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Catechism of the New Apostolic Church in Questions and Answers CATECHISM OF THE NEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH IN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS CATECHISM OF THE NEW APOSTOLIC CHURCH IN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS © 2014 New Apostolic Church International, Zurich / Switzerland All rights reserved. Design: Jennifer Lennermann artdirection | illustration, Essen / Germany Printing and post-press processing: Friedrich Pustet KG, Regensburg / Germany Verlag Friedrich Bischoff GmbH, Frankfurt am Main Order No. 221 012 ISBN: 978-3-943980-30-1 First edition 2015 Vision and Mission of the New ApostolicAppendix Church Vision and Mission of the New Apostolic Church Vision A church in which people feel at home and, inspired by the Holy Spirit and their love for God, align their lives to the gospel of Jesus Christ and thus prepare them- selves for His return and eternal life Mission Reaching out to all people in order to teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ and to baptise them with water and the Holy Spirit Providing soul care and cultivating a warm fellowship in which everyone shall expe- rience the love of God and the joy of serving Him and others Appendix AppendixForeword Foreword In the year 2012 the “Catechism of the New Apostolic Church” (CNAC) was published simultaneously in English, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. In the meantime it has been made available at no cost on the internet and has been translated into many other languages. The present work, the “Catechism of the New Apostol- ic Church in Questions and Answers”, has been prepared in methodical-didactical format in order to facilitate access to the content of the CNAC. This will also make it possible to impart the doctrine in a suitable manner through church instruction around the world. By way of 750 questions and answers, readers are taken by the hand, so to speak, and led from one statement to the next in a manner that is easy to understand. The content of the “Catechism of the New Apostolic Church in Questions and An- swers” corresponds to the statements of the CNAC. Even in terms of structure, the work is closely modelled after the CNAC. Both books complement one another and can be used parallel to one another. Many of the Bible quotations referenced are printed in full, resulting in a complete, continuous work. This means that even those readers who do not have a Bible on hand will also find important Bible passages concerning individual teaching con- tents right before their eyes. Beyond that, the work contains explanations of specific terms. This will help ensure that the remarks presented will also be understood by readers who have no theological knowledge. Like the CNAC, this version of the Catechism is an appeal to all New Apostolic Christians to occupy themselves intensively with the content of their faith. It is also an invitation to all interested parties to become better acquainted with the New Apostolic doctrine. May the use of this reference work serve for blessing! Jean-Luc Schneider Zurich, March 2014 Appendix AppendixContents Contents 1 The revelations of God ............................................. 11 2 The Creed ......................................................... 21 3 The triune God .................................................... 29 4 Man in need of redemption ........................................ 85 5 God’s commandments ............................................. 103 6 The church of Jesus Christ .......................................... 127 7 Ministry ........................................................... 141 8 The sacraments .................................................... 159 9 Life after death .................................................... 177 10 The doctrine of future things ....................................... 185 11 From the history of Christianity .................................... 197 12 Divine service, acts of blessing, and pastoral care .................... 209 13 New Apostolic Christians and their life of faith ...................... 239 Appendix The New Apostolic Creed ............................................... 251 The Ten Commandments ............................................... 253 The Lord’s Prayer ...................................................... 254 Subject index .......................................................... 255 Index of Bible references ................................................ 275 Notes on the text ....................................................... 283 Picture credits ......................................................... 284 THE REVELATIONS OF GOD Holy Scripture God in nature Content of faith God in history Faith The revelations of God 1 2 What is the source of our belief How does God reveal Himself? in God? God reveals Himself in different ways, The source of our belief is in God Him- in nature and in history. self. He allows human beings to recog- nise Him: He “reveals” Himself. 3 The knowledge that God exists has been given by God Himself. God does How does God reveal Himself not conceal Himself, but rather allows in nature? Himself to be recognised by human God reveals Himself in nature as the beings such that human beings can Creator: in the existence of the universe, speak of God and believe in God. of mankind, and of animals and plants. “Because what may be known of God “He waters the hills from His upper is manifest in them [human beings], chambers; the earth is satisfied with for God has shown it to them. For since the fruit of Your works. He causes the the creation of the world His invisible grass to grow for the cattle, and vege- attributes are clearly seen, being un- tation for the service of man, that he derstood by the things that are made, may bring forth food from the earth.” even His eternal power and Godhead, Psalm 104: 13-14 so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1: 19-20 12 The revelations of God 4 5 How does God reveal Himself How does God identify Himself? in history? God is a spiritual being. He identifies God reveals Himself in the history of Himself as God, mankind. For example, He led the peo- n the Father, the Creator and ple of Israel out of captivity in Egypt and Sustainer of the creation gave them the Ten Commandments. (cf. Genesis 1; 8: 21-22), The greatest of God’s revelations in his- n the Son, the Redeemer and bringer tory occurred when He became human of salvation (cf. 1 John 5: 20), in Jesus Christ and when He was active n the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and on this earth. He lived 2,000 years ago. Helper, who leads into all truth God revealed Himself as the Redeemer (cf. John 16: 13). in Jesus Christ. Redeemer: see Questions 66, 108-109 6 “But when the fullness of the time had Where are revelations of God come, God sent forth His Son.” recorded? Galatians 4: 4 Revelations of God are recorded in Holy Scripture. We understand the term “revelations of God” in several ways: n God allows Himself to be recognised. He provides insight into His being and nature (“Self-revelation” of God). n God makes His will known to human beings. n God encounters human beings in His love, especially in His word and in the sacraments. 13 The revelations of God 7 9 Does God also provide revelations How are human beings to conduct about the future? themselves with respect to God’s revelations? Yes, God provides revelations about the future: He has promised that Jesus Human beings are to believe in God Christ will return (cf. John 14: 3). God and His revelations. Only through faith will reveal Himself in perfect fashion can human beings grasp the divine rev- to those who will be transformed and elations. If they believe, divine matters caught up to Him at His return (cf. will be valuable to them and will define 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18). They will their lives. then see Him as He is (cf. 1 John 3: 1-2). For example, someone who does not believe in God as the Creator will not “Behold what manner of love the see the universe as a work of God in Father has bestowed on us, that we which the Creator has revealed Himself, should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, but rather as the result of coincidental because it did not know Him. Beloved, processes unfolding in nature. now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is 10 revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” What do we understand by the 1 John 3: 1-2 idea of faith as a response to God’s revelations? Faith is indispensable in order to come 8 into the proximity of God, but faith is not something that human beings can Are there any other insights into bring about on their own. Faith is an act God’s actions? of God’s grace upon a human being, in Yes, through the activity of the Holy other words, a gift. Human beings are Spirit in the Apostle ministry, God to have a longing for this gift and are to grants us knowledge and insights about accept it. Faith leads human beings to His actions for the salvation of man- recognise God, trust in God, and lead a kind. These are referenced in the Bible life in accordance with the will of God. and further exposed by the Holy Spirit. Faith: see Question 239 et seq. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11: 1 14 The revelations of God “But without faith it is impossible to 13 please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He Who is the author of Holy Scripture? is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” The author of Holy Scripture is God. Hebrews 11: 6 Human beings, whom the Holy Spirit inspired to this purpose, wrote down that which God revealed. As concerns 11 form and manner of expression, the biblical books bear the mark of their How do human beings come to respective authors as well as the world- believe? view and experiences of their time. Faith is granted and reinforced by the In translation, the term ‘inspiration’ Holy Spirit.
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