What is Christadelphianism?

Answer  
  

The Christadelphian sect was founded in 1838 by John Thomas, a London\-born physician\-turned\-Bible teacher. Like the founders of the [Jehovah’s Witnesses](Jehovahs-Witnesses.html), [Mormons](Mormons.html), and [Christian Scientists](Christian-science.html), Thomas believed he had found the truth of real Christianity.  
  

Christadelphianism, like other cults and false religions, denies the [deity of Jesus Christ](deity-of-Christ.html) and preaches a works\-based salvation. Regarding the deity of Christ, Christadelphianism teaches that Jesus was more than a man, but less than God. According to A. Hayward in *Great News for the World*, Jesus was a created being with “strength of character to right some of the most appalling wrongs of his time” (p. 41\). Christadelphians teach that Jesus, although sinless, had a sinful nature, was not pre\-existent, and did not come into existence until He was born in Bethlehem. Contrary to those teachings, the Bible declares that Jesus was perfectly untainted by sin. He “committed no sin” (1 Peter 2:22\); “in him is no sin” (1 John 3:5\); He “had no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21\); He was “tempted in every way . . . yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15\). That Jesus was pre\-existent is evident from such passages as John 1, where He (the Word) was “in the beginning with God” (verse 2\), all things that were created “were created through him” (verse 3\), and “he became flesh and dwelt among us” (verse 14\).  
  

Christadelphianism also promotes the concept of [salvation by works](salvation-faith-alone.html). Christadelphians believe that faith in Christ is the beginning point, but salvation is not completed there. Salvation according to the Christadelphians is a process dependent upon “belief in the covenants,” good works, and baptism. Salvation is the gift of God, but it is only bestowed on those whose works merit it. In opposition to this, the Bible teaches that “all our righteousness is as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6\), that works cannot save us, and that we are all lawbreakers: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10\). But, praise the Lord, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13\). The law, works, and personal righteousness are powerless to save us. Only faith in Christ and His perfect sacrifice on the cross can save us (Galatians 2:16; Romans 3:28; John 3:16\). We are saved by faith alone, in Christ alone. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21\). If, as the Christadelphians teach, we must merit our salvation through our own efforts, then Christ died in vain (Galatians 2:21\), and the free gift described in Ephesians 2:8–9 is not free at all.  
  

Other unbiblical beliefs of the Christadelphians include the teaching that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal force; man does not have an immortal soul; [Satan](who-Satan.html) is not a personal being; death is unconsciousness or [annihilation](annihilationism.html); and [hell](hell-real-eternal.html) is synonymous with the grave where the deceased lie unconscious. Rather than restoring true Christianity, the Christadelphians deny some of the basic doctrines of Scripture.  
  

