We are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:20)
Apostolic doctrine is more than a set of teachings. It is the living truth handed down by the
apostles of Jesus Christ and preserved in the Word of God. It is the message that was preached in
the upper room, proclaimed on the Day of Pentecost, and carried across the world by men filled with
the Holy Ghost. Apostolic believers today strive to walk in that same truth, holding fast to the
faith that transformed the first century church.
At the heart of Apostolic doctrine is the powerful truth that there is only one God. From the very
beginning, God declared His oneness to His people: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one
Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:4). This one God did not remain distant from humanity, but revealed
Himself through Jesus Christ. The mystery of the gospel is that “God was manifest in the
flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16). Jesus was not merely a messenger of God. He was God revealed to the
world. The apostle Paul wrote, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead
bodily” (Colossians 2:9). In Jesus Christ we see the fullness of the one true God, our Savior,
Redeemer, and King.
Apostolic doctrine also proclaims the life changing plan of salvation given by God through the
apostles. On the Day of Pentecost, when convicted hearts cried out, “Men and brethren, what
shall we do?” Peter declared the saving message of the gospel: “Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). This promise was not only for that moment, but for all
generations who would believe. The early church experienced this salvation as people were filled
with the Holy Ghost and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4).
Throughout the Book of Acts, believers repented, were baptized in the name of Jesus, and received
the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:16; Acts 10:44–48; Acts 19:5–6). This is the same gospel message
Apostolic believers proclaim today.
The Apostolic faith also rests firmly upon the authority of Scripture. The Word of God is the
foundation upon which the church stands. The Bible tells us that “All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine” (2 Timothy 3:16). The early believers
understood the importance of remaining faithful to the truth they had received, and the Bible says
they “continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). Apostolic
believers today hold that same commitment to follow the Word of God above tradition, culture, or
human opinion.
Apostolic doctrine also calls believers to a life of holiness and transformation. When God fills a
life with His Spirit, He changes the heart, the mind, and the way a person lives. Scripture
commands, “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15–16). The apostle Paul urges
believers to present their lives as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God”
(Romans 12:1–2). Holiness is not simply an outward standard. It is the reflection of a life
that has been touched and redeemed by the power of God.
Apostolic doctrine is the message of one God revealed in Jesus Christ, the saving plan of repentance,
baptism in Jesus’ name, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost, a steadfast commitment to the
authority of Scripture, and a life transformed by holiness. It is the same truth that shook
Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, and it remains the unchanging gospel that still brings salvation,
power, and hope to the world today.
