Christadelphian Unamended
Statement of Faith
Or Doctrines Forming Their
Basis of Fellowship
Note
This
is a reproduction of the old Birmingham Statement (1877), with the following
corrections made:
Proposition
5, instead of
"a sentence which defiled," now reads, "a sentence which in
effect defiled."
Proposition
6, instead of
"ultimately rescue the race," now reads, "ultimately rescue the
obedient of the race."
Proposition
8, instead of
"who was raised up in the condemned line of Abraham and David," now
reads, "who was raised up of the condemned race of Adam in the line of
Abraham and David."
Proposition
9, instead of
"Christ of a human mother," now reads, "Christ of a virgin
descendant of Adam."
Proposition
18, instead of
"are the facts testified," now reads, "are the facts and truths
testified."
To Proposition
9 is added, "and thus he destroyed in his own mortal nature that
having the power of death, which is the devil; and will finally destroy the
devil, or sin in the flesh, in all its forms of manifestation."
The words
"a general resurrection and judgment" in relation to the thousand
years are omitted in Proposition 29, since they do not affect
the question of fellowship.
To the
above corrections are now added in 1986 certain clarifications which are shown
in brackets after Propositions 16, 25 , 26,
and 29. Added to the "Doctrines to Be Rejected" are
numbers 36, 37 and 38 treating with the
interpretation of the Apocalypse.
Also appended
to "The Commandments of Christ" are numbers 54-70,
which are deemed appropriate to the times. It should be borne in mind that
these do not constitute a change in the Statement; they are clarifications
only.
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.
Deut. 6:1-4; I Kings 8:30-39; 43-49; I Chron. 29:11-14; II Chron. 16:9; Neh.
9:6; Job 9:4, 26:13, 28:2, 24:24; 34:21, 36:5; Job 38, 39, 40; Psa. 33:13-14,
44:21, 62:11, 92:5, 94:9, 104:24, 123:1, 124:8, 139:7-11, 145:3, 146:6, 147:4,
5, 148:5; Prov. 15:3; Isa. 26:4, 28:29 40:13-27 43:10-12, 44:6-8, 45:5, 46:9,
10; Jer. 10:12, 13, 23:24, 27:5, 32:19,25; 51:15; Amos 9:2, 3; Matt. 6:9; Mark
12:29-32; Acts 14:15, 17:24-28; Rom. 16:27; I Cor. 8:4-6; Eph. 4:6; I Tim.
1:17, 2:5, 6:15, 16.
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. Isa. 7:14;11:2; 41:1;
42:1; 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, 36; Gal. 4:4; I Tim. 3:16
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. Gen. 3:19; Rom. 5:12-19;
I Cor. 15:21, 22: II Cor. 5:19-21.
4. That 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 he was placed under a law through which the
continuance of life was contingent on obedience. Gen. 2:7, 17, 18:27; Job
4:19, 33:6; I Cor. 15:46-49
5. That Adam broke this law, and was sentenced to return to the
ground from whence he was taken - a sentence which in effect defiled and became
a physical law of his being, and was transmitted to all his posterity. Gen. 3:15-19, 22, 23;
Job 14:4, Psa. 51:5; John 3:6; Rom. 5:12, 6:12, 7:18-24; I Cor. 15:22; II Cor.
1:9; 5:2-4; Gal. 5:16, 17.
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 obedient of the race from destruction, and people
the earth with sinless immortals. John 1:29, 3:16; Rom. 3:26; II Tim. 1:1, 10;
Titus 1:2; I John 2:25; Rev. 21:4.
7. That he inaugurated this plan by making promises to Adam,
Abraham, and David, which were afterwards elaborated in greater detail through
the prophets. Gen. 3:15, 22:18; Psa. 33:5;89:34-37; Isa. 25:7-9, 51:1-8; Jer.
23:5; Hosea 13:14.
