Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a question about Christianity that you would like to
get answered? We’d like to help! Whether you are just wondering
if this path is for you, or whether you are already walking on it,
check the list of FAQs below. If your question isn't answered here,
you may contact us at questions@apostolicfaith.org. Your
question may one day be featured here for the benefit of others
like yourself who are also sincerely searching for the Truth.

How can I know that I am ready to meet God?

What evidence is there to prove that Christianity is real?

What do you mean by deeper experiences?

Despite trying to serve God the best I can, occasionally
I still fall short. What should I do at those times?

How does one tell the difference between a real Christian
and a nominal Christian?

My family and friends are persecuting me terribly for
my faith in Christ. What can I do?

What are the most important things my spouse and
I should do to ensure that our children will follow Jesus also?

Is it really important that I regularly attend a church?
If so, how can I find the right one?

The Bible teaches that Christians should live a holy life. What does
this mean and how does it relate to my daily life?

I used to be a Christian, but I walked away from the
Lord years ago. Is there hope for me?

What makes Christianity different from other religions?

How can I know that I am ready to meet God?

First of all, some may be wondering if they even can know they are ready to face God. The answer to that question is, “Yes, you can definitely know you are ready to face God without fear when you die.”

As to how one can arrive at such a place of solid assurance, the steps are basic. We must first recognize that our failure to measure up to our Creator’s standard of righteousness—our sin—is an affront to a holy God. Because He loves us so much and wants us to be reconciled to Him, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth to pay the penalty our sin demands—death. As a result of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we can lay hold of the promise of eternal life by repenting, which is expressing sincere sorrow for our sin, determining to no longer do that which displeases God, and then accepting His forgiveness.

You may say, “That sounds simple… but I still wonder how I can know I am ready to meet God.” When we truly surrender our lives to God, there is a clear response from Heaven. Our spirits will sense that something amazing and eternally significant has happened. We will also quickly realize that we are not the same person we were before. Sin will no longer be attractive to us. We will have a longing to draw closer to the God who has set us free and filled our hearts with profound joy and lasting peace. The Bible describes it this way: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”
(2 Corinthians 5:17).

To maintain this newfound assurance of some day facing God in peace, we must continue to walk with Him every day. So long as you determine to obey God and be kept by Him, nothing in this world or the next can take you out of His arms.

What evidence is there to prove that Christianity is real?

God’s Word tells us “the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”
(1 Corinthians 1:18). Possibly the best “proof” that can be offered to an unbeliever regarding the truth of God’s Word are the miracles that accompany true belief. Ruined lives have been reclaimed, broken homes united, drug addicts instantly delivered, critical illnesses healed in a moment—miracles that are unexplainable except through the power of God. What more proof could be needed?

What do you mean by deeper experiences?

Just as a healthy newborn baby is hungry, so a healthy newborn Christian has a spiritual appetite. It is as natural for a new Christian to desire more of God as it is for a new baby to desire milk. We read in 1 Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” This spiritual hunger is according to the will of God and an indication that He has more for us after salvation.

There are two more definite spiritual experiences provided for the person who has been born again, and these two experiences are sometimes referred to as “deeper experiences.” Together with salvation, these experiences make the foundation for the Christian life. When God saves a person, He forgives all the sins that person has committed. The next experience is called sanctification. Because Adam and Eve sinned, everyone was born with a sinful nature. When God sanctifies a heart, He takes out that sinful nature. Yes, that person will need to continue to learn and grow as a Christian, but at that moment his heart is made holy and clean. Then that person is ready to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. With this third experience, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in the sanctified heart as Teacher, Guide, and Comforter, giving that person power to witness to others.

With these three foundational experiences, the believer has the tools to effectively serve God and resist Satan.

Despite trying to serve God the best I can, occasionally I still fall short. What should I do at those times?

First of all, do not listen to the enemy of your soul when he says you should give up because you have fallen short! Remember, Satan is out to send you to Hell. If he can make you quit trying, he has won a great victory. God wants you to go to Heaven. He is a God of mercy, and He looks at your heart and sees if your motives are right. He knows if you have an honest purpose to serve Him.

When you fall short, start by telling the Lord that you are sorry. It is very important that you go before Him in sincere repentance and ask Him to forgive you. You must tell Him that you want to make sure your relationship with Him is in order. Since we are God’s children, as our Father, He will correct us when correction is needed. That does not mean He expects us to give up in despair at those times!

Endeavor to be sensitive to the checks that indicate you have grieved your Heavenly Father. Then be quick to ask for His help to do better next time. Remember, He is a patient God who rejoices over every victory you win. You can be sure that He will not haunt you with the failures of the past. Once those failures have been laid out before Him, resist thinking about them and concentrate instead on asking Him to help you make your actions please Him.

How does one tell the difference between a real Christian and a nominal Christian?

The term “Christian” is commonly used in our society to cover quite a wide range of lifestyles, attitudes, and behaviors. However, a real Christian is a person who has been born again and is continuing to walk with God. Being a true follower of Christ is not superficial. A person does not become a Christian by having Christian parents, or by associating themselves with a church. One becomes a Christian by repenting of sin and then following Jesus and His teachings.

