On Marriage & Salvation

“… Male and female He created them. Then God blessed them … Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” – Genesis 1:27-28; 2:24, New King James Version

There is a deeper truth to be learned concerning the marriage bond.

GOD HIMSELF instituted marriage. This biblical teaching shows that marriage, and the family that results from such a union, are not just man-made institutions. Hence, it is but proper and fitting for people to make resolute efforts in safeguarding their stability. As such, one of the foci of concerned countries and organizations, such as the UN, is the protection and preservation of the family. They know very well that when this basic social unit disintegrates or becomes dysfunctional, for sure, that will lead to serious consequences.

Scholars of family studies note that there is no other social unit that can fulfill the vital functions that the family performs for society. They say that, as the first social group to which the individual is exposed, the family is the link between the individual and the larger society. Its influence on personality and character is pervasive, and it is a major agent in the transmission of culture (Medina, Belen T. G. The Filipino Family, pp. 2, 7) especially the fundamental values.

‘Let not man separate’
Taking a biblical perspective makes us discern that preserving the family starts with preserving marriage. Sad to say, many people today do not accord marriage its true meaning and value by living together like what husbands and wives do without the benefit of marriage, or by divorcing or separating from their spouse. For true Christians, however, the union of husband and wife through marriage is sacred, holy, and inviolable. Furthermore, there is a deeper truth to be learned concerning the bond of marriage that has something to do with our salvation.

And because it is God who instituted marriage and the family, it is His laws concerning these that ought to be followed, especially now that many problems beset families. This is the law that God decreed concerning the union of a man and a woman in marriage since the beginning according to the Lord Jesus Christ:

“… He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female’, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’. So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matt. 19:4-6, New King James Version)

It is against the will of God for a man and woman to live together as though they are husband and wife without God’s blessing or sanctioning by marriage. Even if others may consider it socially or culturally acceptable, only those who have been joined by God through marriage, can live as true husband and wife, and God’s law is clear that “what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

How does God unite a man and a woman through marriage? He binds them by means of His laws and ordinances, which they ought to fulfill:

“For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.” (Rom. 7:2-3, Ibid.)

Marriage, therefore, is a lifetime covenant that must be governed by God’s laws. Hence, before anyone decides to get married, he or she should give this a serious thought. If grave problems arise after marriage, the husband and the wife cannot simply separate and live with someone else. Doing so while the spouse is still alive, is committing an act of adultery, and, those who practice such a thing “will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19, 21, Ibid.). Therefore, it is a grave sin, a capital offense, in God’s sight to separate from one’s spouse, and live with someone else while he or she is still alive. God also decreed:

“… A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.” (I Cor. 7:10-11, New International Version)

God hates divorce
What if marital problems arise? Divorce or separation is not the solution. The husband and the wife should put aside their differences, and let God’s will prevail and be the guideline and the foundation of their marital relationship, their “common ground.”

Others may argue that they are already divorced and, therefore, free from any marital responsibility and can remarry according to the laws of a particular country. God, however, declares:

“ ‘I hate divorce’, says the LORD God of Israel. ‘I hate it when one of you does such a cruel thing to his wife. Make sure that you do not break your promise to be faithful to your wife’.” (Mal. 2:16, Today’s English Version)

This is why for the true people of God, His law reigns definite and supreme – that man should not separate those who have been joined together by Him.

This law of God does not just apply to the kind of marriage that people commonly understand. As mentioned, there is a deeper truth to be learned concerning the marriage bond.

