The New Apostolic Church – What is it?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The New Apostolic Church (NAC) arose in the nineteenth century out of the Catholic Apostolic Church in England, which taught that God was restoring a continuing office of apostles to prepare the church for Christ’s return. After disputes over leadership and succession, the New Apostolic Church established its own hierarchy, placing modern “apostles” at the center of church life. Today, the NAC exists worldwide and affirms some historic Christian doctrines, including belief in the Trinity, while redefining salvation and church authority.

Central to NAC teaching is the belief that forgiveness of sins, reception of the Holy Spirit, and participation in salvation are mediated through sacraments administered under apostolic authority. Baptism, the sacrament of sealing in the NAC, obedience to church leadership, and perseverance within the NAC are presented as steps toward becoming a “child of God.” The church also teaches that sacramental rites may benefit the dead.

The NAC stands in stark contrast to Scripture, which teaches that salvation is granted directly by God through faith in Jesus Christ (John 1:12–13; Ephesians 2:8–9). The Holy Spirit is given at the moment of faith (Ephesians 1:13–14), Christ alone mediates salvation (Acts 4:12; Galatians 1:6–9), and the apostles were part of the church’s foundation, not an ongoing office (Ephesians 2:20).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• God saves those who place their faith in Him. Abraham “believed the Lord, and he [God] counted it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Faith is manifested by obedience to God, not through the sacraments of men.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The New Apostolic Church (NAC) believes in modern apostles as divinely appointed leaders who prepare believers for Christ’s return. But the New Testament, teaches that apostles were a foundational group of men, eyewitnesses to Christ, at the start of the church. That is why Paul said that the church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 2:20). The apostles were uniquely commissioned to establish the church (Acts 1:21–26; 1 Corinthians 9:1), and nothing in the New Testament suggests a return of the apostolic office after the original witnesses had died.
• Because the NAC elevates modern men and women as apostles, it also teaches that grace is received through sacraments administered under their authority. NAC ties forgiveness of sins and reception of the Holy Spirit to baptism, sealing, and obedience within the church. This contrasts with the New Testament, which teaches that forgiveness and the gift of the Spirit are granted directly by God at the moment of faith in Christ (Acts 10:43–44; Ephesians 1:13–14).
• The NAC redefines the Gospel. Rather than salvation being a finished work received by faith, the NAC presents salvation as something attained through participation in sacraments and living within its structure. Scripture rejects that, specifically teaching that sinners are justified by grace through faith apart from works (Romans 3:24–26; Ephesians 2:8–9). Christ alone mediates salvation (Acts 4:12), and adding additional steps or layers of authorities undermines the sufficiency of His saving work.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

“It’s complicated” — people say that about anything from relationships to tech problems to the plot of most time-travel movies. But God has made the most important event in your life uncomplicated: Salvation. When people add layers to it, they are changing the Gospel. Those changes may be wrapped in religious language, but they shift the focus from what Christ has already done to what a person must do to be saved. Any salvation that depends on human effort is not true salvation.

Believers must be alert to legalism in all forms, whether from groups like NAC, from practices introduced into our local churches, or even from wrong thinking in our own lives. New believers might find themselves keeping a mental scoreboard of “good” actions, patting themselves on the back as if they’ve taken another step toward heaven. But the truth is that we can’t earn our salvation by doing anything because Christ has already done everything. Internalizing that reality helps us to be ever grateful for God’s grace.

UNDERSTAND

• The New Apostolic Church teaches that salvation and the Spirit come through modern apostles and sacraments.
• Salvation comes directly from God through faith in Jesus, not human effort.
• Adding human steps shifts focus from grace to effort and undermines Christ’s finished work.

REFLECT

• How do you personally respond to the idea that salvation comes directly from God through faith, not through human effort or church structure?
• How do you understand the importance of tradition or rituals, if they don’t save us?
• How does understanding that the Holy Spirit is given at the moment of faith change the way you live and walk with God?

ENGAGE

• How does the NAC’s emphasis on modern apostles and sacraments compare with the New Testament teaching on the foundation of the apostles?
• What practical challenges arise when a church adds human steps to salvation, and how can we guard against legalism?
• How can we help others recognize the importance of grace and faith above effort or ritual to our walk with God?