The lifestyle of one who is born again comes into alignment with the Word of God. The Bible says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). A value system based on Biblical precepts will govern the thinking. A new criterion will influence the decisions, and new concerns will control priorities and activities. According to God’s Word, a Christian will be holy in thought and action (1 Peter 1:16), a light to the world (Matthew 5:14), obedient to God (Matthew 7:21), self-denying (Matthew 16:24), accepting of God’s chastening (Hebrews 12:6), forgiving (Matthew 6:14), honest (Romans 12:17), and in fellowship with other believers (1 John 1:7). The person whose life is in accordance with these Scriptures is, indeed, a real Christian.

My family and friends are persecuting me terribly for my faith in Christ. What can I do?

It is a challenge to live the way God wants us to when we have persecution from family members or close acquaintances. There are many Scriptures that encourage us in these trials. Some of Jesus’ most comforting words are found in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Tribulations (trials) come to all Christians. Through them, God intends for us to grow spiritually and to let our peaceful demeanor in the face of opposition be a testimony to the reality of our relationship with God.

In order to withstand persecution, our relationship with God must be strong. In addition to our salvation experience, we also need to be living a holy life. To achieve this, we consecrate our lives to God and ask for the experience of sanctification in which the inbred nature of sin is removed from our lives. If we have been saved and sanctified, we should seek the baptism of the Holy Ghost. We receive this by consecrating our lives completely to God, and praising Him for what He has done. At that time, God places a power in our life that enables us to witness to others, even to those who persecute us. If we neglect to receive our three basic experiences, it will be much harder to stand in the face of persecution.

Physical and emotional persecution is not easy to endure, but Jesus said, “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). This lets us know that no matter what we go through physically or emotionally, it will be worth it all if we hold on and make it to Heaven.

Another comforting thought is that God has promised to be with us. He says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). As Christians, no matter how difficult someone is making our lives, we need to love his or her soul. We want to see that person get saved and be ready to meet God. If we quit and go back on what God has done for us, what sort of witness would that be? If we get upset and fight back at the person who is hurting us, it will destroy our testimony. We cannot withstand persecution in our own strength, but with God’s help we can make it and, at the same time, be witnesses of God’s love to those around us.

What are the most important things my spouse and I should do to ensure that our children will follow Jesus also?

It should be an encouragement for you and your spouse to realize that, as Christian parents, God is your partner in the matter of child rearing. You can be sure that He sees your desire to raise your children to love and serve Him, and will be assisting you in that endeavor.

While even the best of training cannot guarantee your child’s salvation, your careful obedience to the principles of the Bible will set the right example before your child and afford him the best opportunity to choose to serve the Lord.

It is impossible to put too much emphasis on the need for prayer in the matter of rearing children who will want to follow God. Pray that God will give your children hearts that are inclined toward Him. Bring your desire for their souls’ salvation before Him regularly. Teach your children from earliest childhood that God will hear and respond to their prayers also.

Make sure that necessary correction and discipline are carried out in a spirit of love. Be aware that your children’s relationship with you will strongly impact the type of relationship they develop with their Heavenly Father.

Perhaps one of the best suggestions that could be given is to apply the principle of “preventive maintenance” to child rearing. This will solve many discipline problems, perhaps even before they arise. Here are some guidelines:

Be in agreement on what is unacceptable behavior and what disciplinary action is suitable. If a disagreement arises between you and your spouse, make sure that you set a good example of how to handle disagreement in a loving and Christian manner.

Make sure your children understand your requirements. Sometimes they hear but do not “process,” so make sure they are paying attention and comprehend what you are asking.

Whenever possible, reinforce good behavior.

Teach by example as well as words the need for faith, love, obedience, honesty, courtesy, and care for others.

Be consistent. Do not react strongly one time and ignore the same behavior the next time.

As you work with your children, bear in mind that the words discipline and disciple come from the same root word, and include the thought of training, and to make believers or followers. From this perspective, all discipline should be aimed at developing self-control, character, and orderly conduct.

As you apply these principles, your children will learn respect for authority and develop a foundation for a relationship with God.

Is it really important that I regularly attend a church? If so, how can I find the right one?

The Word of God directly tells us that we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but to exhort one another, “and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

Ideally, Christians attend church for at least three different reasons:

• To be spiritually blessed or taught—to receive.
• To contribute to the edification of others—to give.
• To worship God.

Receiving a spiritual blessing or learning a new spiritual truth may come in different ways, but certainly church is one of the primary places where this occurs. In the church environment, we learn deeper truths from the pulpit or in a Sunday school class. We are encouraged by the lives and words of other Christians. The words to hymns inspire and stir us. When we honor God by setting aside a regular time to go to His house and to approach Him and open our hearts to His message, He responds by feeding our souls spiritually.

God places in the hearts of Christians a desire to reach out and help others find Him and grow in their spiritual walk. One of the places where this desire can be put into action is in church. Our own testimony of deliverance or special help in time of need might be just what someone else needs. Our prayers, words of encouragement, and any part we might have in the service can all be anointed by God to reach needy hearts. Even if we do not have an active part, our very presence is a vital contribution to the group, and our enthusiastic participation can be an encouragement to others.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, church attendance is necessary simply as an act of worship. As Christians, we are very aware that God is more than worthy of our reverence, praise, and thanksgiving. We were sinners deserving judgment when God had mercy upon us and saved us. As a result of this, not only do we have a hope of Heaven, but each day we experience the joy of the Lord. The God who did all this for us desires our worship. Although we could never repay God for His kindness to us, there is a way in which we can make Him happy. Beyond the necessary duties of virtuous living and of spreading the Gospel, we can fulfill God’s original desire for man by worshiping Him.

When it comes to finding the right church to attend, make this a matter of prayer. Ask the Spirit of the Lord to guide you to the place where He would have you worship. Of critical importance is finding a church that preaches and lives by the whole Word of God. You will want to study the doctrines and practices of any church you consider, carefully comparing them to the Bible.

The Bible teaches that Christians should live a holy life. What does this mean and how does it relate to my daily life?

God’s Word says, “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16), and God means for us to take His words literally. God always means what He says. Throughout Scripture, we find God’s desire for us to have pure hearts repeated again and again. God will never require something of man that is impossible to attain, nor is He unaware of what you and I face in this wicked world.

Sanctification is the act of God’s grace by which one is made holy. It is a second, definite work performed by the Blood of Jesus through faith and is subsequent to salvation. While salvation provides forgiveness for committed sins, sanctification provides cleansing from the inward nature of sin with which everyone is born. The word sanctify means, “to make holy, purify, consecrate, dedicate, cleanse, and separate.” In order to be sanctified, the born-again Christian must consecrate, dedicate, and separate himself to God and His will. Then God will do His part by purifying the heart and making it holy.

After being sanctified, the Christian has a heart that is perfect toward God, though he is still susceptible to errors in judgment or other imperfections that are the result of his human nature. It is necessary to prayerfully and carefully maintain the pure heart that God gives us when He saves and sanctifies us. Since we have a desire to be holy, we will avoid situations that might defile our hearts. We will be selective in what we read and look at, and in what we listen to. We will be careful about the places we go and our every action. We will make sure our thoughts are in line with Philippians 4:8.

I used to be a Christian, but I walked away from the Lord years ago. Is there hope for me?

Others have acknowledged that at some point in their lives they allowed the love of the Lord to slip away and found themselves helpless in the hand of our enemy, the devil. The wonderful part of these testimonies is that each one, like the prodigal son Jesus told about, realized that they would be much better off if they “returned to Father’s house.” When they turned from their own ways and repented, the Lord in His faithfulness received them back into His family.

Sometimes the enemy fights very hard when a soul wants to come back to the Lord, but the Bible says, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). The desire you have to be saved again is the Lord drawing you, and He will not turn you away. Satan wants us to think God will never receive us again, but if we come, repenting of our sins and confessing the Lord Jesus (Acts 3:19; Romans 10:8-10), God has promised to receive us.

God does not tell us to beg for salvation, but in tender love He invites us to come and accept it. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He will not ignore anyone who comes in sincere repentance. God offers salvation to everyone, and that includes the one who has once known salvation but has gone back from that experience. We read in God’s Word that He is married to the backslider, so we know that He is longing to receive you unto Himself once more.

Read David’s confession of sin in Psalm 51. God wants us to confess our sins to Him, and “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). God will accept us when we offer to Him a broken and contrite heart.

What makes Christianity different from other religions?

A historical or contemporary survey of the human race will quickly reveal that the desire to reach out and worship something outside of ourselves is anything but rare. This desire has manifested itself in the establishment of countless religions. Most of these teach that there are supernatural beings that we must seek to appease if life here and hereafter is to go well for us.

While Christianity also carries this common theme of our need for atonement with God, it has numerous aspects that differentiate it from all other religions:

• While many religions teach of god or gods coming to live among us, only Christianity’s incarnate God, Jesus Christ, is a figure of history whose resurrection from the dead is an event carrying evidence that even secular minds have found compelling.
• It is an exclusive religion that states there is only one path that truly leads to God, and that is salvation through Jesus Christ.
• A very significant attribute is the supernatural change that takes place instantaneously in the lives of those who truly become Christians. Drug addicts, alcoholics, and smokers are instantly freed from their old desires for damaging substances. Criminals go straight, the dishonest become honest, the depressed are lifted up, the proud are humbled, and the dissolute become responsible citizens. The list could go on and on detailing the miraculous and lasting changes that this singular faith brings about in the lives of those who lay hold of its power.
• The large number of detailed prophecies that were fulfilled in Christ’s coming to earth, as well as the many prophecies that are being fulfilled one after another in our time, clearly separate Christianity from man-made religions.

When you examine true Christianity (not the many lifeless manifestations that take the name of Christianity), you see that there is no comparison between it and all the other religions in the world. It stands alone like a brilliant, sunlit diamond in a field of coal.