How can your church - the Iglesia ni Cristo claim to be of God when you preach that Jesus Christ is a man?

Letter from Dominciano Astorga:

HE LATE FELIX Y. MANALO preached that Christ is man, a claim upheld by ministers of the   Iglesia ni Cristo.  Preaching that Christ is man is proof that the Iglesia ni Cristo is a church of man and not of God.  How, then, can your church claim to be of God.

Panay, Philippines

Editor's reply:

     The Iglesia ni Cristo upholds the belief that the Lord Jesus Christ is man because this is what He Himself and His apostles taught as recorded in the Scriptures (cf. Jn. 8:40; I Tim. 2:5; Acts 2:22; Mt. 1:20). This does not imply, however, that the Church Jesus founded or the Church of Christ must necessarily be a church of man and not of God.

     In fact, to be of God, one must first be of Christ. As Jesus Himself attests “…I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jn. 14:6, NKJV) For one to reach God and to be able to partake of Christ’s saving grace, he must be drawn by God to His Son (cf. Jn. 6:44). However, those who have been drawn or given to Christ by the Father are of God as Christ attests:

     “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.” (Jn. 17:9-10, NIV)

     Furthermore, the teachings that the Lord Jesus Christ preached were not His own but those that been taught to Him by the Father – the only true God (cf. Jn. 8:28; 17:1, 3). Even the works that Christ did were not His own but those of His Father (cf. Jn. 5:36). In the same way, the Church He established is one that belongs to God for what is followed and obeyed therein are not commandments of men but the teachings of the Almighty Father. Hence, theChurch of Christ, although founded by the man Jesus Christ, is of God.

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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 

Iglesia ni Cristo members are advised to stop smoking to avoid its dreadful consequences; and not to get drunk on wine as drunkenness leads to wickedness.

On smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages

Lawrence Cardinal Wrote:

I RECENTLY RECEIVED   a copy of Pasugo from my best friend. The articles were so informative, inspiring, and enlightening. I have two questions though.  Is it a sin in the sight of God to smoke? Does the Bible prohibit drinking alcoholic beverages even without getting drunk?

Editor's reply:

People are responsible both to God and to themselves to take care of their physical bodies which they present when they serve the Lord. Hence, it is wrong to harmful substances such as nicotine and alcohol.

Many studies have been made by medical experts conclusively proving that one of the culprits of chronic and fatal diseases is nicotine. Little by little, nicotine affects the functioning of the heart and lungs, ultimately resulting in premature death because of the failure of the systems in the human body. Cancer is also one of the disastrous consequences of nicotine intake.

This is why members of the Iglesia ni Cristo are advised to stop smoking to avoid its dreadful consequences. To the early Christians, Apostle Paul said:

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Thess. 5:23, New King James Version)

With regard to drinking alcoholic beverages, the Lord Jesus Christ gave this warning:

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.” (Lk. 21:34, New International Version)

We should not fall into drunkenness as it endangers our salvation. The apostles likewise admonished the first Christians not to get drunk on wine because drunkenness leads to debauchery (Eph. 5:18). This is one of the reasons why no drunkards will inherit the kingdomof God (I Cor. 6:9-10).

¹⁸ And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled andstimulated with the [Holy] Spirit. Eph. 5:18, Amplified Bible)

⁹ Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,^[a] nor sodomites, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (I Cor. 6:9-10, NKJV)

The Bible describes wine as a mocker and beer a brawler and those who are lead astray by them are not wise (Prov. 20:1). Thus, the Holy Scriptures teaches that we should not associate with drunkards (Prov. 23:20).

Wine is a mocker,
Strong drink is a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. (Prov. 20:1, NKJV)

Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, (Prov. 23:20, English Standard Version)

Since being drunk with alcohol begins with the intake of alcoholic beverages, it would be best for one to refrain from drinking so as not to fall into drunkenness which will jeopardize his salvation.  

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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