Down through the years, most of our Christadelphian tenets of belief have been subject to frequent challenge and criticism. In discussions with interested friends, with campaign and lecture contacts, and in the give and take of our ecclesial Bible classes, the teaching of scripture has been repeatedly challenged.
Knowledge the basis
In recent years, there have been doubts cast on the scriptural support and the importance of our belief that knowledge of God’s will, rather than baptism, is the basis for responsibility to resurrection and judgment. The principle, which is defined in Article 24 of the BASF, is easy to understand and is clearly taught in the Bible. The Christadelphian Sunday School Instructor states the principle simply and clearly (see paragraphs 132-137 headed, “Concerning the Resurrection, Responsibility, and Judgment.”)
Bible proofs
Some of the most direct scripture references are as follows:
- “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judged’ him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48 KJV).
Jesus taught that people who hear the gospel message and reject it will be raised and judged.
- “There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust” (Acts 24:15 KJV).
The “just and unjust” includes both those who are baptized and those who are unbaptized. Matthew 5:45 states: “Your father…sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” I Corinthians 6:1 states: “Dare any of you go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?” Resurrection and judgment is not limited to people who are baptized.
- “They (Gentiles of v.3) are surprised that you do not now join them in the same wild profligacy…but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” (I Peter 4:4-5 RSV).
Peter here speaks of immoral Gentiles who, at one time, had been close friends of believers, before the believers accepted the way of salvation. He states that these unbaptized Gentiles will be called to judgment.
- “After certain days, when Felix (a Gentile) came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time…” (Acts 24:24-25).
Why did Felix tremble? Because of his sinful life, and his refusal to repent. If, prior to our baptism, the apostle Paul had personally reasoned with us of “judgment to come,” would we not likewise have responded with trembling and fear?
Other helpful proofs are: Deuteronomy 18:18-19; II Thessalonians 1:79; Hebrews 10:26-27 and James 4:17.
An important principle
The principle that knowledge of God’s will brings responsibility to resurrection and judgment has also been challenged on the ground that it is not important enough to be considered a first principle of our Christadelphian faith. A careful analysis of the personal import of this principle will, I believe, convince all that it surely is a vital first principle. Our reasoning is as follows:
- The principle is related to and involves the sovereignty of God. Man cannot turn his back on God with impunity. Man cannot say, “I will avoid being responsible to resurrection and judgment by not being baptized.” All men, whom God deems to have sufficient knowledge of His teachings, will be raised and judged. All men should be advised that this is the clear warning, the basic teaching, of scripture.
- It is a key element in God’s plan of salvation. God’s plan calls for resurrection and judgment. Who will take part in it? It is vital for every man and woman to know what groups of people will be raised for judgment. God has revealed this to us in the scriptures so that all who read may know their status, and, if need be, do something about it.
- The principle is repeated over and over again in the scriptures. There are many verses which clearly teach the principle. It is emphasized so that the reader will realize its personal application to himself.
- Some of us may say that the principle is not important because it only refers to people who are not going to be in the kingdom anyway (only the baptized will be saved). But teaching the principle to everyone may well be the means by which many of those not yet baptized are moved to be baptized.
Christadelphian teaching denies the doctrine of universal resurrection and makes this denial a first principle. But in this case, we are also only referring to those who are not going to be in the kingdom. To be consistent in our reasoning, if “knowledge brings responsibility to resurrection and judgment” is not a first principle of our faith, then -using the same reasoning — neither should the doctrine of universal resurrection.
- Another approach to the question is to read over the 30 articles of our BASF and rank them in order of importance. None of the items should be minimized, but Article 24, which concerns man’s relationship to God and to personal judgment, is certainly a vital first principle. Articles 15 and 17, for example, although valuable, do not have the same vital, personal impact as does article 24.
- We should ask ourselves — Why is the amendment to Article 24 of the BASF being subject to criticism? What is the motivation for the challenges to the amendment?
Is it because it cannot be as readily supported by scripture as other clauses of the BASF? I think not. It is certainly easier to explain from scripture than the verses, for example, related to belief in the personal devil.
Is it because it is not an important element in God’s plan of salvation? See paragraphs one and two above.
Is it because of our personal feelings and emotions? Should these influence our reasoning on Bible truth?
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One