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THINGS CONCERNING THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
99. We have now to deal with the
2nd part of the apostolic summary of the Gospel: THE
THINGS CONCERNING THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. And these,
we shall find, have mainly to do with the first coming
of Christ. You have observed the statement that there
is NONE OTHER NAME given under heaven among men whereby
we might be saved? Yes.
100. This you believe? I do.
101. None other name than what? Jesus.
102. Then Jesus is a name given to us as a means of salvation? Obviously.
103. That is, Jesus as a person, as a reality, not as a mere
word to pronounce? Quite so: the name of Jesus clearly stands
for Jesus himself.
104. That is shown by the fact that what in one place is worded
'the things concerning the name of Jesus' is in another place
worded 'those things that concern our Lord Jesus Christ.' So
you will perceive that the things concerning the name of Christ
are, in plain terms, those things that concern the Lord Jesus
in his manifestation as a means of our salvation? I see that
quite clearly.
105. Then the way being thus paved, let me ask: For what purpose
did Christ come the first time? He came to take away sin.
106. How did there come to be sin for him to take away? Thru
the disobedience of our first parents in the garden of Eden.
107. The 'things of the name,' you see, begin a long way back. So
I see.
108. What was the consequence of Adam's disobedience? Death.
109. What do you understand by death? Dissolution of animate
being.
110. What was the nature of Adams being? I believe he
was formed from the dust of the ground, and made alive by the
breath of life that comes from God.
111. Then you don't consider he was immortal? We don't
know what he might have been if he had been obedient, but after
disobedience he certainly wasn't immortal, but mortal.
112. Then you no longer believe in the immortality of the
soul? Certainly not. I consider that that doctrine is the
root and main spring of nearly all the error that exists.
113. You consider death destroys a man? I do: for the
time being, that is, till he is raised from the dead -- if he
ever is raised.
114. You do not believe he is conscious in any sense in death? I
do not.
115. You have discarded the idea that when a man dies he goes
to heaven or hell? Quite.
116. You do not believe in the existence of a place of torment? I
do not. I believe the hell of the Bible, with one or two exceptions,
means the grave.
117. This mortal state, you say, came thru sin. Have you considered
Paul's statement that the devil has the power of sin (Hb. 2:14)? Yes.
118. And that Jesus was manifested in the flesh and blood
of human nature to destroy him thru death? I have.
119. And John's statement that for this purpose the Son of
God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil?
(1 John 3:8) I have considered that also.
120. What do you think is meant bythe devil in those places? It
means sin in the flesh.
121. Do you believe in the existence of a personal supernatural
devil? I do not.
122. You are aware that the word 'devil' is applied in a personal
sense in the New Testament? I am. I have considered the matter
thoroughly, and am persuaded that all its uses come within my
first answer, so far as the origin of the word is concerned.
I believe in human devils, political devils, disease devils,
but I do not believe in supematural devils. I believe the great
devil of all -- the source of all other evil -- is the principle
of disobedience embodied in the present evil world.
I find no other devil in the Bible, and I believe in none else.
This devil Jesus came to destroy. He did it, andthe human race
will reap the fruits by-and-by, even as Jesus himself now reaps
them.
123. How do we suffer the consequences of Adam's transgression? Because
that consequence was a physical one, inhering in his flesh, and
we, as his descendants, necessarily inherit the qualities of
his nature.
124. Are you aware of any other
reason why death reigns over us? I suppose you
refer to our individual sins.
125. I do. You perceive we are all transgressors from
the womb? Yes, I believe all have sinned, and are therefore --
as Paul would give us to understand -- under the curse of death
for our own sins, as well as through connection with Adam.
126. Under these circumstances, how can we escape from death? Christ
has opened a way for our deliverance, by death and resurrection.
127. That we may understand the matter, let me ask who was
Christ? The Son of God.