8. That these promises had reference to Jesus Christ, who was to
be raised up of the condemned race of Adam, in the line of Abraham and David
and who, though wearing the condemned nature, was to obtain a title to
resurrection, by perfect obedience, and by dying, abrogate the law of
condemnation for himself, and all who should believe and obey him. Psa. 2:6-9; Jer. 23:5;
Dan. 7:13; 14; Jer 23:5; Zech. 14:9; Matt. 25:21; Mark 16:16; John 5:21-27,
14:3; Acts 13:34-39; Rom. 1:3, 3:22, 5:19-21, 6:9, 10, 8:3, 4; I Cor. 15:45;
Gal. 1:4, 4:4, 5; Eph. 1:9, 10; Heb. 1:9, 2:14-17, 5:3-9, 7:27, 9:26; Rev.
1:18, 2:7 3:21, 11:15.
9. That it was this mission that necessitated the miraculous
begettal of Christ of a virgin descendant of Adam, enabling him to bear our
condemnation, and, at the same time, to be a sinless bearer thereof, and,
therefore, one who could rise after suffering the death required by the righteousness
of God; and thus he destroyed in his own mortal nature that having the power of
death, which is the devil; and will finally destroy the devil, or sin in the
flesh, in all its forms of manifestation. Isa. 7:14; Matt.
1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35; Rom. 1:3, 4, 8:3; II Cor. 5:21; Gal. 4:3, 4; Heb 2:17,
4:15
10. That being so begotten of God, and inhabited and used by God
through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was Immanuel, God with us, God
manifest 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
therefore 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 men, which he
shared by partaking of their physical nature. Matt. 1:23; Gal. 4:4; I
Tim. 3:16; Heb 2:14, 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. Matt. 4:17, 5:17, 20-48, 19:28,
21:42, 43, 23:38, 39, 25:14-46, 27:11-42; Mark 1:15; Luke 4:43, 13:27-30,
19:11-27, 22:28-30, 24:44; John 1:49, 9:35-37, 10:24, 25, 36, 11:27, 19:21.
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, viz., 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. Matt. 26:28; Luke 19:47,
22:20, 23:26-48, 24:26, 46, 47; John 11:45-53, 14:16; Acts 4:12, 10:38, 39,
13:26-29, 38; Rom. 3:25, 53, 14:6; Acts 4:12, 10:38, 39, 13:26-29, 38; Rom
3:25, 8:3, 15:8; Gal. 1:4, 2:21, 3:21,22, 4:4, 5; Heb 7:27, 9:14, 15, 26-28,
10:10; I Pet. 2:24, 3:18; I John 1:7.
13. That on the third day, God raised him from the dead, and
exalted him to the heavens as a priestly mediator between God and man, in the
process of gathering from among them a people who should be saved by the belief
and obedience of the truth. Acts 2:24-27; 4:27; 10:40, 13:30-37; I Cor. 15:4
14. That he is a priest over his own house only, and does not
intercede for the world, or for professors who are abandoned to disobedience.
That he makes intercession for his erring brethren, if they confess and forsake
their sins. Prov. 27:13; Luke 24:51; John 17:9; Acts 5:31; 13:39; 15:14; Eph. 1:20;
I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:14-15, 8:1, 10:26; I John 2:2.
15. That he sent forth apostles to proclaim salvation through him,
as the only name given under heaven whereby men may be saved. Matt. 28:19, 20; Luke
24:46-48; Acts 1:8, 4:12 26:16-18
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 immersed
in water into his name 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.Matt. 28:20; Mark 16:16; John 15:14; Acts 2:38-41, 8:12,
10:47, 13:48, 16:31; Rom. 1:16, 2:7, 6:3-5; Gal. 3:27-29
[The
immersion in water into the name of Christ is an individual act of faith
involving one's recognition and confession that he is, prior to valid baptism,
"dead in trespasses and sins" and "by nature [one of] the
children of wrath" (Eph. 2:1,3), "without Christ, being aliens from
the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having
no hope, and without God in the world" (Eph. 2:12). Baptism into Jesus
Christ is a baptism "into his death: (Rom. 6:3) and acquires for the
baptized person a title to mortal resurrection (Rom. 6:5), a title not formerly
possessed while "in Adam." The condemnation to death acquired at
birth by all of Adam's descendants is cancelled, removed or invalidated by the
act of baptism, as are previous wicked works and the newly baptized person
comes under the jurisdiction of "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus" (Rom. 8:2), the previous birthright to death and jurisdiction of
"the law of sin and death" being terminated (Rom. 8:1-12). If the
newly baptized person ultimately receives death as the result of his
unfaithfulness, it is predicated upon his relation to "the law of the
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" and not from a relation to the federal
class of "in Adam" or 'the law of sin and death," that
relationship having been removed. Validly baptized persons are no longer
constitutionally "in Adam."]
