New Apostolic Church – Criticism
Are You a Child of God?
Introduction
New Apostolic congregation member – you are a child of God? Are you a New Apostolic? I was too!
As a New Apostolic Christian, you will surely answer this question spontaneously with yes, because you are baptized and sealed by an apostle In addition, you may go to church services regularly and get acquainted with sins before taking part in the sacrament. Is it enough to be a New Apostolic to truly be a child of God?
Do You Have the Assurance of Salvation?
Are you sure that you will be there on the ‘day of the first resurrection? Do you know for sure which area of eternity you are going to should you die today? Or is there still some uncertainty left? Have you always been obedient in your faith, have you always followed your predecessors in everything, have you regularly and sufficiently sacrificed money, strength, and time? Are you loyal to the end? Doesn’t the thought sometimes torment you whether you have really done enough for the Lord? Don’t you know the situation where you think, “Oh my, if the Lord were to come now?”
Assurance of Salvation in the New Apostolic Church?
From my own experience, I know that a liberating biblical faith brings certainty of salvation and security. You feel secure and you have arrived at the goal of your faith. How different this is in the New Apostolic Church. A District Apostle once put it this way:
“He [Gott] never allowed his servants to be the target of criticism, condemnation, or degradation by members. There is no place for judges in our Heavenly Father’s work. … Anyone who does not adhere to it and still goes to Holy Communion is participating in it for their own damnation, a grave decision. … A New Apostolic member, a so-called aspirant to the royal dignity that awaits him, has only one thing to do and that is: to do what he is commanded to do. Otherwise, he has absolutely nothing to report. … So don’t forget: The future kings and priests know only one law during their apprenticeship here on earth: to obey and to do what they are instructed to do. They have nothing to report in this divine work. Your task is solely to obey in unconditional obedience of faith.” (1)
Can You Achieve Your Belief Goal?
All “Advice on dangers to body and soul is more than a help in life; they are an offer of help to achieve the goal of faith. As such, they have an obligation based on obedience of faith.“ (2).
Have you been obedient, have you never had critical thoughts, have you always followed willingly and joyfully, have you been saved, are you a child of God, have you actually been forgiven of your sins? Can you achieve your belief goal? How can you ever be sure of that? Let’s see what Jesus and his apostles tell us about it in the scriptures.
What Do the Scriptures Say about Salvation?
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right[oder die Vollmacht] to become children of God,” (Joh. 1:12). “To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:43) “In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” (Eph. 1:7).
“In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14.) “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” (2 Cor. 1:21-22) God “Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” (2 Timothy 1:9)
Do you notice the difference? The apostles do not first have to prepare a bride or a bride congregation, it is not the obedience to the apostles or a church that is decisive, but only faith in Jesus! It’s all about Jesus. All blessings and promises are centered on Jesus. The apostles of the New Testament times pointed to Jesus. He saved us through his blood on the cross. By believing in him we are children of God and receive forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit. He did the work of redemption for us!
Open the Door of Your Heart to Jesus
How can you be sure that this also applies to you? “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20 The Lord is knocking on your door. Open the door of your heart for him, invite him into your life, then he will come into your life and give you salvation through the forgiveness of your sins based on your faith. How can you open the door for him? A first step can be an honest, sincere free form prayer. Furthermore, then do as those who believed in New Testament times did. Get baptized in a Bible-believing church..
The Biblical Example
“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” – Acts 2:37-41
The Lord bless you!
© Lutz Jusko
Sources:
Alle Bibelzitate sind, wenn nicht anders gekennzeichnet der Übersetzung von Franz Eugen Schlachter in der Version 2000 entnommen.
(1) Bezirksapostel Michael Kraus, 1989, zitiert nach: Detlef Streich, Konstruktive Merkmale der Neuapostolischen Kirche, Aktualisierte Fassung, Göppingen, 10. Januar 2005, S. 54
(2) Neuapostolische Kirche, Gefahren für Leib und Seele, Hamburg 1993, Seite 3
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