128. What do you intend to express by that answer? I derive
my idea on the subject from the words of the angel to Mary, in
which his birth was announced: "The Holy Spirit shall come
upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
therefore also that holy thing that shall be born of thee shall
be called the Son of God" (Lk. 1:35).
129. Then you mean to say that Jesus was the Son of God in
the sense of owing his begettal to the operation of the power
of God upon his mother Mary? That is what I mean.
130. You do not believe Joseph, Mary's husband, to have been
his father? I do not.
131. You are aware of the orthodox view that he was the Son
of God from all eternity, pre-existing for ever as 1 of 3 persons
in 1 god? Yes, but I have come to see that that is a false
view.
132. You do not believe he existed before he was begotten? I
do not. I believe his existence as the Son of God dates from
his birth of Mary. The passages that appear to teach his pre-existence
I believe arise from the fact that the Father spoke thru him
in the days of his flesh, and spoke in parable of the mystery
of his origin, and the purpose of which Jesus was the Father's
manifestation.
133. You no longer believe in the Trinity? I do not.
134. You believe in one God? Yes, the Father, of Whom
are all things.
135. And in Jesus, His Son? Yes, in whom He has manifested
Himself by the Spirit.
136. And in the Spirit from whose presence we cannot flee? Yes,
I believe the Spirit to be everywhere present, and that by this
the Father sees, hears, and knows all things; and thru it --
when He wills -- impels men to speak His mind, as in the case
of the prophets and apostles.
137. You do not believe the Spirit to be a separate personal
God? Discarding the Trinity, I do not. I believe in only
one great Increate Personality, and that is the Eternal Father.
The Spirit is His Power, and His Son is the Mediator whom He
hath appointed between Himself and us.
138. Though believing Jesus to be the Son of God, you do not
deny he was a man? By no means. I believe him to have been
bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. I believe he was a partaker
of flesh and blood thru Mary, that he was made in all things
like to ourselves, and tempted in all points like to his brethren.
I could not conceive of his being our Savior unless he had been
man.
139. Why? Because he could not have suffered the condemnation
due to human nature unless he had been human nature under condemnation.
140. Could we not suffer the condemnation due to ourselves,
then? Yes, but in that case, being sinners, we could not
have escaped it. We could not have risen again. We must have
perished.
141. Then Jesus was no sinner? No, he was holy, harmless,
and undefiled, separate from sinners. Though tempted in all points
like to ourselves, he was without sin. He never transgressed.
Being the Son of God, he was enabled to continue from the beginning
in the path of obedience.
142. And yet he died? Yes, but not for his own transgressions.
He died for our sins. God 'laid upon him the iniquity of us all'
(Isa. 53:6).
143. Did he continue in death? No, God raised him from
the dead, because He 'could not suffer an holy one to see corruption'
(Psa.16:10).
144. Did he continue after his resurrection in the mortal
nature he had before his death? No; God exalted him and glorified
him, changing him from a natural body to a spiritual body, so
that he became 'the Lord the Spirit.'
145. Did he remain on the earth? No, he ascended to heaven,
and is now in the presence of God.
146. What is his function there? To act as High Priest
and Mediator between God and man.
147. Is he a Mediator for all the world? All the world
are at liberty to avail themselves of his mediatorship, but actually
he is not a Priest for all the world, but only for his own people,
who are styled 'his own house.'
148. Who are his own people? Those who believe the Gospel and
have been baptized and who are continuing in the path of obedience
to his commandments.
149. What is the object of his intercession? That the
sins of his Household may be forgiven, and their prayers may
be accepted.
150. How do we get the benefit of Christs priestly office? l
understand we get it by connection with him.
151. You do not quite understand me. Suppose a believer falls
into sin and repents not, and approaches not God in prayer, but
abandons himself to heedlessness, do you think such a man will
receive the benefits of Christ's priestly office? No.
152. What would be necessaryfor him to do? To confess
his sin in prayer to God, and ask forgiveness through Christ.
153. Do not all believers come short and offend more or less? Yes,
I believe they do.
