"God will judge those outside the church" (I Corinthians 5:12-13, Romans 2:12-15)

Letter From Aniway E. Abranillaaniway2000@yahoo.com

I HAVE AN officemate, Atty. Robert  Samson, who keeps on inquiring about the Iglesia ni Cristo doctrines.  I gave him a copy of Pasugo.  The other day, I saw a note on my desk from him.   Please allow me to state the content verbatim:

"Aniway,
I started reading the PASUGO (although I am still in p. 5 as of writing).  There was a letter to the Editor which alleges that the INC members claim to be the only ones to be saved.   Is this true? If yes,  how about the persons who„ lived before 1914? How about the over 6 billion people who are not INC members, will they not be saved?  I am just clarifying. No offense meant.   
Sir Obet"

Please answer him for me. Thank you very much.

Editor's reply:

The teaching that members of the Church of Christ will be saved on the day of Judgment is not an empty claim but one that the Bible supports. Christ, the Savior, commanded those who want to be saved to “enter the flock,” which is the Church redeemed through His blood (Jn. 10:9, 16; Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation).

⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
¹⁶ And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. (Jn. 10:9, 16, NKJV)

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)

This Church – and not just any church – is the one that Christ will save:

“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.” (Eph. 5:23, New International Version)

Clearly, Christ is the Savior of the Church He founded (Mt. 16:18).

¹⁸ 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. 16:18, NKJV)

Now, salvation is not be granted on the basis of a religious group’s preponderance in number of adherents. In fact, when God destroyed the ancient people through the great deluge, only eight people were saved – the family of Noah (II Pt. 2:5).

⁵ and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; (II Pt. 2:5, NKJV)

If people want to be saved on Judgment Day, then they must comply with what the Savior commands, that is, to enter or join His Church. The Bible teaches that those who refuse to enter the Church will not be saved for “God will judge those outside” (I Cor. 5:12-13, NIV).

¹² What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? ¹³ God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.  (I Cor. 5:12-13, NIV).

Those who lived prior to the emergence of the Iglesia ni Cristo in 1914 together with those who will not have been reached by the gospel will be judged not according to the law written in the Scriptures, but according to the law written in their hearts. Apostle Paul taught:

“All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. (Rom. 2:12, NIV)

¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. ¹⁴ (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵ They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)  (Rom. 2:12-15, NIV)

The people who lived and died before the reemergence of the Church of Christ have their idea of morality because of the law written in their hearts. It is through such law that they will be judged by God.

However, those people who were reached by the gospel have the responsibility to fulfill what God requires of them in order to be saved. Moreover, the Bible teaches that the people must “seek the law,” because on the day of Judgment, they will be judged according to the gospel (Mal. 2:7, New King James Version; Rom. 2:16).

“For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge,
And people should seek the law from his mouth;
For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. (Mal. 2:7, New King James Version)

¹⁶ This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. (Rom. 2:16, NIV)

___________________

Note: Some cited verses are printed in full to facilitate study.

Bible Study Suggestion: If you have further questions, please feel free to visit the Iglesia ni Cristo congregation nearest you. A minister or an evangelical worker would be happy to answer any biblical question you have in mind. For the latest Worship Service Directory of Iglesia ni Cristo Locales and Congregations outside the Philippines, please visit www.iglesianicristoworshipservice.com