17. That the gospel consists of "the things concerning the
kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ." Acts 8:12; 19:8, 10, 20;
28:30, 31.
18. That the things of the kingdom of God are the facts and truths
testified concerning the kingdom of God in the writings of the prophets and
apostles, and definable as in the next twelve paragraphs.
19. That God will set up a kingdom in the earth, which will
overthrow all others, and change them into "the kingdom of our Lord and
his Christ." Dan. 2:44; 7:13, 14; Isa. 11:9,10, 32:1,16; Rev. 11:15.
20. That for this purpose God will send Jesus Christ personally to
the earth at the close of the times of the Gentiles. Psa. 102:16, 21; Dan.
7:13, 14; Acts 1:9,11 3:20-21; II Tim 4:1
21. That the kingdom which he will establish will be the kingdom
of Israel restored, in the territory it formerly occupied, viz., the land
bequeathed for an everlasting possession to Abraham and his seed (the Christ)
by covenant, Gen. 22:14, 17; Lev. 26:42 Jer. 23:3-8; Ezek. 37:21, 22; Amos
9:11, 15; Micah 4:6-8, 7:20; Gal. 3:16; Heb 11:8, 9.
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
Jerusalem to become "the throne of the Lord" and the metropolis of
the whole earth. Isa. 11:12, 24:23, 51:3, 60:15, 62:4; Jer. 3:17, 31:10;
Ezek. 36:34-36; Micah 4:7, 8; Joel 3:17; Zech. 8:8
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 as their head, the collective "seed
of Abraham" in whom all nations will be blessed, and comprising
"Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets," and all in their
age of like faithfulness. Dan. 12:2; Matt. 25:34; Luke 13:28, 14:14; John
5:28, 29, 6:39, 40; I Thess. 4:15, 17; Rev. 11:18.
24. That a law will be established, which shall go forth to the
nations for their "instruction in righteousness," resulting in the
abolition of 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." Isa. 2;4, 11:2-5, 42:4,
Micah 4:2; Hab. 2:14
25. That at the appearing of Christ prior to the establishment of
the kingdom, the responsible (faithful and unfaithful), dead and living of both
classes, will be summoned before his judgment seat "to be judged according
to their works;" and "receive in body according to what they have
done, whether it be good or bad." Rom. 2:5, 6, 16,
14:10-12; I Cor. 4:5; II Cor. 5:10; II Tim. 4:1; Rev. 11:18
[The
use of the term "responsible" means, as the 1877 Statement of Faith
expresses it, "his servants," and is the intent of this Statement of
Faith. Further, the Scriptures teach the resurrection of those "in
Christ," which are comprised of the just and the unjust (servants), or the
whole household of God as the 1869 Statement of Faith (Dr. Thomas's synopsis)
puts it. This Proposition is not intended to and does not affirm a resurrection
of any other than the two classes taught by Scripture and stated in the 1877
so-called Original Birmingham Statement of Faith. The unfortunate alteration of
the original wording "his servants" to "the responsible"
has unnecessarily modified the meaning and removes the strength of its intent.
Fortunately, the retention of the wording "both classes" makes it
clear that the framers of the Original Statement of Faith spoke of only two
classes at the resurrection to Christ's judgment - faithful servants and unfaithful
servants. To go beyond this Scriptural teaching and proclaim as a first
principle of saving truth that God will of a certainty designate others than
servants as being responsible to resurrection and judgment (the bema of
Christ) violates the intent of this Proposition. The effect of affirmative
belief in resurrection of "his servants" is to be considered in
conjunction with Proposition 5, affirming the sentence of Adam's posterity
"to return to the ground," with Proposition 8, describing Christ
"to be raised up of the condemned race of Adam... and who, though wearing
the condemned nature, was to obtain a title to resurrection, by perfect
obedience, and by dying, abrogate the law of condemnation for himself, and all
who should believe and obey him," with Proposition 9 in which it is
affirmed that the begettal of Christ necessitated him "to bear our
condemnation," and with Proposition 10 in which Christ is described as
"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 men, which he
shared by partaking of their physical nature."