Also joined by God to be one
There are people whom the Apostle Paul refers to as “called [by God] into the fellowship of His Son” (I Cor. 1:9, NKJV). The Jerusalem Bible renders the verse: “… God by calling you has joined you to his Son …” Those who were called by God were joined together with Christ, so that they become one. Apostle Paul explains further:

“… You are like a pure virgin whom I have promised in marriage to one man only, Christ himself.” (II Cor. 11:2, TEV)

In this verse, Apostle Paul was referring to Christ and those who were promised in marriage to Him. They are the ones who are “lawfully” bound to Christ:

“That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will be one. This is a great mystery. (I’m talking about Christ’s relationship to the church.)” (Eph. 5:31-32, God’s Word)

Joined together by God, Christ and His Church for whom He gave His life are a “married couple.” That Church is none other than 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)

Being Christ’s spouse, the Church of Christ is the one that has a relationship with Him and is joined to Him. And so, those who say that they have already accepted Christ but refuse the Church of Christ are practically trying to separate Him from His spouse, and are in effect violating God’s law that no man should separate those who have been joined together by God. Christ will never acknowledge as His those who say that they are related to Him, yet are not in His Church, His spouse, because it would be an “illegal” or “illicit” relationship for anyone to have relationship with one who is not his legal spouse. How firm and strong is the bond or relationship between Christ and His Church? Christ values and loves the Church so much:

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

Christ loved the Church that He provides and takes care of the need of His Church (Eph. 5:29) and even gave His life for it. But, the irony is that there are those who cast aspersions to the Church, persecute it, and want it destroyed by making a mockery out of God’s plan and are deceiving others by preaching that it is enough to accept the Lord Jesus and that the Church is no longer needed. Such acts are truly violative of God’s will because Christ and His Church are together even in God’s plan regarding the way salvation is achieved:

“Now glory be to God … because of his master plan of salvation for the church through Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 3:20-21, Living Bible)

These biblical truths prove the importance of being in the Church “married” to Christ in order to be joined together with Him in God’s sight. Hence, one needs to enter the true Church of Christ, which is the spouse of our Lord Jesus Christ. And once inside the true Church of Christ, one must continue to abide in Christ by obeying God’s commandments. By this, one is assured of salvation and of entrance into the Holy City (Rev. 21:1-4), a place prepared for Christ’s spouse.

Ang Likas na Kalagayan ni Cristo Ang mga kamaliang ibinunga ng aral na si Cristo ay Diyos (Huling Bahagi)

SA MGA NAKARAANG pagtalakay tungkol sa likas na kalagayan ni Cristo, ay napatunayan na ang aral na si Cristo ay Diyos ay nabuo lamang sa Konsilyo ng Nicea noong 325 A.D. Walang kinalaman si Cristo at ang mga apostol sa pagkakabuo ng aral na ito sapagkat noon ay matagal nang nasa langit si Cristo at matagal na ring patay ang Kaniyang mga apostol. Natiyak din natin na ang orihinal na aral na tinanggap ng mga unang Cristiano ay tao si Cristo. Walang pahayag ang Biblia na si Cristo ay tunay na Diyos. Ang mga katotohanang ito ay sinasalungat ng aral na si Cristo ay Diyos na isang maling aral at katha lamang ng tao.

Ipakikita sa artikulong ito na ang maling aral na si Cristo ay Diyos ay nagbunga ng iba pang mga maling doktrina.

‘Ina ng Diyos’
Ang isa sa mga maling paniniwala o pagkakilala na ibinunga ng pagtuturong si Cristo ay tunay na Diyos ay ang aral na si Maria ay “Ina ng Diyos.” Bakit nagkaroon ng paniniwala na si Maria ay ina ng Diyos? Ganito ang pahayag ng isang aklat-Katoliko:

“77. Bakit ang Banal na Birhen Maria ay Ina ng Diyos?
“Ang Banal na Birhen Maria ay Ina ng Diyos, sapagkat si Jesus, na kaniyang
Anak, ay Diyos.” )The Creed, p. 111)¹
Kaya raw naging ina ng Diyos si Maria ay sapagkat si Cristo na kaniyang anak ay Diyos. Ang doktrinang si Maria ay ina ng Diyos ay walang saligan sa Biblia. Sa pagtuturo ng Biblia, si Maria ay tinatawag na “ina ni Jesus” (Gawa 1:14) at “ina ng Panginoon” (Lucas 1:43), ngunit walang mababasa na siya ay tinawag na “Ina ng Diyos.” Ito’y pinatutunayan maging ng isang tagapagturong Katoliko, si Juniper B. Carol, O.F.M.:

“Walang matatagpuan sa Biblia na ginamit ang ekspresyong ‘Ina ng Diyos’. Binabanggit nito si Maria bilang ‘ina ni Jesus’ at ‘ina ng Panginoon’.” (Fundamentals of Mariology, p. 37)²

Ang doktrina ng Iglesia Katolika na si Maria ay ina ng Diyos ay nabuo lamang sa Konsilyo ng Efeso noong 431 A.D., daan-daang taon na ang nakalipas matapos isulat ang Biblia:

“3. Pangkalahatang Concillo ng Efeso, 431
“Upang mapabulaanan ang erehiyang kristolohikal ni Nestorius, ipinahayag na muli ng consiliong ito ang doktrina sa tunay na pagkatao ni Kristo, at ipinangaral na tunay na Theotokos, Ina ng Diyos, ang Kaniyang ina, ang Banal na Birhen Maria, sa pamamagitan ng pagkakatawang-tao.” (Ang Aral ni Kristo: Isang Katesismong Katoliko, p. 647)³

Bunga ng doktrinang si Cristo ay tunay na Diyos ay bumangon ang isang maling doktrina sa Konsilyo ng Efeso noong 431 A.D – ang aral na si Maria ay tunay na ina ng Diyos. Bakit nating natitiyak na ito’y maling aral? Sapagkat sa pagsasabing si Maria ay ina ng Diyos, lumilitaw na ang Diyos ay anak ng tao sapagkat si Maria ay isang tao. Ito ay isang pagsalungat sa itinuturo ng Biblia na: “Ang Dios ay hindi tao na magsisinungaling, Ni anak ng tao na magsisisi…” (Blg. 23:19).

Pagkakatawang-Tao (Inkarnasyon)
Ano pa ang kamaliang ibinunga ng pagtuturong si Cristo ay tunay na Diyos? Tunghayan natin ang pahayag ng paring Jesuita na si John Walsh sa kaniyang aklat na This is Catholicism:

“T[anong] 5 Paano naging tao ang Anak ng Diyos?
“Itinuturo ng Iglesia [Katolika] na Siya ay naging tao sa paraang tinaglay niya sa Kaniyang sarili ang kalikasang tao na gaya ng sa atin. Ang pangyayaring ito ay kinikilala bilang Inkarnasyon (Pagkakatawang-tao), na mula sa salitang Latin, na ang literal na kahulugan ay pagpasok sa katawang-laman.” (p. 187)⁴

Sa aral na ito ng Iglesia Katolika ay sinasabing si Cristo ay umiiral na bilang Diyos bago pa isinilang ni Maria. Ang pagsisilang ni Maria kay Jesus ay ang pagkakatawang-tao raw ng Diyos. Ano ang kamalian ng doktrinang ito ng pagkakatawang-tao o Inkarnasyon? Ganito ang patuloy na pagpapaliwanag ng paring Jesuita:

“T. 8 Nang ang Anak ay maging tao tumigil na ba Siya sa pagiging Diyos?
“Ang Diyos ay hindi kailanman tumitigil sa pagiging Diyos. Sa pagtataglay ng kalikasang tao, kung gayon, ang Anak ay nagpasimulang maging tao habang nagpapatuloy sa pagiging Diyos; Siya ay naging tao bukod pa sa pananatiling Diyos.