154. What is their resort for remedy? Prayer and confession
through Christ, whose blood cleanseth from all sin.
155. Is there no other subject of prayer? Yes, we ought
to pray always, giving thanks for benefits enjoyed, making request
for such things as we require, doing homage to the greatness
of God, and praying for the fulfilment of HisPromises.
156. Is any worship acceptable that does not come through
Christ? No, God heareth not sinners, and all are sinners
that are not covered with Christ's name.
157. Are all who take on the name of Christ by belief of thetruth
and baptism destined to be saved? No, only those who are
faithful and bring forth fruits unto eternal life. Some walk
after the flesh and some after the spirit.
158. How will the two classes be dealt with? Those who
are pronounced acceptable will receive eternal life, and be made
to inherit the Kingdom of God; and those who are found unfaithful
will be rejected and given over to destruction.
159. When will these decisions be enforced? At the coming
of Christ. He will gather together his Household to judge them
and to give to every man according to what he hath done, whether
good or bad.
160. When you say that, do you mean to include the dead? Certainly:
it is testified he will judge both the living and the dead.
161. Then is it your belief that all amenable to his judgment,
what her faithful or unfaithful, living or dead, will stand before
him for judgment at his coming? That is my belief.
162. Do you suppose anyone will receive eternal life before
judgment? I do not, for that would be to supersede the judgment.
163. Then in what state do you suppose will those be who stand
before him at that time? In a neutral state, I should say.
164. Mortal or immortal? Mortal, I would say, so far as
you can say a person is mortal whose fate is undecided.
165. I mean what order of nature: 'natural' or spiritual? Natural,
certainly, for if they were spiritual, the rejected could not
die and the accepted would already be judged.
166. Then you do not accept a common idea that the resurrected
will come forth from the grave in an immortal state? I do
not.
167. Coming back to the present bearing of the Christian calling,
have you realized the position to which a man is introduced in
baptism? In what respect?
168. As to his duty in this life? I think I have. I understand
that a man who becomes Christ's ceases to be his own. He is the
property of Christ, and as such is bound to give himself to his
service. He is the brother of Christ (and therefore a Christadelphian),
and as such is bound to place his chief affections on his Elder
Brother, Lord, and Master. It is his duty to spread a knowledge
of the truth by every means in his power, to regulate his life
in conformity with his precepts, to obey him in all things, to
do good to all, especially those of the Household of Faith.
169. Has Christ left any command for the assembly of his people? Yes,
in the appointment of breaking of bread in remembrance of him,
he has enjoined a periodical assembly of those who love him,
that he may be brought to their recollection, and that they may
be mutually exercised and strengthened in things pertaining to
their most holy Faith.
170. How often should they meet for such a purpose? Following
the example of the early Christians, I believe they ought to
meet once a week, and that on the first day of the week, commonly
called Sunday.
171. Should they on such or any occasion fellowship those
who deny the truth in any of its material particulars, or who
professing the truth, walk disobediently in their daily life? No;
I believe they should have no fellowship with those who either
reject the truth, or behave in opposition to the commandments
of Christ.
172. Have you counted the cost, and are you prepared to become
a Christadelphian, or brother of Christ? Yes! I thank God
for having learned the truth in these dark days, and I shall
rejoice to offer myself a living sacrifice on its altar, that
I may, peradventure, be accepted in the day of Christ, and enter
into his everlasting joy.
AN EPITOME OF THE TRUTH
One God, the Eternal Father, dwelling
in heaven, in light of glory inconceivable.
One universal irradiant Spirit, by which the Father fills all
and knows all, and when He wills, performs all.
One Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, begotten by the Spirit, and
of the Virgin Mary, put to death for sin, raised from the dead
for righteousness, and exalted to the heavens as a Mediator between
God and man.
Man, a creature of the earth, under sentence of death because
of sin, which is his great enemy -- the devil.
