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.

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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