New Apostolic Church
International

… In a divine service for the departed the Chief Apostle illustrated what this means specifically. …

… Divine services for the departed are a moving experience for many.  But why do they exist and how do they work? A module on nac.academy provides some insight. Can a human being be born again? …

… It creates a contemplative prelude to the divine service for the departed.  …

… Before a divine service for the departed, the hereafter seems to be especially near. Yet, what can we say offhand about this other world? Here are some answers from the Bible and the Catechism. …

… Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider conducted the divine service for the departed in Lagos in Nigeria on 2 March 2025. […] …

… Even difficult paths can be part of a divine plan as the story of Joseph shows impressively. Those who believe in God’s love learn to recognise the beginnings of new hope even in suffering and guilt. …

… This makes the divine service for the departed in Cambodia something very special. The video provides some insights. …

… Here is the well-known song in the piano version from the Pentecost service to set the mood for the divine service for the departed. …

… Here is a petition from a well-known hymn to set the mood for tomorrow’s divine service for the departed: “Heal my wounded, broken spirit, save me by Thy grace. …

… Here are some extracts from a divine service for the departed. …

… This is what this song is about and it sets the mood for the divine service for the departed. …

… The divine service for the departed focuses on the realms in the beyond and the hope of a reunion. …

… Before a divine service for the departed, the hereafter seems to be especially near. Yet, what can we say offhand about this other world: answers from the Bible and the Catechism. …

… Is the divine service for the departed some sort of spiritualistic practice? Hardly! Anyone who claims such a thing would be contradicting the facts! …

… Here is an instrumental version in preparation for the divine service for the departed. …

… I see this on four levels:  first: our  fellowship with the triune God  second: our  fellowship in the divine service  third:  living together in fellowship and finally: the  fellowship of the living …

… The living and the departed prepare themselves together for the return of Christ.  They experience the same divine services, receive the same sacraments, and pray for one another. …

… — It is very simple: divine life is a life in fellowship. The triune God is a God of fellowship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. …

… Enjoy the latest instrumental version of this touching tune to set the mood for the divine service for the departed. …

… Preparation for the service for the departed …

… A divine service packed with Christian basics, a little poetry, and above all pure joy. …

… He took ill two weeks ago on the way home from a divine service, and had been in a coma ever since. Although he received treatment at a regional hospital, it was impossible to save him. …

… A zealous servant of God District Apostle Woll describes the departed Apostle as a humble, obedient, discreet, zealous, creative, and organised servant and man of God, who was endowed with great love …

… These divine services will be conducted in accordance with the usual liturgy, only without the celebration of Holy Communion. …

… Wherever possible, the District Apostles have managed to arrange for our members to receive divine services at home by transmission. We do not know why God has permitted such a situation. …

… It would be inappropriate if only a small few of our members were able to celebrate Holy Communion, while thousands of others participating in the divine service from home would have to do without.   …

… For years he was in charge of the communications department in NAC Cape, which included being responsible for NAC-TV, the Church’s very own television channel in the country. …

… Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider stated that this would be a special divine service for him. …

… But it was in this same divine service that the international Church leader would also officially amalgamate the previously separate District Apostle districts of South East Africa and Cape Town into a …

… Divine service for the departed in November A Europe-wide campaign is currently being planned by the Working Group Public Relations Work. …

… The divine service for the departed in November is always well attended. November is a solemn month in which all denominations celebrate memorial services, among them also the New Apostolic Church. …

… Thereafter he travelled onward to Johannesburg, in the working area of District Apostle Patrick Mkhwanazi, in order to conduct a divine service for ministers. …

… His last stop was in the congregation of Maputo, Mozambique, where he conducted the service for the departed on Sunday, 2 November. …

… District Apostle Michael Deppner, who is responsible for this part of the Congo, had also invited all teachers and those responsible for youth care from Kinshasa to a divine service in the large church …

… The departed District Apostle is survived by his wife Irmtraud, his son Rüdiger, and his daughter Elke. …

… The departed servant of God, who had served for many years as Church president of the District Church of Southern Germany, passed away unexpectedly on 29 July 2014 at the age of only 74. …

… Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider, who conducted the funeral service, expressed that the news of the District Apostle’s sudden death had surprised and stunned him. …

… There the divine service will be simultaneously interpreted into over 20 languages. …

… The divine service which Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider will conduct on Pentecost Sunday on the occasion of the International Church Convention of the New Apostolic Church will be transmitted to over …

… International Church Convention: Global transmission of the Pentecost service …

… The international Church leader put the emphasis of this special divine service on the praise of God, belief in Jesus Christ, and obedience of faith. …

… Before entering into the full-time service of the Church, he worked as a graduate engineer and independent building contractor. …

… Some nice photos from the divine service can also be found in nacworld, the social network of the New Apostolic Church, at https://nacworld.net . …

… Chief Apostle Schneider based his divine service on the same Bible text from Galatians 6: 2 that he had already released to all District Apostles around the world weeks before, on which he had also written …

… There is already a certain tradition for the presiding Chief Apostle to issue a watchword for the year ahead in the New Year’s Day divine service. …

… In his divine service on New Year’s Day in Stuttgart, Germany, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider, the spiritual leader of the New Apostolic Church, used the words of the Lord Jesus as an appeal to all Christians …

… This too lies in the nature of professing, just as it does to be courageous and unafraid of suffering any sort of disadvantage,” explained the Church leader in the divine service he conducted in Herford …

… On the other end of the world, Chief Apostle Leber began the New Year’s divine service with a firm motto: “The year 2013 is to become a year of profession!” …

… Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber had already taken a step in this direction at the Pentecost service in Cologne in 2012. …

… Memorial service on July 17th The memorial service is currently being prepared. It is scheduled for Wednesday 17 July 2013 at 20:00 clock. …

… Although the departed Chief Apostle did not exactly enjoy large crowds of people, “he always loved each and every child of God!” …

… It replaces the weekly divine service and will be broadcasted via satellite transmission t o European congregations. …

… Both of them received their new ministries in a divine service conducted by Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber in Recife over the past weekend. In addition, Joáo Silva was ordained to the Bishop ministry. …

… Near the end of the service, Bishop José Luiz de Oliveira, who had served for many years, was given a well-deserved retirement. He had worked as a minister of the Church for 26 years. …

… Retirement and ordination More than 450 members from the northeast of Brazil assembled for the service for the departed that Sunday. …

… Next weekend, some 250 helpers will be at work in Cologne: from transportation to the many different preparations in the festive hall right up to the divine service on Sunday. …

… This year the pivotal Pentecost divine service conducted by international Church leader Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber is being organised by the District Church of North Rhine-Westphalia. …

… In addition they have to deal with the formatting and printing of programs, brochures, and hymn booklets for the divine service. …

… The service for the departed took place on Sunday morning in the Bago City Coliseum. Over 5,000 participants gathered for the divine service, some of whom had travelled great distances to be there. …

… Afterward there was a divine service in the congregation of Makati. Over 600 participants were there to personally enjoy the visit of their Chief Apostle. …

… This divine service also included a festive ordination: Bishop Leonilo Desoloc (47) received the Apostle ministry. He will care for the congregations in the north and west of Mindanao. …

… On the Saturday before the service, the Apostles gathered for an Apostle Meeting in order to discuss questions of doctrine and organisational matters. …

… During the service, the Church leader retired the long-serving Apostle Isaac Yesumoney from India before an assembly of some 400 members and guests. …

… On 22 November, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, international leader of the New Apostolic Church, conducted a divine service in Colombo, Sri Lanka. …

… During the divine service, the Church leader ordained some new ministerial gifts for the District Churches of Madagascar, Mozambique, and South East Africa. …

… The Chief Apostle and his companions, who laid flowers at the altar before the divine service, as did many brothers and sisters, were very moved by the great emotion of the large congregation. …

… The service for the departed took place on Sunday in the Pretoria-Central congregation. Pretoria, South Africa. …

… At the end of his journey the Church leader celebrated the service for the departed in Lilongwe, Malawi on 2 March. Zurich. …

… One youth day in Cape Town and divine services in Lubumbashi, Mbuji Mayi, Kananga, and Goma enabled him to have fellowship with a total of over 100,000 souls who attended the various events in person. …

… At the end of his journey the Church leader celebrated the service for the departed in Lilongwe, Malawi on 2 March. The international Church leader began his extended trip to Africa on 15 February. …

… On Saturday, March 3, the international church leader conducted a divine service for the ministers and their wives. …

… On Sunday, March 4, Chief Apostle Leber then conducted a service for the departed. …

… At the conclusion of the service, the Chief Apostle placed Ronald Whited (44) of Akron, Ohio, into the Bishop ministry. The newly ordained Bishop will support Apostle Leonard R. …

… Our Chief Apostle also brought his concern that the assembled congregation would prepare themselves for the festive Service for the Departed, which would be conducted on the coming Sunday. …

… Our Chief Apostle elaborated on the characteristics of the departed Bishop saying that he was a faithful, servant of God, devoted to the work of God, friendly and helpful. …

… The following day, Wednesday, February 28, the Chief Apostle conducted a divine service in Broward College where he greeted more than a thousand New Apostolic Christians with the words from Philippians …

… The concert will start approximately 20-30 minutes after the conclusion of the divine service. There is exciting news! …

… Our Chief Apostle Leber has given approval for all retired ministers and wives who are registered for Sunday, March 4, 2007 service to also attend Saturday's minister and wives service on March 3, 2007 …

… The service will begin at 2:00pm EST, and transmitted via satellite to various locations. Read our article on the website of the NAC USA . …

… Grégoire Tshiebue Kayembe was ordained into the apostle ministry by Chief Apostle Hans Urwyler in a festive divine service in Lubumbashi on 1 April 1984. …

… On Wednesday, 02.11.2005 District Apostle Helper Henri Higelin from France also conducted a special service of consolation. …

… Apostle Kazengu conducted the funeral for the departed apostle on Monday, 31 October 2005 in the Mbuji-Mayi Central church, in the presence of all apostles and bishops of the province of Kasaï Oriental …

… In the course of this divine service he ordained three bishops: Gregory February (*1956), Ralph Kenneth Hardick (*1944), and Abernathy Mkhanyiseli Lutuli (*1972). …

… The service was broadcast by television and radio throughout all of Zambia. The chief apostle based this divine service on a Bible passage from Ephesians 5: 8: "Walk as children of light." …

… More than 140,000 brethren from all around the Cape District enjoyed the divine service via transmission. …

… The conception of the realms of the departed has traditionally had great significance in the New Apostolic Church. …

… For more than 50 years, New Apostolic Christians have celebrated divine services for the departed three times annually. …

… On the air: service broadcasts …

… Pentecost Sunday, when millions of Church members around the world participate live via satellite, internet, and radio broadcast The New Apostolic Church has been familiar with regular audio broadcasts of divine …

… services since 1949. …

… In those services conducted by a District Apostle or his assistants, selected ministers receive all three sacraments on behalf of the departed. Read more in the Catechism …

… The Trinitarian invocation “In the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” makes it clear to divine service participants that God is now present, just as His Son promised (Matthew 18: 20 …

… Beyond that, there are also central divine services from time to time. …

… And in central divine services conducted by the Chief Apostle, District Apostles, or their assistants, two ministers are selected to receive all three sacraments on behalf of the departed.   …

… Services for the departed Divine services for the departed occupy a special place in the calendar of the New Apostolic Church: three times each year, the congregations pray that the unredeemed departed …

