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Who are the Christians

Nearly two thousand years ago a man from Nazareth, a small town in the first-century Palestine, went about performing an itinerant ministry.  Everywhere He went, people flocked to Him to get cured of illnesses and to hear His discourse.  As His popularity spread during the period of His ministry, many of the Jews looked to him as some kind of a national and political deliverer from the worsening Roman oppression of Palestine. Many regarded Him as prophet; others, threatened by His charisma, His popularity, and accounts of His marvelous deeds, plotted His death.  However, His teachings had a profound effect on many people. Somehow He touched many an individual’s life.  That man was Jesus, the Lord, called the Messiah or the Christ.

Great was Christ’s  influence that in the ensuing years after His crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven, many suffered as martyrs for bearing His name.  His disciples who were first called Christians at  Antioch, in Syria (Acts 11:26) preferred to die rather than give up their newfound faith in the face of great persecution.  Being a Christian then cost many an individual’s life and limbs.  Roman arenas were splattered with Christian blood.  Eerie catacombs became silent witnesses to the resoluteness of men and women i n their profession of the faith and of their service to the God taught to them by the man whose name they carried.

Today, despite the many centuries that had passed since Christ first preached the Good News of salvation, people still pride themselves of being called Christians.  In fact, the appellation “Christian” has been loosely used and applied to anybody who wishes to appropriate or misappropriate it.  The common notion is that anybody who accepts Christ as Lord and personal Savior deserves to be called Christian.  Hence the emergence of churches or religions claiming to be of Christ or Christian.

True believers
But who are the Christians?  “Believers in Christ” is too simplistic a definition or description of term.  Perhaps this may have led many to appropriate that name for themselves as they find in it a sense of identification.  But would mere belief in our Lord Jesus Christ make me truly His disciple?  Christ Himself pointed out who His disciples really are.  He said:

“If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples.” (Jn. 8:31, Today’s English Version)

The true Christians, therefore, are those who truly believe in Christ by obeying His commandments or teachings.  To be truly Christian is to obey the words of Christ.  And why must people obey or follow the words of Christ?  Whose words are they?  They are the words of God, not because Christ is God, but because God, the Father who sent Jesus, has commanded Him what to say and speak:

“This is true, because I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has commanded me what I must say and speak.”  (Jn. 12:49 Ibid.)

On the other hand, Christ rebukes anyone who professes belief in Him and calls Him Lord yet does not do what He tells him to do.  Christ reproachfully says:

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord’, and yet don’t do what I tell you?” (Lk. 6:46 Ibid.)

Numerous claimants
The world today teems with religions and churches that identify themselves with Christ.  Of course, this is no simple problem because this has led many to be complacent in the religion they are in without ever finding out whether such a religion or church truly belongs to Christ.  Perhaps some would ask, “Are not all Christian churches of Christ?” “is it not a known fact that these churches even perform miracles in the name of Christ?” “Surely, Christ recognizes them,” they would further say, “otherwise there would be no miracles!”

In anticipation, Christ declared:

“Not everyone who calls me  “Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do.  When the Judgment Day comes, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!’ Then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!’” (Mt. 7:21-23, Ibid.)

Christ’s verdict is clear.  Not everyone who calls or recognizes Him as Lord is recognized by Him in return.  Not even the pious acts and miracles done in the name of Christ would vouch or legitimize one’s claim of being a Christian.  Ironically, many churches and religious organizations today cite these miraculous teats as proofs of their legitimacy.

Where the true Christians are
Numerous may be the claimants to being the true Christian Church, the truth seeker need not be confused.  Christ’s pronouncement ought to guide them.  He declared that only those who do what the Father wants them to do will enter the Kingdom of heaven.

What does the Father in heaven want men to do so as to be of Christ and be saved? At the transfiguration of Christ, a voice from the cloud was heard saying, “This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased - listen to him!” (Mt. 17:5 Ibid.)

Men are instructed to listen to our Lord Jesus Christ.  What is Christ’s invitation to everybody?  In John 10:9, this is written:

“I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, ...” (Revised Standard Version).

One must enter Christ to belong to Him and merit salvation.  Where can we find those who have heeded Christ’s invitation?  What is the proof of having entered our Lord ;Jesus Christ? He declared:

“And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice.  So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.” (Jn. 10:16, Ibid.)

Those who have entered Christ are in the flock. The flock is the Church of Christ:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation)

Where then are the true Christians?  They are in the Church of  Christ, or Iglesia ni Cristo.  The Christians are not in all churches that abound on earth.  Even the writings of a Catholic pope supports the truth that anyone who is not in the Church of Christ is not a Christian:

“Whoever he is and whatever he is, he who is not in the Church of Christ is not a Christian.” (Anne Fremantle, The Papal Encyclicals, p.39)

Chances are that, as people appropriated for themselves the appellation “Christians,” they may also relish the idea of considering themselves as belonging to the Church of Christ even if they are not called as such.  Fortunately, belonging to Christ cannot be faked, for Christ said, “I know my own and my own know me.” (Jn. 10:14 RSV).

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The choices we have to make

The Lord leads His people to the path of success and prosperity, to life and eternity.

IT IS IN man’s nature to find reasons and explanations to most experiences that he encounters in life.  As a rational and thinking being, he asks the question why for the various situations he gets into.

But contrary to man’s inherent rationality, we find people who tend to be pessimistic about their lives.  They don’t bother to find the real causes of their misfortunes in life and the solutions for these, but rather ascribe their impoverished lot to fate and destiny.

Their  fatalism is aggravated by a belief in predestination as if God at the very beginning foreordained them to suffer while others are to enjoy their lives in this world.

The concept of predestination or the idea of assigning to God the twists and quirks of a person’s life and the belief that He may have laid down a preplanned life for every human being is biblically unfounded.  It is not God who makes the decisions that affect our lives.  He only gives us the alternatives from which we have to make our choices.

“Choose life in order that you may live... by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him.”

To live or not to live
The Bible proves that it is not God but we who make the major decisions affecting our destinies.  In Deuteronomy 30:15, this is written:

“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity.” (New American Standard Bible)

God has set before man two alternatives from which he can make his choices.  Life and prosperity or death and adversity.  With the mental faculty which God gives man, he is capable of choosing what is best for his destiny.

The Lord has blessed us with the capacity to think; He never wants us to become robots which operate through electrical or mechanical impulses as dictated by their creator.  The Almighty wants us to see, perceive, rationalize, and decide on what is good for us.  It’s not He who will make the choice for our life but we.

But what if we make the wrong choice? To prevent such a grievous error, God suggests the course of actions we have to take.  In verses 19-20 of the same chapter, He pronounces:

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.  So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” (Ibid.)

The Lord leads His people to the path of success and prosperity, to life and eternity.  He said, “choose life.”

Yet, what do we find in many people nowadays? They are reeling in poverty, deeply enmeshed in vices and trapped in the tragic decadence of this inhuman world.  What causes these despicable conditions?  Is it fate or God’s predestination?  To this query, God replies:

“But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you’.

“Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.” (Jer. 7:23-24, Ibid.)

It is the wrong choice of many people which leads them to sufferings, destruction, and death.  While God wishes man to choose life by obeying His commandments, the recalcitrant tendencies of many people make them do otherwise.  They do not obey God’s counsels, instead they walk in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil hearts.

The narrow or the wide gate
God’s policy of letting people decide on the actions they have to take continues in the Christian era.  Once again, the Almighty, this time through His Son, Jesus Christ, lays down before men the options from which they can make their choices.  Christ our Lord presented in Matthew 7:13-14.  He said:

“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it.