This
Proposition is not intended to be construed as an "open question" as
to what classes of people will be raised and judged; it affirms two classes,
both of which are servants or saints. It is of vital importance in recognizing
the correct nature of man, condemnation and its removal, the purpose of
baptism, the effect of the everlasting covenant, the nature and sacrifice of
Christ, and fellowship. The Amended Statement of Faith is not compatible with
the truth stated in Proposition 25 and should be refused as a valid basis of
fellowship.]
26. 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 rulers of the kingdom, co-possessors of the earth,
and joint rulers of the kingdom, co-possessors of the earth, and joint administrators
of God's authority among men in everything. Psa. 37:9, 22, 29-38,
49:7, 9; Prov. 10:25-30; Dan. 7:27, 12:2; Mal. 4:1; Matt. 5:5, 7:26, 8:12,
25:21; Luke 22:29, 30; John 10:28; Rom 2:7; I Cor. 15: 51-55; II Cor. 5:1-4;
Gal. 5:21, 6:8; I Thess. 2:12; II Thess. 1:8; II Tim 2:12; Jas. 1:12; Heb.
10:26-31; II Pet. 1:11, 2:9; Rev. 3:21, 5:9,10, 21:8.
[This
Proposition treats of the disposition of the TWO classes addressed in
Proposition 25: the unfaithful (servants) to the second death (the first having
been accomplished at baptism or entrance into the everlasting covenant) and the
faithful (servants) to immortality and exaltation. The judgment seat of Christ,
therefore, treats of the disposition of only two classes - both servants.]
27. 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. Isa. 65:20; I Cor.
15:24-28; Rev. 20:7-9, 11:15
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.
Isa.
25:6-8; I Cor. 15:24-26; Rev. 20:12-15, 21:4
29. That at the close of the thousand years, there will be 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. I Cor. 15:24; Rev. 20:11-15.
30. That the government (in its mediatorial aspect) 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
obedient of the race completely restored to the friendship of the Deity. I Cor. 15:28
31. That the scriptures, composing the book currently known as the
Bible, are the only source now extant of knowledge concerning God and His
purposes, and that they were given wholly by the unerring inspiration of God in
the writers, and that such errors as have since crept in are due to
transcription or translation.Neh. 9:30; Luke 1:70; John 10:35; I Cor. 2:13,
14:37; II Tim 3:16; Heb 1:1; II Pet. 1:21
Doctrines to Be Rejected
1. That the Bible is only partly the work of inspiration -- or if wholly so, contains errors which inspiration allowed.
2.
That God is three persons.
3.
That the Son of God was co-equal
with the Father.
4.
That Christ was born with a
"free life."
5.
That Christ's nature was immaculate.
6.
That the Holy Spirit is a person
distinct from the Father.
7.
That man has an immortal soul.
8.
That man consciously exists in
death.
9.
That the wicked will suffer eternal
torture in hell.
10.
That the righteous will ascend to kingdoms beyond the skies when they die.
11.
That the devil is a supernatural personal being.
12.
That the kingdom of God is "the church."
13.
That the Gospel is confined to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
14.
That Christ will not come till the close of the thousand years.
15.
That the tribunal of Christ, when he comes, is not for the judgment of saints,
but merely to divide among them different degrees of reward.
16.
That the resurrection is confined to the
faithful.
17.
That the dead rise in an immortal state.
18.
That the subject-nations of the thousand years
are immortal.
19.
That the law of Moses is binding on believers of
the gospel.
20.
That the observance of Sunday as a Sabbath is a
matter of duty.
21.
That baby sprinkling is a doctrine of Scripture.
22.
That "heathens," idiots, pagans, and
very young children will be saved.
23.
That man can be saved by morality or sincerity,
without the Gospel.
24.
That the Gospel alone will save without baptism and the continued obedience of
Christ's commandments.
25.
That man cannot believe without possessing the
Holy Spirit.
26.
That men are pre-destined to salvation
unconditionally.
27.
That there is no sin in the flesh.
28.
That Joseph was the actual father of Jesus.
29.
That the earth will be burned up.
30.
That baptism is not necessary to salvation.
31.
That a knowledge of the truth is not necessary
to make baptism valid.
32.
That some meats are to be refused on the score
of uncleanness.
33.
That the English are the ten tribes of Israel, whose prosperity is a
fulfillment of the promises made concerning Ephraim.
34.
That marriage with an unbeliever is lawful.
35.
That we are at liberty to serve in the army, take part in politics, or recover
debts by legal coercion.
36.
That the book of Revelation refers practically entirely to events which are to
occur after Christ returns (futurist theory).
37.
That the book of Revelation refers primarily to events that occurred in 70 A.D.
(preterist theory).
38.
That any theory that radically departs from the "continuous historical
interpretation" as generally elaborated by John Thomas in Eureka
is to be received. (This does not require unqualified acceptance of the
interpretation of all events and symbols - simply that the events "which
must shortly come to pass" began to transpire shortly after the Apocalypse
was given to the Apostle John in Patmos and that they have continued to unfold
in the nearly 1900 years since that divine revelation.)
Commandments of Christ
1.
Love your enemies; do good to them that hate you. Matt 5:44
2.
Resist not evil; if a man smite thee
on one cheek, turn to him the other also. Matt. 5:39-40
3.
Avenge not yourselves; rather give
place unto wrath; and suffer yourselves to be defrauded. Rom 12:18-19
4.
If a man take away they goods, ask
them not again. Luke 6:29-30
5.
Agree with your adversary quickly,
submitting even to wrong for the sake of peace. Matt. 5:25
6.
Labor not to be rich; be ready to
every good work; give to those who ask; relieve the afflicted. Rom 12:13; I
Tim 6:8; Heb 13:16; Jas. 1:27
7.
Do not your alms before men; let not
thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth. Matt. 6:1-4
8.
Recompense no man evil for evil;
overcome evil with good. Rom 12:17
9.
Bless them that curse you; let no
cursing come out of your mouth. Matt. 5:44; Rom 12:14
10.
Render not evil for evil; overcome evil with
good. Rom 12:17
11.
Pray for them that despitefully use you and
afflict you. Matt 5:44
12.
Grudge not; judge not; complain not; condemn
not. Matt. 7:1; Jas. 5:9
13.
Put away anger, wrath, bitterness, and all evil
speaking. Eph. 4:31; I Pet. 2:1
14.
Confess your faults one to another. Jas.
5:16
15.
Be not conformed to this world; love not the
world. Rom 12:2; I John 2:15
16.
Deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts. If thy
right hand offend thee, cut it off Matt. 5:30; Titus 2:12
17.
Servants, be faithful, even to bad masters. Eph.
6:5-8
18.
Mind not high things, but condescend to men of
low estate. Rom 12:16
19.
Owe no man anything. Rom 13:7-8
20.
In case of sin (known or heard of), speak not of
it to others, but tell the offending brother of the matter between thee and him
alone, with a view to recovery. Matt. 18:15; Gal. 6:1
21.
Love the Lord thy God with all they heart.
Matt. 22:37
22.
Pray always; pray with brevity and simplicity;
pray secretly. Matt. 6:5-7; Luke 18:1
23.
In everything give thanks to God and recognize
Him in all your ways. Prov. 3:6; Eph. 5:20
24.
As ye would that men should do to you, do ye
also to them. Matt. 7:12
25.
Take Christ for an example and follow in his
steps. I Pet. 2:21
26.
Let Christ dwell in your hearts by Faith. Eph.
3:17
27.
Esteem Christ more highly than all earthly things; yea, than your own life. Luke
14:26
28.
Confess Christ freely before men. Luke 12:8
29.
Beware lest the cares of life or the allurements
of pleasure weaken his hold on your heart. Luke 21:34
30.
Love they neighbor as thyself. Matt. 22:39
31.
