The Christadelphians (a word created from the Greek for "Brethren in Christ"; cf. Colossians 1:2 — "brethren in Christ") are a Christian group that developed in the United Kingdom and North America in the 19th century. The name was coined by John Thomas, who was the group's founder. Christadelphians hold a view of Biblical Unitarianism.
Although no official membership figures are published, the Columbia Encyclopedia gives an estimated figure of 50,000 Christadelphians, who are spread across approximately 120 countries; there are established churches (or ecclesias, as they are often called) in many of those countries, along with isolated members.
SOURCE: Christadelphians
By David J. Stewart | November 2012
Who are the Christadelphians? ...
In their heretical book titled, SALVATION by James and Deb Flint, these Christadelphians teach a false plan of works salvation, requiring water baptism, a changed life, keeping all the commandments, and just about everything else to be saved...
Part 2: What must I do to be saved?
The essential steps
There are five essential steps that God requires us to take if we want to be saved:
1. Humble ourselves - to accept Grace
Romans 3:23-24; Titus 2:11
2. Have Faith in God and the Gospel
Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 11:6; Acts 8:12
3. Repent and be Converted
Acts 3:19; Luke 13:3
4. Be Baptized
Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:43
5. Live a life of ObedienceSOURCE: Salvation
In sharp contrast, the Word of God teaches that all of the Old Testaments prophets testified that simple faith in the Lord was all that's required to be saved. There has always been only one gospel, and that is that Christ paid for our sins. Jesus died, was buried and rose again, that is the gospel (1st Corinthians 15:1-4).
Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
Again we read in John...
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
There is no mention of all the things James and Deb Flint have mentioned. The only repentance required for salvation is that a person change their mind and believe on the Lord. The ONLY object of repentance is to believe the gospel.
Christadelphians Errantly Teach That There's No Assurance Of Salvation
“The Bible never says that salvation is guaranteed. Immortal life is only given at the judgement when Jesus Christ returns to those found worthy. Simply attending a church and saying that we "accept Jesus as our personal saviour" (a popular phrase, but one not found in the Bible) will, sadly, not guarantee our salvation.
The Bible teaches that even after we are baptized there is no guarantee of salvation. We are told that we must strive to enter into the Kingdom (Luke 13:23-24), and that not everyone who seeks eternal life will find it (Matthew 1:13). Christ will reject even some who are confident of their own salvation, because they did not do the will of God (Matthew 1:21-23). Christ tells us that observing his commandments is part of our Christian walk (Matthew 28:19-20), and seeking to obey them is required for our salvation (1 Timothy 4:16, Hebrews 5:9).
Many Christians sincerely believe that they know the day and hour they were saved", and yet time and time again such overconfidence so easily leads them to make mistakes.
"Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful in case he should fall." (1 Corinthians 10:12)
The Bible clearly teaches that:
Eternal life is not a present possession of believers (see Matthew 10:22, 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 3:12-14, 2 Peter 1:10, compare Titus 3:7 with Romans 8:24, compare Matthew 24:46 with Daniel 12:2).
Salvation is given to those who have accepted Christ AND have 'overcome' the trials they experience throughout their lives (see Revelation 2:7,17,26, 3:5,12,21).”
SOURCE: Salvation
In sharp contrast, the Word of God teaches in 1st John 5:13 that we can KNOW that we are eternally saved and secure...
1st John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
The book of 1st John gives evidences (tests) to determine if we are truly saved (i.e., have God's holy Spirit living within us, Romans 8:9). Notice carefully that the apostle John never once mentions getting water baptized. !st John does not list requirements to complete saved, nor are they mandates. The Bible is filled with Christians who did horrible things and sinned. They didn't lose their salvation, not one of them. They may have lost their joy, power and testimony for the Lord; but not one of them lost salvation. Salvation is a new birth... a second, spiritual birth...which cannot be undone nor reversed. To be born for the second time is as irreversible as the first birth. If saved, always saved. James and Deb Flint are false prophets!
Christadelphians Errantly Require Water Baptism To Be Saved
Just as the thief on the cross was never baptized with water, neither does anyone else have to be water baptized to enter into the kingdom of God. Baptism is important only as an act of obedience for a new convert. Baptism is only for believers and not for the unsaved. Water baptism has absolutely no part of salvation. In fact, if you trust upon your baptism in the least way, you never really got saved and are bound for Hell in false religion. Here's what the Christadelphians teach...
“Although baptism may seem a simple and unimportant thing to do, it has great meaning and significance. We must take the time to understand the meaning of baptism and realize how important it is. Baptism is an essential step and not an optional extra. We are told clearly that belief must be followed by baptism: ...
After baptism we enter into a new relationship with God and our past sins are washed away and we become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)”
SOURCE: Salvation
In sharp contrast, the Bible teaches that it is Jesus' precious blood that washes away our sins, and not the waters of baptism. ...
1st Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
Christadelphians Corrupt The Meaning Of Repentance Unto Life
James and Deb Flint correctly define the word repent concerning salvation, that is, a change of mind; but then they pervert its application, plainly teaching that it means a changed life, which is NOT what repentance means Biblically. ...
“Repent means, 'to change ones mind for the better.' Therefore, we must change the way we think and turn to God. Our whole life must be focused in the right direction as we prepare to make a life long commitment to serve God and walk in the footsteps of Christ.”
SOURCE: Salvation
Focusing one's life in the right direction is NOT required to be saved, for that is self-righteousness. God does all the saving and man has no part. Whatever changes need to be made in a new believer's life is God's department and He will attend to that. The ROOT of the believer's salvation is one's faith in Christ, the Redeemer (Romans 4:5-6). The FRUIT of the believer's salvation is a changed life, which is a result (and not a requirement) of genuine repentance. In other words, works follow repentance (or are because of repentance); but they are not a part of repentance, nor are they mandatory for salvation.
And furthermore, the changes which occur BECAUSE of genuine repentance may be hidden from other people to see, for only God can see what is in a person's heart (1st Samuel 16:7). So there's no way for neither you nor I to determine if a person is saved merely from observing their lifestyle. Apart from a direct testimony from their mouth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot know for certain who is or who is not saved. If it weren't for one single passage of Scripture in 2nd Peter 2:7-8, we would never suspect that Lot was a Christian, but he certainly was saved certain, as are all born-again believer in Christ Jesus.
I did not publish this article to be unkind, God forbid. Rather, I published this article to refute the false doctrines of the Christadelphian religious cult, who corrupt the simplicity that is in Christ. We ought to do as the Lord commanded in John 5:39 and SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES, and not follow some heretic named John Thomas (1805-1871, who founded the Christadelphian religion). Beware of Christadelphian fake churches.
