September 14th, 2011
If you haven’t yet been to visit the Christadelphians in the Nottingham Bible Learning Centre then be sure to pop it on your to-do list. The Bible learning centre is a great place to come to discuss the Bible and to learn more about it.
The BLC has recently launched a new website:
www.biblelearningcentre.org
The new site promises to be as exciting as the Centre itself with free downloadable pamphlets, study aids and much more!
September 12th, 2011
A new Bible Seminar is starting soon in Nottingham. It’s completely free and promises to be very exciting as the word of God is opened and the plain teaching of scripture is examined. You can book online and find out more details at the following website:
August 1st, 2011
Since it’s declaration of independence in 1948, the nation of Israel has been at the centre of controversy. This talk examines the problems of the Middle East in relation to Israel and explores the Biblical solution. The accuracy and Divine authorship of the Bible is proved once again by the amazing prophecies that this talk examines and the clear outworking of those prophecies in current world affairs.
Listen online:
Download as mp3 version here (6MB) » (Right click and save to desktop)
Download the slides for this talk as a PDF here (28MB) » (Right click and save to desktop)
July 10th, 2011
The conflict in the Middle East is a huge problem for world leaders. Hardly a day will go by without it being mentioned in our media.
In this podcast, Mr Jim Cowie of Queensland Australia presents a compelling and exciting lecture about the Bible prediction that this conflict will eventually be solved by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth. Does that sound far fetched? Listen to the Podcast and hear the evidence – then decide…
Listen online:
Download as mp3 version here (5MB) » (Right click and save to desktop)
Download the slides for this talk at a PDF here (3MB) » (Right click and save to desktop)
May 10th, 2011
The recent unrest in a number of Middle East countries is sending shock waves throughout the world. As Britain and other nations prepare their war machines to help the Libyan rebels in their fight against Colonel Gaddafi, many are fearful that the UK will be dragged into another full-scale conflict, which could have far-reaching consequences.
This podcast of an illustrated talk by Bernard Burt examines the current world events from the perspective of Bible prophecy. It demonstrates that God has a purpose with the world, and that the turmoil that we see in the world today is the prelude to the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. It will also explain how our personal salvation is connected with these events.
Listen online:
Download as mp3 version here (5MB) » (Right click and save to desktop)
Download the slides for this talk at a PDF here (10MB) » (Right click and save to desktop)
January 11th, 2011
The following x6 videos have been produced by the Christadelphians to give some really good reasons to believe in the Bible. Add to these some of the amazing prophecies that occur in the Bible and one will realise that a belief in the Bible is not a case of having a “blind faith” but a logical “faith” based upon fact and reason.
These videos have been produced as part of the Bible for Life project – many thanks goes to those involved for all their hard work.
December 29th, 2010
We are pleased to present the video of the ‘Bible and the Papacy’ talks which were given at Nottingham University on the 17th of September 2010 to coincide with the Popes visit to the UK.
The Bible and the Papacy – Is the Pope the true head of the church? from thegospeltruth on Vimeo.
The Bible and the Papacy – Bible Teaching or Church Tradition from thegospeltruth on Vimeo.
An audio Podcast fo these lectures is available for download here
November 4th, 2010
Jesus says a very profound thing to his disciples in Mark 16:
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15-16
To be in a position to be “saved” therefore one must believe in the gospel and be baptised. We have already considered baptism in previous posts and articles but in this article we will look at what the gospel consists of and what it is we need to believe.
Clearly belief is extremely important and therefore what we believe is something we should all consider. In Ephesians Paul writes to the believers and says:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8
So the principle is that we cannot save ourselves and that being ‘saved’ will be a gift of God. How are we saved? Through faith. In what? The gospel as Jesus has told us.
We have a whole section on this in the Bible Teaching part of the website so head over there if you want some detail. In simple terms the gospel consists of the covenants of promise that God has given to man and their associated doctrines. Consider this verse:
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:3-4
So by the knowledge we have in the promises of God we have an opportunity to be saved from sin and death and be able to partake of immortality in Gods grace when Jesus returns to the earth to establish God’s kingdom. These promises are extremely important and they have to do with the nation of Israel – Paul tells us this in his letter to the Ephesians:
“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh… That at that time ye were 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: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
Ephesians 2:11-13
So the Ephesian believers, now baptised into Christ had become a part of the covenants of promise. They were no longer aliens from the things of Israel. The things which had been promised to that nations fathers. What things? Well to understand that question you would have to study the promises of God to Israel and in particular to the fathers of Israel, Abraham Isaac, Jacob and King David.
There are three main covenants outlined in the Bible and each have associated doctrines:
1. Genesis 3 – promise of the seed which would destroy the serpent power, associated doctrine: atonement in Christ.
2. Genesis 12-22 – promises, to Abraham, associated doctrines: resurrection, eternal life, forgiveness of sins, Israel to be a great nation, atonement in Christ.
3. 2 Samuel 7 – promises to David, associated doctrines: Christ on the throne, Kingdom of Israel restored on earth, resurrection, Christ’s second coming.
