; Luk 22:20; Luk 24:26; Luk 24:46-47; Mat 26:28
13. That on the third day, God raised him from the dead,
and exalted him to the heavens as priestly mediator between
God and man, in the process of gathering together from among
them a people who should be saved by the belief and obedience
to the Truth. 1 Co 15:4; Act 10:40; Act 13:30-37; Act 2:24-27;
Act 4:27
14. That he is a priest over his own house only, and does
not not intercede for the world, or for professors who are
abandoned to disobedience. That he makes intercession fro
his erring brethren, if they confess and forsake their sins.
Luk 24:51; Eph 1:20; Act 5:31; 1 Ti 2:5; Heb 8:1; Act 15:14;
Act 13:39; Heb 4:14-15; Joh 17:9; Heb 10:26; 1jo 2:1; Pro
28:13
15. That he sent forth apostles to proclaim salvation through
him, as the only Name given under heaven whereby men may
be saved. Act 1:8; Mat 28:19-20; Luk 24:46-48; Act 26:16-18;
Act 4:12
16. That the way to obtain this salvation is to believe
the Gospel they preached, and to take on the Name and service
of Christ, by being thereupon immersed in water, and continuing
patiently in the observance of all things he has commanded,
none being recognized as his friends except those who do
what he has commanded. Act 13:48; Act 16:31; Mar 16:16;
Rom 1:6; Act 2:38; Act 2:41; Act 10:47; Act 8:12; Gal 3:27-29;
Rom 6:3-5; Rom 2:7; Mat 28:20; Joh 15:14
17. That the Gospel consists of "The things concerning
the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ." Act 8:12;
Act 19:8; Act 19:10; Act 19:20; Act 28:30-31
18. That the "Things of the Kingdom of God" are the facts
testified concerning the Kingdom of God in the writings
of the prophets and apostles, and definable as in the next
12 paragraphs.
19. That God will set up a Kingdom in the earth, which
will overthrow all others, and change them into "the kingdoms
of our Lord and His Christ." Dan 2:44; Dan 7:13-14; Rev
11:15; Isa 32:1; Isa 16 2:3-4; Isa 11:9-10
20. That for this purpose God will send Jesus Christ personally
to the earth at the close of the times of the Gentiles.
and that he may send the christ who has been appointed for
you even jesus he must remain in heaven until the time comes
for god to restore everything as he promised long ago through
his holy prophets Act 20:3-21; Psa 102:16; Psa 102:21; 2
Ti 4:1; Act 1:9; Act 1:11; Dan 7:13
21. That the Kingdom which he will establish will be the
Kingdom of Israel restored, in the territory it formerly
occupied, namely, the land bequeathed for an everlasting
possession to Abraham and his Seed the Christ by covenant.
Mic 4:6-8; Amo 9:11; Amo 9:15; Eze 37:21-22; Jer 23:3; Jer
23:8; Gen 13:14-17; Heb 11:8-9; Gal 3:16; Lev 26:42; Mic
7:20
22. That this restoration of the Kingdom again to Israel
will involve the ingathering of God's chosen but scattered
nation, the Jews their reinstatement in the land of their
fathers, when it shall have been reclaimed from "the desolation
of many generations" the building again of Jersalem to become
"the throne of the Lord" and the metropolis of the whole
earth. Isa 11:12; Jer 31:10; Zec 8:8; Eze 36:34-36; Isa
51:3; Isa 60:15; Isa 62:4; Jer 3:17; Mic 4:7-8; Joe 3:17;
Isa 24:23
23. That the governing body of the Kingdom so established
will be the brethren of Christ, of all generations, developed
by resurrection and change, and constituting, with Christ
at their head, the collective "Seed of Abraham," in whom
all nations will be blessed, and comprising "Abraham, Issac,
and Jacob, and all the prophets." and all in their age of
like faithfulness. Dan 12:2; Luk 13:28; Rev 11:18; 1 Th
4:15-17; Joh 5:28-29; Joh 6:39-40; Luk 14:14; Mat 25:34;
Mat 25:46
24. That at the appearing of Christ prior to the establishment
of the Kingdom, the responsible namely, those who know the
revealed will of God, and have been called upon to submit
to it*, dead and living-- obedient and disobedient--will
be summoned before his judgement seat "to be judged according
to their works," and "receive in body according to what
they have done, whether it be good or bad." 2 Co 5:10; 2
Ti 4:1; Rom 2:5-6; Rom 2:16; Rom 14:10-12; 1 Co 4:5; Rev
11:18
* Clause 24 was clarified in Jan. 1898. Because of the
teaching error that one may avoid being raised for judgement
by #refusing baptism.