Deliverance from death by resurrection and bodily glorification,
at the coming of Christ, and inheritance of the Kingdom of God,
offered to all men on condition:
1. Of believing the glad tidings of Christ's accomplishments
at his first appearing, and of his coming manifestation in the
earth as the King of Israel, and Ruler of the whole earth at
the setting up of the Kingdom of God.
2. Of being immersed in water for a union with his Name, and
3. Of continuing in well-doing to the end of this probationary
career.
A SYNOPSIS OF THE FAITH
TAUGHT BY THE APOSTLES
AS PERVERTED BY
THE APOSTACY
A triply-compounded God, without body and parts,
defined as "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."
Jesus Christ, the Son, yet 'very God,' incarnated
and killed to appease the wrath of that part of
the triune God that remained unincarnate.
The Devil, a fallen but immortal archangel, the
enemy of mankind, and great antagonist of the
Deity.
Man an Immortal Soul, tabernacling in an animal
body.
Face sprinkling in infancy, a means of
salvation.
Infants and idiots saved, whether sprinkled
or not.
Salvation achieved by good works.
Baptism (immersion) may be practiced, but is not essential to salvation.
The heathen will be saved without believing the Gospel.
The resurrection, a re-uniting of the body and soul, in order that
the souls of the wicked may be brought up from hell, and the souls
of the righteous from heaven, for judgment.
The Kingdom of God is 'the Church.'
The Kingdom is a state of bliss above the stars.
Sabbath observance required of Gentiles.
The One Faith not necessary to salvation; any faith with morality
being saving.
'Conversion of the world' by the preaching of the Gospel.
The Old Testament superseded by the New Testament.
HUMAN DESTINY:
1. The translation of righteous immortal souls (leaving the body in
the article of death) to kingdoms beyond the bounds of space.
2. The descent of wicked immortal souls at the same crisis of experience,
to a hell of fire and brimstone, to be tormented by devils throughout
eternity.
AS BELIEVED BY THE CHRISTADELPHIANS*
(*A
name derived from the Greek words CHRISTOU ADELPHOI (brethren
of Christ)- Col. 1:2; Heb. 2:11 -- and adopted by those acknowledging
it, to distinguish themselves from the masses of Christendom.
It is true of them what the Jewish leaders in Rome said to Paul
of the Christians of that time: "Concerning this SECT, we
know that everywhere it is spoken against" (Acts 28:22).
They repudiate all the creeds of Christendom.)
One God (personally and substantially inhabiting light unapproachable,
yet everywhere present by universal spirit, irradiant from Himself)
revealed to Israel and manifested in
Jesus of Nazareth, in the days of his flesh, a mortal man who was
Born of Mary by the Holy Spirit, and thus became the Word made flesh.
He was put to death as a 'sin offering,' and
Exalted to the heavens until 'the restitution
of all things,' thus confirming
The Promises made to Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob, and
The Covenant made with David, which have
realization in
The Second (personal) Coming of Jesus to the earth;
The Resurrection and Judgment of the whole Household of God (just
and unjust);
The bestowal of Immortality on those who are found worthy, and their
appointment as rulers of his Kingdom;
The condemnation of the unworthy to the Second Death;
The enthronement in Jerusalem of Jesus Christ as King of the Jews,
and Lord of the whole earth; the establishment of
The KINGDOM OF GOD (the Kingdom of Israel) in the Holy Land, involving
Restoration of the Jews from dispersion;
Destruction of the Devil and his Works, scripturally understood as
sin and the lust of the flesh, in every mode and manifestation, and
The Subjugation of all kingdoms and republics on earth.
The Kingdom, in its mediatorial phase, will last one thousand years,
and will destroy 'all enemies,' including death itself.
The human race is essentially mortal, under the law of sin and death.
Jesus, the Christ, through death and resurrection, brought immortality
to light.
Salvation is attainable only by the belief of the things concerning
the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ; and
Baptism (immersion) in water, for a union with that Name.
It is necessary to understand the Old Testament in order to have a
correct New Testament faith.
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