In Galatians Paul tells us that the Gospel was preached to the ancients of old and in particular was preached to Abraham in the promises from God:
“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
He goes on to say that all those who are “in Christ” – who have believed in the gospel and been baptised based upon that belief, are heirs of such promises:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:28-29
In Acts 8 we have described to us what constitutes the gospel:
“…when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12
So then the gospel is the good news of the promises of God and how they will and are outworked in the Lord Jesus Christ and how we can be associated with them. There are two parts “the name of Jesus Christ” and “the Kingdom of God”.
Christadelphians believe their statement of faith is a summery of the gospel and associated doctrines. You can view this here » Obviously as time has gone on much error has crept into “christianity” and therefore we require more clarification on certain doctrines than maybe the apostles of old did. For example the doctrine of the “Trinity” was not then known in a Christian guise and therefore the apostles would not of had to labour the unity of God.
Because the statement of faith summarises the things required to be saved we uphold and guard the things expressed within it passionately. Our beliefs define us as a community and those not believing the things we profess to believe are asked to leave as they are not Christadelphians anymore. Because they have moved away from the gospel they do not subscribe to what Christadelphians believe in (see this principle being outworked by the Apostle Paul in Acts 19:8-9). We call the different aspects of the gospel “first principles”. The first principles never change and a knowledge of them makes you accountable to baptism. Once baptised you need to show your faith in works (James 2:18). Studying the scriptures and thinking upon them allows your knowledge of Gods principles to grow enabling you to help overcome sin and manifest God in your character in some small way. However once you understand the gospel there will not be new fundamental truths revealed to you – anything new will build upon the foundation already laid in the gospel (Ephesians 2:20).
No – the Bible tells us we need to have faith in the gospel to be saved as we have seen in Mark 16:15-16. If what the person thinks is not a true reflection of the gospel as revealed in the word then they cannot believe in the gospel or been baptised correctly into that gospel. According to the words of Christ in the reference quoted, they cannot be saved.
Many may say this is a bit of a legalistic way of looking at things. God can save who he wants they will say. This is a fair point but God does not lie. Therefore he will not go back on what he has revealed in His word. The word sets out the process for salvation based upon a belief in the gospel.
It’s clear then that we need to understand the gospel, believe it, be baptized into that belief to be in a position to be saved. When will the “saving” take place? Those who have this knowledge and have been baptised are in a sense “saved” now as they are in that position. However they still sin and still die and so the ultimate “saving” comes in the future. Consider Jesus’ words: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.The “saving” will be done at the same time as the “condemning” – this will be determined by the judgment which will be carried out when Jesus returns to the earth:
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom” 2 Timothy 4:1
See also Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10. At the judgment those who have known the gospel will be judged by Christ to see what they have done with that knowledge. They will either be “saved” or “condemned”. We can see from this reference in Peter who mentions that it is at the judgement when we will eventually be saved:
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” 1Peter 4:17
So then it is very important that we understand and uphold the principles of the gospel if we are to be “saved” in that day. I urge you therefore to study your Bible to gain a better understanding of the promises God has revealed in His word. You may also find some helpful articles in the Bible Teaching part of this website.
August 21st, 2010
A quick announcement of some upcoming, special lectures I’ve been asked to help deliver around the time the Pope comes to the UK. The overall subject is “The Bible and the Papacy” and there are to be two lectures:
1. IS THE POPE THE TRUE LEADER OF THE CHURCH?
Mr Mark Allfree
2. CHURCH TRADITION OR BIBLE TEACHING?
Mr Matt Davies
We have been asked to give these talks at three locations God Willing:
1. University of Nottingham – Fri Sept 17th 2010 – 7:30PM
Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham, Exchange Building, Lecture Theatre 2, Wollaton Road, Nottingham, NG8 1BB
2. Cofton Hackett Village Hall – Sat Sept 18th 2010 – 2:00PM
Barnt Green Road, Cofton Hackett, Rednal, B45 8NB
3. Warwick University Coventry – Sat Sept 18th 2010 – 7:00PM
Scarman House Training & Conference Centre, Warwick University, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL
You can see more details and download a brochure for the Nottingham one here: www.bibleseminars.co.uk
These events are arranged by local Christadelphian groups and are all FREE OF CHARGE with nothing for sale. No profit is obtained for any of this work and all is done in the spirit of Christ’s words “freely ye have received, freely give.”
The Roman church claims to be the authentic and original church which the Apostle Peter established in the first century. It claims that only though the acceptance of the Papacy as a Divinely appointed leader and of its traditions and practices can we have salvation. These lectures examine what the Bible says about such claims of authority. It is a subject of vital importance to those seeking for Truth. Where do we place our trust? In the Roman Church or in the Bible?
I hope to see you there…
After the events we hope to place these talks on this website.
July 15th, 2010
“Christadelphian” is a name given to a community of believers who take the Bible as their sole source of authority. They preach the same distinct and unique gospel which was once preached by the first century followers of Jesus Christ. What are their beliefs and why are they relevant? An overview of the Christadelphians and what they believe is presented in this Podcast, a recording of a lecture given in Nottingham by Mr Tecwyn Morgan in April 2010.
Listen online:
Download as mp3 version here » (Right click and save to desktop)
