I had a workmate who was involved with christadelphians. He was really into scriptures but not so great with the prayer. He would always want to discuss scriptures with me but they would only be the ones he learned and he was a bit obssessed with end times.
I never quite got what he believed though and whether it was a full blown cult.
we never had a jonestown type cult tragedy in nz but there was a group that had a similar settlement called Gloriavale. I think they broke away from the exclusive brethren. They were on the news for some sex scandal, and they lived like the amish in that they didnt let anyone out of their community and wore old fashioned clothes.
Christadelphians
"2. That Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God [
not "God the Son"], 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. (Isa. 7:14; 11:2; 41:1; 21:1; Matt. 1:18-25; 3:16-17; Luke 1:26-35; John 3:34; 7:16; 8:26-28; 14:10-24; Acts 2:22-24; Gal.4:4). "
http://orlandounamendedchristadelph...mended_Christadelphian_Statement_of_Faith.pdf
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How could this possibly be true if Jesus is co-equal with God. The doctrine of the Trinity is false; God is one, not three; and Jesus Christ is His only begotten son.
Concerning The Title: God.
But some may draw attention to the fact that the title of God is sometimes applied to Jesus Christ. For example, when Thomas saw the risen Christ, he exclaimed: "My Lord and my God!"
Does the use of such titles in relation to Jesus prove that he is the second person of a Trinity.
We answer, No,
on the grounds that if it did, it would present a contradiction to many passages which show that he is not co- equal with the Father. In addition the same titles are used for angels and men who stood in a special relationship to the Creator.
This may sound confusing at first sight, but it is not really so. Consider. An agent goes forth in the name of the one who employs him; the representative of a firm merges his individuality in the name of the company he represents. On the same basis, angels and men used God's name when they went forth as His accredited agents.
The Lord himself reminded the Jews of this when they accused him of using the name of God blasphemously. He replied:
"Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, Ye are gods?' If He (God) called them 'gods' unto whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken (i.e. -- you cannot refute this fact), why say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world, 'Thou blasphemest,' because I said, I am the son of God?" (John 10:34-35).
The Lord was quoting from Psalm 82, where the divinely appointed priests and elders of Israel are given the title of "Gods" because they acted and spake in the name of God. The fact that they used the title and applied it to themselves, did not make them part of the Godhead, anymore than it did Jesus when it was applied to him. That is the point of his reasoning with the Jews. He made
it perfectly clear that lie was not claiming equality with the Father.
Those "to whom the word of God came," such as the priests in Israel, derived their authority from God, judged on His behalf, and were His accredited representatives among the people. They were "Gods" by deputy (2 Chron. 19:6). To stand before the priests was to stand "before the Lord" (Deut. 19:17), so that Paul taught: "Though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, to us there is but one God, the Father . . . and one Lord, Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 8:6). The "gods" in heaven and on earth besides the Father are His angels and rulers, who, in consequence assumed the title. In Exodus 7:1; 4:16, Moses is called "God," and in Joshua 22:22, the Father is described as a "God of gods and Lord of lords."
Any humble believer can attain unto that high and lofty title in a more complete sense than did the mortal rulers of Israel in ages past who though called Gods, nevertheless "died like men" (Ps. 82:6-7). Believers are described as "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (Rom. 8:17), rejoicing in hope "of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:2). Peter taught that they can become "partakers of divine nature," (2 Pet. 1:4), and Christ promised that he would "write" upon those who overcome "the name of my God" (Rev. 3:12). If mortal man can attain unto the glory, nature and name of God, surely the Lord Jesus can claim the privilege of the title "God" without teaching that he is part of the Trinity.
The angels also spake and acted in the name of God, without claiming co-equality with Him. There was one placed over the affairs of Israel, concerning whom, God told Moses:
"Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not, for he will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in him" (Exod. 23:20-21).
That angel spake and acted as God, but it would be folly to claim that he was part of the Trinity. In the Age to come, the faithful will be "equal unto the angels" (Luke 20:36), and will go forth in the name of God.
The Holy Spirit.
This is frequently translated Holy Ghost in the Bible, but should always be rendered Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the energy or power of God by which all creation came into being and is sustained. Whilst God dwells personally and corporeally in the heavens, His spirit is diffused throughout the universe (Ps. 139:7-12), and is the substratum of all creation (Acts 17:25).
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http://www.christadelphia.org/books/keystudy16.php
"The angel told her that God's power would cause her to conceive a son.
...
Are God and Jesus the same?
We have seen that the Bible teaches there is only one God and Jesus Christ is His son. Is it possible that Jesus and God are both made of the same substance, or are both co-equal and co-eternal?
The following tables highlight some of the differences between Jesus and God, which have been recorded for us in God's Word:
These differences demonstrate that God and Jesus are two unique, different beings.
1