25. That the unfaithful will be consigned to shame and
"the second death", and the faithful, invested with immortality,
and exalted to reign with Jesus as joint heirs of the Kingdom,
co- possessors of the earth, and joint administrators of
God's authority among men in everything. Mat 7:26; Mat 8:12;
Mat 25:20-30; Dan 12:2; Gal 6:8; Gal 5:21; 2 Th 1:8; Heb
10:26-31; 2 Pe 2:12; Rev 21:8; Mal 4:1; Psa 37:30-38; Pro
10:25-29; 1 Co 15:51-55; 2 Co 5:1-4; Jam 1:12; Rom 2:7;
Joh 10:28; Mat 5:5; Psa 37:9; Psa 37:22; Psa 37:29; Rev
5:9; Dan 7:27; 1 Th 2:12; 2 Pe 1:11; Rev 3:21; 2 Ti 2:12;
Rev 5:10; Psa 49:7-9; Luk 22:29-30
26. That the Kingdom of God, thus constituted, will continue
a thousand years, during which sin and death will continue
among the earth's subject inhabitants, though in a much
milder degree than now. Rev 20:4-9; Rev 11:15; Isa 65:20;
Eze 44:22; Eze 44:25; 1 Co 15:24-28
27. That a law will be established which shall go forth
to the nations for their "instruction in righteousness,"
resulting in the abolition or war to the ends of the earth,
and the "filling of the earth with the knowledge of the
glory of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea." Mic 4:2;
Isa 42:4; Isa 11:1-10; Isa 2:4; Hab 2:14
28. That the mission of the Kingdom will be to subdue all
enemies, and finally death itself, by opening up the way
of life to the nations, which they will enter by faith,
during the thousand years, and in reality at their close.
1 Co 15:24-28; Rev 21:4; Rev 20:12-15; Isa 25:6-8
29. That at the close of the thousand years, there will
be a general resurrection and judgement, resulting in the
final extinction of the wicked, and the immortalization
of those who shall have established their title under the
grace of God to eternal life during the thousand years.
Rev 20:11-15; 1 Co 15:24
30. That the government will then be delivered up by Jesus
to the Father, Who will manifest Himself as the "All-in-All"
sin and death having been taken out of the way, and the
race completely restored to the friendship of the Deity.
1 Co 15:28
DOCTRINES TO BE REJECTED BY CHRISTADELPHIANS
Reject 1. That the Bible is only partly the work of inspiration--or
if wholly so, contains errors which inspiration has allowed.
Reject 2. That God is three persons.
Reject 3. That the Son of God was co-eternal with the Father.
Reject 4. That Christ was born with a "free life."
Reject 5. That Christ's nature was immaculate.
Reject 6. That the Holy Spirit is a person distinct from
the Father.
Reject 7. That man has an immortal soul.
Reject 8. That man consciously exists in death.
Reject 9. That the wicked will suffer eternal torture in
hell.
Reject 10. That the righteous will ascend to the kingdoms
beyond the skies when they die.
Reject 11. That the devil is a supernatural being.
Reject 12. That the Kingdom of God is "the church."
Reject 13. That the Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection
of Christ merely.
Reject 14. That Christ will not come till the close of
the thousand years.
Reject 15. That the tribunal of Christ, when he comes,
is not for judgement of saints, but merely to divide among
them different degrees of reward.
Reject 16. That the resurrection is confined to the faithful.
Reject 17. That the dead rise in an immortal state.
Reject 18. That the subject-nations of the thousand years
are immortal.
Reject 19. That the Law of Moses is binding on believers
of the Gospel.
Reject 20. That the observance of Sunday is a matter of
duty.
Reject 21. That baby sprinkling is a doctrine of Scripture.
Reject 22. That "heathens," idiots, pagans, and very young
children will be saved.
Reject 23. That man can be saved by morality or sincerity,
without the Gospel.
Reject 24. That the Gospel alone will save, without obedience
to Christ's commandments.
Reject 25. That a man cannot believe without possessing
the Spirit of God.
Reject 26. That men are predestined to salvation unconditionally.
Reject 27. That there is no sin in the flesh.
Reject 28. That Joseph was the actual father of Jesus.
Reject 29. That the earth will be destroyed.
Reject 30. That baptism is not necessary to salvation.
Reject 31. That a knowledge of the Truth is not necessary
to make baptism valid.
Reject 32. That some meats are to be refused on the score
of uncleanness.
Reject 33. That the English are the ten tribes of Israel,
whose prosperity is a fulfillment of the promises made concerning
Ephraim.
Reject 34. That marriage with an unbeliever is lawful.
Reject 35. That we are at liberty to serve in the army,
or as police constables* , take part in politics, or recover
debts by legal coercion. * "or as police constables" was
added in 1917.