… On these festive days, corresponding Bible readings supplement the normal course of the divine services. …

… nak-west.de New Apostolic Church Western Pacific: nacho@newapostolic.org.au The latest issue of community, the Chief Apostle’s New Year’s address, or information on the sacraments, the holidays, and divine …

… services for the departed: interesting and important documents ready for download. nak.org is the official website of the New Apostolic Church International. …

… Holy Communion is generally celebrated in every divine service, while other sacraments are dispensed as needed. …

… The high point of the divine services is the sacramental portion. …

… Three times each year there are also divine services for the departed. On these occasions, the congregations pray that the unredeemed departed may find salvation in Christ. …

… They cover topics such as the sermon, pastoral care, liturgy, concept of ministry, prayers in divine service, and the doctrine of salvation for the departed. …

… Launched in 2022, the website offers practical tips, general information, and legal guidance for responsible and professional photography during divine services and church events. …

… nac.photos is a specialised online service of the New Apostolic Church International dedicated to photography in a church context. …

… … Himself to mankind. His revelation is a declaration of divine nature, divine truth, and divine will, and is to be seen as a sign of God's love and care for mankind. When we speak of God's "self-revelation" we … into His nature. God thereby makes Himself known as the Creator of heaven and earth, the Deliverer of Israel, … …

… The self-revelation of God in the visible creation is … manifest in them [the Gentiles who do not believe in God], for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes … …

… The Bible is comprised of two main parts: the Old Testament … Old and New Testaments testify of God's plan of salvation for mankind and are thus linked to one another. The designation "Bible" for the Old and New Testament has already been in use since … …

… The term "canon" (meaning "standard" or "guideline" in English), which was borrowed from the Greek language, is used to describe the collection of … Testament was far from complete. To this day there is no uniform canon of the Old Testament that is binding on all … …

… For the early Christian congregation, today's Old Testament … the letters of Apostle Paul. These were read aloud in the divine services and then passed along to neighbouring … …

… 1.2.5.1 Interpretation of Holy Scripture through the Holy Spirit …

… … the revelations that allow mankind to recognise God are the works of creation (Romans 1: 18-20). For example, believers praise these works in the … through His word and intervenes powerfully in their lives. For example, God called Abraham to leave his native country. … …

… … God of Israel was linked to His historical act of salvation for His people, that is their deliverance from slavery in … of all other gods (Joshua 24: 23). The focus of synagogue divine service is the creed "Hear, O Israel" (Shema Yisrael) which … …

… The Apostles' Creed originated in the early post-apostolic period. Some of its essential … universal [catholic] church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the … …

… 2.4.1 The First Article of Faith …

… … Him as such. Further revelations from God are given by the Holy Spirit who leads the faithful into the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2: … and allows them to speak to Him. The description of the divine characteristics is to bring to expression the … …

… The trinity of God is a mystery. The Trinitarian formula, "In the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," … …

… The first reference to the activity of the triune God is … our likeness'" (Genesis 1: 26). "Elohim", the designation for God used in the original Hebrew text, is plural. It means "the Divine" as well as "gods" and should be understood, in light … …

… "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" … Everything demonstrates the Creator's constant care: "For Thou lovest all the things that are, and abhorrest nothing which Thou hast made: for never wouldest Thou have made any thing, if Thou hadst … …

… … to say realms, occurrences, conditions, and beings outside the material world. It was created by God and is called the … human investigation. Nevertheless it is possible, through divine revelation, for human beings to gain insights into the invisible … …

… The term "angel" is the translation of the Hebrew word malak … They are "all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation" (Hebrews 1: 14). … are assigned angels who always see the face of God.The services performed by angels for human beings are always … …

… The statement that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father (John 1: 14) is also expressed in the Second … …

… 3.4.11.1 The significance of Jesus Christ's resurrection for salvation …

… All three terms mean the same: "Messiah" is derived from the Hebrew maschiach, … Israel an understanding of the Messiah which increasingly foreshadowed a figure who would transcend all things human, and who would possess divine character in the deepest sense. It is the unanimous … …

… When the angel of the Lord announced the birth of Jesus to the … no end" (Luke 1: 32-33). The wise men from the East asked for the newborn King of the Jews whom they had come to … definitively rejected all notions that He was striving for an earthly kingdom or that He would accept any political … …

… The gospels of Matthew and Luke describe the birth of Jesus. Jesus was born at the time when Herod … the glad tidings to the shepherds in the fields: "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a … …

… The Lord had gathered together with the twelve Apostles for … and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for … …

… 3.5.1 The Holy Spirit as a divine person …

… The Creed of Nicaea-Constantinople (see … states that the Holy Spirit emanates from the Father and the Son. According to the words of Jesus, the … in Jesus' words: "He [the Holy Spirit] will glorify Me, for He will take of what is mine and declare it to you. All … …

… "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on … but is rather described as a life-giving power. Examples for the activity of the Spirit of God are recorded from the … of the Holy Spirit through King David with the words: "For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: 'The Lord said to … …

… 3.5.4.1 The Helper and Comforter …

… Through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost it is … shows that the Holy Spirit is a necessary prerequisite for church: church and the Holy Spirit belong … in the congregations led by Apostles. In them there is divine life, which is revealed in the activity and preaching … …

… The Christian faith is intended to be shared with others. … Lord, come to expression. Examples of this are: "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was … …

… The fact that God revealed Himself in history first becomes … and Jacob (Exodus 3: 6). The central event of salvation for the people of Israel is their liberation from slavery in … own in Canaan and the covenant made at Mount Sinai are divine revelations of decisive importance: God Himself … …

… Over the course of many centuries, human experiences of God's … to Timothy emphasises that these Scriptures are based on divine revelation: "... that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All … …

… 1.2.2 The Old Testament …

… 1.2.2.2 The books of the Old Testament …

… In the New King James Version of the Bible the New Testament … Testaments. Both parts testify of God's plan of salvation for mankind and are thus linked to one another. … Old and New Testament Scriptures, and are just as binding for faith and doctrine as the other books of the Old … …

… According to Christian understanding, the principal aim of the Old Testament is to prepare the way for the arrival of the Messiah and to testify of Him. Jesus … 39; Luke 4: 17-21; 24: 27). He interpreted the Scriptures for His disciples in relationship to His activity. … …

… With the incarnation of God, the Son, the Old Testament promises … covenant, the term "God, the Father" expressed God's care for His people. Through Jesus Christ, however, it becomes … Son from eternity. Jesus Christ opens up the way for human beings to attain childhood in God and to be called … …

… As Christianity spread through the Roman Empire, many who became Christians remained, at … made to formulate creeds which were intended to be binding for the faith of the congregation and thus also for the individual believer. Conformity to the doctrine of … …

… In the year 325 Emperor Constantine convened the Council of … with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate … …

… I believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, our Lord, who was conceived by … "our Lord". In the Old Testament, "Lord" is the designation for God. In the New Testament this term is applied to Jesus Christ in order to emphasise His divine nature. Here the term "Lord" also signifies that … …

… Belief in God as the One God is one of the fundamental professions of both … Again and again, the prophets had to reproach the people for worshipping other gods. In Isaiah 45: 21-22, we find the … Me. Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other." After their return … …

… … Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thus God can be recognised as the triune God. This self-revelation of God constitutes the basis for the doctrine of the Trinity. God's actions in history … He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The mystery of the divine Trinity comes to expression in various ways in the … …

… Although the New Testament does not contain a fully formulated … records events and formulations which clearly show the divine Trinity and its activity in the history of salvation. … of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus … …

… 3.3.1.1.2 The significance of the invisible realm for the life of human beings …

… Holy Scripture attests that God created the visible world in six "days of creation". These are not to be understood as specific measures of time. The Bible relates how all that which is perceptible to human … 6). Human beings are thus accountable to God, the Creator, for their actions with regard to the creation. They have … …

… … according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the … both a material and a spiritual nature as a result of this divine act: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the … with which he has been endowed makes man responsible for his actions. He must bear the consequences of his deeds … …

… When Mary Magdalene and other women came to the grave at the break of day, they saw that the stone had been rolled … the Risen Son of God gave them direction and instruction for that which lay ahead of them. He taught them and issued … …

… John 1: 1-18 contains fundamental statements about the being of God and His revelation in the world. It speaks … of the Father, full of grace and truth." The transcendent divine Word, which was in the beginning with God, now … the Father" (John 14: 9). Hebrews 2: 14 gives the reason for the Word having become flesh: "Inasmuch then as the … …

… In the Old Testament, the designation "Lord" is mostly used … a respectful form of address, but as a designation of the divine authority of Jesus Christ. That Jesus is "Lord" became an irrefutable certainty for His disciples after His resurrection. Apostle Thomas … …

… The foremost tasks of the priests in the old covenant … sins of the priests, and the sins of the people before God. For this purpose he would enter the Most Holy Place once … Christ Jesus." On the one hand, Jesus Christ surpasses the service of the Old Testament high priests because He is the … …

… … sin. Nonetheless, He allowed Himself to be baptised by John the Baptist and to be counted among the sinners (2 … Himself and subjected Himself to the same act that must be performed on every sinner. Already here it is clear that … in You I am well pleased" (Luke 3: 22). Through this act of divine revelation, the divine Sonship of Jesus is announced … …

… After the Last Supper, Jesus and the Apostles went to the Garden of Gethsemane. The human nature of the Son of God … …

… A central event in the history of salvation is the incarnation of God in Jesus … Holy Spirit who testifies of the sending of the Son. The divine authority of the incarnate Son of God is revealed by … New Testament also refers to Him as the "Comforter" and "Helper", as well as a "power" and as the … …

… Like the Hebrew ruach and the Latin spiritus, the Greek term … other things. In Genesis 2: 7 we read of the Spirit as the divine breath of life. The Holy Spirit brings about life … the Lord was present" in Him (Luke 4: 14; 5: 17). Shortly before His ascension into heaven, the Risen One promised His … …

… Both the Old and New Testaments attest that the Holy Spirit was active in the prophets and that He spoke … Testament times the Holy Spirit would only fill a person for a limited amount of time and not–as in the New … …

… Jesus Christ also described the Holy Spirit as the "Spirit of truth" (John 15: 26). This Spirit makes clear … of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever he … …

… The salvific power inherent in the sacraments is based on the fact that all three divine persons are at work in these acts. Thus the Holy … consecration of bread and wine for Holy Communion is only possible because the Holy Spirit … …

… The term "Catechism" has its origin in the Greek language … to the instruction of those who were being prepared for baptism with water. The content of the Christian faith … lifestyle is set forth in the Catechism. The foundation for the doctrine of the Church is Holy Scripture. The core … …

… God's incarnation in Jesus Christ is the historical self-revelation of God that surpasses everything before it (John 1: 14; 1 Timothy 3: 16). The gospel according to Luke expressly places the birth of … …

… The later writings of the Old Testament contained in many editions of the Bible are also known as "Apocrypha" ("hidden … later writings of the Old Testament are just as binding for faith and doctrine as all other writings of the Old … …

… It is recommendable for every believer to read regularly from Holy Scripture, as … and admonition, and serves to promote knowledge. The important thing in this process is the attitude of heart with which the reader studies the Bible. The striving for the fear of God and sanctification, together with … …

… Fundamental evidence that the Holy Spirit would, after Jesus' return to His Father, … of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He … is the teaching that salvation can also be attained by the departed (see … …

… The Holy Spirit's activity is already attested in the Old … Lord, the Holy Spirit's activity in the New Testament is divine revelation (John 14: 16-17, 26). Here too, the only appropriate response for mankind is faith, namely faith in the Spirit, who … …

… 2.3 The early church creeds and their significance for the New Apostolic Church …

… I believe in the Holy Spirit, the one, holy, universal, and apostolic … of Nicaea-Constantinople again brings to expression the divine essence of the Holy Spirit and His oneness with the … reason, but can be accessed through faith and experienced, for example in the sacraments and in the spoken word of God, … …

… In the Old Testament God is repeatedly described as "the Holy … throughout the history of salvation, commands reverence for Him. That the presence of God is holy and that it … not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground" (Exodus 3: 5). … …

… The recognition of God's triune nature and its doctrinal … or "hypostasis", as well as "substance", were used. Formulating the doctrine of the Trinity served, on one hand, … it popular. Tertullian emphasised the oneness of God: "one [divine] substance in three persons" (Latin: una substantia … …

… God reveals Himself as the Father in unsurpassed fashion through the incarnation of … in heaven" (Matthew 6: 9). Jesus Christ opened the way for human beings to become children–and thereby heirs–of … John 3: 1, the Fatherly love of God is given as the reason for which the reborn can be certain of their status as … …

… … Him. Through His commandment that they should not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, He identified … their Lord and lawgiver, who expected obedience. Through the influence of the evil one, mankind entered into … first human beings in the recognition of their nakedness before God, which caused them to be ashamed (Genesis 3: … …

… The resurrection body of Jesus Christ is a glorious body. … to His earthly existence. It is fundamentally distinct from the raising of Lazarus, for example (John 11: 17-44), who died again at a later … …

… The teaching that Jesus Christ is true Man and true … sin. Likewise, Jesus Christ is true God. Both the divine Sonship and the Godhead of Jesus Christ are attested … profession of the nature of Jesus in the Christ hymn: "For in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily" … …

… In Daniel 7: 13-14, the term "Son of Man" is used to denote a heavenly being who is not part of the human race. At the time of Jesus, devout Jews awaited … that is, the Son of Man." As such, He has the authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9: 6), is Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew … …

… The promise which God made to Moses was fulfilled in Jesus Christ: "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren, and … in the gospel." The Lord taught with the full power of divine authority, which comes to expression in the words: … …

… After His baptism in the Jordan, Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the … be tempted by the Devil" (Matthew 4: 1). He remained there for forty days and was tempted several times by the Devil. … and to be counted among the sinners. After the baptism, the divine Sonship of Jesus was proclaimed to the entire world … …

… 3.4.9.3 Jesus before the high council …

… Since the Holy Spirit has existed eternally in unity with the Father and the Son, He was active during the creation … In the time of the old covenant, the Holy Spirit brought forth many promises concerning the coming of the Messiah and … …

… Before His ascension into heaven, the risen Lord promised His Apostles: "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but you tarry in the city … to live in a manner pleasing to God and thereby prepare for the return of Christ. SUMMARY Jesus Christ, the … …

… The Apostles exercise their ministry in the power of the … and thereby in the preparation of the bride of Christ for His return. Through the Apostles of today, the Holy … Holy Spirit is a necessary prerequisite for church: church and the Holy Spirit belong together. … …

… … matter, but that it also has practical implications for conduct in life. Believing sinners who have been made … and the New Apostolic Church (Chapter 11) as well as to divine service (Chapter 12), and general practice in life (Chapter … …

… With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem on Pentecost, … is a declaration of divine nature, divine truth, and divine will, and is a sign of God's love and care for mankind. … …

… The New Testament contains the records of the mission and activity of Jesus and His … Jesus Christ admonishes His church in various ways, comforts them with the promise of His return, and points to … …

… Faith is one of the basic realities of human life. It does not refer … faith is manifested when a person binds himself to a divine being or principle. The foundation and content of … in Hebrews 11: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (verse 1). Here it is … …

… … faith in Him and His gospel is brought about by accepting the word of His ambassadors, His Apostles: "As You sent Me … world I also have sent them into the world. I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word" (John … …

… It is the task of the apostolate to interpret Holy Scripture and the early church creeds in a manner that is authoritative for our faith. An important result of this is the New … in doctrinal and confessional statements, and that these divine characteristics will always be greater than anything … …

… I believe that the Lord Jesus rules His church and thereto sent His … return still sends them, with the commission to teach, to forgive sins in His name, and to baptise with water and Holy … believer–is expressed in the following: "to teach, to forgive sins in His name, and to baptise with water and Holy … …

… The profession in the First Article of Faith–"I believe in … that God can do anything, that nothing is impossible for Him, and that for Him there are no restrictions whatsoever in the … …

… 3.2.4 The unity of the three divine persons …

… … and spiritual being (that is with a spirit and soul). The human body is mortal, whereas the spirit and soul are immortal (see … and influence one another because man is a unified entity: for as long as he lives on earth, he is an entity comprised … …

… Professing Jesus Christ as the Son of God is one of the fundamentals of Christian … Man and true God. He has two natures, a human one and a divine one, which are both present in Him in a pure, … ways, Jesus Himself revealed the mystery of His person. For example, in Matthew 11: 27, He said: "All things have … …

… The Old Testament already provides references to the coming Messiah, Saviour, and Redeemer. For example, we find the first reference to a coming … "Our fathers ... all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, … …

… … additional majestic titles of Jesus: Immanuel, Servant of the Lord, Son of David. The Hebrew name "Immanuel" means … the New Testament, "Son of David" is a familiar title for Jesus Christ. The beginning of the gospel according to … is a designation of the divine authority of Jesus Christ. … …

… The focus of Jesus' preaching was on the kingdom of … to reconciliation with God, and the gate to eternal life, for mankind. Through His death and resurrection, He proved once and for all that He is Lord over death and the Devil. Mankind … …

… 3.4.9.4 Jesus before Pilate and Herod …

… Before His return to the Father, Jesus Christ announced to His Apostles the … "Spirit of truth". He also promised the Holy Spirit as a divine "Helper" and as the power from on high, which was to … that His departure from this world was a prerequisite for the coming of the Holy Spirit as a Helper (John 16: 7). … …

… The Catechism of the New Apostolic Church takes into account … an important function of the Catechism to serve as a basis for Church instruction and ministers' meetings. Beyond that … ourselves off to them, but can rather be a starting point for fruitful dialogue with other Christians. The … …

… Holy Scripture is the foundation for the doctrine of the New Apostolic Church. Accordingly, the proclamation of the word in the divine services is also based on Holy Scripture. It is the starting … …

… I believe that those designated by God for a ministry are ordained only by Apostles, and that … Fifth Article of Faith, bears his ministry on the basis of divine will and not human decision. This is executed or … congregation. The term "ministration" is understood as service to Jesus Christ and the congregation. The … …

… God, "the Eternal", has neither beginning nor end. Temporal limitations do not exist for Him. "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the … …

… The name "Jesus" means "The Lord saves". When the angel of … name at the same time: "and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1: … other human beings–albeit without sin. According to His divine nature, He remains true God unchanged, even during … …

… … four gospels handed down to us in writing give account of the miraculous deeds of Jesus as real events that attested … they serve to manifest Christ's glory (John 2: 11) and His divine authority (John 5: 21). The miracles which the Son … who acted exactly as God had described Himself to Israel: "For I am the Lord who heals you" (Exodus 15: 26). One of … …

… … Him the Lord said: "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children" (Luke … words Jesus spoke on the cross attest to His divine greatness. Even while suffering and dying, He turned … in two. This signified that the Old Testament's sacrificial service had come to an end in Christ's death, and was no … …

… Holy Scripture provides abundant testimony of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God. It testifies that … In the Creed of Nicaea-Constantinople this content is formulated even more comprehensively: "And [we believe] in … and in the history of salvation. The Holy Spirit is a divine person (see … …

… The epistles of the New Testament express that the Holy Spirit was present in the early Christian … and sent the Holy Spirit to His disciples as a Helper and Comforter. The church is described as the "house of God", … …

… I believe that the Holy Baptism with water is the first step to a renewal of a human being in the Holy … water does not yet contain everything that is necessary for a human being to become a new creation before God. It is … …

… In the old as well as in the new covenant, God reveals Himself as the Loving One. Out … act, but ultimately to all mankind in Jesus Christ: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten … …

… "Majestic titles" refer to names and designations for the Son of God by which Holy Scripture alludes to various … …

… … and in so doing employed a wide range of imagery from the daily lives of His listeners. In Matthew 13: 34-35 we … and the prodigal son (Luke 15: 4-32) illustrate God's love for, and will to reconcile with, the sinner. Without regard for the person, the Lord invites all, and offers them … …

… Isaiah 53 describes the suffering servant of God who is abased. This refers to … He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; ... the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are … …

… I believe that Holy Communion was instituted by the Lord Himself in memory of the once brought, fully valid … makes it clear that the authorised ministry is necessary for the consecration and dispensation of the Lord's … "It is celebrated with unleavened bread and wine". In order for Holy Communion to be celebrated, "unleavened bread" and … …

… God is the Gracious One. His grace is part of His righteousness. He … the covenant: "'With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have … is redemption. God is righteous: "His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice" (Deuteronomy 32: 4). … …

… … associated with the notion of reigning and ruling. Priests performed sacrificial services in order to effect reconciliation between man and God. Prophets were expected to proclaim the divine will and foretell coming events. Ruling and … …

… The Mosaic Law was the highest authority for Israel. Its observance and fulfilment were considered the key to the relationship between mankind and God. Jesus … …

… The gospels tell us how the Lord announced His suffering and death, as well as His … signs, Jesus pointed to the story of the prophet Jonah: "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of … …

… … those baptised with water must, through an Apostle, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to attain the childhood in God and thereby the prerequisite for becoming a firstling. The Eighth Article of Faith … assigned solely to the Apostle ministry. The prerequisite for receiving this sacrament is Holy Baptism with water. … …

… … no improvement, change, or any further development. He is the Unchangeable One and is free from all conditions and … creation shares in God's perfection and goodness, and it is for this reason that God finds His creation to be "very … "The entirety of Your word is truth" (Psalm 119: 160). The divine word is reliable. God binds Himself to His promises … …

… 3.4.8 New Testament references to the person and activity of Jesus Christ …

… In order to spread the gospel, Jesus selected twelve Apostles from the ranks of … He is the Christ. To them He gave an example of humble service when He washed their feet (John 13: 4 et seq.) Only … of His return. In His intercessory prayer He interceded for them and for those who would come to believe through … …

… The sacrificial death of Jesus, and the path of redemption that had thereby been opened up for mankind, are central themes in the letters of the Apostles. For example, we read in 1 John 3: 16: "By this we know love, … …

… I believe that the Lord Jesus will return as surely as He ascended into … the firstfruits of the dead and living who have hoped for and were prepared for His coming; that after the marriage in heaven He will … …

… The last days before Jesus' sacrificial death are described in great detail in the gospels. When the Lord rode into Jerusalem on a … silver to betray Jesus, an amount that was customarily paid for a slave (Exodus 21: 32). Thereby the words of Zechariah … …

… The core of the gospel is Jesus Christ who, through His … conflicting understanding of Christ's death on the cross: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are … defeat is really a victory which laid the foundation for an immeasurably great work of redemption. Through the … …

… I believe that I am obliged to obey the worldly authorities provided no godly laws are thereby … church, its ministries and sacraments, as well as the hope for the future, the Tenth Article of faith deals with the … that the state is to serve God, in other words that the divine will–as clearly expressed in the Ten Commandments, … …

… In 1 Peter 3: 18-20 we read that, after His death on the cross, the Son of God preached to those who had been … Noah's time. He did this in order to offer them salvation: "For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who … since Jesus brought His sacrifice it has also been possible for the dead to attain redemption (see … …

… The resurrection of Jesus Christ is an act of the triune God, which occurred in a manner that had never happened before: On the one hand, the power of God, the Father, is … …

… … after His resurrection, Jesus Christ ascended from among the circle of His Apostles into heaven, to God, His Father. … to them was "not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father," as they were to be "baptised … nature of the Lord was thereby dissolved permanently into divine glory. Thus the words were fulfilled: "I came forth … …

… Jesus Christ has returned to the Father, however, He also is present here on earth in the … the image of the "body of Christ" to represent the church. For example, Christ is praised as the "head of the body, the … of the Lord has many members and is nonetheless one body, "for by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body" (1 … …

… According to Ephesians 1: 20-23, Christ has been set as the head above all "principality and power and might and … Christ is the firstborn of all creation: "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and … and invisible ... All things were created through Him and for Him" (Colossians 1: 16). Through Him, God created the … …

… The promise of Jesus Christ's return is a central element of … who said to His Apostles: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that … to be watchful and prepared: "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" … …

… … making it possible to recognise nature as His creation and the history of mankind as the history of salvation. God has revealed Himself in a … to those who will then be caught up to Him will be perfect, for they will see God as He is (1 John 3: 2). …

… A creed summarises the essential content of a doctrine of faith. Those who profess a creed fulfil one of the prerequisites for belonging to a respective denomination of faith: one … …

… 3 The triune God …

… … has fallen into sin and is thus in need of redemption from the evil one. …

… … given mankind commandments in which He proclaims His will for their benefit. …

… 6 The church of Jesus Christ …

… … Article of Faith: "I believe that those designated by God for a ministry are ordained only by Apostles, and that … uses "ministering" and "serving" (or "ministry" and "service") interchangeably. While other parts of the … ordained ministry (see paragraph 3 of 7.1; cf. also Divine Service Guide, Special Edition 03/12). Someone who … …

… … in order to allow him to attain salvation, be adopted into the fellowship of life with God, and be preserved in it. Receiving the three sacraments opens up the possibility for being united with the Lord at the return of … came to be used in reference to ritual acts. Thus, for example, Tertullian (ca. AD 160-220) associated the … …

… … after death can be found in Holy Scripture. Beyond that, the doctrine of the afterlife is based on revelations of the Holy Spirit. …

… … to mankind. His will to save applies to all people in the past, the present, and the future. The history of … that God is faithful enables us to confidently wait for the fulfilment of further divine promises (Hebrews 10: 23). The doctrine of future … …

… 11 From the history of Christianity …

… 12 Divine service, acts of blessing, and pastoral care …

… 13 New Apostolic Christians and their life of faith …

… The origin of evil within the order of creation cannot be … itself and takes on the appearance of something good or divine (2 Corinthians 11: 14). Only through faith in the … first only an alternative which man chose by violating the divine commandment. God neither wanted nor created evil, but … …

… The doctrine of sin and mankind's need for redemption is … tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die'" … …

… The Bible uses the terms "sin" and "guilt" interchangeably in some cases, and with different meanings in others. The distinction between these two concepts is clearly shown in the words of the Son of God when He defended His disciples … …

… Holy Scripture uses the term "salvation" in the sense of "deliverance", … history of salvation. In it we can recognise a sequence of divine actions that follow a plan made by God. The history … is geared toward preparing the bridal congregation for the return of Jesus Christ. This will be followed by the … …

… … God's will to call forth individual human beings or groups for a purpose determined by Him, thereby making them accountable to Him. …

… … God's saving and healing activity upon both mankind and the creation. Its antithesis is curse, which occurs when God … His blessing through human beings commissioned by Him for this purpose. Blessing is comprehensive and has its effect on a human being as a whole. It contains divine power and brings mankind the promise of future … …

… In general, we understand "law" to mean the binding regulations and rules issued by a superior … of this law come to expression in the Ten Commandments, for example. Not only is there a law that places … comes from faith in Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. Divine grace stands above the law. In his epistle to the … …

… Strict adherence to the Mosaic Law and the study of its content were of central … term. The term is already referenced in the Old Testament, for example in Isaiah 61: 1: "The Spirit of the Lord God is … elements of the gospel are described by Apostle Paul: "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also … …

… Belief in God has a decisive effect on the life of an individual as a whole. Believers strive to … with Him. Beyond that, they constitute the foundation for constructive relationships between people. Since … by receiving the sacraments. The receiving of these divine acts of salvation and the expectation of the imminent … …

… … 4:16), and His commandments are an expression of His love. The purpose of the commandments is to help human beings live … In the commandments He proclaims His will to this people for their protection. It is also to this people, through … to become His children and receive their very own divine nature, namely love: "... the love of God has been … …

… The Ten Commandments comprise the core of the Mosaic Law, … instructions can be derived which demonstrate how the love for God and one's neighbour commanded by Jesus Christ is to … mankind and makes each individual personally responsible for his actions and conduct of life. …

… … it can mean a Christian house of God as a place of assembly for the believers. On the other hand it can refer to a … and the Holy Spirit. The focal point of church life is the divine service. In the midst of the church, Jesus Christ prepares … …

… On the one hand, the purpose of the church of Jesus Christ is to make salvation and eternal fellowship with the triune God accessible to mankind and, on the other hand, … …

… … that church is and will ever be is founded upon the word, work, and nature of Jesus. Jesus Christ is true … of Christ reflects the dual nature of Jesus Christ. His divine nature is concealed or invisible, whereas His human … invisible church can only be grasped in faith. The visible form of the church–the church of Christ in its historical … …

… … in the church. The focal point of church life is the divine service. In its spiritual nature and perfection, the … people at work within the church are subject to sin. It is for this reason that the same errors, aberrations, and … …

… … holiness, universality, and apostolicity. The main reason for this is that for a long period of time the Apostle … where worship and the praise of the triune God occur in divine service, and in which oneness, holiness, universality, and … …

… … blessing, and sanctification issued through ordination for service in the church of Christ. It is exercised in the power of the … …

… The spiritual ministry is founded upon the sending of Jesus … by His Father, He was authorised, blessed, and sanctified for the redemption of mankind. Already in the old covenant … and sending of the Apostles, Jesus instituted the ministry for His church. The church of Jesus Christ was revealed in … …

… Holy Scripture does not have a uniform definition for the word "ministry", nor does it expound upon any doctrine … nevertheless makes a number of different statements about the content and nature of the ministry. …

… The word "Apostle" derives from the Greek apóstolos which … in Jesus Christ accessible to human beings who long for salvation. Furthermore, the Apostle ministry is mandated to prepare believers for the return of Jesus Christ. The Fourth Article of … …

… The only ministry given by Jesus Christ is the Apostle … of hands and prayer, the Apostles equipped them spiritually for their ministry (Acts 6: 6). These seven men are … and prayer of an Apostle–that established the foundation for future ordinations.The Apostles and other believers … …

… From its beginnings, the New Apostolic Church has understood itself as a church … of Faith states: "I believe that those designated by God for a ministry are ordained only by Apostles, and that authority, blessing, and sanctification for their ministration come forth out of the Apostle … …

… … forth from the Apostle ministry in order to equip ministers for their work in the congregations. Ordination to a … for a ministry is not based upon human will but upon the divine will. It is the task of the Apostle to recognise … and support, as well as the protection of the angels' service. A minister cannot perform his duties on the basis … …

… … a minister must live up to certain requirements. The sanctification received through the ordination must be … of the congregation and the ministers is a prerequisite for blessed development within the congregation. In order to … preserve such a relationship of trust, it is indispensable for the ministers to be one with one another and their … …

… … Paul writes: "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but … But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all" (1 Corinthians 12: 4-7). Thus each … to him, and promotes their faith and knowledge. In caring for their souls, he sympathises with their personal … …

… Holy Baptism with water is the first and fundamental act of grace of the triune God bestowed on a human being who believes in … the baptised shares in the merit Jesus Christ acquired for mankind through His sacrificial death. Thereby a human … …

… The Seventh Article of the New Apostolic Creed states: "I … experienced. Holy Communion is the central event of the divine service. It also takes on a significant position in the … …

… Holy Sealing is the sacrament through which the believer, through the laying on of hands and the prayer … to attain the childhood in God and thereby the prerequisite for becoming a firstling." …

… 9.1 The immortality of the soul …

… Holy Scripture provides various interpretations of the term "death". First of all, the term describes a person's physical death, the end of his … Christ conquered death and thereby made it possible for mankind to gain access to eternal life (2 Timothy 1: … …

… In the Old Testament, the continued life of the soul after physical death is already suggested by formulations such as being "gathered to [one's] people" … …

… The term "beyond" generally refers to all realms, events, … and the dead are invisible to living human beings. However, departed souls can, in individual cases, show themselves. To … 88: 10-12; 115: 17). Yet there is also a note of hope for redemption from darkness (Psalm 23: 4; 49: 15).In His … …

… The condition of souls in the beyond is a direct expression … will of God. In this each individual bears responsibility for himself. For instance, belief or unbelief, forgiveness or … …

… 9.6 Help for the departed …

… In close similarity to the Apostolicum, the Second Article of Faith professes: "I … the firstfruits of the dead and living who have hoped for and were prepared for His coming." Jesus Christ will return–this is a core … …

… The marriage of the Lamb follows directly after the bride has been caught up … bring His sacrifice, in submissiveness to the will of God, for the redemption of mankind. John the Baptist refers to … …

… For as long as the Lord's work of salvation is on this earth, the earthly creation remains under the special protection of … 15; cf. Revelation 14: 12-13). These steadfast witnesses for Christ will become martyrs. …

… After the marriage in heaven, the Son of God will return to the … (Matthew 24: 29-30). Jesus Christ will then reveal His divine power on earth for all to see (Revelation 1: 7). He, the King of kings and … …

… The only place in Holy Scripture where the expression "first … become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ... For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made … He is the firstfruits of those who will resurrect. All hope for the resurrection of the dead is founded upon the … …

… After the conclusion of the first resurrection, Christ will … forever. Then follows the resurrection of the dead for judgement (Revelation 20: 11-15). Christ will then judge … not caught up to Jesus Christ. They continue to experience divine support and spiritual nourishment. … …

… According to the great commission given by Jesus Christ, it is the task … God showed Apostle Peter that the gospel is also intended for the Gentiles (Acts 10 and 11). A decisive step in … to the Gentile countries surrounding the Mediterranean for the same purpose. As Eusebius of Caesarea writes in his … …

… The activity of the Holy Spirit continued after the death of … important principles of Christian doctrine. These include, for example, the doctrine of the Trinity and of the person … significance that Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection hold for the salvation and redemption of mankind. During this … …

… Between 1826 and 1829, in close cooperation with the Presbyterian clergyman Edward Irving (1792-1834), the … to his country estate in Albury in southern England for a series of conferences in order to clarify certain … an Apostle and ordained William R. Caird as an Evangelist. For nearly a year Cardale remained the only Apostle, and had … …

… 12.1 Divine service …

… … the New Apostolic Church, special blessings are dispensed for the following events in the lives of the believers: … These acts of blessing are, as a rule, performed during the divine service. The prenatal blessing is dispensed outside of the … …

… The death of a loved one causes pain and grief for the bereaved. In this situation, they feel the … in the loving care of those around them. The funeral service, a divine service with its own specific character, serves to … …

… The accounts of Jesus' conduct allow us to understand the significance of pastoral care. Without regard for the person, He turned to sinners and allowed them to … admonished, strengthened, prayed, and taught. Jesus came for all human beings, but not all of them accept Him. His … …

… … events are commemorated with reverence and gratitude. The New Apostolic Church celebrates the following holy days, the importance of which is emphasised by a special divine service. Regional differences are taken into account. …

… … understand prayer as an opportunity given by God for human beings to enter into contact with Him. In prayer, the believer experiences: God is present, God hears, and God … Sustainer, and Redeemer. God addressed mankind first. For this reason, prayer is always mankind's response to … …

… The term "willingness to offer and sacrifice" refers to a person's inner desire to employ his powers and gifts for the benefit of others, by abstaining–in whole or in … things offered to a higher being, as well as human deeds in service to others are generally described as "sacrifices" in … …

… Marriage is the lifelong union between a man and woman desired by God, upon which His blessing rests. It also forms the foundation for the family. It is based upon a free and voluntary public … blessing is an important and valuable foundation for marriage and family life. …

… The religious, social, and professional conditions in which … themselves result in various necessary modes of conduct. For Christians, the basis for fulfilling these obligations is belief in God as the One … …

… In the New Apostolic Church the gospel of Christ is proclaimed. This proclamation includes the call for believers to follow Jesus and His example, to love God … and to love their neighbour as themselves (Mark 12: 30-31). For members, this means they are to treat others with … …

… Evil is a power that stems from the desire for independence from God and the desire to be … the power of evil has manifested itself again and again. For example, after Adam and Eve's fall into sin we see evil … …

… … as a power, but also as a person. Holy Scripture refers to the personification of evil as "the Devil" (Matthew 4: 1), … doubt God and rebel against Him: "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will … No human being is exempt from personal responsibility for his sins. … …

… 4.2.1 The consequences of the fall into sin for mankind …

… 4.2.2 The consequences of the fall into sin for the creation …

… … from God. To restore a close relationship with Him, the sin must be forgiven (see … what is right by revealing His will. It is advisable for man to inquire into God's will and to act accordingly. … factor in assessing whether a deed is sinful or not is the divine will–as manifested in Holy Scripture, as … …

… … beings violate God's will, they sin and thereby incur guilt before God. Guilt is manifest when God in His righteousness … misconduct against an individual who has committed a sin. The magnitude of guilt incurred can only be measured by … them from guilt. The sacrifice of Christ, the epitome of divine salvific activity, serves to this … …

… 4.4.1 Hope for salvation in the Old Testament …

… In Galatians 4: 4-5 we read that the entire history of salvation in the old covenant was … of Christianity, and the preparation of the bride for the return of Christ are all phases in this plan of … in the form of salvation history, in which a series of divine actions occurring in accordance with God's plan can … …

… … believers today experience salvation by being prepared for the return of Christ, which will enable them to share in the … to attain salvation in Christ in the current stage of the divine plan of salvation (see … …

… Already in the creation we see a reference to divine election, which is … been granted is clear from the Wisdom of Solomon 2: 23: "For God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an … …

… 4.5.2 Election in the New Testament …

… … less lay claim to it. It cannot be explained by reason. Divine election is a mystery of God that can only be grasped … are not forced to accept or secure God's election. It is the individual's own decision whether or not to believe and … to accept or reject God's election.God elects human beings for their own salvation as well as for the salvation of … …

… During the creation God blessed all creatures and laid the law of … the creation to man and granted him a special blessing for this purpose (Genesis 1: 28-30), a blessing which He … through the curse of sin, it was not completely removed: "For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon … …

… The promise of blessing given to Israel was part of the … by the people, and encompassed all areas of life, for example victory in battles against enemies, longevity, … personal wellbeing. It enabled Abraham to become a blessing for others as well. The blessing of God was to encompass all … …

… Starting in the new covenant, divine blessing was imparted through Jesus Christ. The Lord … up His sinless life on the cross as an expiatory sacrifice for the reconciliation of all mankind. He thereby took upon … blessings are made available to the believers in the divine service (see … …

… The term "law" refers, first and foremost, to the written … as the path to salvation. It opened up the possibility for man to avoid sin, to thereby live righteously before … path of salvation. Furthermore, the New Testament allows for a considerable extension of the concept of law: it no … …

… The function of the law given by God is to instruct mankind … observance of the Sabbath and the exercise of the priestly service. This law provided mankind with a standard for the appropriate worship of God as well as the correct … …

… The correct understanding of the law given by God is … deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3: 19-20). … they are sinful and unrighteous, and therefore in need of divine grace (Romans 7: 7-10). From the perspective of the … …

… In his elaborations concerning the righteousness that results from faith, Apostle Paul … prophets, namely Isaiah 28: 16 and Joel 2: 32. He writes: "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes on Him will not be … …

… … beings are justified through faith in Jesus Christ. Thus the works they perform do nothing to contribute to their … Faith manifests itself first and foremost in love for God and in loving conduct toward one's neighbour. Like … elements of the Mosaic Law into the commandment of love for God and one's neighbour. So it is that the "law of … …

… Man's love for God and his neighbour is rooted in God. Love is the nature of the Creator and therefore eternal: divine love has existed before all created things and will … …

… 5.2.2 Love for our neighbour–love for our fellow human being …

… 5.2.3 Love for our neighbour–love in the congregation …

… The designation "Ten Commandments" or "Decalogue" is derived from the biblical formulation "ten words" (deka logoi) in Exodus … …

… I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before Me. … …

… You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name … …

… 5.3.4 The Third Commandment …

… … father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. The provisions of the … implementation of this commandment can take different forms, depending on particular life circumstances such as … …

… 5.3.6 The Fifth Commandment …

… 5.3.7 The Sixth Commandment …

… 5.3.8 The Seventh Commandment …

… 5.3.9 The Eighth Commandment …

… … with Himself. From the very beginning, God provided for mankind. Upon their expulsion from the Garden of Eden, … For this reason, God caused them to perish in the flood, a divine judgement. God granted grace to Noah and his family. … with one another. It established rules for proper divine service. The latter consisted of the sacrificial rite … …

… … is, and everything on which it is based, has its origin in the person and deed of Jesus Christ, who both is and brings … disciples, preached the kingdom of God, revealed Himself–for example, in the Sermon on the Mount–as a lawgiver, … interprets the old covenant–with its law, sacrificial service, circumcision, and priesthood–as a "shadow", that … …

… 6.2.3 Images for the church of Jesus Christ in the New Testament …

… 6.4.1 Distinguishing features of the church …

… The historicity of the church is based on the historicity of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ lived as true … nature, it shows itself to be imperfect in its historical form. While it is perfect as an institution of God, it … …

… The Fourth Article of Faith refers to the unity of the … of its founding–as in the time of the bride's preparation for His return–He sent Apostles to the earth through whom … regency was to be felt. The Apostle ministry has been given for the church of Christ as a whole. Its commission is to … …

… … believing souls are properly baptised–that is in the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy … The Apostles also dispense the three sacraments to the departed. The sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated in … to attain the childhood in God and thereby the prerequisite for becoming a firstling." SUMMARY Wherever … …

… Belief in the future events of salvation is professed in the Ninth … the firstfruits of the dead and living who have hoped for and were prepared for His coming; that after the marriage in heaven He will … …

… … Helper. It is usually issued within the framework of a divine service by leading ministers of the Church. It is not bound … the ministers, these appointed functionaries generally perform their services in the Church on a voluntary … …

… … represents the chosen and anointed king–his significance for salvation history also becomes evident in the fact that … for the prophet (Deuteronomy 18: 15) who proclaims the divine will by giving the law to the people at the … Testament is that of the priest. The archetype of priestly service and of the high priestly ministry is Melchizedek. He … …

… … reflected in Him: He is King, Priest, and Prophet. By His divine authority, He, the Elect of God, elected twelve Apostles. He authorised, blessed, and sanctified them for their service to the gospel. It was to them that He entrusted the … …

… Jesus Christ equipped the Apostle ministry with extensive powers. The Apostle is … the old covenant is made clear in 2 Corinthians 3: 6: "... for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." The … water receives the childhood in God and the prerequisite for becoming a firstling. The ministry of … …

… … 6: 13-16). Holy Scripture relates two occasions on which the Apostles were sent: On the first occasion, the Lord sent His Apostles to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" and expressly forbade them to go to the Samaritans and Gentiles. He gave … …

… In the presence of the other Apostles, the Lord granted Simon … addressed the words: "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail: and when you have … …

… Luke in particular reports on the activity of the Apostles in the book of Acts. For instance, in Acts 11: 1-18 and 15: 1-29 we read of two … they sent Peter and John there. These Apostles "prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet … …

… The Apostle ministry was established by the Lord for His church. The Apostles are to be His … …

… The New Testament relates the death of Apostle James (Acts 12: 2). There is no information about the demise of the other Apostles. According to … …

… The Apostle ministry was again occupied in accordance with the will of God when the time for the final gathering and preparation of the bride of … …

… The apostolate is defined by the ministries of Chief … the Church. The District Apostles are each responsible for one or more District Churches.Already in the Catholic … term "Chief Apostle"[11] began to emerge as the designation for the individual who exercised the office of Peter in the … …

… The most important references to the work of the Apostles … (Luke 22: 14, 19-20). The Apostles are ambassadors for Jesus Christ (John 13: 20; 20: 21). Through the Holy … the Apostles receive the essential knowledge required for the exercise of their ministry (John 14: 26). The … …

… The Apostles have received their ministry and commission from Jesus Christ. They work in accordance with the will of their Sender and are completely dependent upon … over the faith of the congregations, but are fellow workers for their joy (2 Corinthians 1: 24). This means that, … …

… The authority of the Apostle ministry derives from the calling of the Apostles by Jesus Christ and from the … into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be … …

… The objective of the Apostles' work is to edify the Lord's work of redemption and lead it to its completion. … and loving understanding. The apostolate has been given for the entire church of Christ. Its task is to offer … …

… Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the head of His church. In this Church, … rock and the church of Christ have been given to mankind for salvation in Jesus Christ. The office and tasks which … Chief Apostle ordains the Apostles. It is necessary for the Apostles to remain in oneness with him: only in this … …

… Beyond the tasks incumbent on each Apostle, the District Apostle ministry is responsible for providing uniform pastoral care, caring for the … Apostles. As a rule, he celebrates Holy Communion for the departed within his working area. One task that goes beyond … …

… … on the priestly ministers are derived from Malachi 2: 7: "For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people … tasks of the priestly ministries also include conducting divine services, performing acts of blessing and funerals, … …

… 7.9.2 The diaconal ministry …

… The term "baptism" is a translation of the Greek word baptizein = "to immerse". In early Christian times, baptisms were primarily performed by immersion in water. …

… 8.1.2 The biblical basis for Holy Baptism with water …

… 8.1.3 The necessity of Holy Baptism with water for salvation …

… The elements of the three sacraments have been prescribed by God. The two essential elements of Holy Baptism with water are the water and the Trinitarian formula: "I baptise you in the … …

… 8.1.5 Prerequisites for receiving Holy Baptism with water …

… … in Jesus Christ and professes Him is incorporated into the church of Christ and thereby has fellowship with Jesus … of Jesus Christ. Just as Christ died on the cross for the sins of mankind, so the baptised is to be "dead … on the path to renewal of the inner man has been taken: "For as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on … …

… … other sacraments, Holy Baptism with water is dispensed on the basis of faith. Sacrament and faith belong together: "He … (Mark 16: 16). A person's faith is both a prerequisite for receiving the sacrament as well as his response to this act of … …

… … are interdependent, they are two distinct sacraments. The book of Acts relates that Holy Baptism with water and … acts (Acts 2: 38-39; 8: 12-17, 10: 44-48; 19: 5-6). The rebirth out of water and the Spirit occurs when a person receives both sacraments, … …

… During Holy Baptism with water, the believer vows to earnestly endeavour to avoid sin and to lead a life of following Christ. The kind of following to which the baptised are called consists of aligning themselves to … …

… 8.2.1 Designations for the sacrament …

… The Old Testament not only makes frequent references to the Son of God, His suffering, and His sacrifice, but also … strengthen the body, but also one's entire being, and serve for salvation. …

… The gospels attest that Jesus Christ ate and drank with … with others, the gospels also relate that He provided food for them. His miracles of feeding–for example, the feeding of the five thousand (John 6: … …

… At the Lord's command, the Israelites celebrated their first Passover on the night … The blood of the Passover lamb effected deliverance for the firstborn of the Israelites. This is a reference to … …

… … before Jesus Christ established Holy Communion in the presence of His Apostles, He said: "... unless you eat … which, as the Lord hereby emphasised, is indispensable for salvation. Also significant here are the additional … and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for … …

… In 1 Corinthians 11: 17-32 we find evidence of the celebration of Holy Communion and of Jesus' words of … Here Apostle Paul cited the words of institution for Holy Communion as practised in Corinth. Here it becomes clear that a predetermined wording was prescribed: "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to … …

… … the domain of sustenance, of celebration, and of Israelite divine service. Bread is a symbol for human sustenance in general. The meals of bread and the … …

… … a meal of remembrance because it first of all commemorates the death of Jesus Christ as a unique event which is valid for all times. The remembrance of this event is important … Apostles. This highlights the importance of the Apostles for the proper administration of Holy Communion. However, … …

… Holy Communion is a meal of profession, as is clear from the words: "You proclaim the Lord's death ..." (1 Corinthians 11: 26). The profession … required of all those who wish to partake of Holy Communion for salvation. Those who regularly partake of Holy … …

… The term "sealing" refers to the use of a seal. Important … of the word's meaning are also reflected in the designation for the sacrament of baptism with the Spirit. Furthermore, … not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4: 30). The book of … …

… In the time of the old covenant, the Holy Spirit was active in individual human beings chosen by God for specific tasks. Hence the prophets used the words "Thus says the Lord" to attest to their divine authority and instruction. The Spirit of God awakened … …

… Like the two other sacraments, Holy Sealing also has its … His baptism with water was complete. Two distinct acts can therefore be identified. The Holy Spirit and the voice of God proclaim the divine Sonship of Jesus. The anointing of Jesus with the … …

… … Jesus Christ repeatedly promised to send His Apostles the Holy Spirit, for example in John 15: 26: "But when the Helper comes, whom … every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of … …

… According to the testimony of Scripture, Holy Sealing is bound to the … and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only … …

… As the water in Holy Baptism and the bread and wine in Holy Communion, the gesture of laying on of hands of the Apostle … …

… 8.3.7 Prerequisites for receiving Holy Sealing …

… … begun in Holy Baptism is completed in Holy Sealing, namely the rebirth out of water and Spirit. Both sacraments are acts of God's grace upon a human being and are only performed once. The life received thereby is nourished and preserved above … …

… … but also through the word proclaimed in the divine service. At Holy Sealing the believer surrenders himself … group within the church whom God prepares through Apostles for the return of Christ and the marriage in heaven … …

… Already at the time of the old covenant, there is evidence of the belief that it is possible to perform good deeds for the departed and thereby help alleviate their situation. … readopted by the Apostles of today. From this developed the services for the departed that are customary today. New … …

… From 2 Maccabees 15: 12-14 it follows that departed souls can also offer intercessory prayers: "And … who had been high priest ... holding up his hands prayed for the whole body of the Jews. This done, in like manner there … …

… According to 1 Peter 3: 18-20, those who died in the flood received special love and care from Jesus Christ: … gospel to them in the realm of the dead. The fact that the departed need the proclamation of the gospel in order to "live in the spirit" is also stated in 1 Peter 4: 6: "For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who … …

… … His farewell discourses, Jesus Christ gave His Apostles the promise of His return: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that … God repeatedly admonishes watchfulness: "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming" (Matthew … …

… The events at the return of Christ are described in various letters of Apostle Paul: 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-17 "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who … of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, … …

… The commission of the Apostles is to prepare the church of Christ for the reunion with Jesus Christ at His return, in … is derived from the twelve tribes of Israel, and represents divine perfection. The identifying mark bearing the name … …

… In the year AD 313, the Roman Emperor Constantine (ca. AD 270/288, died 337) proclaimed freedom of religion for the Christians. In the years AD 380/381, the Christian … …

… In AD 380/381, Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire and forbade all pagan religions. During … These religious individuals were often responsible for outstanding scholarly accomplishments and were also … …

… The struggle of church dignitaries for worldly power and their failure to take direction from the gospel led to widespread secularisation of the Christian … …

… 11.2.4 The Reformation …

… The Reformation led to a counter movement (the Counter-Reformation) as European Catholicism strove for spiritual renewal and reinforced the power of the … The Popes endeavoured to regain Protestant territories for Catholicism. In the course of these conflicts, the … …

… At a time when the natural sciences attempted to dominate large areas of … an awareness of the gospel and the related Christian hope for the return of Christ became louder and louder. In the … is the historical background in which God prepared for the renewed activity of Apostles. SUMMARY … …

… … 1833, further Apostles were called through prophecy. In the process, people with prophetical gifts played an … Subsequently the Apostles, now numbering twelve, adjourned for one year to Albury for intensive consultations. The Apostles waited to be … …

… … Thomas Carlyle, supported by one other Apostle, proposed the convening of an Apostle meeting In 1851. In this … the necessary support from among all the other Apostles for his motion that the two Apostles Duncan Mackenzie and … by the other Apostles, however. Yet the longing for the preparation of the bride of Christ by the Apostles, … …

… The English Apostles were successful in their resistance of … insisted that Rudolf Rosochacky (1815-1895) had received a divine calling. On 10 October 1862, the latter had been … Wilhelm Menkhoff (1826-1895) was called as an Apostle for Westphalia and the Rhineland. In 1884, he founded the … …

… 12.1.1 General remarks concerning divine service …

… 12.1.2 Divine service in the Old Testament …

… 12.1.3 Divine service in the New Testament …

… 12.1.4 Further development of Christian divine service …

… 12.1.5 Divine service as an encounter with God …

… The timely will of God is proclaimed in the divine services. This proclamation of the word is described as the "sermon". The necessity of God's word for the life of the new creation was expressed by the Lord … …

… 12.1.7 The Lord's Prayer …

… 12.1.8 Forgiveness of sins in the divine service …

… 12.1.9 Dispensation of the sacraments in the divine service …

… Pregnancy and the birth of a child are experienced as a special phase of … pastoral care. Together the parents are responsible for this new life right from the start. The prenatal … both she and her child are secure in the hand of God. For as long as the child develops within the body of the … …

… … which young New Apostolic Christians take upon themselves the obligations which their parents undertook on their … sealing. From then on, these Christians, who have reached the age of spiritual majority, bear full responsibility before God for everything they do or neglect to do. They commit … …

… Marriage is the lifelong union of two people of opposite genders, as … each other in their physical and spiritual personality. The Church's blessing is of great significance for the couple's future life together. The church wedding … …

… … constructed church building is dedicated during the first divine service held there. Aside from the act of dedication–in … God. In most cases, thanks is also expressed to the members for their willingness to make sacrifices, thus enabling the … …

… Children are a gift from the Lord (Psalm 127: 3) and should be brought up and cared for by the parents to the best of their ability. Parents … objective is also supported by children's services, which are conducted in many District Churches. In … …

… Pastoral care and support for our young brothers and sisters is a special focus in the work of our Church. …

… … care is modelled on the example given by Jesus. For example, He often visited Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in … and handicapped members who are no longer able to attend divine service are visited regularly. Believers who cannot be … …

… In religious language, "confession" refers to the acknowledgement of sins or the admission of one's guilt … obligation of confidentiality. No confession is needed for the forgiveness of sins. Nevertheless, if someone is … of special urgency in which the Apostle cannot be reached–for example in the case of the dying–any priestly minister … …

… Physical death, the end of earthly life, produces anxiety. Death causes pain and suffering for the dying as well as for those close to them. Both the dying and their loved ones … …

… Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and thus refers to one of the central events in the history of salvation: Jesus … Son of God, which cannot be grasped by the intellect, also reinforces our belief in His imminent return. …

… Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Passion Week. This festive day reminds us of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on the occasion of the Jewish feast of Passover: in fulfilment … …

… On Good Friday, we commemorate the crucifixion and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Since … suffering, and death are of central importance to the history of salvation, several languages also refer to … guilt can be paid. There is no clearer proof of God's love for mankind than Jesus' sacrifice (1 John 4: 9-10). The … …

… This feast is a commemoration of the fact that Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead. The … core element of the gospel. It is the foundation of hope for life eternal. Jesus Christ made it possible to undo both … of "Christ the firstfruits" from the dead is the basis for our belief in the resurrection of the dead in Christ and … …

… Jesus Christ referred to His return to the Father in various ways (John 3: 13; 16: 28; 20: 17). On the fortieth day after Easter, He, together with His … went to the mount called Olivet and gave them instructions for their mission. Then "He was taken up, and a cloud … …

… On Pentecost we commemorate the day on which the Holy Spirit was poured out. We also … were added to the church. Thus Pentecost is also a model for sermons inspired by the Spirit and for the growth of the church through the activity of the … …

… … of God. On one Sunday of the year–Thanksgiving Sunday–a divine service is held in which gratitude is expressed for God's faithfulness to His creation. On this occasion, … …

… 12.5.8 Structure of divine services on religious holy days …

… The first biblical references to prayer can be found in … Old Testament, an example of which is the hymn of Moses: "For I proclaim the name of the Lord: ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without … …

… The relationship between man and God changed fundamentally through Jesus Christ. On the basis of this new relationship with God, the Lord taught … an outward show of one's prayers or use a lot of words, "for your Father knows the things you have need of before you … …

… The gospel of Luke relates that Jesus prayed especially … 17 records the Lord's intercessory prayer. His intercession for the Apostles and the church–"I do not pray for these alone [the Apostles], but also for those who will … …

… Acts 4: 23-31 provides insight into the sincere prayers of the early congregations. Right from … are also recorded in association with significant events, for example the choosing of Matthias as an Apostle or the … 5: 15-16). The Apostles also related that they prayed for the church (Ephesians 1: 16-23), and encouraged … …

… … function is assigned to collective prayer in the divine service: the Trinitarian invocation of God is followed by the opening prayer, in which worship, praise and thanks for divine protection and accompaniment, as well as … …

… … Lord. It also comes to expression in formulations such as: "for Jesus' sake" or "in Jesus' name". When a plea … addition to collective prayer in divine service, an individual prayer life is also important to New … …

… 13.2.1 From Old Testament sacrificial service to devoting one's life to God …

… The conception of sacrifice demonstrated in Romans 12: 1 is … is Himself–out of love, as a gift and sacrifice for us (Ephesians 5: 2; Hebrews 10: 10). For believers, … glory of His Father in heaven, come to earth, renounced His divine form, and taken on the lowliness of human nature. … …

… … burden, but rather a joy, to engage their gifts and talents for the benefit of the congregation and their … portion of their free time, energy, and abilities in service to God and the community: many help along in the … few exceptions, ministers work in an honorary capacity. Divine services, dispensation of sacraments, acts of … …

… … he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all … blessing often remains hidden from our perception. In the divine services, the officiant prays for God's blessing upon … amount of their leisure time, energy, and talents into the service of God and the congregation without compensation. … …

… 13.3.1 Marriage as a divine institution …

… The legal norms for marriage ceremonies, marital status, and … to change as a reflection of constant shifts in society. The New Apostolic Church is a proponent of protection for marriage and family. Receiving the marriage blessing … …

… Marriage also serves to perpetuate the human race: "Then God blessed them [the first human beings], and God said to them, 'Be fruitful … man and woman desired by God. God has created man and woman for one another. … between Christ and the church serves as an example for the marital relationship. … …

… … toward God. Mother and father bear the main responsibility for the upbringing of their children. Only with love and … will (Deuteronomy 6: 6-7), praying with them, attending the divine services with them, and facilitating their participation in … …

… The fact that children also bear responsibilities toward … they are to show due respect and reverence for their parents. This is demonstrated in a conduct defined … and the fear of God, and thereby create the foundation for the children to live as convinced Christians and prepare … …

… The New Apostolic Church attaches importance to open and … 1: "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the … them. Even the power of the state must be measured against divine commandments. The Church fulfils its legal … …

… 13.5.2 Relationship to other religions and denominations …

… The New Apostolic Church is committed to the gospel and the imperatives of Christian ethics. Thus it understands its … …

… Mankind sought to rise above the Creator. Thereby the untroubled relationship between God … good and evil" (Genesis 3: 5). Some of the motivations for sinful conduct are: the desire not to have any God over … disobedience and presumptuousness towards their Creator. For example, the Bible describes the conduct of the builders … …

… … would from that time on have to reap what they had sown: "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6: 23). Despite their … to care for them and attend to them. Illustrations of this divine care include the fact that God made tunics of hide … …

… … mankind has received from God[6]. In reference to this the Old Testament often uses the term "heart", in which the … the Mosaic Law, but also into the hearts of the Gentiles: "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the … of leading an individual's will toward that which is good. For this reason, individuals should endeavour to continually … …

… … is a gift of God that distinguishes human beings–as the image of God–from all other creatures. It is of … ability to know, it is attributed to the activity of God. "For He [God] hath given me certain knowledge of things that … the cognitive faculty by which they endeavour to penetrate divine mysteries (1 Corinthians 1: 20-21). If human beings … …

… The word "faith" is not mentioned in the Hebrew texts of the … 11: 1 we read: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (see … mankind has had a broken relationship with his Creator. For any human being who desires to enter into fellowship … …

… 5.3.10 The Ninth and Tenth Commandments …

… 5.3.1.1 The count …

… The Ten Commandments are assigned outstanding significance within the Mosaic Law: only these commandments were audibly … declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two … …

… In the New Testament the Ten Commandments are reinforced and … of the Old Testament–to expression as follows: "For by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3: … They are binding upon all human beings. The reason for the changed understanding of the Ten Commandments also … …

… The wording of the Ten Commandments in use today is not the … shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name … shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image–any likeness of anything that … …

… "I am the Lord your God." This statement stands as an introduction to all the commandments that follow, and brings to expression that … prophets. The New Testament emphasises: Christ is Lord. His divine will is binding. God is not only the ruler, but … …

… … no one, He nevertheless explains His demand of obedience to the Israelites: He led Israel "out of the house of bondage" and out of slavery in Egypt. He is the … God. God, who liberated the people of Israel from foreign rule in an earthly sense, reveals Himself as the … …

… Only God the Lord is worthy of worship. Only He is to be … and adoration come to expression in prayer. The sacrificial service in the temple was also a form of worship. Over the … worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is … …

… … before me." With these words, God makes it clear that He is the only One to whom worship and reverence as God are due. … worship of anything else that human beings might consider divine–be they living creatures, natural phenomena, … real or imagined spiritual beings–is sin. Paul writes: "For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or … …

… … natural phenomena, statues, animal figurines, stones, and the like, as gods or their manifestations. The Israelites … and from time to time created images which they worshipped, for example, the golden calf (Exodus 32). The biblical … of any images of things created by God: "You shall not make for yourself a carved image–any likeness of anything that … …

… The veneration and worship of statues, idols, or amulets, as … mountains, trees, and natural phenomena, are violations of the First Commandment. Further violations of the First Commandment include Satanism, fortune-telling, … …

… When God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, He stated His name (Exodus 3: 14). This … Old Testament also mentions other names for God, for example "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" or the "Lord God of your fathers". These names refer to divine acts in history as experienced in the time of the … …

… 5.3.3.2 Forms of taking the name of God in vain …

… The second part of the commandment states: "... for the Lord … he has used God's name in vain and repents of it may hope for forgiveness. Love for God and the fear of God–not … …

… The Second Commandment admonishes us to keep holy everything … the believer bears a special responsibility toward the divine name. If those called by His name were to conduct … Father, God's children bear a high degree of responsibility for keeping the name of God holy, as they bear the name of … …

… The question of whether it is permissible to take an oath by invoking–or to make a vow using–God's name is linked to the Second Commandment. While this was permitted in Israel … in daily life but not to taking an oath in a court of law, for example. When someone calls upon God as witness in a … …

… 5.3.4.1 Reasons for the Third Commandment in Israel …

… Even before issuing the law on Mount Sinai, God had set apart the Sabbath … a holy day. It was characterised by a special sacrificial service (Numbers 28: 9-10). Those who honoured the Sabbath … …

… Jesus' position on the Sabbath differed fundamentally from that of the … to be work, and thus a violation of the Third Commandment. For Jesus, on the other hand, healing the sick was an expression of divine beneficence, and thus also permissible on the … …

… "For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath" (Matthew 12: 8)–these words of Jesus, which document His divine authority over the law, were also fulfilled in the … in Israel, Christians celebrate the Sunday. The reason for this is that, according to the unanimous testimony of … …

… 5.3.4.5 Keeping Sunday holy–in divine service …

… … hearts (1 Peter 3: 15) will seek fellowship with Him in divine service whenever possible. Those who have to work on a Sunday should seek to connect themselves to God and the congregation through prayer. …

… … special day–here its needs stand in the foreground. Divine values such as peace and fellowship contribute to … should be to deepen and preserve the effect of the divine service. If the Sunday is utilised in this way, the … in divine service demonstrates the believer's gratitude for Christ's deeds of salvation. … …

… Like the Mosaic Law as a whole, the Fourth Commandment stands in … that had yet to be conquered. Here it becomes clear that, for the people of the old covenant, "long days" were … the children honoured their aged parents by providing for them and caring for them in the event of … …

… … extended is demonstrated by His conduct on Golgotha: on the cross He honoured Mary by commending her to the care of … of God mentioned the Fourth Commandment as being important for attaining eternal life (Mark 10: 17-19). In His teaching activity, the Lord reproved the teachers of the law for undermining that aspect of the commandment which applied … …

… The letters of Apostle Paul expressly mention the Fourth Commandment. Children are admonished to be … becomes clear that, in addition to the obligations arising for children from the Fourth Commandment, parents also have … …

… Over the course of time, the Fourth Commandment developed a broader meaning. While … relates primarily to one's conduct with respect to one's forefathers. Any obligation of obedience–even toward … …

… Regardless of their age, children have the unaltered task of honouring their parents. If their … with them and about them. There is also an obligation for parents that arises from the Fourth Commandment: they … God-pleasing conduct–that they do not make it difficult for their children to esteem them. Through the way in which … …

… The literal translation of this commandment from the … was damaging to the community. It did not refer to military service or the death penalty. In terms of penalties, the … Old Testament mentions killing on several occasions, for example in connection with the conquest of the land of … …

… 5.3.6.2 The prohibition against killing in the New Testament …

… Life is given by God. God alone is the Lord of life and death. Therefore no human being is … to terminate a human life. Violence and disregard for life in today's society must not relativise the commandment. The commandment not to murder also … …

… All specific questions are to be answered with a view to the basic principle that God is the source of all life. He … human life lies. No human being is entitled to violate this divine order. Death penalty The New Apostolic … the use of violence in order to prevent greater harm, or for the purposes of self-defence, killing is a violation of … …

… Marriage is the lifelong union between a man and a woman as desired by … expressed in a public vow of fidelity (Matthew 19: 4-5). The Bible describes various forms of marriage. Whereas the … of our fathers, and blessed is Thy holy and glorious name for ever; let the heavens bless Thee and all Thy creatures'" … …

… … with a married person, commits adultery. According to the words of Jesus: "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5: 28), "adultery of the heart" can occur despite an outwardly blameless conduct … …

… In the New Testament, divorce is assessed as sin: "Therefore … contributed to it. The degree of individual guilt may vary. For example, there are cases in which one partner may use … may not wish to maintain the marriage. It is therefore good for both partners to earnestly examine themselves and take … …

… Marriage should be honoured and the matrimonial bed kept "undefiled" (Hebrews 13: 4). The insight that the body of a reborn individual is the dwelling place of … …

… … of theft, which has its source in God, is one of the basic principles of human legal systems and serves to ensure protection of, and respect for, property. However, the commandment to love one's … to thereby acquire undue gain at their expense. The lust for power and profit must be held in check. It is also … …

… Originally the prohibition against stealing was intended, above all, to … was punishable by death–in contrast to property offences, for which one was able to atone by material compensation: … property. The Mosaic Law required compensation to be made for stolen property. As a rule, twice–and in more severe … …

… In His conversation with the rich young man (Matthew 19: 16-23) Jesus quoted the Seventh Commandment. In Mark 7: 20-23, the Lord … They are thieves and robbers who act like wolves, searching for prey among the believers, and trying to snatch them from … …

… 5.3.8.4 Various forms of theft …

… At first, the Eighth Commandment pertained to false statements made in court. For the Israelites, the "neighbour" (see … …

… 5.3.9.2 Examples of false witness in the time of the Old Testament …

… 5.3.9.3 Examples of false witness in the time of the New Testament …

… All false witness is a lie. In a broader sense, the Eighth Commandment can be understood as a prohibition against any dishonest conduct (Leviticus 19: 11). Due to the imperfection inherent in human beings, no one will … speaks lies" is an abomination to God. This is also true for "one who sows discord among brethren". …

… Everyone is called upon to strive for sincerity and truthfulness. Our conduct in society and business should also be oriented by the Eighth Commandment. Besides giving false testimony in … white lies, half-truths, statements intended to conceal the true facts, and slander are violations of the Eighth … …

… 5.3.9.6 False and true witness in the spiritual sense …

… The image of the church as the body of Christ occupies a … single entity. As members of the body of Christ, they care for, and are united with, one another: "But now indeed there … of its Lord. The image of the body is also used for the local congregation, in which imperfect human beings … …

… The image of the people of God refers to the fact that God … chosen a single people from among all the various peoples: "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the … …

… In the image of the city of God, the church is shown as the … of encounter with God, as well as the place of worship and divine service. The church of Christ transcends human … …

… The image of the kingdom of God refers to the reign of God … various emphases (Matthew 13). The "kingdom of God" can, for example, represent: Jesus Christ, the present Lord … To "see the kingdom of God" means to see God face to face. For the firstlings, this will already come to pass on the … …

… The image of the flock of God portrays Jesus Christ as the good shepherd. He knows His own and gives His life for them. He calls sheep to Himself who are from other … Peter (John 21: 15-17). This Apostle bore responsibility for the care of those who belonged to the church of Christ. … …

… 6.2.3.6 Further images for the church …

… The profession of the one church arises from the belief in the one God. The … Spirit. Jesus described oneness with one another and love for one another as identifying features of those who belong … …

… … sanctifying activity takes its effect upon believers in divine service. The holiness of the church of Christ is founded … the Lord brings to expression that He sanctifies Himself for His Apostles, "that they also may be sanctified by the … …

… … "universal" ("catholic") means that there are no boundaries for the preaching of the gospel. This comes to expression in the … 16: 15; Acts 1: 8). Jesus Christ and His church are there for the people of all nations, for both the living and the … …

… The church of Christ is apostolic in two respects: in it the apostolic doctrine is proclaimed and in it the apostolic … to proclaim the gospel, administer the sacraments, and forgive sins (Matthew 28: 19; John 20: 23). Thus the … …

… The incarnation, life, and activity of Jesus Christ comprise the foundation for the historical manifestation of the church established by Him: "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is … …

… The situation changed with the death of the first Apostles. The ministry which Jesus had entrusted with the administration of the sacraments, forgiveness of sins, and the proclamation of the gospel was … et seq.). The forgiveness of sins pronounced in authority was no longer … …

… With the renewed occupation of the Apostle ministry in the year … Its goal was rather to prepare all of Christianity for the return of the Lord. With the reoccupation of the … binding character through the authority of the ambassadors for Christ. This was especially brought to expression in … …

… In Matthew 28: 18-20, the Risen One gives His Apostles the commission to baptise. … indicating that Holy Baptism with water was not exclusively performed by Apostles (Acts 8: 38). Priestly ministers in … it has been entrusted to the church as a whole, properly performed baptisms in other churches are also valid (see … …

… As with the other sacraments, references to Holy Baptism with water can be found in the Old Testament. The deliverance of Noah and his family … (2 Kings 5: 1-14). This can be understood as a symbol for the washing away of original sin through baptism. …

… In the New Testament "baptism" is often understood as having … (Philippians 2: 7). Thereby Jesus Christ set an example for mankind mired in sin. At the same time, Jesus' true … every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of … …

… … rather a real act of God's loving care. Through this act, the relationship between a human being and God is fundamentally changed. The effect of Holy Baptism with water acts upon a person's … Baptism with water is necessary for salvation. … …

… … to man's state of separation from God, in other words, the remoteness from God that has come into being through the fall into sin. Through disobedience, mankind has lost … in the primal sin of Adam and Eve. The biblical basis for the doctrine of original sin is Psalm 51: 5 and Romans … …

… … those believers who partake of the Lord's Supper worthily for their salvation. Moreover, those assembled in the congregation for divine service also have fellowship with one another in Holy … …

… … the death of Jesus Christ as a unique event that is valid for all time. This commemoration extends beyond the … and then with the believers. The congregation gathered for divine service also has fellowship among one another in Holy … …

… … and the fact that Jesus Christ has both a human and a divine nature, both of which exist unadulterated and … Yet the bread and wine are not merely metaphors or symbols for the body and blood of Christ. Rather, the body and blood … it has reached its designated recipient. After the divine service, the wafers that were not dispensed are treated with … …

… In Holy Communion, it is not only the body and blood of Christ, but also His sacrifice itself, … of Christ, while the body and blood correspond to His divine nature. … and wine are not merely metaphors or symbols for the body and blood of Christ. Rather the body and blood … …

… 8.2.14 The relationship between forgiveness of sins and Holy … …

… Jesus Christ instituted Holy Communion in the circle of His Apostles and entrusted it to them. He commissioned them to proclaim the gospel and to dispense the sacraments. The epistle to … an Apostle or a priestly minister commissioned by Him performs the consecration, this occurs by the commission and … …

… For the consecration of Holy Communion, the authorised minister speaks a liturgically fixed text … the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I consecrate bread and wine for Holy Communion and lay thereupon the once brought, … …

… The sacrament of Holy Communion is administered by … wafer with the words: "The body and blood of Jesus given for you." Hence the designation "Holy Communion" is used … is used, in the broader sense, as the designation for the complete act of consecration and dispensation … …

… 8.2.18 The prerequisites for partaking in Holy Communion …

… Holy Communion is received both by the ministers and the congregation in both forms, namely bread and wine. As of 1917, the New … …

… Those who partake worthily of Holy Communion share in the merit acquired by Jesus Christ through His sacrifice. … 20-21). This is also expressed in 1 Corinthians 10: 17: "For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread." This unity of the … …

… 8.2.21 Eligibility for partaking in Holy Communion …

… 8.2.22 Communion celebrations of the churches …

… At the end of the divine service, the blessing of the triune God is dispensed upon all those present. Together with the Trinitarian opening formula, the "closing benediction" comprises the framework … …

… 12.1.11 Acts of blessing in the sequence of the divine service …

… … and in accordance with the New Apostolic Creed, in love for the believers, and in obedience to the Apostles of Jesus. They vow this before God, who calls them into His service, and before the congregation, with a "yes". … by an Apostle–likewise occurs under the assurance of divine blessing. It is not to be equated with an … …

… 12.1.13 Divine services for the departed …

… 12.1.14 Music in the divine service …

… Already Jesus, who is described as the "Apostle ... of our confession" in Hebrews 3: 1, said: … of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak in His own authority, but whatever He … and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you" … …

… … the congregation experiences the central event of the divine service. Following the forgiveness of sins, the believers come to the altar and … …

… In divine service, believers can experience, again and again, the fulfilment of Jesus Christ's promise: "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I … …

… Divine service is inseparably associated with prayer. Already before the divine service, the faithful seek the nearness of God … and blood of Jesus, they thank Christ in a silent prayer for His sacrifice and the grace they have received. At the … …

… The term "sermon" can be traced back to the Latin word … which means "discourse" or "talk". The sermon in the divine service is a spiritual address given by a minister, which is … …

… While believing people already proclaimed the will of God through the power of the Holy Spirit during … Furthermore, He made many references to the future. For instance, He foretold His own suffering, resurrection, … audience: "... the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the … …

… In the New Apostolic divine service, great significance is attached to the proclamation … called upon to proclaim God's word in the congregations. For this purpose they have been blessed and equipped through … …

… 12.1.7.1 The Lord's Prayer in divine service …

… 12.1.7.2 The seven pleas …

… 12.1.8.1 God–the One who forgives …

… 12.1.8.2 God's patience–the sacrificial service in the Old Testament …

… The perfect sacrifice of Christ replaced the sacrificial … namely sin and death (2 Corinthians 5: 21). Since then the forgiveness of sins–in the sense of erasing–has become … …

… 12.1.8.4 Prerequisites for obtaining forgiveness of sins …

… … own shortcomings or misconduct. It incorporates remorse–the feeling of suffering caused by wrongs committed in deed … how concrete one's repentance must be as a prerequisite for forgiveness may depend on the awareness that one is a sinner and on remorse for sins committed. In addition, there is a significant … …

… 12.1.8.6 Sin that is not forgiven …

… Forgiveness of sins must be proclaimed. Jesus pronounced … by authorised ministers. It is generally proclaimed in the divine service to the entire congregation. However, it only has its … …

… The absolution proclaimed in authority and in the name of … to God will retreat. SUMMARY The foundation for the forgiveness of sins is the perfect, eternally valid … of sins is not a sacrament, but rather the prerequisite for the worthy receiving of the sacraments. … sacrificial service of the Old Testament was unable to erase sins, but … …

… … of their actions on their own and assume responsibility for their life of faith. Adolescents are brought up in the faith in their parental home, in divine service, and through religious education in the Church. … …

… Confirmation is celebrated in the context of a divine service. First, the confirmands answer the question as to … old baptismal liturgy from the third century. It is given before God and the congregation, and states the … …

… … church wedding generally takes place in the context of a divine service. In the address before the wedding blessing, the couple is given instructions for a blessed matrimony. The officiant asks whether they … …

… At the request of a married couple, a blessing is dispensed for the following wedding anniversaries: silver wedding … …

… … desired, the engagement blessing can be dispensed during a divine service. The engaged couple publicly declares before the congregation their intent to prepare themselves for marriage in a manner pleasing to God. Upon this they … …

… Church instruction provides guidance for our children and adolescents in leading their lives in awareness of their responsibility before God. The cultivation of fellowship and the feeling of belonging … is determined by the gospel. Teachers are trained for this task and supported in their activities. …

… … themselves in a transition from childhood–during which the course of their lives is significantly determined by … experience this as a difficult phase of life. They search for their own goals and standards in life, while critically scrutinising the existing values and norms of their environment. Thus … …

… An important goal of youth care in the New Apostolic Church is the cultivation of fellowship … inspired by them so that they may serve as the foundation for making decisions in their lives. Pastoral care for our youth is intended to help them develop into … …

… … after confirmation, and to practise, profess, and stand up for their faith in their surroundings. Youth leaders, who … people also includes an annual youth weekend, as well as divine services for the youth on a district level. Youth meetings … …

… 12.4.5.1 Caring for the terminally ill and dying …

… 12.4.5.2 Support for the bereaved …

… Support for the bereaved and coping with grief belong together. Support … the positive and cheering experiences they enjoyed with the departed. In fellowship with other mourners, the bereaved … …

… The last two of the Ten Commandments are closely linked to one another in terms of content. They are often counted together as the Tenth Commandment, for example in Judaism, whereas they are most often … …

… The core of the Ninth and Tenth Commandments is the … tried to entice mankind to sin by awakening desire and lust for forbidden things (Genesis 3: 6). Adam and Eve succumbed … a deed. This becomes clear in the words of the Son of God: "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, … …

… In the Old Testament, David and Bathsheba provide a stark example of where the desire for the wife of one's neighbour can lead, namely to … also be understood as a warning against such covetousness: "For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the … …

… At the time of the Mosaic Law, a man's house, field, and livestock … did his wife, male servant, and female servant. The commandment forbids coveting the property of one's … possession of the property of others without any regard for them. The poor were often exploited by the unbridled … …

… … desire manifests itself in sinful conduct, in "works of the flesh", which are then described in dramatic fashion. … from such sins: "And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Apostle Paul … The core message common to both is the sinful desire for the wife or possessions of another human being. … …

… Aaronic blessing "Aaronic"–derived from the name of the first high priest, Aaron Three-part … "spirit guides" (often purported to be those of the dead) for the purpose of communicating with them and/or asking … the Son, and the Holy Spirit, since each of the three divine persons share in the creation of all … …

… … of the … of the … of the … of the early … of the … of the … for one's … of the … of the … …