Exercise lordship over no one. Matt.23:11
32.
Seek not your own welfare only, nor bear your
own burdens merely, but have regard to those of others. Gal. 6:2; Phil. 2:4
33.
Let your light shine before men; hold forth the
word of life. Do good to all men as ye have opportunity. Matt. 5:16; Gal.
6:10; Phil 2:16
34.
Be blameless and harmless, as the sons of God in
the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Phil. 2:15
35.
Be gentle, meek, kind-hearted, compassionate,
merciful, forgiving. Eph. 4:32; II Tim 2:24; Titus 2:2
36.
Be sober, grave, sincere, temperate. Phil.
4:5; I Pet. 1:13 and 5:8
37.
Speak the truth every man with his neighbor; put
away all lying. Eph. 4:25
38.
Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as unto the
Lord, and not unto men. Col. 3:23
39.
Be watchful, vigilant, brave, joyful, courteous,
and manly. I Cor. 16:13; Phil. 4:4; I Thess. 5:6-10
40.
Be clothed with humility; be patient toward all.
Rom. 12:12; Col. 3:12
41.
Follow peace with all men. Heb. 12:14
42.
Sympathize in the joys and sorrows of others. Rom.
12:15
43.
Follow whatsoever things are true, honest, just,
pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseful. Phil.4:8
44.
Refrain utterly from adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, drunkenness, covetousness, wrath, strife, sedition, hatred,
emulation, boasting, vain-glory, envy, jesting and foolish talking. Eph.
5:3-4
45.
Whatever you do, consider the effect of your
action on the honor of God's name among men. Do all to the glory of God. I
Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17
46.
Reckon yourselves dead to all manner of sin
henceforth live not to yourselves, but to him who died for you, and rose again.
Rom 6:11; II Cor. 5:15
47.
Be zealous of good works, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, wearying not in well doing. Gal. 6:9; Titus 2:14
48.
Speak evil of no man. Titus 3:2
49.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Col.
3:16
50.
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned
with salt. Col. 3:8 and 4:6
51.
Obey rulers; submit to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake. Titus
3:1
52.
Be holy in all manner of conversation. I
Pet. 1:15-16
53.
Give no occasion to the adversary to speak
reproachfully. I Tim. 5:14
54.
Earnestly contend for the faith which was once
delivered unto the saints. Jude 3
55.
Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, exhorting one another; and
so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Heb. 10:25
56.
Take heed to the more sure word of prophecy. II
Pet. 1:19-21
57.
Stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be
strong. I Cor. 16:13; II Thess. 2:15; Phil. 1:27
58.
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. II Tim.
4:2; Titus 1:13 and 2:15
59.
Receive not one bringing not the doctrine of
Christ, neither bid him God speed. II John 9-10
60.
Marry only in the Lord. I Cor. 7:39; II Cor. 6:14
61.
Speak the things which become sound doctrine. Titus
2:1; I Tim. 1:10
62.
Walk in the light to have fellowship with God
and with Christ. I John 1:5-7
63.
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather reprove them. Eph. 5:11
64.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. I
Thess. 5:21; Heb. 3:6
65.
Read, hear and keep the words of the prophecy of the Revelation of Jesus
Christ. Rev. 1:3
66.
Worship God in spirit and in truth. John 4:23-24
67.
Keep the word. I John 2:5
68.
Confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh;
avoid being a deceiver and an antichrist. II John 7
69.
Look to Moses and the prophets as a necessary
foundation to the principles of Christ. Luke 16:31
70.
Recognize that the wisdom that is from above is
first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and
good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James 3:17
The
reproduction of this Statement of Faith with clarifications is considered to be
advisable at this time to define the Unamended position on doctrinal matters
upon which they base their hope for salvation. In the past two decades there
has been a de-emphasis of sound doctrine and a merging of liberal attitudes in
which any of several statements are considered acceptable. Lip service to a
statement is not belief in that statement, nor is it indicative of
"holding fast to that which is good" to accept several disparate
statements in a spirit of ecumenism. If two statements are in agreement in
spirit and in truth they should be worded identically to avoid the confusion
that has marked the Christadelphians for 88 years.