“T. 9 Kung gayon, mayroon bang dalawang kalikasan si Jesus?
“Si Cristo ay nagtataglay ng dalawang kalikasan: kalikasang Diyos at kalikasang tao.Siya ay Diyos at tao.” (Ibid., p 188)⁵

Sinabi ng paring Jesuita na si John Walsh na nang magkatawang-tao ang Diyos bilang si Cristo, hindi nawala ang Kaniyang pagka-Diyos. Kaya, si Cristo raw ay nagtataglay ng dalawang kalikasan – ang kalikasang Diyos at ang kalikasang tao. Dahil dito itinuturo ng Iglesia Katoliko na si Cristo ay tunay na Diyos at tunay na tao.

Mayroon daw bang banggit sa Biblia tungkol sa doktrina ng pagkakatawang-tao o inkarnasyon ng Diyos? Tunghayan natin ang isinasaad ng The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary:

“Inkarnasyon … isang termino na nangangahulugang ‘pumasok sa o maging laman’. Ito ay tumutukoy sa doktrina Cristiana na ang pre-eksistidong Anak ng Diyos ay naging tao kay Jesus. Ang terminong ito ay wala sa Bagong Tipan, …” (p. 452)⁶

Maliwanag na wala sa Bagong Tipan ang terminong ‘inkarnasyon’. Ito ay inimbento lamang ni Ireneo:

“… Pinagtumbas ni San Ireneo ang mga terminong laman at tao sa pinakaunang pagsisikap na ipaliwanag ang misteryo ng Inkarnasyon sa isang malinaw na pormula. Sa kaniyang akda na Against the Heresies (Book 3, ch. Xvii, no. 7) sinabi niya na ang pormulang ‘Ang Verbo ay naging laman’ ay nangangahulugang ‘Ang Verbo ay naging tao’. …Sa Kabanata 19, inimbento niya ang ating salitang teknikal na Inkarnasyon, σαρκωσις, yayamang ito ang unang pagkakataong ginamit ang terminong ito.” (What is the Incarnation?, p. 26)⁷

‘Dalawang Kalikasan sa isang Persona’
Kailan naman nabuo ang doktrinang si Cristo ay nagtataglay ng dalawang kalikasan? Ganito ang paliwanag ng Iglesia Katolika:

“4. Pangkalahatang Concilio ng Chalcedon, 451
“Itinuturo ng conciliong ito na bagaman Diyos at tao si Hesukristo, nananatili pa rin Siya na isang Persona, na ang ibig sabihin, isang personang may dalawang kalikasan, isang makalangit at makalupa.” (Ang Aral ni Kristo: Isang Katesismong Katoliko, p. 647)

Inamin ng paring Katoliko na si Bertrand L. Conway na ang aral tungkol sa dalawang kalikasang nagsama sa isang persona ay hindi mababasa sa Biblia: “Totoo na ang Biblia ay hindi naglalaman ng eksaktong pormulang panteolohiya ng ‘dalawang Kalikasan sa isang Persona’ …” (The Miniature Question Box, p. 47).⁸

Ang pagkakatawang-tao (Inkarnasyon) at ang doktrina ng Igesia Katolika na ang dalawang kalikasan ay nagsama sa isang persona nang maganap ang diumano’y pagkakatawang-tao ay maling aral at salungat sa itinuturo ng Biblia. Ang Diyos ay hindi nagbago ni may anino man ng pag-iiba (Mal. 3:6; Sant. 1:17). Ipinahayag din ng Diyos, “ako’y Dios, at hindi tao” (Ose. 11:9) at sa Ezekiel 28:2 ay sinasabing ang tao ay hindi Diyos.

