The Twelve Apostles’ Church in Christ HERESIES

Many times upon the streets whilst preaching Jesus Christ we have come into contact with members of the Twelve Apostles’ Church in Christ (hereinafter referred to the “TACC”). It is with love that this blog post is written to address the false teachings of the TACC. The Repent and Believe South Africa ministry will deal with this religious organization that is cultic in nature and which misrepresents Jesus Christ and also twists the Holy Scriptures to fit with the dogma of the TACC. Scripture warns:

1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. ~ 2 Peter 2:1-3

It is through our love for God Almighty, the Lord Jesus Christ and for His creatures that we cannot remain silent when so many people are being mislead and taken to Hell by false apostles and false teachers of which the chief apostle and president professor Caesar Nongqunga of the TACC is one who is to be held accountable for the damnable heresies being taught to God’s people. These teachings are Doctrines of Demons and will be addressed here by taking the Holy Scriptures in context to disclose the heresies being taught by this man and his false leaders.

If one looks at the History of TACC you will see straight away that this is not the Church Jesus Christ is building (Matthew 16:18) as there is a history of division, schisms and discord between “brethren” – there is no harmony of one accord as the early Church was manifest. It appears that there are some 4 million members with branches of the TACC in fifteen countries, namely South Africa, Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Swaziland, United Kingdom, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

This posting will deal with the dogma and tenets of the TACC which will be quoted here as the same appears at their website with the prefix TACC and then our corrective response will follow after each item in the shaded area. Particular points that need to be stressed will either be in bold text or be underlined, and that will be done by the writer of this post, for emphasis purposes.

“TACC Dogmatic explanation

“In many ways, the dogma of Twelve Apostles’ Church in Christ is similar to that of numerous other Apostolic Churches but there are significant differences. Common ground is that we believe that there are Apostles here on earth today, carrying out the mission given to the original 11 disciples by our Lord, Jesus Christ. And here we start to differ from many of our brethren, e.g., why Matthias is forgotten: he was appointed by Chief Apostle Peter as a replacement for Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:15-26)”

REPENT AND BELIEVE SOUTH AFRICA Responds

In accordance with the Holy Scriptures we read that there is to be no divisions or schisms within the Body of Christ – the ekklesia (Church) – that Jesus Christ is building and who is the Head of His Church. We read:

11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18For 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 1:11-18

We also see from Scripture that Matthias was “numbered with the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:26) and therefore for what ever reason the apostolic churches have a difference with their brethren on this issue, Scripture is to be adhered to and not some person’s or party’s difference of belief or opinion.

It should also be known that “11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” (Ephesians 4:11), but these cannot be limited to just a few persons that determine that they are the “chosen”, but the three reasons for these offices are given in the very next verse: “12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” (Ephesians 4:12).

It is for this very reason that there are so many divisions, schisms, false teachings and heresies that come through denominations that are man-made and not Christ ordained as the Bible does not teach on denominational doctrines, but one doctrine “4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:4-7)

“TACC believe that distinction must be made between Jesus, son of man, of the house of David , Jesus David (Luke 18:38) and Jesus, Son of God, the anointed one, Jesus Christ. Jesus David was indeed an intelligent young man who had learnt much about Jewish religious beliefs in his upbringing and who knew his calling. When he followed so many of his contemporaries to the river Jordan and was baptised by John The Baptist, that was not the end, he was then anointed by God. The Holy Spirit descended on Him (in the form of a dove) and a voice from the Heavens spoke “this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matt.3: 17 ). Our belief is that there are 2 baptisms, the first by water, the second by the laying on of hands by a living Apostle, the baptism of The Holy Spirit: Jesus David was the human person, Jesus Christ is the spiritual person, the Son of God.”

REPENT AND BELIEVE SOUTH AFRICA Responds

To say that there are two Jesus’ – one “Jesus David, son of man” and two “Jesus, Son of God, the anointed one, Jesus Christ” – this is heretical and a blasphemy. There is no separation of Jesus into two persons. The Triune God is:

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” ~ 1 John 5:7

Luke 18:38 is referring to Jesus Christ of the house of David, the genealogy through which Jesus would sit upon the throne of David. Nowhere in Scripture it implies or says that Jesus had a “surname” David and He was separate from Jesus Christ of Nazareth. There truly are two baptisms, but the second baptism does not always come by the laying on of hands by a “living apostle”. John the Baptist said that he baptises with water, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” (Matthew 3:11). At Pentecost the Holy Spirit came upon the believers and they were filled with the Spirit of God. Also Paul, an apostle who was not numbered among the twelve disciples also baptised. So are you going to discard the apostle Paul, because he was not numbered among the “eleven” as the TACC president alludes to? That is preposterous!

“TACC believe that the Word of GOD has been entrusted to the Apostles and that the Bible is a history of the early Hebrew nation and evidence of the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. “You search the scriptures, for in them you think that you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me“ (John 5:39). If the Bible is not the Word of God, what is? The Word of God was entrusted by Jesus Christ to His 11 disciples as evidenced in John 17:14. “ I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You: and they have believed that You have sent Me“”. Out of this it must be accepted that the interpretation of the scriptures and the Word of God is in the hands of the Apostles, even more so in the hands of the living Apostles.”

REPENT AND BELIEVE SOUTH AFRICA Responds

This is a fallacy to say that, quote: “the Word of GOD has been entrusted to the Apostles”, and that, quote: “Out of this it must be accepted that the interpretation of the scriptures and the Word of God is in the hands of the Apostles, even more so in the hands of the living Apostles.” This is a clear attempt to “hijack the Word of God” and to stop the congregants of the TACC from getting any revelation by the Holy Spirit from reading the Bible for themselves! This is of course also depending on whether the congregants are born-again (see John 3:3) and have received the Holy Spirit! It smacks of the Roman Catholic church who attempted to keep the Holy Scriptures from the world by having it written and read in Latin and that only the pope could interpret the Scriptures on their behalf. It was for this very reason that the Reformation came about. This teaching by the TACC is a demonic practice!

We read from the Scriptures that when the first century Church was being persecuted, as read in Acts 8:1-4 “1And Saul was consenting unto his [Stephen’s] death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” You see from this verse, the apostles stayed behind in Jerusalem and the believers were scattered every where “preaching the word.” You can only go and preach the Word if you have an understanding of the Word and know how to handle the Word. Timothy was not an apostle, but he did the work of an evangelist and Paul exhorted him in 2 Timothy 3:15-17 “15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

The Great Commission was also given to all believers upon Jesus Christ to Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature and make disciples (see Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15). The ministry of reconciliation has been given to all. Let us see what the Apostle Paul tells the Church – BELIEVERS – at Corinth, and us today: “17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

“TACC believe that there will be no second coming as proclaimed by so many Churches. It has already happened. The Bible, as evidence, tells us that Jesus Christ did indeed say “ I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God” (John 20:17), but it also tells us “all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth…….:and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matt 28:18-20). Note the tense, “I AM with you”, not “I will be with you”. This means that He is with His Disciples even today. If He is here today, He cannot return.”

REPENT AND BELIEVE SOUTH AFRICA Responds

This shows the dangerous poison that the TACC is teaching and their congregants drink in the iniquity like water. The True Jesus Christ of the Bible said that He will go to His Father and He would return at His second coming! The TACC has taken Matthew 28:18-20 out of context and has not examined the Bible correctly. Jesus tells us that He and His Father will make their abode in us “22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:22,23) Jesus also told us that He would give us another Comforter as we read: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” (John 14:16), “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26), “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” (John 15:26) and “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7)

We also read that when Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven this is what took place: “9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11) We know that this has not taken place as yet for another portion of Scripture tells us that there will be the sounding of a trumpet and the Lord will appear with a whole host with Him “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24:27) “30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:30,31)

“TACC believe that there is a difference between disciples and Apostles. Jesus Christ was given 12 Apostles but only 11 of them were disciples. 11 were prepared to follow their teacher and learn from His teachings, the twelfth indeed followed the teacher but did not learn. This was all part of God’s greater plan for mankind, even that one of the Apostles was predestined to perdition (John 17:12).”

REPENT AND BELIEVE SOUTH AFRICA Responds

A disciple is one who follows the Lord Jesus Christ and learns from Him and obeys His teachings and His Word. If any one follows the false teachings of the TACC as exposed here, it does not matter how loud and hard you say you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, it will never make you His disciple.

“TACC believe that The Holy Spirit can only be received by the laying on of hands by a living Apostle in the same way as the Bible testifies that the early Apostles laid hands on believers and they received The Holy Spirit (inter alia Acts 8:14-17). Likewise, only a person who has been anointed by a living Chief Apostle can be an Apostle. No person can proclaim himself to be an Apostle, only our Father can make this known to the Chief Apostle. In the same way as the 12 were given to Jesus Christ, God gives the chosen ones to His Church on earth. Let nobody be mislead by the events recounted in the scriptures concerning the earliest Apostles. Jesus was Anointed by God as the first of all Apostles (Matt.3:16) (Hebrews 3:1), He in turn breathed on the 11 Disciples when giving them the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 20:22), and, as an exception to what followed, Apostle Paul was told of his calling by God Himself and Ananias was given his instructions also by God. After these first anointments, all Apostles were appointed by Peter or his successors, like Apostle Matthias for example.”

REPENT AND BELIEVE SOUTH AFRICA Responds

This is Heresy. Read the other points dealing with baptism and that there are also false apostles hereunder (see 2 Corinthians 11:15).

“TACC believe that many are called but few are chosen (Matt.20:16), that this includes the multitude of false prophets, prophets not necessarily in the strict sense of the word but those who claim to perform miracles in God’s name (Matt. 7:21-23). How many self appointed Pastors claim just this? At the first commissioning of the Apostles, Jesus Christ specifically instructed the 12 to “go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘ The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.. .” (Matt.10:6-8). This was an instruction given to the 12, originally limited to “the lost sheep of Israel”, but later (second commissioning) to “all nations” (Matt.28: 19). Only an Apostle has this authority.”

REPENT AND BELIEVE SOUTH AFRICA Responds

This would also apply to not only “how many self appointed Pastors claim this?” but also how many self appointed apostles claim this? Let us see what the apostle Paul who was called and elected said about false apostles: “10As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. 12But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:10-15)

“TACC believe in the process of cleansing and purification subsequently, after Jesus Christ had been to His Father and had been given “all authority in Heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18), He commanded His Disciples to extend the Gospel to souls destined for heaven and that can be done by the Chief Apostle as the successor of Chief Apostle Peter, the rock upon which Christ’s Church was to be built, against which the gates of Hades would not prevail, and to whom the keys to heaven had been given (Matt. 16:18-19).”

REPENT AND BELIEVE SOUTH AFRICA Responds

This is a Heresy. Jesus did not “command His Disciples to extend the Gospel to souls destined for heaven” – “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Mark 2:17) And nowhere in Scripture does it give succession of leadership from a “chief apostle” taking over from Apostle Peter. And Peter was not a chief apostle. Please give Scriptural evidence of succession as well as the description of a “chief apostle.”

“TACC believe in the preaching to the dead and to the spirits (1 Peter 3:18-20) and the purification of these souls, the giving of the gift of The Holy Spirit to the living (Psalm 68:18) as well as the baptism of the living for the dead (1 Corinthians 15:29)”

REPENT AND BELIEVE SOUTH AFRICA Responds

These teachings are damnable heresies – the preaching would be to spiritually dead persons and not physically dead persons. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary has this to say: “All that are by faith united to Christ, are by his resurrection assured of their own. As through the sin of the first Adam, all men became mortal, because all had from him the same sinful nature, so, through the resurrection of Christ, shall all who are made to partake of the Spirit, and the spiritual nature, revive, and live for ever. There will be an order in the resurrection. Christ himself has been the first-fruits; at his coming, his redeemed people will be raised before others; at the last the wicked will rise also. Then will be the end of this present state of things. Would we triumph in that solemn and important season, we must now submit to his rule, accept his salvation, and live to his glory. Then shall we rejoice in the completion of his undertaking, that God may receive the whole glory of our salvation, that we may for ever serve him, and enjoy his favour. What shall those do, who are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Perhaps baptism is used here in a figure, for afflictions, sufferings, and martyrdom, as Mat_20:22, Mat_20:23. What is, or will become of those who have suffered many and great injuries, and have even lost their lives, for this doctrine of the resurrection, if the dead rise not at all? Whatever the meaning may be, doubtless the apostle’s argument was understood by the Corinthians. And it is as plain to us that Christianity would be a foolish profession, if it proposed advantage to themselves by their faithfulness to God; and to have our fruit to holiness, that our end may be everlasting life. But we must not live like beasts, as we do not die like them. It must be ignorance of God that leads any to disbelieve the resurrection and future life. Those who own a God and a providence, and observe how unequal things are in the present life, how frequently the best men fare worst, cannot doubt as to an after-state, where every thing will be set to rights. Let us not be joined with ungodly men; but warn all around us, especially children and young persons, to shun them as a pestilence. Let us awake to righteousness, and not sin.”

“TACC believe that the only way to receive Jesus Christ is to receive the Apostles first, as Jesus Christ commanded “ whosoever receives you receives Me and whosoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me” (Matt. 10:40).”

REPENT AND BELIEVE SOUTH AFRICA Responds

This is a Heresy. This is Scripture twisting to fit the Doctrine of Demons’ teachings making people believe that God gave the leader of TACC His authority. At Pentecost this is what was preached: “Then Peter said unto them, 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)

And in Romans 10:9-11 it reads: “9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

TACC believe that the Apostles are the only people who were given the authority by Jesus Christ to forgive sins on earth (John 20:23).

REPENT AND BELIEVE SOUTH AFRICA Responds

This is a Heresy.

Please note, that if any item is not answered in-depth, it does not mean we believe with that TACC teaching. One heresy makes it all heresy. If a glass of water has one drop of poison in it, the water is not good for consumption. The poison will kill you. Even if the glass of water is 99.9% “healthy” water the 0.1% poison is still lethal to your well-being! So is it with Truth. You need 100% Truth or else it is not Truth. A 0.1% of untruth mixed in with Truth makes the other 99.9% untrue. There is corruption in the whole!

We must therefore call the Twelve Apostles’ Church in Christ and its leadership to “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). These lies that you are teaching will be a testimony against you on the Day of Judgment unless you recant these false teachings. There are millions of souls on the line here. Repent today!

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Post amended on September 7, 2015 to change the size and colour of the font.