Preliminary clarification
This Church has no ties with the Catholic Church.
The name “New Apostolic” is essentially contradictory. The church cannot be “new” (recently established) and at the same time “apostolic”. According to the doctrine of this Church, there is no contradiction because they give a new meaning to the word “apostolic”. It no longer refers to the 12 Apostles, nor to their doctrine, nor to their succession (see apostolicity). It is called “Apostolic” only because they call their current ministers “apostles”. (See on this page their creed, article 4)
Creed:
It takes the Apostles’ Creed from the Catholic Church, but eliminates “the holy catholic Church” and puts in its place “the holy apostolic Church”, an element taken from the Nicene Creed).
They arbitrarily added the following to the creed:
Article 4
I believe that the Lord Jesus rules his Church through living apostles until he comes again; that he has sent his apostles and still sends them, with the commission to teach, to forgive sins in his name, and to baptize with water and with the Holy Spirit.
Article 5
I believe that all the ministries of the Church of Christ have been chosen and instituted in their office only by apostles, and that all gifts and powers originate in the ministry of Apostle of Christ so that, endowed with them, the congregation may become a legible letter of Christ.
Article 6:
I believe that Holy Baptism with water is an integral part of rebirth, and that whoever receives it thereby obtains the option for the reception of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, it is the covenant of a good conscience with God.
Article 7:
I believe that Holy Communion was instituted by the Lord himself in remembrance of the once-offered and fully valid sacrifice of the bitter passion and death of Christ. Worthy partaking of Holy Communion guarantees us the fellowship of life with Christ Jesus, our Lord. It is celebrated with unleavened bread and wine, which must be blessed and administered by a pastoral ministry of the Church.
Article 8:
I believe that those baptized with water must receive the Holy Spirit from the hands of an apostle in order to attain divine childhood, by which they are introduced as members into the body of Christ.
Article 9:
I believe that the Lord Jesus will come again as surely as he ascended into heaven, and that the dead in Christ, as well as the living bridal souls who awaited his coming and were prepared, will be transformed and taken to his side; that after the wedding in heaven he will return to earth with them, establish his kingdom of peace, and they will rule with Him as kings and priests. At the end of this kingdom of peace he will carry out the final judgment, where all souls who had no part in the First Resurrection will receive their portion according to what they have done, whether good or evil.
Article 10:
I believe that I am committed to being obedient to earthly authority, provided that divine laws do not oppose it.
The New Apostolic Church has doctrines that coincide with the Catholic Church (they use part of its creed and other biblical teachings), while other doctrines do not coincide (e.g., its concept of apostolicity, its concept of the sacraments, its lack of a validly established hierarchy).
Author: Father Jordi Rivero
Source: Corazones.org
