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Should I change my faith?

 Submitted: 11/25/2005
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Question: I have been a Catholic since the age of 5, but I was considering changing to the apostolic faith. I have been attending an apostolic church and have enjoyed it, listening to the word every Sunday. They go further into the Word than the Catholic church does. I was considering becoming a member, getting baptisted in Jesus name, they strongly believe in being immersed in water and speaking in tongues. I am just a little reluctant since I have been a Catholic so long even though I have not been to church as much as I should have. But, I have become a continous fixture in the Apostlic church. My question is, what is your view on changing faiths?
Answer: The Bible teaches that there is “one faith” which has been once for all delivered to the saints (Ephesians 4:5; Jude 3). The question is, What is this one faith? We consider the following statements to accurately represent the essential tenets of the ONE FAITH and believe that everyone ought to embrace them, even if that means leaving one's current faith:

1. WE BELIEVE THAT the Bible in its original languages is uniquely the infallible, unchangeable, divinely inspired Word of God by which all believers are to order their lives. (2 Timothy 3:16; Proverbs 30:5-6; Psalm 119:89; Matthew 7:24-27)

2. WE BELIEVE THAT there is one God, who is Creator of all things and Lord over all creation; that He is an eternal, invisible, omnipresent, almighty Spirit; that He is holy; that He is merciful and good; and that He is the author and arbiter of all Truth; and that God is ONE. (Isaiah 45:5; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11; Matthew 11:25; Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17; Jeremiah 23:24; Genesis 17:1; John 4:24; 1 Peter 1:16; Psalm 103:8; Psalm 145:9; Deuteronomy 32:4; 6:4)

3. WE BELIEVE THAT God was manifest in flesh as the Man, Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Son of God, the Christ, and our Savior; that in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; and that the name JESUS is the only personal name of Deity given among men whereby we must be saved. (1 Timothy 3:16; Romans 1:3; Matthew 16:16; John 4:42; Colossians 2:9; John 5:43; Hebrews 1:4; Philippians 2:9; Acts 4:12)

4. WE BELIEVE THAT Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was fully human; that He was begotten of the Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, was crucified for our sins, rose bodily from the dead on the third day, ascended into heaven, poured out the Holy Spirit, gave ministerial gifts to the Church, and is coming again to reward all human beings according to their works. (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:16; Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9-11; 2:1-4; Ephesians 4:7-11; Revelation 22:12).

5. WE BELIEVE THAT salvation was purchased for all by the blood of Jesus Christ, but is effective only in those who repent, believe, and obey. (2 Corinthians 5:14; Luke 13:3; Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 5:9)

6. WE BELIEVE THAT salvation is based solely and entirely upon the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but that salvation is received through repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ, which must be expressed by baptism (full immersion) in water in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (or forgiveness) of sins; and that those so doing are promised the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is initially evidenced by speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. (Acts 2:38; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:1-6; Acts 2:1-4)

7. WE BELIEVE THAT all believers must follow on to know the Lord, to keep His command-ments, to perfect holiness, to love their neighbors as themselves, and to live in a manner that reflects a total commitment to the principles and standards of Christianity as set forth in the Bible—and that anything less than this will ultimately result in a departure from the faith, a falling away, and a fearful expectation of judgment. There is no unconditional eternal security. (Hosea 6:3; 1 John 2:3; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Matthew 22:39; Titus 3:12; 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 6:4-6; Hebrews 10:26-27)

8. WE BELIEVE THAT there will be a bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust; that all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that all who have been faithful will live forever with Jesus Christ; and that all who are unbelieving and unfaithful will destroyed in the lake of fire, which God has prepared for the devil and his angels. (Daniel 12:2; Acts 24:15; Romans 14:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:12-15; Matthew 25:41)


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