Ang aral na si Cristo ay tunay na Diyos at tunay na tao ay aral lamang ng tao (man-made dogma) na inimbento ni Origen, isa sa mga kinikilalang Church Fathers ng Iglesia Katolika:

“Ang pangunahing awtoridad sa Alejandria nang mga unang araw na yaon ay si Origen na, sa pagtuturo tungkol kay Jesucristo, ay inimbento ang terminong ‘Diyos na tao’ o ‘taong Diyos’.” (Church History in Plain Language, p. 124)⁹

Namatay raw ang Diyos
Ano pa ang kamaliang ibinunga ng patuturong si Cristo ay tunay na Diyos? Ganito ang sinasabi ng isang aklat-Katoliko: “Namatay at nagpakasakit Siya sa Kanyang kalikasang tao, at Siya ay Diyos, kaya’t masasabi rin natin na nagpakasakit at namatay ang Diyos” (Ang Aral ni Kristo: Isang Katesismong Katoliko, p. 88).

Ayon sa aral-Katoliko, dahil si Cristo raw ay Diyos, nang mamatay si Cristo ay namatay daw ang Diyos. Ito ay hindi lamang isang malaking kamalian kundi isang malaking kalapastanganan sapagkat ang tunay na Diyos ay walang kamatayan: “Ngayon sa Haring walang hanggan, walang kamatayan, di nakikita sa iisang Dios, ay ang kapurihan at kaluwalhatian magpakailan kalian man. Siya nawa” (I Tim. 1:17).

Si Cristo ang namatay at hindi ang Diyos. Ito ay pinatutunayan ng Biblia at ng kasaysayan. Ang kamatayan ni Cristo ay isang katunayang hindi Siya ang tunay na Diyos sapagkat ang tunay na Diyos ay hindi kailanman namamatay.

Kaya, dapat paniwalaan ng tao ang mga ipinahayag sa Biblia tungkol sa likas na kalagayan ng ating Panginoong Jesucristo upang hindi siya mahulog sa maraming iba pang kamalian na ibinunga ng maling pagtuturo na si Cristo ay tunay na Diyos.

Sanggunian
¹ “77. Why is the Blessed Virgin Mary the Mother of God?
“The Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of God because Jesus, her Son, is God.” (Grau, Ma. Veritas, D.S.P. The Creed. Nihil Obstat: Rt. Rev. Msgr. Victor R. Serrano, H.P., Censor. Imprimatur:Rt. Rev. Msgr. Benjamin L. Marino, P.A., Vicar Genera & Chancelor. Pasay, Metro Manila: Saint Paul Publications, n.d.)

² “The Bible nowhere uses the expression ‘Mother of God’. It refers to Mary as ‘the mother of Jesus’ and ‘the mother of the Lord’.” (Carol, Juniper B., O.F.M. Fundamentals of Mariology. Imprimi Potest: Celsus Wheeler, O.F.M., Provincial. Nihil Obstat: John A. Goodwine, J.C.D., Censor Librorum. Imprimatur: Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York. New York: Benziger Brothers, Inc., 1956.)

³ Ang Aral ni Kristo – Isang Katesismong Katoliko. Salin sa Pilipino ni Bayani Valenzuela, SVD – Mula sa “The Teaching of Christ – A Catholic Catechism for Adults.” Nihil Obstat: Reberendo Laurence Gollner, Censor Librorum. Imprimatur: Leo A. Pursley, D.D., Obispo ng Fort Wayne-South Bend. Quezon City, Philippines: JMC Press, Inc., 1978.

⁴ “Q. 5 How did the Son of God become man?
“The Church teaches that He became man by taking to Himself a human nature like ours. This event is known as the Incarnation, a word of Latin derivation, which means literally entering-into-fesh.” (Walsh, John., S.J. This is Catholicism. Imprimi Potest: James E. Coleran, S.J., Provincial, New England Province. Nihil Obstat: Alfred R. Julien, J.C.D., Diocesan Censor. Imprimatur: Richard Cardinal Cushing, Archbishop of Boston. New York, USA: Image Books, 1959.)

⁵ “Q. 8 When the Son became man did He then cease to be God?
“God can never cease to be God. In assuming our human nature, therefore, the Son began to be man while continuing to be God; He became man in addition to remaining God.