“For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.” (Ibid.)

The options in the Christian era are the two kinds of gates; one gate is small and narrow while the other is broad and wide. The small gate treads a narrow way and leads to life. The wide gate, on the other hand, leads to a broad way but ends in destruction.  Christ’s counsel to the people of this era is to choose the small gate and the narrow way which leads to life.  What should we do when we choose the small and narrow gate?  What is Christ’s commandment to those who have chose the narrow gate?  In John 10:7, 9, this is written:

“Jesus therefore said to them again, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, ...” (Ibid)

Those who have chosen the narrow gate must enter in it.  Christ is the gate or the door of the sheepfold.  Man must enter through Him to be saved.  Those who entered through Christ will become His sheep and will be gathered into one flock, which is the Church of Christ:

“And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd.” (Jn. 10:16, Ibid.)

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation)

Therefore, Jesus wants those who choose life and salvation to become members of the Church of Christ.  At the same time, He warned people not to enter and walk in the broad way, which represents false religions, because it leads to death and destruction.

The Christian choice
Christ’s parable about the sower, presents another set of options from which true Christians must make a choice.  He related:

“The sower sows the word.  And these are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.  And in a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.  And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, and the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good ground; and they hear the word and accept it, and  bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” (Mk. 4:14-20, NASB)

The parable shows the different stereotypes of those who have heard the gospel. Some hear the words of God but do not believe for they are only temporarily converted as they have no firm root in faith.  Those who have chosen to abide by the words of God must choose whether they would be fruitful or not.  True Christians must opt to bear fruits of righteousness in order to receive the much-hoped-for promises of God (Philip. 1:9-11). To be overly devoted in the pursuit for worldly gain leads to unfruitfulness.

The ultimate choice for true Christians is whether to endure till the end or not.  To bear or not to bear the burden and sacrifice that a servant of God has to take.  For our Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, asserts:

“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Mt. 24:13, New King James Version)

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In the light of the Scriptures 

Many people regard the choice of religion to be a personal decision, believing that people have the natural freedom to choose the manner by which they can serve and worship God without being criticized for their choice. People who believe this resort to their own individual tastes and preferences, likes and dislikes as the basis for their decision. 
Indeed, in some aspects of man’s life, one may very well depend on his own intuition and wants. But when it comes to religion, should he do the same? Apostle Paul has the answer:

”Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind o n high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.” (Rom. 12:16, New King James Version)

We cannot rely on human knowledge alone in making decisions or choices, most especially in a vital aspect of life such as religion. We cannot depend on our own opinions to make the right decisions regarding our service of the Lord. Those who rely on their own wisdom in serving God are fools before the Almighty:

”A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.” (Prov. 18:2, Revised Standard Version)

The Bible illustrates a typical case of man’s reliance on his own judgment and opinion with regard to serving God:

”Then the Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it. He told him, ‘You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day’.

”The woman saw how beautiful the tree was and how good its fruit would be to eat, and she thought how wonderful it would be to become wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, and he also ate it.” (Gen. 2:15-17, 3:6, Today’s English Version)

Although Adam and Eve knew God’s commandment that they should not eat the fruit of the tree in the middle of the Garden, they violated His prohibition. They made the choice of going against God’s command. What was the consequence of their error of relying on their own opinion and their disobedience? The Bible makes known:

”And he said to the man, ‘You listened to your wife and ate the fruit which I told you not to eat. Because of what you have done, the ground will be under a curse. You will have to work hard all your life to make it produce enough food for you.

”You will have to work hard and sweat to make the soil produce anything, until you go back to the soil from which you were formed. You were made from soil, and you will become soil again.” (Gen. 3:17, 19, Ibid.)

Not only did the Lord God curse ;man and his livelihood. He also sentenced man to death. He turned man into a mortal being. Even after his physical death, man awaits judgment and the second death (Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20:14).

The wisdom in serving the Lord
Serving God must not be based on opinions. Rather, it must be based on the teachings of the Holy Bible. The words of God written i n the Bible is complete to guide a person in serving the Lord to attain salvation:

”And you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.” (II Tim. 3:15-17, TEV)

Therefore, the Bible should be the sole basis in serving God. Those who add to or subtract from the words written in it will be punished by the Lord (Rev. 22:18-19)

The fact that the Bible dispenses the truth in serving God and attaining life eternal is also recognized by other religions such as the Catholic Church.

”The Church proclaims the Bible to the world as a sacred writing that contains everything God wanted written down, especially that truth which God wanted put into writing for the sake of our salvation.” (Background to the Bible, p. 61)

Protestantism also recognizes the importance of the Bible:

The Bible alone must be our authority in all matters of faith and conduct.” (Questions on the Christian Faith - Answered from the Bible, p.14)

Unscriptural teachings
But are the teachings of the Catholic and Protestant churches i n conformity with God’s commands that are written in the Bible? Let us examine some of their tenets. For example, whom does the Catholic Church recognize as the one upon whom the true Church is built? They answer in the following manner:

”Peter was the rock upon which the Church was to be built. The stability and permanence of any building depends greatly upon the quality of its foundation.” (Discourses on the Apostle’s Creed, p. 216)

Catholic authorities claim that Apostle Peter is the rock upon which the Church was to be established. Is this teaching in accordance with the Holy Scriptures or the Bible? The Bible makes known:

”Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rules of the people and elders of Israel:

”If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,

”Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

”This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone’.

”Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’.” (Acts 4:8-12, NKJV)

Apostle Peter did not claim to be the foundation store of the Church. Rather he said that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is.

But, Catholic authorities use Mathew 16:18 as alleged proof that the true Church is built on Apostle Peter:

”And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Ibid.)

In this verse, Christ was not promising to build His Church upon Apostle Peter. Jesus used the phrase “this rock” which, when analyzed, refers to the subject of discussion during the conversation between Jesus and His apostles. And that subject was ;not Apostle Peter, but the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus Christ. The preceding verses prove thus:

”When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’

”So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets’.

”He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’

”Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’.

”Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

”And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Mt. 16:13-18, ibid.)

Therefore, the “rock” referred to is Christ, the foundation stone of the true Church of Christ - and not Apostle Peter.

The bible should be the sole basis in serving God. Those who add to or subtract from the words written in it will be punished by the Lord. 

August 2001 Volume 24 Number 8 (ISSN 0119-9854)
By Donald Pinnock - page 8 - 9)

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What we should know and understand

IN THESE TIMES of great difficulty, many people seem to reduce their aim in life to mere survival. While most people would be content with earnings just enough to be able to get through each day, there are those who are trying to make a difference.  They want more than just to survive in this hostile world; they aspire to conquer it.  They would stop at nothing but to achieve their dream of perhaps building a business empire, securing a leading post in government, writing a bestseller, or doing whatever they think would bring them fame and fortune.

In the process, there are some who begin to believe that the advances they make toward reaching their goals are products of their own abilities and efforts.  Giving credit to no one but to themselves, they go so far as to boast of their wealth, knowledge, or strength.

In the end, they would only find out that placing their trust and hope in these things do not make their lives truly meaningful.  For although knowledge, strength, and wealth are useful, they do not provide lasting happiness and peace.  As impermanent and limited as other earthly things, they cannot free man from the worries of life.  The wise and wealthy king, Solomon, himself, attests:

“You work for something with all your wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and then you have to leave it all to someone who hasn’t had to work for it. It is useless, and it isn’t right! You work and worry your way through life, and what do you have to show for it?  As long as you live, everything you do brings nothing but worry and heartache.  Even at night your mind can’t rest.  It is all useless.” (Eccl. 2:21-23, Today’s English Version)

Many people in this world have experienced this to be true. Many wealthy individuals, for instance, have invested a great deal of their time and money in acquiring education and training in order to become affluent and successful, only to die and leave their riches behind to heirs who may have had little or nothing at all to do with what they had achieved.  Moreover, a good number of rich people lead restless lives and experience financial worries which, in turn, have caused nothing but stress, anxiety, and various health problems.

Furthermore, though knowledgeable as he claims to be, man has failed to discover the cure for the common colds. In spite of the tremendous advancement in various fields, the problems of widespread poverty, unemployment, and the absence of peace still prevail in many places in the world.

Thus, man cannot and should not boast of his wisdom, wealth, or strength. He should not place his trust and hope or these things.  In whom should man trust and hope?

“The LORD says, ‘Wise men should not boast of their wisdom, nor strong men of their strength, nor rich men of their wealth.  If anyone wants to boast, eh should boast that he knows and understand me, because my love is constant, and I do what is just and right.  These are the things that please me.  I, the LORD, have spoken’.” (Jer. 9:23-24, Ibid.)

Man should recognize the Lord God rather than his own wisdom, riches, or abilities. As God Himself pointed out, only His love is constant and only He can do what is right for us, which includes solving whatever problems we have especially in these times of uncertainty.

The reason for life’s uncertainties
Why is this life filled with uncertainties in the first place? Why has this world become such an imperfect one, beset with troubles and confusion? God Himself proclaimed:

“Listen, earth! As punishment for all their schemes I am bringing ruin on these people, because they have rejected my teaching and have not obeyed my words.” (Jer. 6:19, Ibid.)

People have only themselves to blame for the misfortunes that plague this world.  Since time  immemorial, man has rejected God’s teachings and disobeyed His words.  Many give Him very little or no regard at all, as the Holy Scriptures points out:

“The wicked tell God to leave them alone; they don’t want to know his will for their lives. They think there is no need to serve God nor any advantage in praying to him.  They claim they succeed by their own strength.” (Job 21:14-16, Ibid.)

Is this not the attitude of many people in the world today?  They spend all their time to be rich and successful, yet would have no time in serving God or in praying to Him.  Others even feel that it is counter-productive or disadvantageous for them to spend their precious hours in serving God and following His commands.

On the other hand, there are those who say that they want to serve God, yet it in the wrong way.  As Apostle Paul foretold:

“The time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but will follow their own desires and will collect for themselves more and more teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear.  They will turn away from listening to the truth and give their attention to legends.” (II Tim. 4:3-4, Ibid.)

Serving God in accordance with sound doctrine or the truth is as important as the act itself of serving Him.  In fact, it is the only form of service which God accepts and by which man benefits fully from His grace and blessings. As the Bible teaches, a person will never stand to lose for dedicating his time in serving God and in obeying His commandments, for he will receive the greatest reward:

“This calls for endurance on the part of God’s people, those who obey God’s commandments and are faithful to Jesus.  Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Happy are those who from now on die in the service of the Lord!’ ‘Yes indeed!’ answers the Spirit.  ‘They will enjoy rest from their hard work, because the results of their service go with them’.” (Rev. 14:12-13, Ibid.)

Thus, if a person desire to serve God and receive His guidance and blessings in this life and in the hereafter, then his service must be based solely on God’s will and commandments.

The will of God
The will of God for all men is explicitly stated in the Holy Scriptures.  In Ephesians 1:9-10, this is written:

“Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth - in Him.” (New King James Version)

God’s will is for all men to be gathered together in Christ by becoming members of Christ’s body, which is the Church:

“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” (Rom. 12:5 Ibid.)

“And He is the head of the body, the church.” (Col. 1:18 Ibid.)

The Church the apostles are referring to is the Church of Christ:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation)

To be in the Church of Christ is to be cleansed of one’s sins, because it is the Church which was purchased or redeemed by Christ.  In turn, to be cleansed or forgiven of one’s sins means to be saved from the wrath of God and, thus, inherit His great promises (Rom. 5:8-9).

Not only should we place our faith in God and entrust our life to Him, but also make sure that we belong to the Church of Christ.  It is in this Church wherein our service to Him can be truly worthy.  Significantly, by serving Him inside the Church of Christ, we have complied with His will and therefore, have proven that we fully trust in Him.  In this way, we ensure ourselves of His everlasting guidance and eternal love - here, now, and in the hereafter.

Published by the Iglesia ni Cristo Editorial Office: Iglesia ni Cristo Central Office No. 1 Central Avenue, New Era, Quezon City 1107 Philippines

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The Father alone is God

By ROMMEL V. SAN PEDRO

WITH SO MANY different churches and religions in existence, the task of finding the true one could prove daunting without some way to sift through them all.  Fortunately, for a diligent searcher, the way to find the true Church is to examine its teaching about God because no religion that worships a false god could ever be the true religion.

And yet today, there are so many different opinions and beliefs about God, some even believing in a plurality of gods.  The apostles also noted in their time that “many things in heaven and on earth are called gods and lords, but none of them really are gods or lords” (I Cor. 8:5, Contemporary English Version). In contrast, true Christians are absolutely monotheistic, believing in only one God:

“Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” (I Cor. 8:6, New International Version)

While many may claim to also believe in one God, the majority of Christian-professing churches still uphold the belief in either the deity of Jesus Christ or the Trinitarian doctrine. That’s why the following statement of Apostle Paul applies not only during his time but also during ours:

“But not everyone knows this.” (I Cor. 8:7, Ibid.)

Hence, what many do not know is that the Father alone is God.

God’s teaching regarding Himself
The best authority on the identity and characteristics of God is God Himself. This is how God introduced Himself to Abraham:

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless’.” (Gen. 17:1, Ibid.)

God proclaimed His greatness by declaring his omnipotence.  Being Almighty means that no one could ever be greater than or equal to Him.  In addition, the true God declared that there is no other God:

“I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.” (Is. 45:5, Ibid.)

God, the Father, does not recognized any other god.  This falsifies the belief in the Trinity  God has three persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each person is supposedly God.

Differing lordships
One of the alleged proofs to the claim that the Son or Christ is God is that He is Lord.  The argument runs life this: “If God is Lord, and Christ is Lord, then Christ must be God.”

What proponents of the belief in Christ’s deity do not know is that the lordship of God is different from the lordship of Christ.  Christ’s lordship is not inherent, but was given through an act of God:

“So, all the Jewish people should know this truly: God has made Jesus to be Lord and Christ.  He is the man you nailed to the cross.” (Acts 2:36, Easy-to-Read New Testament)

Note that the maker is different from the one made Lord.  But the fact that God made Jesus Lord does not mean that Christ is now God because Apostle Peter stated Christ’s state of being: “He is the man you nailed to the cross.”

Contrast this with the lordship of God which is an inherent characteristic, meaning no one made Him Lord:

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.  Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” (Ps. 90:1-2, NIV)

Some of those who believe that Christ is God also believe that He is the Lord mentioned in the Old Testament is the Creator:

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.  Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  Know that the LORD is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” (Ps. 100:2-3, Ibid.)

The Lord that made or created all men is God, the Father:

“But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.” (Is. 63:16, Ibid.)

“Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us?” (Mal. 2:10, Ibid.)

The distinction between God’s lordship and Christ’s lordship was further revealed in Scripture:

“THE Lord (God) says to my Lord [the Messiah], Sit You at My right hand, until I make Your adversaries Your footstool.” (Ps. 110:1, Amplified Bible)

The Lord who sits at the right hand of God is Christ:

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” (Col. 3:1 NIV)

Although Christ is now in heaven, He continues to remain a man in state of being:

“Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of  man you have raised up for yourself.” (Ps. 80:17, Ibid.)

Christ, therefore, is neither the Father nor the Creator, but the Son as introduced by God Himself:

“And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’.” (Mt. 3:17, Ibid.)

If Christ were God, then who was the One who spoke from heaven? Hence, Christ is not God.  The teaching that Christ is God is a heretical belief that contradicts Christ’s statement that the Father alone is the only true God:

“After Jesus said this, he looked towards heaven and prayed: ‘Father ... Now this is eternal life: that  they may know you, the only true God’.” (Jn. 17:1,3, Ibid.)

One of the requirements in attaining eternal life is to know that the Father is the only true God.  Any belief which contradicts this, like the belief in the Trinity or the deity of Jesus Christ, is a heresy.  A heresy is a false belief, one of the works of the flesh, whose adherents will not be saved:

‘For the works of the flesh are well known, which are these: adultery, impurity, and lasciviousness,

“Idolatry, witchcraft, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, stubbornness, seditions, heresies,

“Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and all such things; those who practice these things, as I have told you before and I say to you now, shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19-21, Lamsa Translation, emphasis ours)

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Salvation is God’s gift

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

By Tomas C. Catangay

SO MANY RELIGIOUS fellowships and movements have sprouted in the world today.  We see their preachers inviting people to hear their message, which they claim to be from God.

Truly, these preachers have confused more people because they all claim to be of God despite the fact that they have conflicting teachings that even contradict the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.  Since these preachers vigorously seek to win people to their beliefs, we should be wary of them.

What was the apprehension of the apostles which particularly applies today with the emergence of so many religious preachers?

“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (II Cor: 11:3, New International Version)

The apostles warn us against being led astray or deceived just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning.  Being led astray means being tricked (II Cor. 11:3, Contemporary English Version). The lying snake or serpent was Satan, the devil (Rev. 12:9) who tricked Eve into eating the forbidden fruit.  Satan deceived the first couple to be led astray.

Today, how does the devil deceive people? Apostle Paul clarifies:

“The Wicked One will come with the power of Satan and perform all kinds of false miracles and wonders, and use every kind of wicked deceit on those who will perish.  They will perish because they did not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved.” (II Thess. 2:9-10, Today’s English Version)

Satan’s instruments can perform false miracles and wonders and use every kind of deceit to lead people astray.  Therefore, we must be very careful; we must reject false miracles and wonders, which preachers tout as proof of their being “preachers of God’s words.”

Aside from these, Satan also uses riches to deceive people.  The Bible narrates this instance:

“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.’  All this I will give you’, he said, ‘if you bow down and worship me’.” (Mt. 4:8-9, NIV)

Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship him.  But Satan, despite all his cunnings and wiles, miserably failed to deceive Jesus Christ who faithfully adhered to God’s teachings.  In like manner, we should not be enticed into joining any religious group or movement simply because of promises of material prosperity or a supposed easy way to attain salvation.

Twisted truth
Those who will surely be deceived or misled by the deceptive schemes of false preachers are those who believe in what is contradictory to the truth:

“You are doomed! You turn darkness into light and light into darkness.  You make what is bitter sweet, and what is sweet you make bitter.” (Is. 5:20, TEV)

There are those who view things that are good as evil and things that are evil as good.  Those who believe what is contrary to the truth will easily succumb to false preachers.  But don’t false preachers also use the Bible?  How do they deceitfully use the Bible?

“I am amazed that you are turning away so soon from God who, in his love and mercy, invited you to share the eternal life he gives through Christ; you are already following a different ‘way to heaven’, which really doesn’t go to heaven at all.  For there is no other way than the one we showed you; you are being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ.” (Gal. 1:6-7, Living Bible)

False preachers are able to deceive unsuspecting listeners by twisting and changing the truth.  For instance, many of them claim that man can be saved by simply believing in Christ.  People readily accepts this as Bible truth because what they want is an easy way to attain salvation.

What the Bible teaches is that salvation is a gift of God:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:8, New King James Version)

Since salvation is a gift from God, no one can claim that it is his or her right to be saved.  We should remember that all men have sinned and are condemned to die in the lake of fire, which is the second death (Rev. 20:14). The Scriptures explains:

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Rom. 5:12, NKJV)

“For the wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23, Ibid.)

But even though man is in such a dismal situation, Apostle Paul testifies in Ephesians 2:8 that “... by grace you have been saved ... not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

Man could still receive God’s gift of salvation.  But, he must make sure that he is in Christ’s body:

“For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.” (Eph. 5:23, Ibid.)

“And He is the head of the body, the church.” (Col. 1:18, Ibid.)

The name of the Church which is Christ’s body is the Church of Christ (Rom. 16:16). Thus, to be certain of receiving God’s gift of salvation, man must be a member of the Church of Christ.

But membership inside the Church is not enough to guarantee one’s salvation.  He must not merely be a believing member.  His faith must be proven by works:

“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (Js. 2:17, NKJV)

Hence, salvation is not by faith alone.  It  is a gift of God through Christ and His Church.

Therefore, people should be wary against false preachers who claim that their teaching is the “message of salvation: when in fact it is unbiblical.

It is dangerous to receive twisted or false teachings because those who did not believe the truth will be deceived and, in the end, will be punished:

“And so God sends the power of error to work in them so that they believe what is false.  The result is that all who have not believed the truth, but have taken pleasure in sin, will be condemned.” (II Thess. 2:11-12, TEV)

Thus, people should not readily believe but rather carefully examine anything they hear from preachers.

Through God’s messengers
With this admonition, with whom should people consult to know the will of God so that they will not be deceived? People must learn the truth only from the messenger of God:

“It is the duty of the priests to teach the true knowledge of God.  People should go to them to learn my will, because they are the messengers of the Lord Almighty.” (Mal. 2:7, Ibid.)

Hence, those preachers who say that God’s messenger is no longer necessary to know His will, definitely, are false preachers.  They do not have the true teachings and true knowledge about the will of God.  On the other hand, what is the uniqueness of the preaching of God’s messenger?

“I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, ‘To open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” (Asks 26:17-18, NKJV)

God sends messengers to proclaim His words for people to be delivered from the power of darkness and of Satan, and in this way, they will receive the forgiveness of their sins and inherit His promises.

What does God expect to see in those who have been enlightened by the gospel through the preaching function of His messenger?  Apostle Paul has this to say:

“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in yhou who believe.” (I Thess. 2:13 NIV)

God expects to see that His word is at work in our lives.  If God’s word is at work in our lives, no iniquity will be found in us:

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord!

“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!

“They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways.” (Ps. 119:1-3, NKJV)

God’s people who walk according to His laws will not do any form of iniquity.  They will not fall into doing unrighteous things such as going with bad company, drinking liquor or taking prohibited drugs, engaging in premarital sex, and the like.  The Lord God will forsake and curse those who do such things.

Having been blessed to be inside the true Church and having been taught God’s words, members of the Church of Christ should maintain their obedience and live in the newness of life.  Doing so will surely guarantee them to receive God’s gift of salvation.

God’s Message/December 2001
Pages 4 – 6

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Christ is not God

BY JOSE P. SALAZAR

THERE IS A common belief among so-called Christians that our Lord Jesus is God.  But if we critically examine the teachings of the Bible on Christ's true state of being or nature, we would not be misled into believing that He is God.

Many people believe that Christ is God because of the many attributes that He possess - being Lord, Savior, and One who is worshiped and through Whom our sins are forgiven, not to mention His being without sin.

The Christ taught by the Bible
It is of great importance to serve and worship our Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ, for upon this hinges our attainment of salvation and eternal life on Judgment Day.  Hence, if one's knowledge of God and the Lord Jesus Christ contradicts what the bible teaches, he will be frustrated in his hope of gaining salvation.

Regarding the state of being or true nature of our Lord Jesus Christ, He Himself declared:

"But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God." (Jn. 8:40, New King James Version)

Our Lord Jesus Himself declared that He is a man.  He did not state that He is God.  Furthermore, He manifested His difference or distinction from God when He said that He has heard the truth from God.  Christ is different from the one and only true God, from whom He heard the truth.

Aside from Christ, the apostles also taught that Christ is man, not God.  Apostle Paul declared:

"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus." (I Tim. 2:5, Ibid.)

"Yet for us there is only one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him..." (I Cor. 8:6, Ibid.)

The true Christians, like Apostle Paul, teach that there is only one true God, the Father who created all things, not Jesus who is a man.

However, when we say that our Lord Jesus Christ is a man, others think that we degrade or belittle Him. What they do not understand is that by doing so, we only acknowledge Christ according to the teachings of the Scriptures.  Moreover, though we believe that Jesus Christ is a man  in His state of being (Lk. 24:39), we do not teach that He is just an ordinary man.  We believe that He is sinless (I Pt. 2:21-22, NKJV), but all men have sinned (Rom. 5:12).  He is the Savior (Acts 5:31 and was made both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).  He is the sole Mediator between God and men (I Tim. 2:5).  God exalted Him and commanded that His name be worshiped, not only by men, but also by the angels in heaven (Philip. 2:9-11), for the glory of God.  But despite these qualities which He possesses, the Bible teaches that Christ remains to be man in nature.  We must take note also that whatever Christ has were all given to Him by God.  Therefore, the distinctive difference  between God and Christ is very clear: God is the giver of those qualities and attributes, while Christ is the receiver.  The two are not one and neither are they the same in nature or state of being.

Is Christ God who became man?
Others believe that Christ is God who became man and came down to earth.  Is this belief biblical?  Did God really become man? In Hosea 11:9, it is written:

"I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will turn and devastate Ephraim.  For I am God, and not man - the Holy One among you." (New International Version)

God explicitly declared, "I am God, and not man."  Being God, He is not an will never become man since He himself proclaimed that He does not change (Mal. 3:6).  It is, therefore, unbiblical to believe that God became the man  Christ Jesus.

Neither does God allow man to be God, as He Himself declared to the prince of Tyre, "you are a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god" (Ezek. 28:2 NIV)

Man cannot become God.  Therefore, it is unbiblical to believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is God who became man or that Christ is also God aside from being a man.

The true God
Who is the true God according to our Lord Jesus Christ? In John 17:1,3, it is written:

"After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: 'Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you'.

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent'." (Ibid.)

Jesus Christ did not introduce Himself as God.  He declared that the Father is the only true God and that He (Christ) was sent, hence, the difference between the one set (our Lord Jesus Christ) and the true God (the Father) who sent Christ.  To believe, therefore, that Christ is God is blatantly against the teachings of Christ and the apostles.

The truth taught by Christ that the Father is the only true God was also taught by the apostle:

"Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and though whom we live." ((I Cor. 8:6, Ibid.)

There is only one true God, the Father, who is the Creator of all things and from whom all things came.

The apostles never tught that the only true God is our Lord Jesus Christ.  For the true Christians, there is but one God, the Father - not the  Son.

Even during the time of the prophets, the belief about the oneness of God (monotheism) prevailed among the true people of God.  Prophet Malachi stated:

"Don't we all have the same father? 'Didn't the same God create us all?'" (Mal. 2:10, Today's English Version)

The biblical teaching is explicit, the Father who created us all in the only true God.  The Bible does not tech that Christ is also God.

The teaching that christ is God is not scriptural. To teach that Christ is God is equivalent to teaching a different Christ.   Apostle Paul condemns this kind of teaching (Gal. 1:6-8).

It was Ignatius, bishop of Antioch in Asia Minor during the second century, who first taught that Christ is God. This was made an official doctrine by the Catholic Church i n the council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 as written in their book entitled, Discourses on the Apostle's Creed:

"'Thus for example, it was only in the year 325 of our Lord, in the Council of Nicaea, that the Church (Catholic) decided that it is an article of faith that Jesus Christ is truly God." (p. 20)

The Bible has long been written when the Catholic decided to declare that it is an article of faith that Jesus Christ is God.  Hence, neither our Lord Jesus Christ nor His apostles have anything to do with this teaching that came into existence only in the fourth century of the current era and which is never mentioned in the bible.

It is important to know who the true god is according to our Lord Jesus Christ.  What will bring us to eternal life, according to Him, is the belief that there is only one true God, the Father - not the Son who is our Lord Jesus Christ.

GOD'S MESSAGE/January 2003
Pages 6-7

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An unscriptural teaching

Facing a variety of claims, we must first examine the doctrines before we accept them.

By TOMAS C. CATAÑGAY

BELIEF, IN SO far as it concerns God and religion, must come from the unadulterated teachings of the Bible.  While some claim that their own set of beliefs which are biblically based are worthy of being accepted, there are those who insist that their beliefs should be accepted although they cannot be read directly from the Bible and only traditions sanction their "truthfulness." Others also assert that because their doctrines were officially proclaimed by a "Holy Synod" which is composed of  "learned" and "pious: men, they must necessarily be true.  Facing a variety of such claims, we must first examine the doctrines before we accept them.

The teaching that Christ is God, nay, true God and true man, is accepted by many religions worldwide.  The most persistent in this belief is the Roman Catholic Church.  To disagree with this teaching is unlawful and is equivalent to being unchristian, a heresy, or so they say:

"Following, then, the Holy Fathers, we all unanimously teach and proclaim, that we confess Jesus Christ, our Lord, to be one and the selfsame son, perfect regarding His God-head, and perfect also regarding His manhood, the selfsame to be verily God and verily man, out of a rational soul and a body; of the same substance with the Father as regards His Godhead and the selfsame of the same substance with us regard His manhood, with regard to all things, like unto us, except sin...

"These things then being formulated with the utmost precision and care possible, the holy and ecumenical synod defines that it is not lawful for any one to propose any other belief or to teach it to others." (Christ is God, pp. 33-34)

The doctrine that Christ is both perfect man and God was decreed and formulated by the "holy and ecumenical synod" of the Roman Catholic Church. To entertain, propose, or teach other beliefs contrary to the unanimous teachings of the "Holy Fathers" of the Catholic Church is considered unlawful.

It is very obvious that the above cited doctrine was formulated not by the apostles, but only by the ecumenical synod of the Roman Catholic Church. The formulated doctrine may have been unanimously decide and approved by the ecumenical synod, but it does not necessarily mean it is scriptural.

The belief that Christ is both perfect man and God is equivalent to saying that He has two natures and such is actually the official doctrine adhered to by the Roman Catholic Church.

However, is the union of two natures in the person of Christ capable of demonstration? Can Roman Catholic mentors with all the force of reasonable grounds prove the alleged divinity of Christ? For the answer to these questions, we quote the testimony of a Roman Catholic theologian:

"1.  The nature of the Proof for Christ's Divinity

"It is obvious to everyone that a direct proof in the sense of a demonstration from cause to effect, or effect cause, is impossible in the case of the divinity of Christ.  The union of the two natures in one person is clearly in itself incapable of demonstration, as it cannot be the subject of our human experience...

"However overwhelmingly great the claim to divinity may be, it must rest on the same reasonable grounds.  In the full rigour of the term we cannot prove the divinity of Christ in itself, ..." (Ibid., p. 7)

Noteworthy about the above confession is that it contradicts the teaching promulgated by the ecumenical synod of the Roman Catholic Church.   This is one of the many doctrines wherein the Roman Catholic Church finds herself contradicting her own teachings.

It is impossible to prove the alleged divinity of Christ in the same way that it is impossible to prove the union of two natures in Christ or His "Incarnation," to use their own terminology.  The alleged "Incarnation" of Christ, according to them is impossible to demonstrate.

If the "Incarnation" of Christ is incapable of demonstration, can it be explained accurately?  This is the unsolicited confession, a kind of mea culpa, although not necessarily in the strictest meaning of the word, of J.P. Arendzen, D.D.:

"The Incarnation is the union of two terms, of which one is infinite, the other finite.  No union can be fully understood except by understanding both the terms and seeing in the terms themselves the reason of their mutual relation.  Therefore, to explain the Incarnation to a finite intelligence is a manifest impossibility. Anyone who foolishly claims to give a complete explanation of the Incarnation cannot but begin by stating it inaccurately; for it stated accurately, it is of necessity inexplicable." (Ibid., p. 43)

The Roman Catholic Church admits that it cannot prove the divinity of  Christ.

The "Incarnation" wherein the probability of proving the alleged divinity of Christ is based, is inexplicable, a manifest impossibility.  Hence, the absolute and inescapable verdict of the Roman Catholic Church: "... We cannot prove the divinity of Christ."

Since the Roman Catholic Church admits that it  "cannot prove the divinity of Christ," we cannot accept that Christ is God, a doctrine diametrically opposed to biblical teachings:

"But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this." (Jn. 8:40, New King James Version)

"God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent..."  (Num. 23:19, Ibid.)

"I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim.  For I am God, and not man, the Holy One  in your midst;..." (Hos. 11:9, Ibid.)

"Son of man, say to the price of Tyre, 'Thus says the Lord God:' "Because your heart is lifted up, and you say, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of  gods, in the midst of the seas,' Yet you are a an, and not a god, though you set your heart as the heart of a god." (Ezek. 28:2, Ibid.)

The above-cited verses are self-explanatory.  They must serve as the basis of our belief concerning Christ's nature.  As man, Jesus is not God because God explicitly says that He is God and not man.  He says further that man is not God.

Admitting that they (Roman Catholic mentors) cannot prove the divinity of Christ is like admitting as unscriptural their doctrine concerning Christ's nature or state of being.

GOD'S MESSAGE/January 2003
Pages 8-9

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The Last Hope For Mankind 

"...And earth's foundation will shake. The earth itself will stagger like a drunk, sway like a hut in a storm. The world is weighed down by its sins; it will collapse and never rise again." 

Isaiah 24:18, 20, TEV

DESPITE MAN'S PROGRESS in science and technology, countless people in our time still suffer from many severe problems and anxieties in life. 
Almost half of the 6.1 billion people in this world live in poverty. Countless people are jobless and if others are employed, their earnings are not enough for them to make both ends meet. Among the over 800 million who suffer from hunger, 24,000 are estimated to die everyday.*

Although the poor or the under-privileged are almost always the ones who fall victims to violence, calamities, sickness, and injustice, a substantial number of high-income earners are now also affected.

Also prevalent in the world are the various armed conflicts occurring almost simultaneously in different place. In 1998 alone, 36 armed conflicts in 31 countries were recorded. In the year that followed, no less than 100,000 people died as a result. About 50 million people in the entire world lost their homes and have been displaced because of these armed struggles.

In addition, various calamities such as typhoons, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, and volcanic eruptions continue to wreak havoc, not to mention epidemic that also continues to claim numerous lives.

Furthermore, various problems confront the family. Strained relationship between the husband and the wife, infidelity, vices, and excessive way of living are among the destructive forces that threaten society's basic unit.

Hence, peace has been elusive and injustice prevails, for evil and wicked works lurk around us. Indeed, man's present situation is sad and pathetic.

But mankind's situation is not completely hopeless. Our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, pronounced a promise that is the solution to man's anxieties and troubles in this world. Christ's promise is the last hope for mankind.

1. Question: What is Christ's promise that is the last hope for mankind?

Answer: Christ exhorted those who have faith in Him that they should not worry because He promised that He would prepare a place for them in His Father's heavenly abode:

"Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father's house. I wouldn't tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together." (Jn. 14:1-3, Contemporary English Version)

2. Q. Which is this place being prepared by our Lord Jesus Christ and what kind of life will man enjoy in that place?

A: The Holy City with a new heaven and a new earth. The kind of life reserved for those who are fortunate to reach that place will be totally different from life here on earth. In that place, there will be no more pain, sorrow, hardship, and even death, unlike what is being experienced now:

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband... And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Rev. 21:1-2, 4, New King James Version)

3. Q. Who can hope to dwell in the heavenly abode promised by our Lord Jesus Christ?

A: The Lord Jesus Christ gave His promise to those who have faith in God and in Him. Hence, faith is very important. Man should have faith in God and in Christ:

"Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me." (Jn. 14:1, CEV)

But there are people who understand "faith" based on their own opinion or interpretation. Their assumptions about faith are dangerous because such are misleading. Hence, people should base their faith on the teachings of the Bible.

4. Q. Are all those who profess faith in Christ true believers?

A. No. There are those who claim that they have faith, but they do not prove it by works or deeds. Their kind of faith is false or not genuine because such cannot save:

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" (Js. 2:14, New International Version)

5. Q. How do the Apostles describe those people who claim to have faith but do not prove it by works?

A. They are merely holding on to the outward form of religion. The Apostles forewarned that such people would emerge in these last days. We should keep away from them:

"They will hold to the outward form of our religion, but reject its real power. Keep away from such people." (II Tim. 3:5 Today's English Version)

6. Q. Are there preachers of religion today who teach that works are no longer needed because faith alone is enough for salvation?

A. The Protestant preachers uphold the belief that faith alone is enough and works are no longer necessary.

This is also being upheld by the Charismatic movements or groups that have emerged during our time not only from the ranks of the Protestants but also from the Catholic Church.

7. Q. What biblical teaching is contradicted by the Protestant belief that man is justified by faith without works?

A. The biblical teaching that faith is being perfected by works:

"Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?" (Js. 2:22 NKJV)

8. Q. What else is the proof that faith without works is not true faith and this kind of faith cannot justify man?

A. The Apostles clearly taught that man is justified by works and not by faith alone:

"You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (Js. 2:24, ibid.)

This does not mean that we should belittle or discount the importance of faith. While the Bible says that we cannot be justified by faith alone, it also teaches that true faith is necessary and is important.

9. Q. How did our Lord Jesus Christ prove the importance of true faith?

A. Christ said that unless man believes in Him, man will die for his own sins:

"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." (Jn. 8:24, Ibid.)

The commonly accepted understanding is that faith is mere profession of belief in Christ as Lord and personal Savior. Based on this belief, once a man has declared that he accepts Christ as his Savior, he is already saved from punishment and can dwell with the Father in the Holy City on the appointed time. Is this understanding correct?

10. Q. According to our Lord Jesus Christ, what sets apart a true believer from the false one?

A. In John 8:24, our Lord Jesus Christ emphasized the importance of believing in Him. In John 8:31, (with only six intervening verses) He clarified what this means:

"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed'." (Ibid.)

In this verse, Christ was speaking to those who already had faith in Him. According to our Lord Jesus, they should prove their faith in Him not in words only. He was seeking for something more from them. He told the Jews who believed in Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed."

Therefore, the true believers who are also Christ's true disciples abide in His words.

11. Q. What does Christ mean by "if you abide in my words"?

A. Another rendition of the verse states, "If you obey my teaching":

"So Jesus said to those who believed in him, 'If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples'." (Jn. 8:31, TEV)

Hence, true faith is proven by obedience to the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the kind of faith that everyone should possess. Let us ask ourselves: Do we truly believe in Christ? Or, are we among those who recognize Christ by merely calling Him "Lord"?

12. Q. What does Christ say to those who profess faith in Him and call Him "Lord" but refuse to do what He says?

A. He reprimands those who call Him "Lord" but refuse to do what He commands. Christ is not pleased with us just because we call Him "Lord." To truly recognize Him as our Lord is to follow what He says:

"But why do you call Me 'Lord, lord,' and do not do the things which I say?" (Lk. 6:46 NKJV)

Others may say, "We do not merely profess faith in Christ; we perform miracles and wonders in His name."

13. Q. Does the ability to perform miracles and other works of wonders prove that one belongs to Christ and will attain salvation?

A. On the Day of Judgment, there will be those who will claim that they have cast out demons and have worked various miracles and wonders in the name of Christ with the hope that these wonderful works will enable them to enter the kingdom of heaven. But Christ will not accept them; instead, He will disown them. Christ will tell them, "You have never been mine".

"At the Judgment many will tell me, 'Lord, Lord, we told others about you and used your name to cast out demons and to do many other great miracles'.

"But I will reply, 'You have never been mine. Go away, for your deeds are evil'." (Mt. 7:22-23, The Living Bible)

Pitiful are those who greatly expect that Christ will recognize and save them but will only fail in their hope come Judgment Day. Christ does not want to recognize them, for they do not belong to Him.

14. Q. Who are those whom Christ recognizes as His own and whom He promised eternal life in the heavenly abode, which He is preparing?

A. Christ recognizes as His own those who have heard His voice and followed Him:

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." (Jn. 10:27-28, NKJV)

15. Q What did Christ say that they have heard and followed?

A. Christ said that He is the door and whoever enters into the fold through Him will be saved.

"I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe..." (Jn. 10:9, Revised English Bible)

16. Which is referred to as the fold or flock?

A. The fold or flock is the Church of Christ, which Christ purchased with His blood:

"Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood." (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation)

Hence, the true believers in our Lord Jesus Christ are those who follow His words and enter into the fold or the Church of Christ.

17. Q. How did the Apostles show the importance of the Church of Christ?

A. The Church is the body of Christ and He is its Savior. It is for the Church that Christ offered His life:

"For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the church; and Christ is himself the Savior of the church, his body.

"Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. (Eph. 5:23, 25, TEV)

By denying the truth that the Church is essential to receiving salvation, many religious preachers today are saying, in effect, that Christ offered His life to something that is unimportant. Thus, to believe that the true Church is unnecessary for man's attainment of salvation is to disrespect and insult Christ.

18. Q. What fortune does Christ guarantee the members of the Church that He established?

A. Even death will not overcome the Church established by our Lord Jesus Christ:

"And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it." (Mt. 16:18 Ibid.)

19. Q. What does Christ mean that not even death will overcome the Church that He established? Does He mean that the members of the Church of Christ will no longer experience the physical death?

A. On the Second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, those who died in Christ will be resurrected first and those in Him who will be found alive will no longer taste death as they will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air:

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

"Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." (I Thess. 4:16-17, NKJV)

Hence, the ultimate solution to death, which many people in this world fear most, can be found in the Church established by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Those who have faith in Christ should follow the way to salvation that He and His Apostles taught: proper membership in the true Church of Christ.

20. Q. Why is proper membership in the true Church the way to salvation? How relevant is the Church to man's attainment of salvation?

A. God's master plan of salvation through Jesus Christ is intended for the Church:

"May he be given glory forever and ever through endless ages because of his master plan of salvation for the church through Jesus Christ." (Eph. 3:21, TLB)

21. Q. How else did the Apostles prove the relevance of the Church to man's attainment of God's promise?

A. The Gentiles also became heirs of God's promises when they became members of the Church:

"And this is the secret: that the Gentiles will have their full share with the Jews in all the riches inherited by God's sons; both are invited to belong to his church, and all of God's promises of mighty blessings through Christ apply to them both when they accept the Good News about Christ and what he has done for them." (Eph. 3:6, Ibid.)

The Church established by our Lord Jesus Christ is truly needed and is important for man to attain salvation. But at present, there are so many churches that claim to be the true Church of Christ. Hence, it is important that we search for the true Church of Christ today.

22. Q. How can we identify which one is the true Church of Christ today?

A. The true Church of Christ has the testimony of God, is recognized by Christ, and also has the testimony of the Apostle.

23. Q. Whom does God testify as His chosen people in these last days?

A. Those whom God has called as His sons and daughters from the far east as prophesied by Isaiah:

"From the far east will I bring your offspring, and from the far west I will gather you,..." (Is. 43:5,) James Moffatt Translation)

24. Q. Why are we certain that what Isaiah prophesied in this verse refers to neither ancient Israel nor the first-century Church of Christ?

A. Because what Isaiah prophesied here would come from the far east, whereas ancient Israel and even the Church of Christ in the first century did not emerge from the far east but in what is now called Middle East.

Furthermore, in the following verse, the sons and daughters of God whom Isaiah prophesied would emerge at the time the Bible designates as the ends of the earth:

"I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And my daughters from the ends of the earth." (Is. 43:6, NKJV)

25. Q. Do even Bible scholars prove that the prophecy written in Isaiah 43:5-6 refers to the people in these last days?

A. According to J.A. Motyer, the author of the Prophecy of Isaiah (Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993), God's pronouncement in the prophecy written in Isaiah 43:5-6 reveals the relationship of God's people in these last days to those about whom Isaiah was speaking (p. 332). Motyer states:

"... he draws the curtain further back to expose a world-wide regathering. I will bring your children... I will gather you indicates the continuity of the people of the eschatological day with those to whom Isaiah spoke. My sons, my daughters indicates the continuing relationship with the Lord, grounded in redemption (Ex. 4:21)."

Hence, the ones prophesied by Isaiah are the people of God, whom He recognizes as His sons and daughters. They would come from the far east at a time distant from the Israelites and even from the Church of Christ in the first century.

26. Q. According to the Apostles, who are among those promised with the gift of the Holy Spirit but are far from their time and place of origin?

A. Apostle Peter said to the Jews who became members of the Church of Christ: that the promise is unto them, their children, and "to all those in distant times and places" whom God will call:

"For it was to you that the gift was promised, to you and your children, and to all those in distant times and places whom the Lord our God calls to him." (Acts 2:39, Rieu Translation)

We can learn from this verse that in the Christian era, there are three groups of people who have been promised with the gift of the Holy Spirit. The first group, to whom Apostle Peter was speaking, was the Jews who became members of the Church. The second group was the Gentile members of the Church who were borne out of the Jews' preaching of the Gospel:

"Even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?" (Rom. 9:24, NIV)

27. Q. What is the name of the Church to which the Jews and the Gentiles belonged during the time of the Apostles?

A. The Jews and the Gentiles whom God called during the time of the Apostles became members of the Church of Christ:

"The churches of Christ in Judea didn't know me personally." (Gal. 1:22, Christian Community Bible)

"They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.

"Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings." (Rom.16:4,16, NIV)

According to the testimony of Apostle Peter, there would be other people whom God would call and promise to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. These people were not called during the time of the apostles because they would be called in distant times and places.

28. Q. Aside from the Jews and the Gentiles who became members of the Church of Christ in the first century, is there another group of people who would also be included in the fold or the Church of Christ but not during the time of the Apostles?

A. There are other sheep of Christ who have been called, but they were not called during the time of the Apostles. According to the pronouncement of our Lord Jesus Christ, He would also bring them and, in the future, there would be one flock or Church of Christ.

"I have other sheep too. They are not in this flock here. I must lead them also. They will listen to my voice. In the future there will be one flock and one shepherd." (Jn. 10:16 Easy-to-Read Version)

These sheep of Christ would also be included in the flock or Church of Christ. They are not in the flock that was in existence then during the time of Christ, but, in a future time, they would be called to become one flock.

Therefore, the ones referred to in the prophecy of Isaiah whom God testifies as His sons and daughters in these last days who would emerge from the far east are also the ones whom the Apostles testify as partakers of the gift of the Holy Spirit. They would be called from distant times and places and were also referred to by Christ as His other sheep. The fulfillment of Christ's other sheep is the Church of Christ in these last days, which emerged in the Philippines (a country in the Far East) on July 27, 1914 (during the time the Bible calls the "ends of the earth" or the last days).

The Apostles foretold that the third group of people who have been promised with the gift of the Holy Spirit would be called in distant times and places. The biblical phrase "distant times" refers to "ends of earth" or the "end times" - the last days. The far east where the Church of Christ emerged fulfills one of the "distant places" in the prophecy.

29. Q. What other distant place is alluded to in the prophecy concerning the sons and daughters of God in these last days?

A. The far west, where the sons and daughters of God will be gathered as prophesied by Prophet Isaiah:

"From the far east I will bring your offspring, and from the far west I will gather you,..." (Is. 43:5 Moffatt)

This prophecy was fulfilled when the mission of the Church of Christ, which began in the far east (the Philippines) in 1914, reached the far west (in the United States of America) in 1968, and from there the Church has spread continuously in different countries of the world.

30. Q. Do Bible commentaries also prove that the expression "ends of the earth" not only refers to place but also to time?

A. The commentary of Matthew Henry for Job 28:24, wherein the expression "ends of the earth" was used, reads:

"...for he looks to the ends of the earth, both in place and time; distant ages, distant regions, are under his view." (Matthew Henry's Commentary Vol. III, p. 152)

Therefore, the biblical expression "ends of the earth" can also refer to time. This is the time when the end of the world is near or what is also called as the last days. The expression "ends of the earth" was used in Isaiah 43:5-6 to indicate the time of emergence of the sons and daughters of God from the far east. Thus, the prophecy in Isaiah 43:5-6 refers to the Church of Christ in these last days, which began in the Philippines in 1914.

31. Q. What is God's promise to the Church of Christ in these last days?

A. Salvation is fast approaching for those who have been fortunately included in this Church, which is the work of God:

"Indeed the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the world: 'Say to the daughter of Zion, "Surely your salvation is coming; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him'."

"And they shall call them The Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, a City Not Forsaken." (Is. 62:11-12, NKJV)

32. Q. What else is the promise of God to this work of salvation?

A. When the chosen people of God are in the midst of trials and tribulations and call upon His name, He will answer them:

"I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; and each one will say, 'The Lord is my God'." (Zech. 13:9 Ibid.)

33. Q. What qualities do those whom God has called in these last days possess, which is why they are certain to receive the promise of Christ to His servants?

A. They are the ones who patiently obey the commandments of God and uphold the faith of Jesus:

"Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

"Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, 'Write: "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on."' 'Yes', says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them'." (Rev. 14:12-13 Ibid.)

Indeed, there is still hope for mankind in this world that is filled with sorrows and difficulties. For man to be included among the fortunate ones whom Christ will take with Him to His heavenly abode, he must seek the true Church of Christ and then join it.

But this does not mean that membership in the true Church of Christ is enough for man to attain salvation. It is also necessary that all who have become members of the Church of Christ today are faithful in obeying the commandments of God and in keeping the faith of Jesus.

Thus, the Church of Christ that emerged in the Philippines in 1914 has the testimony of God, is recognized by Christ, and is attested to by the Apostles. This Church did not emerge because of the power of mere human will, but by virtue of God's prophecies written in the Bible, which clearly prove that this Church is God's last work of salvation.

The Iglesia ni Cristo: An Introduction

ON JULY 27, 1914, concurrent with the outbreak of the First World War, a distinctive Christian Church emerged from the Philippines, an archipelago in the Far East. This Church, which emphasizes the Bible as the sole basis of faith, is the Iglesia ni Cristo or the Church of Christ.

The Iglesia ni Cristo firmly believes in the one true God, the Father who created all things. To serve and worship Him is the primary obligation of man. It acknowledges Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as Lord and Savior, who established the Church in accordance with the will of God for salvation. Christ gave His life for the Church, Christ was able to redeem the sins of its members without breaking the law of God that each person should die for his own sins.

Within a short period of 87 years, the Iglesia ni Cristo has accomplished numerous achievements, which are truly remarkable for a church that originates from a developing country and exists without the aid, financial or otherwise, of any government or religious agency anywhere in the world. From its early beginnings at Punta, Santa Ana in Manila, where it was first preached by the late Brother Felix Y. Manalo, the Iglesia ni Cristo has indeed gone a long way as it now counts millions of members not only in the Philippines but also in different parts of the world.

In 1968, the Iglesia ni Cristo achieved a milestone when Bro. Eraño G. Manalo, its present Executive Minister, spearheaded the establishment of the locales in Hawaii and California in the United States of America. Since then, the Iglesia ni Cristo has spanned the different parts of the world. As of this time, 600 locales and congregations have been established, composed of people from 182 races and from 75 countries and territories outside the Philippines.

As the growth in its membership steadily increases, so does the construction program of the Iglesia ni Cristo continue to intensify. Over the years, the Iglesia ni Cristo has constructed numerous houses of worship and other edifices, the biggest of which is the Central Temple in Quezon City, which stands in a total land area of 1.6 hectares and can seat about 7,000 worshipers. This magnificent structure is an integral part of the over 40-hectare church complex where other remarkable edifices like the Central Office, Tabernacle, Pavilion, INC Museum and Gallery, New Era University, College of Evangelical Ministry, New Era General Hospital, among others, are also built.

The Iglesia ni Cristo is also actively involved in socio-civic works. Thousands have benefited from the livelihood projects that it has initiated in different places. The Iglesia ni Cristo has also successfully embarked on housing and community development projects intended for Church volunteers in different regions of the Philippines. Many victims of calamities and disasters, as well as the bereaved and the less fortunate, have likewise been aided and relieved through the outreach program called Lingap sa Mamamayan. In addition, the Church maintains its support to government campaigns on literacy, family planning, health, environment, and other related endeavors.

Above other concerns, however, it is the welfare of man's soul or his salvation on the Day of Judgment, that the Iglesia ni Cristo primarily offers to all. By incessantly proclaiming God's message of salvation to everyone, the Church continues to uphold a truly noble purpose - for all people to attain the wondrous love of God and the firm hope of His eternal promises. 

Published by the Iglesia ni Cristo
in commemoration of its
87th founding anniversary
July 27, 2001
Copyright © 2001

Editorial Office: Iglesia ni Cristo Central Office
No. 1 Central Avenue, New Era
Quezon City, Philippines 1107

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