STILL ON TRINITY

TRINITY: STILL DOES NOT MAKE SENSE

The following is the comment posted on the article “TRINITY: DOES IT MAKE SENSE” by Mick Alexander, a visitor from Brisbane:

“Gen. 1:1 tells us that God created: ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’

 “But Job 33:4 tells us that the Spirit created: ‘The Spirit of God has made me.’

 “Then Col 1:16, speaking about Jesus says that He created all things: ‘For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth.’

 “So, because God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus all created they must all be God as only God can create. Only the Trinity can account for this.

“This is only one example of many verses which can only be explained through the doctrine of the Trinity.

“By the way, the word "God" in Hebrew is plural.

God bless,

Mick

Let us answer his questions.

 

UKOL SA PURGATORYO

Sagot kay “Catholic Leesing” tungkol sa Purgatoryo

Ang isang nagtatago sa pangalang “Catholic Leesing” ay nag-post ng tanong sa ating page na “The Question Box.” Ganito ang kabuuan ng kaniyang tanong:

“sabi po ng mga pari, ndi daw tlga mababasa sa bibliya ang salitang puragtoryo gaya ng pangalan ni ginoong Manalo na sinasampalatayanan ninyong sugo ng Diyos sa mga huling araw subalit gaya rin ng paraan ng pagtuturo ninyo ay ndi man LITERAL ay nkalagay nmn ang dakong kinalalagyan ng purgatoryo, sa

“Lucas 16:26

“26At bukod sa lahat ng ito, ay may isang malaking banging nakalagay sa pagitan namin at ninyo, upang ang mga magibig tumawid buhat dini hanggang sa inyo ay hindi maari, at gayon din walang makatawid mula diyan hanggang sa amin.

“yaong pagitan daw na sinasabi sa lucas un daw ang dipinisyon ng purgatoryo. Totoo po ba ito? at kung ndi totoo ay patunayan ninyo.”

Salamat po Ginoong “Catholic Leesing” sa inyong pagdalaw sa aming blog at nag-post pa ng tanong. Ang ipinagtataka ko lang ay kung tunay kang nagsisiyasat lamang ay bakit kailangan mong itago ang iyong pangalan? Tiyak naman akong hindi mo tunay na pangalan ang “Catholic Leesing” di ba? Magkagayun man ay talakayin pa rin namin ang iyong mga tanong.

Current Questions in the Question Box

Narito ang mga Current Questions sa 

“The Question Box”

(1)   “Bakit kaung mga INC ay namimili kung alin ang simbolik at literal kpag hula ang pinaguusapan?”

(2)    “Hindi ba mas marapat iligtas ng Diyos ang tunay na kumikilala sa pangalan ng Diyos gaya naming mga saksi ni Jehova kaysa sa inyo na mga INC? at di ba ang IGLESIA ay tumutukoy sa KONGGREGASYON, na mga taong alagad ng Panginoong Jesucristo?”

(3)    “Anu-anu ang maling mga turo ng mga JEHOVAH's witnesses? bakit natitiyak ninyo na hindi sila tunay?”

(4)   Sabi nyu ang INC ay lumitaw sa mga huling araw, paanu nyu maipaliliwanag itong Mat. 24:3-8?”

(5)   “Ung 7 espiritu un din po ba ung espiritu santo?”

(6)   “Bakit sa inyu ndi bawal ang pagsasalin ng dugo ndi parang pagkain na rin yun ng dugo? Ndi ba parang pagkain din ang ginawa ng nagsalin ng dugo dahil ininject mo ito sa katawan mo?”

(7)   “This site was introduced to me by my oLd friend. . .he told me that if I have questions about your religion or anything about the Bible, I better post my questions on this site if I'm shy to approach your pastors. . .I'm not against the bible or what but may I ask you. . .can you explain why thus in Genesis 6:3 states that God said(as I think)"gayon ma'y magiging isang daan at dalawang pung taon ang kaniyang mga araw" na tumutukoy sa tao na nilalang ng Diyos but why is Arphaxad do lived up to 403years(ayon sa aking nabasa) as stated naman sa Genesis 11:13. . .are these two verses contradicts each other. . .it just bothers me a lot for I have a friend keeps on telling me that there are many contradictions on the bible. . .I do believe that true preachers may explain this to me. . .and please. . .any answers is very much appreciated. . .”

(8)   “I must admit. . .I'm amazed on how clearly and quickly you answered my question. . .but may I ask you po ulit. . .This morning isinama po ako ng aking friend sa simbahan nyo po, and then there is this pastor who is very good in preaching God's word. . .after that sinamahan ako ng friend ko dun sa pastor . . I also asked the same question that I asked you po and I will compare both of your answers. . .that's why early this morning eh chineck ko agad itong blog po ninyo pero bakit parang medyo magkaiba kayo ng sagot although both seems correct naman. . .kung itatanong nyo po kung ano naging sagot nya po hindi ko napo sasabihin o ipapaliwanag just to know why is it you two came up with somewhat different answers, eh hindi po ba iisa lang ang nagturo sa inyo po? but honestly po, ako po ay humanga sa sagot nyo, sobrang liwanag po at aking naunawaan. . .thank you again po and I'll wait for your reply po :)”

(9)   “Mr. Ges mundo may tanong po akong muli na itinanong sa akin ng kaibigan kong nagsasabi na maraming kontradiksyon ang Biblia, hindi ko pa kasi kami nagkikita ng kaibigan ko na nagsama sakin sa simbahan nyo kaya di ko matanong sa pastor nyo. Ang tanong nya sakin ay ganito, hindi po ba naunang lalangin ng Diyos ang mga Querubin(kasama yung nagmataas), hindi po ako maalam sa talata pero nasa Ezekiel yata yun, di ba raw nung nagmataas ang querubin na iyon ay inihagis siya sa lupa. paano raw mangyayari na naihagis siya sa lupa gayong wala pa namang lupa noon na nililikha ang Diyos? at kung meron naman daw ng lupa ibig sabihin mali na sabihin nauna ang querubin kesa sa mundo. eh di ba sa panahon pa lamang nila eba at adan ay mayroon ng tumukso sa kanila(kung hindi po ako nagkakamali ito po yung diablo na nagmataas na querubin). Ang sabi niya po sa akin, ano raw ba talaga nauna? Ang querubin o ang lupa na pinagtapunan sa kanya? pasensya na po kung madalas kapag nagtatanong ako ay dito po ako pumupunta kasi po nahihiya po akong magtanong sa mga pastor nyo po.”

Tunghayan po ang sagot sa:

 “The Question Box”

JUAN 20:28

Tinawag nga ba ni Tomas si Cristo na

Diyos sa Juan 20:28?

ANG TALATANG JUAN 20:28 ay isa sa karaniwang pinagbabatayan ng mga nagtuturong si Cristo ay Diyos sapagkat dito raw ay tinawag ni Apostol Tomas si Cristo na Diyos. Ganito ang sinasabi ng talata:

Sumagot si Tomas, at sa kaniya'y sinabi, Panginoon ko at Dios ko. (Juan 20:28)

Binanggit ito ni Tomas matapos na magpakita sa kaniya ang Panginoong Jesucristo.

Ang Pangyayari

Pagkatapos na mabuhay na mag-uli, si Jesus ay napakita sa Kaniyang mga alagad, subalit noon ay wala si Tomas:

“Nang kinahapunan nga, nang araw na yaon, na unang araw ng sanglinggo, at nang nangapipinid ang mga pintong kinaroroonan ng mga alagad, dahil sa katakutan sa mga Judio ay dumating si Jesus at tumayo sa gitna, at sa kanila'y sinabi, Kapayapaan ang sumainyo. At nang masabi niya ito, ay kaniyang ipinakita sa kanila ang kaniyang mga kamay at ang kaniyang tagiliran.  Ang mga alagad nga'y nangagalak, nang makita nila ang Panginoon. Sinabi ngang muli sa kanila ni Jesus, Kapayapaan ang sumainyo: kung paanong pagkasugo sa akin ng Ama, ay gayon din naman sinusugo ko kayo. At nang masabi niya ito, sila'y hiningahan niya, at sa kanila'y sinabi, Tanggapin ninyo ang Espiritu Santo: Sinomang inyong patawarin ng mga kasalanan, ay ipinatatawad sa kanila; sinomang hindi ninyo patawarin ng mga kasalanan, ay hindi pinatatawad. Nguni't si Tomas, isa sa labingdalawa, na tinatawag na Didimo, ay wala sa kanila nang dumating si Jesus.” (Juan 20:19-24)

Nang sabihin ng mga alagad kay Tomas na nabuhay na mag-uli ang Panginoon at napakita sa kanila ay ganito ang naging reaksiyon ni Tomas:

“Sinabi nga sa kaniya ng ibang mga alagad, Nakita namin ang Panginoon. Ngunit sinabi niya sa kanila, Malibang aking makita sa kaniyang mga kamay ang butas ng mga pako, at maisuot ko ang aking daliri sa butas ng mga pako, at maisuot ko ang aking kamay sa kaniyang tagiliran, ay hindi ako sasampalataya.” (Juan 20:25)

Hindi naniwala o sumampalataya si Tomas na ang Panginoong Jesus ay nabuhay na mag-uli. Pansinin na ang pinag-uusapan sa pangyayaring ito na isinalaysay ni Juan ay walang kinalaman sa kalikasan ni Cristo (kung Siya ba ay Diyos o hindi) kundi ukol sa pagkabuhay na mag-uli ni Jesus. Pagkatapos ay napakitang muli si Jesus sa Kaniyang mga alagad na sa pagkakataong ito ay kasama na si Tomas:

 “At pagkaraan ng walong araw ay muling nasa loob ng bahay ang kaniyang mga alagad, at kasama nila si Tomas.  Dumating si Jesus, nang nangapipinid ang mga pinto, at tumayo sa gitna, at sinabi, Kapayapaan ang sumainyo. Nang magkagayo'y sinabi niya kay Tomas, Idaiti mo rito ang iyong daliri, at tingnan mo ang aking mga kamay; at idaiti mo rito ang iyong kamay, at isuot mo siya sa aking tagiliran: at huwag kang di mapanampalatayahin, kundi mapanampalatayahin.” (Juan 20:26-27)

Sinabi  ng Panginoong Jesus kay Tomas na “huwag kang di mapanampalatayanin, kundi mapanampalatayanin” (na gaya ng pinatutunayan sa mga unahang talata, ang tinutukoy na di sinasampalatayanan ni Tomas ay ang pagkabuhay na mag-uli ng Panginoong Jesus). Pagkatapos nito ay ganito ang sagot ni Tomas:

Sumagot si Tomas, at sa kaniya'y sinabi, Panginoon ko at Dios ko. (Juan 20:28)

PAYONG KAPATID

Kung Paano Natin Dapat Harapin ang Panibagong Taong Darating

Sa taong ito na lilipas ay tunay na dumaan ang ating bansa sa maraming pagsubok: dumaan ang malalakas na bagyo, ang malalakas na pag-ulan (ang “Habagat”), ang mga pagbaha, pagguho ng lupa, at iba pa. Ang mga malalagim na mga pangyayaring ito ay hindi lamang sumira ng maraming ari-arian kundi kumitil din ng maraming buhay. Hindi lamang ang mga nasalanta ng mga kalamidad ang nakaranas ng mga matitinding pagsubok sa buhay. Mayroong mga dinatnan ng matinding kapighatian, kabagabagan, karamdaman, kahirapan, kaguluhan at matitinding suliranin sa sambahayan. Sa panig ng mga hinirang ng Diyos, nababatid natin na hindi maiiiwasan ang pagdaranas ng mga matitinding pagsubok sa buhay. Batid din ng mga hinirang ng Diyos na patuloy na magaganap ang mga kalamidad, kahirapan at kaguluhan sapagkat ang mga ito ay palandaan na nagbabadya ng nalalapit na ikalawang pagparito ng ating Panginoong Jesuscristo. Subalit, sa kabila ng ating naranasan, nararansan at mararansan pa ay may paninindigan na hinahanap ang Diyos sa atin. Ito ang nakasulat sa Awit 34:1-4:

“Pupurihin ko ang Panginoon anuman ang mangyari. Lagi kong sasalitain ang kaniyang mga kaluwalhatian at biyaya. Ipagmamapuri ko ang lahat ng kaniyang kabutihan sa akin. Hayaang magpakatatag ang mga nawawalan ng pag-asa . Sama-sama nating purihin ang Panginoon, at dakilain ang kaniyang pangalan. Sapagkat humibik ako sa kaniya at sinagot niya ako! Pinalaya niya ako sa lahat kong katakutan.” (Awit 34:1-4 TLB, salin sa Pilipino)

Anuman ang mangyari sa ating paligid at sa ating buhay ay patuloy nating pupurihin ang ating Panginoong Diyos. Hindi natin iiwan ang ating pagsamba at paglilingkod sa Kaniya. Nababatid natin na ang Panginoong Diyos ang tanging makatutulong at makasasaklolo sa atin kaya sa Kaniya natin inilagak ang ating pag-asa, ang ating buhay, at ang ating pamumuhay:

“Sa Diyos mo hanapin ang kaligayahan, At ang pangarap mo'y iyong makakamtan. Ang iyong sarili'y sa Diyos mo ilagak, Pag nagtiwala ka'y tutulungang ganap; Ang kabutihan mo ay magliliwanag, Katulad ng araw kung tanghaling tapat. Sa harap ng Diyos ay pumanatag ka, Maging matiyagang maghintay sa kanya; H'wag mong kainggitan ang gumiginhawa Sa likong paraan, umunlad man sila.” (Awit 37:4-7 MB)

Hindi natin kaiinggitan ang mga gumagawa ng likong paraan, umunlad man sila. Matiyaga nating hihintayon ang Kaniyang pagsaklolo at pagtulong sa atin.

Kaya, sa panibagong taong darating ay haharap tayo na may pag-asa sapagkat nagtitiwala tayong ganap sa ating Diyos na anuman ang mangyari ay hindi Niya tayo pababayaan, kaya anuman ang mangyari ay pupurihin natin Siya. Hindi tayo titigil sa pagsamba, pananalangin at paglilingkod sa Kaniya, bagkus ay lalo tayong magpapakasigla.

An Ounce of Truth A Day, Keeps the Deceiver Away (Tuesday, 25 December 2012)

The Truth About “December 25”

Many believe that the celebration of December 25 as the birth of the Lord Jesus is as old as Christianity itself. However, even Catholic authorities attest that it is not. Here is the truth about “December 25”:

How old is the Christmas Day celebration? There is no mention of the celebration of the birth of Jesus in any of the oldest list of the Church (Catholic Church) festivals:

 “…How old is Christmas day?...One would naturally think that the anniversary of so great event as the birth of the Son of God would have been a day of religious joy from the earliest years of the church, but it is clear that this was not the case. There is no mention of it in any of the oldest list of Church festivals.” [Rev. Msgr. John F. Sullivan, D.D. The Externals of the Catholic Church. Nihil Obstat: John M.A. Fearns, S.T.D., Censor Librorum. Imprimatur: Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York. P.J. Kennefy and Sons, New York: 1951, p/ 204.]

The celebration of Christ’s birth was not observed from the earliest years of the Church. It was not mentioned in any of the oldest list of festivals of the Catholic Church. The truth is, in the ancient times there were diversities of opinions as of the date of Jesus’ birth:

“There was a great diversity of opinions among ancient authorities as to the birthday of our Blessed Saviour. Many writers, especially of the Eastern Church, assigned an extremely different season of the year from that observed at present. St. Clement of Alexandria quotes some that placed it on the twentieth of April or the twentieth of May, and a very common belief in the Orient was that our Lord was born on the sixth of January.” [Ibid.]

There were different opinions regarding the date of the birth of the Lord: 20^th of April, 20^th of May, and the most common especially in the East was 6^th of Jauary. Why does the Roman Catholic Church today celebrates the birth of Jesus in 25^th of December? This is what Catholic authorities testify:

“Formerly Christmas was celebrated on January 6, but Pope Julius I, at the beginning of the fourth century, changed the day to December 25, since the actual date was unknown…” [Sister M. Catherine Frederick, O.S.F. Handbook of Catholic Practices. Nihil Obstat: James F. Rigney, S.T.D. Imprimatur: Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York.Hawthorn Books, Inc., New York: 1964, p. 204.]

It was only the Roman Catholic pope, Julius I, who changed the date of the celebration to December 25. Why changed it to December 25? Another Catholic book has this to say:

“…the choice of December 25 was influenced by the fact that the Romans from the time of Emperor Aurelian (275), had celebrated the feast of the sun god (Sol Invictus: the Unconquered Sun) on that day. December 25 was called the ‘Birthday of the Sun,’ and great pagan religious celebrations of the Mithras cultwere held all through the empire. What was more natural than that the Christians celebrate the birth of ‘Him Who was the Light of the world’ and the true ‘Son of Justice’ on this very day?”…” [Francis X. Weiser. Handbook of Christian Feast and Customs. Abridged Edition. Imprimi Potest: James E. Coleran, S.J.nihil Opbstat: Michael P. Noonan, S.M., S.T.D., Diocesan Censor. Imprimatur: Richard J. Cushing, D.D., Archbishop of Boston. The Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle, New York: 1963, p. 60.]

Thus, the celebration of December 25 as the date of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ in only a man-made doctrine. This is what the Bible says regarding man-made doctrines:

“And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” (Matthew 15:9 NKJV)

An Ounce of Truth A Day, Keeps the Deceiver Away

Today, Sunday, 23 December 2012, we are going to start posting everyday a short article titled, “An Ounce of Truth a Day, Keeps the Deceiver Away.”

Our objective is to make the people see the truth, the facts, and not just opinions or made up stories, so that they will not be decieved by false teachers. To arrive at biblical truth is so important in order for us to attain salvation. I Timothy 2:3-4 has this to say:

“This is good, and pleases God our Savior,  who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”  (I Timoteo 2:2-5 NIV)

The Lord Jesus Christ Was Not Born On 
December 25

Are we against celebrating Jesus’ birth? No. The Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) is not against the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Angels celebrated and rejoiced when the Lord was born (cf. Luke 2:12-14).  However, the truth is, Jesus was not born on December 25.

According to the Bible, what happned during the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ? In Luke 2:1-10, this is what Luke, the Evangelist, recorded:

 “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be

During the birth of Jesus, (1) the emperor, Augustus Caesar, issued a decree that a census should be take of the entire Roman world and that everyone must go to his own town to register; and (2) there were shepherds keeping watch their flocks at night.

Everyone knew these, but what they don’t know is that these informations actually prove that Jesus was not born in December 25. The Catholic Encyclopedia has this to say:

“Origin of Date – Concerning the date of Christ’s birth the Gospel give no help, indeed, upon their datacontradictory arguments are based. The census would have been impossible in winter…” [The Catholic Encyclopedia. An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church. Ed., Charles G. Herbermann, Ph. D., LL.D., Edward A. Pace, Ph/D. et al. Nihil Obstat: Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor Imprimatur: John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York. Encyclopedia Press, Inc., New York: 1913, vol. III, p. 727.]

The Catholic scholars attest that “The Census would have been impossible in winter…” Aside from this, the same Catholic Encyclopedia added this:

“Authorities moreover differ as to whether shepherds could or would keep f;ocks exposed during the nights of the rainy seasons…” (Ibid., p. 726)

In light of recent development, the current pope of the Roman Catholic Church, Benedict XVI, in his new book, admitted that Jesus was not born on December 25.

A Challenge to Catholic Defenders

A Call to Catholic Defender 2000

Instead of answering what I discussed in my article “The Ways of the Catholic Defenders in Deceiving the People: Public Beware” posted last December 17, 2012, he posted articles about the Catholic Church which are only opinions and stories because there are no proper and credible documentations (Perhaps, he did this to divert the attention of his readers away from my arguments against him).

When I ask him to show proper and credible documentations, he aswered me, “Mr. Mundo, we have well established our POSITION historically and doctrinally. It's your homework to PROVE US WRONG.”

This person, doesn’t realy understand the principles of argumentation, and even the principles of scholarly and intellectual writing.

Mr. Catholic Defender 2000, the “burden of proof lies on the affirmative.” It’s you who claimed, who wrote and who published such, thus, it’s your obligation to prove what you wrote and published, thus, you must first laid down your facts (if there are), at hindi iyong magtututuro ka kung kani-kanino. Para kang babaing tsismosa na nang komprontahin sa pinagsasabi ay itinuro ang iba.

In the principles of argumentation, you must first established a prima facie case, and if you failed to do so, you lose at the very beginning because your information remains an opinion, a rumor, a made up stories. Even in court of law, you must first laid down your evidences to establish a prima facie case, and if you failed to do so, no trial (discussion and argumentation) will be undertaken.

Mr. Catholic Defender 2000 challenged me to:

“Now, show us your experties bases on FACTS: how could the INC of Manalo be the original Church when it's just 98 years? Show us HISTORICAL FACTS how and when the CHURCH completely APOSTATIZED. And since the INC claimed that the Church COMPLETELY apostatized, this event must be WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON, for sure there should be some documents, edicts, letters, decrees, etc that had recorded that....

“Prove us WRONG by FACT not buy just talking here nonsense... show us your BOOK as you claim and any link that supports your claims (official sites). Maghihintay kami.”

I accept your challenge. Talaga namang ito ang dahilan ng paglikha sa blog na ito. Hindi ba’t kaya nga ako nag-launch ng series of articles na pinamagatang “Answering Catholic Defenders.” Dahil din sa challenge mo, I will launch another series of articles titled: “THE CHIRCH IN HISTORY.”

Now, because I accepted your chalenge, I have the right to make counter-challenge. Mr. Catholic Defender 2000, I challenge you to answer these questions:

(1)   Why did you lied by saying that it is the Catholic Church that named the Bible from Greek, while the facts say that the first used of the word “ta biblia” to refer to the sacred books was Daniel 9:2 of the Septuagint (a Greek Bible made in the third century BC, long before Ignatius invented the word Catholic in 110 AD)?

(2)   Why did you lied by saying that “Kata Holos” is written in the Greek Text of Roamns 1:7-8 while it is not “Kata Holos” but “Holo to Kosmo” that is written in the actual Greek Text of Romans 1:7-8?

(3)   Why did you lied in saying that in the PASUGO, March 1956, p. 25, brother Teofilo Ramos said that the Catholic Church was fabricated by bishops only in 1870, while it is not written in the actual PASUGO, March 1956, p. 25?

(4)   Answer Yes or No: are the words “Trinity” and “Triune God” can actually be read in the Bible? If you answer yes, what verse? And if you gave a verse or verses and if we look at it and if “Trinity” and “Triune God” are not actually there, you are going to admit that you are indeed “unbiblical” (and a “liar”)?

(5)   And if I indeed laid down historical and biblical facts proving complete apostasy occurred, you are going to make public apology for the accussations, “swearing,” “cursing” and “harsh words” you made against us.

Remember, these are not “conditions” to accept your challenge, I already accepted your challenge. These are counter-challenge, so you are oblige to accept these.

I accepted his challenge and made these counter-challenge so that the public may know who’s telling facts, who’s telling the truth. Thus, the public is our judge.

Gesmundo del Mundo

WHAT WE BELIEVE AND WHY

Basic Teachings of The Bible Upheld By The Iglesia ni Cristo

“WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?” Is the usual remark we hear from some people when the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) is introduced to them. It is perfectly sound and legitimate question to ask considering that there are many religions today vying against one another, and making claims and counterclaims that theirs is the best church to affiliate one’s self with.

About the Bible

“We believe that the Bible is the word of God and the sole basis of our faith and service to God”

The Alimighty God committed His words in writing (cf. Jer. 30:2). The collections of inspired books where the words of God are written is called the “Holy Scriptures” by the apostles (cf. II Tim. 3:15). All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living (cf. II Tim. 3:16-17 TEV), and also, the Holy Scriptures are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation (cf. II Tim. 3:17, TEV). Thus, according to the apostles:

“Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, ‘Do not go beyond what is written…” (I Corinthians 4:6 NIV, emphasis mine)

Because the Bible is the sole basis of our faith, we reject teachings not written in the Bible (e.g. Chrismas, Purgatory, Trinity, etc.) and other basis of faith (cf. Catechism, Book of Mormons, Apocrypha, etc.).

About God

“We believe that there is only one true God, the Father, and no one else besides Him”

Because the Bible is the sole basis of the teachings of Iglesia ni Cristo, thus we uphold the teachings of the prophets, the apostles and the Lord Jesus Christ that THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE GOD, THE FATHER” (cf. Mal. 2:10; Is. 64:8; I Cor. 8:6; John 17:1, 4). The Lord God Himself said:

“Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one." (Isaiah 44:8 NIV)

Thus, because we firmly uphold the biblical teaching that there is only one true God, the Father, and no one else besides Him, we reject the unbiblical teaching that there are three person in one God – that aside from God the father, there is God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

About the Lord Jesus Christ

“We believe in Jesus Christ and accept Him as the Son of God, Lord, Savior, and the Mediator between God and Man”

We accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God:

“And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’” (Mark 15:39, NIV, emphasis mine).

We accept Jesus Christ as our Lord:

“So, all the people of Israel should know this truly: God has made Jesus — the man you nailed to the cross — both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36, New Century Version, emphasis mine)

We accept Jesus Christ as our Savior:

“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted this man to His right hand as ruler and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:30-31, Holman Christian Standard Bible, emphasis mine)

We accept Jesus Christ as the Mediator between man and the one true God:

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 2:5, NIV, emphasis mine)

Because we believe that there is only one true God, the Father, thus, Jesus is not the true God, but the Son of the one true God. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself attests that He is indeed a man in nature:

“As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.” (John 8:40 NIV, emphasis mine).

Thus, we reject the christ-is-God theology.

About the Holy Spirit

“We believe that the Holy Spirit is the power that sent by the Father in the name of Christ”

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the power (cf. Acts 1:8, TEV) sent by the Father in the name of Christ, to teach and remind His messengers of all things that Christ said (cf. Jn. 14:26), to help us in our weaknesses and imfirmities (cf. Jn. 15:26; Rom. 8:26).The Holy Spirit strenghthens, edifies, and comforts the Church of Christ (cf. Eph. 3:16-17; Jn. 14:26)And though the Holy Spirit is a spirit never does the Scriptures refer to it as “god the Holky Spirit” because the Holy Spirit is not Godbut one of the spirits being sent by God (cf. Rev. 5:6).

About the Messengers of God

“We believe that God sent His Messengers to preach His words”

We believe that the Bible is the word of God, however, the Bible is not an “open book.” God has purposely hidden His words in mystery (cf. Rom. 16:25), that’s why man who strive to understand the Scripture through their own worldly knowledge can never know the truth (cf. II Tim. 3:7). How then man will be able to understand the truth written in the Bible? Through God’s messengers according to the Bible:

“It is the duty of 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.” (Malachi 2:7, TEV)

People must go to those sent by God (the messengers of the Lord) to learn His will. According to Apostle Paul: “And how can they preach unless they are sent…” (Rom. 10:15, NIV). According to the Lord Jesus Christ: “I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me” (John 13:20, NIV).

We believe that the late Brother Felix Y. Manalo is God’s last messenger, the fulfillment of the biblical prophecies regarding the “Angel” (“messenger”) from the east (cf. Rev. 7:2-3) who would preached to God’s sons and daughters from the “ends of the earth” (cf. Is. 43:5-6; 41:9-10; 46:11).

About God’s Standing Policy of Election

“We believe that God elects and set apart His people to serve Him”

The Iglesia ni Cristo believe that since the ancient times, God has set apart his people to serve Him (cf. Ps. 4:3).

“Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.” (Psalms 4:3 NIV)

People outside this election are not God’s people (I Pet. 2:9-10, TEV), not of Christ, and without hope and without God (cf. Eph. 2:12).

God set apart Set and his race. When Seth’s race fall away from God, Then Noah and his family were set apart by God. However, Noah’s race disobeyed God’s commandment. Because God’s policy of election continues, He set apart Abraham and made covenant with him. God’s everlasting covenant with Abraham continues with Isaac, Jacob and the nation of Israel. But, Israel did not remained faithful to God (cf. Dan. 9:11). Thus, the church of Christ became God’s nation replacing Israel (cf. I Pet. 2:9-10). However, the first century Church of ChrIst also departed from the faith or was apostatized (cf. I Tim. 4:1, 3). But, the Lord Jesus declares that He has “other sheeps” (cf. Jn 10:16), that He will gather them in the future and there will be one fold or one flock (cf. Jn. 10:16, Easy to Read Bible). Thus, this was Christ promise of the re-establishemnt or re-mergence of His church although the first century Church of Christ was apostatized. Thus, even up to this day, God’s policy of election remains through His chosen people from the ends of theearth”:

“I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:9-10 NIV)

About Salvation and the Church

“We believe that man must enter the Church of Christ in order to be save come Judgment Day”

We believe that the salvation mentioned in the Bible is the salvation from the eternal damnation come Judgment Day. The Bible clearly teaches that all men committed sin (cf. Rom. 3:23) and the wages of sin is death (cf. Rom. 6:23), and the full wages of sin is the second death, the eternal damnation in the lake of fire (cf. Rev. 20:14; 21:8; 14:9-10).

The Savior, Christ Jesus, clearly states that:

“I am the door; if any one enters by me., he will be saved…” (John 10:9 RSV).

Those who “enters through Christ” became members of His body, the Church of Christ (cf. Rom. 12:4-5; Col. 1:18; Rom. 16:16). God testified that membership in the true Church of Christ is needed in order to be saved come Judgment Day through adding to the Church such as should be saved:

“Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47, KJV)

Apostle Paul points out that Christ is indeed the Savior and not the Church, however, he also points out that the Church is the one that Christ will save:

“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.” (Eph. 5:23, TEV, emphasis mine)

Thus, faith alone is not enough:

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?...Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” (James 2:14 and 24, KJV)

Christ will not save anyone outside the Church ofChrist because it would be against the law of Godgod’s law requires that sinners should pay for their own sin (cf. Dt. 24:16; Jn. 8:24;I Cor. 5:13).

About Baptism

“We believe that man needs to receive baptism to be saved and the baptism commanded by Christ and preached by His apostles is done through immersion”

Man needs to receive the baptism commanded by Christ and preached by the apostles to be saved (cf. Mark 16:15-16), to become Christ’s disciple (cf. Mt. 28:19), and to receive the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 2:38). The baptism commanded by Christ and preached by the apostles is through immersion (Rom. 6:4; Jn. 3:23; Acts 8:36-38).

About the Church Administration

“We believe that the Church Administration is from God and we are duty bound to submit ourselves ”

The Iglesia ni Cristo believes that every member is duty-bound to submit himself to the Church Adminsitration because it is God’s commandment:

“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” (Hebrews 13:17 NIV)

The Church Administration is from God (cf. Col. 1:25 NKJV) who He entrusted the message and the ministry of reconcilliation (cf. II Cor. 5:18-20).

About the Christian Way of Life

“We believe that man must enter the Church of Christ in order to be save come Judgment Day”

The Iglesia ni Cristo believes that all those baptized in Christ should put on Christ (cf. Gal. 3:27).It is Christ who should live in them and no longer they themselves (cf. Gal. 2:20).

Those who are truly in Christ should lead a righteous life based on moral teachings of the Bible (cf. II Cor. 5:17; II Tim. 3:15-17). The Bible explains that “the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God”:

“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders  nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Cor. 6:9-10 NIV)

We also believe that God prohibits the eating of blood (cf. Lev. 17:10; Acts 15:28).

“But be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat.” (Deuteronomy 12:23 NIV)

The Bible also strictly prohibits mixed marriage with unbelievers:

“Do not unite in marriagewith unbelievers, for what fellowship has righteousness with iniquity? Or what mingling has light with darkness?” (II Corinthians 6:14 Lamsa)

About Worship of God

“We believe that it is the whole duty of man to worship God and keep His commandments”

The Iglesia ni Cristo believes that it is the duty of man to worship and serve our Lord God:

“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.” (Psalms 100:2-3 NIV)

The Lord Jesus Christ taught to His servants that we must woship God in spirit and in truth:

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." Juan 4:23-24 NIV

Thus, the Bible strictly prihibits the use of graven images:

“Thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth.

“Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them: I am the Lord thy God, mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.” (Ex 20:4-5 Douay-Rheims)

Because we must not think that God is like gold or silver or stone

    

“And since this is true, we shouldn't think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.” (Acts 17:29 New Living Translation)

The Christians are admonish by the apostles not to neglect their “church meetings”:

“Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near. If anyone sins deliberately by rejecting the Savior after knowing the truth of forgiveness, this sin is not covered by Christ's death; there is no way to get rid of it. There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible punishment of God's awful anger, which will consume all his enemies.” (Hebrews 10:25-27 LB)

They are referring to the congregational worship services (cf. I Cor. 14:26 and 15). Thus, the members of the Church of Christ value our congregational worship services.

About Brotherhood

“We believe that members of the Church of Chrsit must love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ”

The Iglesia ni Cristo believes that members of the Church of Christ should observe the brotherhood Christ Himself established the brotherhood inside the Church of Christ (cf. Mt. 23:8; John 13:34-35).

That is why members of the Church of Christ address one another as brother and sister.

About Christian Unity

“We believe that it is God’s commandment that we must subscribe to sacred unity”

The Iglesia ni Cristo believe that we must subscribe to sacred unity, a complete and perfect unity for in this unity, God, Christ and the Christare joined together or united:

"I'm not praying only for them. I'm also praying for those who will believe in me through their message. I pray that all of these people continue to have unity in the way that you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they may be united with us so that the world will believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me. I did this so that they are united in the same way we are. I am in them, and you are in me. So they are completely united. In this way the world knows that you have sent me and that you have loved them in the same way you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23 God’s Word)

ANSWERING CATHOLIC DEFENDERS part 1

THE WAYS OF THE CATHOLIC DEFENDERS

IN DECEIVING PEOPLE:

PUBLIC BEWARE

Catholic Faith Defenders are employing every dirty tricks in the book
 in order to deceive the people to make them believe that the Iglesia ni Cristo 
is not the true Church but their’s (the Roman Catholic Church).

TRINITY: DOES IT MAKE SENSE?

Let us have a simple test. Let us compare the beliefs about God of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) with those of the Catholics and the Protestants (let us call them “Trinitarians”).

Which is logical? Which is illogical?

 

         The Iglesia ni Cristo:

                    The Father only = One True God

 

          The Trinitarians:

                    God the       God the       God the

                    Father   +    Son         +   Holy Spirit   =   One God (?)

         Logic says:

                    1   +   1   +   1   =   3

 

Which is Biblical? Which is Unbiblical?

 

         The Iglesia ni Cristo:

There is only one true God, the Father, and besides Him there’s no one else.

          The Trinitarians:

The Triune God, the Trinity: There is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, and these three, each of whom are true God, are only one God.

 

          The Bible says:

“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. John 17:1,3 NIV

“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 Corinto 8:6 NIV)

“Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our fathers by breaking faith with one another?” (Malachi 2:10 NIV)

“Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.” (Isaiah 44:8 NIV)

Which makes sense?

 

         The Iglesia ni Cristo:

Because there is only one true God, the Father, thus the Lord Jesus Christ is not God because He is the Son of the one true God, and the Holy Spirit is also not God because he is the one that is sent by the Father (the one true God) in the name of Jesus Christ.

 

          The Trinitarians:

The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is also God. These three are all true Gods (co-equal, co-eternal and co-substantial). However, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (these three) are only one God.

The Admission of the Catholic authories

After many hindreds of years of philisophizing and theologizing and speculating here is a very revealing statement from the Catholic Church: The Trinity is a mystery no one understands. Here is the testimony of the Jesuit priests John Walsh:

“God, of course, cannot perform an absurdity, a contradiction in terms. He canoont, for instance, make two and two equal five.” (Walsh, John. This is Catholicism. New York: Image Book, 1959, p. 25)

Indeed, Trinity does not make any sense. The three persons, each of whom is the true God, are only one God?

If two and two equal five is an absurdity, says Walsh, thus one plus one plus one equal one is no better than this. If God cannot perform an absurdity, according to this Catholic priest, then God would never make up an absurdity such as the so-called Trinity.

Because of this, another Catholic priest testifies that the Trinity “cannot be proved by thereason…” (Bounth, C. J., S.J. The Blessed Trinity. London: Catholic Truth Society, p. 21.)

Which will you now accept and believe?

“The Father of the Lord Jesus Christ is the

only true God, and no one besides Him”

OR

“The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

each of whom is the true God, but these

three are one God”