“Q. 9 Does Jesus Christ, then, have two natures?
“Christ possesses two natures: divine nature and human nature. He is both God and man.” (Ibid.)

⁶ “Incarnation … a term meaning ‘to enter into or become flesh’. It refers to the Christian doctrine that the pre-existent Son of God became man in Jesus. The term does not appear in the NT, …” (Achtemeier, Pau J., Gen. Ed. The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. New York, USA: HarperCollins Publishers, 1985, 1996.)

⁷ “… St Irenaeus identified the terms flesh and man in the earliest effort to express the mystery of the Incarnation in clear formula … In his Against the Heresies (Book 3, ch. xviii, no. 7) he stated that the formula ‘The Word was made flesh’ means that ‘The Word was made man’ … In chapter xix he coins our technical word Incarnation, σαρκωσις, this being the first time that the term was used.” (Ferrier, Francis, What is the Incarnation? Translated from the French by Edward Sillem. Nihil Obstat: Daniel Duivestejin, S.T.D., Censor Deputatus. Imprimatur: E. Morrogh Bernard, Vicarius Generais, Westmonasterii. New York: Hawthorn Books, Inc., 1962.)

⁸ “It is true that the Bible does not contain the precise theological formula of ‘two Natures in one Person’ …” (Conway, Bertrand L. The Miniature Question Box. Nihil Obstat: John A. Goodwine, J.C.D., Censor Librorum, Imprimatur: Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York. New York: Paulist Press, 1962.)

⁹ “The early leading voice at Alexandria was Origen, who, in speaking of Jesus Christ, coined the term ‘God-man’.” (Shelley, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language. Dallas, Texas, USA: Word Publishing, 1982.)

Exposing Falsehoods To Arrive At Biblical Truth

IN EXPOSING THE truth, Iglesia ni Cristo ministers cite the Bible against
specific beliefs and practices held and observed by other religions. This
is particularly done to teachings that contradict the Holy Scriptures. For
this, Iglesia ni Cristo ministers appear to be polemical to those who
listen to their preaching. This manner of expounding biblical teachings
branded by some as "combative" caught the attention of Mr. Rodolfo Dula,
a columnist writing for a Philippine national daily. He remarked:

"Our belated, desperate recourse to ecumenism should no more
blind us to blistering attacks the ministers of that [Iglesia ni Cristo]
religion mount against the country's Catholic majority from the
pulpit and on the air at every opportunity." (Malaya, July 22, 1991)

Critics believe and frankly suggest that the Iglesia ni Cristo
ministers should only preach Church doctrines without mentioning other
faiths. They do not understand why ministers have to condemn beliefs alien
to the Holy Scriptures. The perceived "blistering attacks" against other
religions done by ministers usually elicit negative remarks against
Iglesia ni Cristo ministers and members alike.

The impression that Iglesia ni Cristo ministers intentionally
offend others is totally unfounded. They only expose unscriptural
teachings and practices of other religions without the intention of
maligning, insulting, or degrading persons or personalities. Statements
about other religions are uttered with the specific purpose of presenting
the truth, one way of which is by exposing contradictions between religious doctrines and biblical teachings.



A Biblical Practice

Why do the true Christians have to denounce teachings that
contradict the Bible? Would it not suffice that the Christians just
preach their faith, and avoid touching other faiths?

Christ Himself frankly and courageously denounced unsound
doctrines and their teachers. In a confrontation with the Pharisees,
He said:

"Why do you disobey God's command and follow your own
teaching? You
hypocrites! How right Isaiah was when he prophesied about you! These
people,
says God, honor me with their words, but their heart is really far away
from
me. It is no use for them to worship me, because they teach man-made rules
as though they were my laws!'" (Mt. 15:3, 7-0, Today's English Version)

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself called the Pharisees hypocrites.
He chided them for their utter disregard of God's command in order
to follow their own teachings citing the Prophet Isaiah who wrote:

"'These people claim to worship me, but their words are
meaningless, and their hearts are somewhere else. Their religion is
nothing but human rules and traditions, which they have simply memorized'."
(Is. 29:13, Ibid.)

