Link to web page which explains in more detail the
Great and Precious Promises Given to AbrahamChristadelphian Beliefs
What God Requires of Man
1. A Summary
What God requires of Man can be summarised as follows:
Each of these steps is explained further in the sections which follow:
2. There is only one True Gospel - which is the power of God Unto Salvation
Scripture teaches plainly that salvation is conditional upon belief in the gospel message. In the Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul says:
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth: to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Rom 1:16)
The gospel is definable and follows a very specific pattern. This pattern is revealed in scripture. As a consequence there is only one gospel. This is why the Apostle Paul wrote such stern words to the believers in Galatia, because they had departed from the sound words and doctrine which he had first delivered unto them:
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another: but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-8)
The gospel was first preached to Abraham and came in the form of covenants of promise. It is within these covenants of promise which set out the future plan and purpose of God that the very kernel of the gospel is discernible:
"And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed." (Galatians 3:8)
Link to web page which explains in more detail the
Great and Precious Promises Given to Abraham
Knowledge of and faith in this gospel message comes through the hearing of the word of God - see Isaiah Ch 55:11 and Romans 10:11-15.
3 Faith in the Gospel Message
Scripture defines Faith as consisting of three elements. This is demonstrated by the words of the writer to the Hebrews, Chapter 11 and verse 7:
"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house" (Heb 11:7)
The three elements of faith are as follows:
a) belief in the word of God - Noah was warned by God and he believed Him that a flood would come upon the Earth even though as yet it had never rained;
b) works of faith - the building of the Ark which took about 120 years to complete was a work of faith. Noah completed the work because he understood the purpose of God, therefore it was a response of faith;
c) hope of future deliverance and of a new heaven and earth - Noah hoped for and looked to the deliverance of God from the judgements of God which he knew would be poured out upon the earth. This hope of deliverance was realised as the old world was washed away in the flood. Noah was delivered by the Ark that was pitched inside and out. (Note Noah went through a symbolic baptism in that he had cloud's or rain above and the waters of the sea below.)
These three elements of "faith" need to be present in the believer today in just the same pattern as found in Noah. They consist of belief in the word of God; works of faith which reflect a desire to serve God in the things we do even though these may be contrary to our natural desires; and hope - looking forward to the new heaven and new earth which will be established when Christ returns to establish the Kingdom of God upon the Earth. This hope is essentially Israelitish in nature (not to be confused with Zionism), is centred and rooted upon the promises of God and therefore is styled the Hope of Israel. (Israel was the name given by God to Jacob - one of the Patriarchs, grandson to Abraham) This hope provides a golden thread which runs throughout the whole of both the old and new testaments of scripture.
It is worth noting here that Christ is our Ark and the means of our salvation today if we are prepared to be baptised into his saving name.
4. Repentance
Repentance means to turn about and to walk in a different direction. Under normal circumstances mankind is concerned with pleasing self. Through repentance we seek to serve God by following the pattern established by His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. This requires a selfless attitude of mind in which others are put first. Sacrifice of self is a fundamental part of discipleship of the Lord Jesus Christ.
By identifying the need for repentance, those instructed in the word of God are convicted of Sin. Sin is the breaking of God's commandments. The law of sin refers to man's disposition which is generally opposed to the righteousness of God. This law of sin is in our members and wars against the law of the spirit which is that attitude of mind which seeks to do the will of God - see Romans Ch 8.
for a link to a web page which explains in more
detail the sin nature of man
5. Baptism
The only escape from the power of sin is to be baptised into the saving name of Jesus Christ. Baptism is derived from the Greek word "Baptizo". It is used to describe the process of changing the colour of a garment by dipping it through full immersion, into a bath of coloured dye. The transformation in colour can only happen if the garment is fully immersed.
This word therefore is very apt to describe the process required of a believer in Christ. Through faith the old man is immersed into the waters of baptism. In being immersed, the old man of sin is symbolically crucified with Christ. In being raised up out of the water of baptism the new man is symbolically raised in newness of life with Christ. The one baptised is transformed from red (symbolic of sin) to white (symbolic of righteousness).
Baptism therefore is a symbolic death and a symbolic resurrection. It is the only way in which the believer can become personally associated with the sacrifice, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
To be effective the believer must understand the things concerning the kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ. In other words be responsible for their actions and be capable of faith. This is brought out in Mark's Gospel record where we read:
"And Jesus said unto the them, Go ye out into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16)
It is noted here that a baby in the arms of his / her mother is incapable of being baptised, for they neither understand nor believe.
6. Believers in Christ - to follow the example set by the Lord Jesus Christ
Having been baptised into the saving Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the believer is required to be a servant of righteousness and not a slave to sin. This means that he/ she will need to follow the example and the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ - Romans 6:15-23. The believers life will be characterised by many things - which will include the following: