Apostolic Faith: Exploring Its Core Beliefs And Practices

Apostolic Churches are a Christian denomination that arose from Pentecostal origins in the early 19th century. The name Apostolic is derived from the twelve apostles that followed Jesus, whose teachings are paramount to the beliefs of the Apostolic Church. Members of the Apostolic Church strive to promote first-century Christianity in its faith, traditions, and politics with adherence to the doctrines of the Gospels. The mission of the Apostolic Church is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Apostolic Church is conservative in nature, following a tradition of Wesleyan holiness taught and practised by those upon whom the Holy Spirit descended during the Azusa Street Revival.

The Apostolic Church's beliefs and practices

The Apostolic Church is a Christian denomination that arose from Pentecostal origins in the 19th century. The name "Apostolic" is derived from the twelve apostles that followed Jesus, whose teachings are paramount to the beliefs of the church. Apostolic members strive to promote first-century Christianity in faith, traditions, and politics, adhering to the doctrines of the Gospels.

The mission of the Apostolic Church has been summarised as:

> "to make known worldwide the forgiveness of sins through the atoning death of Christ; the baptism in water by immersion; the baptism of the Holy Ghost with signs following; the nine gifts of the Holy Ghost; the five gifts of our Ascended Lord; and the vision referred to in the New Testament as "the Church which is His Body"".

The Apostolic Church believes in the unity of the Godhead and the distinctions between the members of the Trinity. They teach the need for conviction of sin, repentance, restitution, and confession for salvation. They also believe in the possibility of a believer falling from grace.

The Apostolic Church places a strong emphasis on the gospel, holding that Christ died to secure salvation and rose from the dead on the third day. Apostolic Pentecostals baptise in the name of Jesus Christ, rather than in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. They believe that the apostles are at the top of the earthly hierarchy, leading a mission from God to spread His Word.

The Apostolic Church has a worldwide presence, with churches in the United States, Canada, Africa, Asia, Europe, Central and South America, and Australia. The church is organised on a national level, with each church led by a chief apostle and self-governing.

The founder of the Apostolic Faith Church was Florence L. Crawford, who was affiliated with William J. Seymour and the Azusa Street Revival of Los Angeles, California. Crawford moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1908, and established the Apostolic Faith Church there.

The Apostolic Church has a conservative nature, following the Wesleyan tradition of holiness. They believe that the entire Bible is the infallible Word of God and uphold the fundamental teachings of New Testament faith. They place a strong emphasis on prayer, preaching, and publishing the Gospel.

The Apostolic Church's beliefs include:

• The Divine Trinity, consisting of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Ghost, as three distinct persons united as one.
• Repentance as a godly sorrow for sin with a renunciation of sin.
• Salvation as the act of God's grace, whereby sins are forgiven and individuals stand before God as though they had never sinned.
• Sanctification or Holiness, as the second work of grace after conversion, whereby individuals are made holy.
• The Baptism of the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking in tongues.
• Divine Healing of sickness through the atonement.
• The Second Coming of Jesus, which will be literal and visible, with two appearances: to catch away His waiting Bride and to execute judgment upon the ungodly.
• The Great Tribulation, which will occur between Christ's coming for His Bride and His return in judgment.
• Christ's Millennial Reign, a literal 1000-year reign on earth.
• The Great White Throne Judgment, the final judgment when all the wicked dead will stand before God.
• The New Heaven and the New Earth, which will replace the present heaven and earth after the Great White Throne Judgment.
• Eternal Heaven and Eternal Hell as literal places of final destiny.
• Marriage as a holy institution for life, binding before God.
• Restitution, wherein wrongs against others are made right to have a clear conscience before God and man.
• Water Baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
• The Lord's Supper, an institution ordained by Jesus to remember His death.
• Washing the Disciples' Feet, practised according to the example and commandment of Jesus.

The Apostolic Church's origins

The origins of the Apostolic Church are rooted in the teachings and practices of the first church, with a focus on upholding or returning to early Christian traditions. The name "Apostolic" is derived from the twelve apostles who followed Jesus, and their teachings form the basis of the Apostolic Church's beliefs.

The Apostolic Church emerged from Pentecostal origins in the 19th century, particularly influenced by the Welsh Revival of 1904-1905 and the Azusa Street Revival of 1906 in Los Angeles, California. The Azusa Street Revival, led by William J. Seymour, played a significant role in the development of the Apostolic Faith Church.

In November 1909, William Oliver Hutchinson founded a Pentecostal Church at the Emmanuel Mission Hall in Bournemouth, England, which became the Apostolic Faith Church. This church quickly grew into a vast network of Pentecostal assemblies.

However, doctrinal differences led to a split within the Apostolic Faith Church. In 1916, Daniel Powell Williams, who had converted during the Welsh Revival, separated from Hutchinson and established the Apostolic Church in Wales (ACW). This marked a divergence in their paths of belief and practice.

Another significant group is the New Apostolic Church, which traces its origins to the revival movement in Great Britain in the 1830s. This movement emphasised the importance of experiencing the Holy Spirit, and by 1832, apostles were appointed, leading to the establishment of the Catholic Apostolic Church.

The Apostolic Christian Church in America, founded in 1847 in Lewis County, New York, also contributed to the development of the Apostolic Church. Influenced by the Anabaptists of the 16th century, this group emphasised a literal interpretation of Scripture, using only the Bible as their foundation.

The Apostolic Faith Church, founded by Florence L. Crawford in 1908, has a presence in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.

The Apostolic Church, as a whole, emphasises a return to first-century Christianity and promotes a conservative nature, adhering to the fundamental teachings of the New Testament.

The Apostolic Church's mission

Prayer is the basis of every ministry, and the Apostolic Church encourages communion with God as the way to grow to spiritual maturity. Preaching emphasizes the original Pentecostal doctrines of salvation, sanctification, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, continually striving to develop fully committed disciples of Jesus Christ.

The Apostolic Church publishes the Gospel through the written and spoken word and through their personal lives, looking for opportunities to spread the message, "Ye must be born again." This mission is a direct result of the Azusa Revival of 1906 in Los Angeles, California, where founder Florence Crawford received the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

The Apostolic Church is conservative in nature, following the Wesleyan tradition of holiness practiced by those upon whom the Holy Spirit descended at Azusa. They believe the entire Bible is God's infallible Word and uphold the fundamental teachings of New Testament faith.

The mission of the Apostolic denomination has been summarized as: "to make known worldwide the forgiveness of sins through the atoning death of Christ; the baptism in water by immersion; the baptism of the Holy Ghost with signs following; the nine gifts of the Holy Ghost; the five gifts of our Ascended Lord; and the vision referred to in the New Testament as 'the Church which is His Body.'"

The Apostolic Church's teachings on salvation

Apostolic Pentecostals believe that Jesus Christ is the father, and that his birth was God manifested in the flesh. They also believe that Christ is the Holy Spirit, living within those who have received the gift of his birth.

Salvation, in the Apostolic faith, is understood as the act of God's grace, through which an individual receives forgiveness for their sins and stands before God as though they had never sinned. This is achieved through repentance, which is described as a deep, heartfelt sorrow for sin, and renunciation of sin. When one repents and turns away from sin, they can then receive God's forgiveness and claim his promise of pardon.

The Apostolic Church also emphasises the importance of sanctification, or holiness, as a second definite work that follows salvation. This is the act of God's grace, whereby an individual is made holy and consecrated to God.

Furthermore, Apostolic Pentecostals believe that speaking in tongues, or vocalising a foreign language previously unknown to the speaker, is evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit and is required for salvation.

The Apostolic Church's doctrine of salvation also includes the belief in restitution, which is the act of making amends for wrongs committed against others. This is seen as a necessary step after salvation to have a clear conscience before God and man.

The Apostolic Church's relationship with Pentecostalism

The Apostolic Church is a Holiness Pentecostal denomination that emerged from the Azusa Street Revival of 1906, which took place in Los Angeles, California. The revival was sparked by William J. Seymour, a Wesleyan-Holiness preacher, and it resulted in the growth of Pentecostalism throughout the United States and beyond.

The Apostolic Faith Church was founded in 1907 by Florence L. Crawford, who was affiliated with Seymour and the Azusa Street Revival. By 1908, Crawford had independently established the Apostolic Faith Church in Portland, Oregon, which has since grown to include hundreds of churches on six continents.

The Apostolic Church, also known as the Apostolic Faith Church, is a worldwide fellowship with about 6 million members. Each national church is led by a chief apostle and is self-governing. The church stands for first-century Christianity in faith, practice, and government, seeking to uphold or return to the teachings and practices of the first church.

The doctrine of the Apostolic Church shares similarities with other evangelical churches, such as the belief in the virgin birth, sinless life, and atoning death of Jesus Christ, as well as the need for personal repentance, confession, and forgiveness of sins. However, one key difference lies in their Pentecostal teachings.

Pentecostalism, or classical Pentecostalism, is a Protestant Charismatic Christian movement that emphasizes direct personal experience with God through baptism with the Holy Spirit. The term "Pentecostal" derives from Pentecost, an event in the Bible where the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ.

Pentecostalism adheres to the inerrancy of the Bible and the necessity of the New Birth, with believers repenting of their sins and accepting Jesus Christ. It is distinguished by its belief in both "baptism in the Holy Spirit" and water baptism, enabling Christians to live a Spirit-filled and empowered life. This includes the use of spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues and divine healing.

The relationship between the Apostolic Church and Pentecostalism is evident in their shared emphasis on the Holy Spirit and its gifts. Both uphold Pentecostal doctrines of salvation, sanctification, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. However, the Apostolic Church also incorporates Wesleyan holiness teachings, such as the emphasis on entire sanctification as a definite work of grace following justification.

While the Apostolic Church shares similarities with Pentecostalism, it maintains its distinct identity as a Holiness Pentecostal denomination with a worldwide presence and influence.

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