Through the Prophet Isaiah, God categorically condemned
religions that are based on human rules and traditions. Why then should
we be surprised if His ministers today expose unscriptural teachings?

Though exposing the untruth may be offensive to many people,
Iglesia ni Cristo ministers are obliged to do so.

Christ was informed by His disciples that the Pharisees were
themselves offended at His frankness when He told them that they
were hypocrites:

"Do you know that the Pharisees had their feelings hurt by
what you said?" (Mt. 15:12, Ibid)

But Christ curtly replied, "Don't worry about them! They are
blind leaders of the blind; and when one blind man leads another,
both fall into the ditch." (Mt. 15:14, Ibid.)


Following Christ's Example

Christ's fearless stance by God's words was carried on by the
Apostles. In their teaching of the Gospel, they firmly upheld God's
truth above anything else. Apostle Paul wrote:

"When I came to you, my brothers, to preach God's secret
truth, I did not use big words and great learning. For while I was
with you my teaching and message were not delivered with skillful
words of human wisdom, but with convincing proof of the power of
God's spirit. Your faith, then, does not rest on human wisdom but
on God's power." (I Cor. 2:1-2, 4 Ibid.)

This is also the resolve of the ministers of the Iglesia ni
Cristo. Their honest motive is to convey God's truth to all as what
Christ and the Apostle did.

In the event that a true minister of God encounters teachings
and practices that seek to invoke worship service to the Lord in
any manner, contrary to what the Bible teaches, he will surely speak
out against them.

Even Apostle John fiercely spoke against those who claimed to
know God but did not submit to His commands. He said:

"If someone says that he knows him, but does not obey his
commands, such a person is a liar and there is no truth in him."
(I Jn. 2:4, Ibid.)

Apostle John called those who profess belief in God but do not
follow His commands liars!

Thus a true ministers of the Gospel can never condone false
teachings even if people's feelings get hurt in the process.
He follows the example set by the Apostles in gallantly standing by the truth.

Clearly, Christ and the Apostles did not hesitate to confront
other faiths that contradict God's words. For the great task vested
upon the true ministers of God is to preach the words of God (cf. Col. 1:25).
Apostle Paul expressed with great resolve:

"Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry,
we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful
ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.
On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves
to every man's conscience in the sight of God." (II Cor. 4:1-2, New International Version)


The Ultimate Purpose

The ultimate purpose of the true minister of God is to "set
forth the truth plainly" without distortion. And if in the
process of doing so some may feel slighted, the minister of God does
not lose heart because the minister's divine work is not his own but
God's. Apostle Paul emphatically declared:

"Whereof I made a minister, according to the dispensation of
God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God."
(Col. 1:25, King James Version)

The ministry in the true Church of Christ is according to the
dispensation of God. It is God's calling (cf. Heb. 5:4). Thus it is not
to men that God's ministers are held accountable but to Him who called them.

The truth is the ultimate guide of a true minister of God as
he fulfills his duty. God's word is the truth (cf. Jn. 17:17). Hence,
it is the minister's obligation to preach the truth and condemn the untruth.
And if in doing so people will turn their ears away, he should endure. As what
Apostle Paul admonished his fellow minister, Timothy:

"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.
Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have
itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

"And they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be
turned aside to fables.

"But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the
work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (II Tim, 4:2-5, New King James Version)

The office of the minister is a great and delicate task. The
fact that it is a result of God's calling testifies to its greatness.
For a true minister, his office is of far greater importance that his
own life. Apostle Paul said:

"But none of these move me; nor do I count my life dear to
myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which
I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace
of God." (Acts 20:24, Ibid.)

The ministers of the Iglesia ni Cristo are inspired by this
conviction. Thus they abide by the noblest and greatest measure - the truth.