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We, members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ), maintain that being in the true Church or religion means being counted as God’s people. We believe that this is truly important and necessary.
THE PROLIFERATION OF RELIGION has rendered many people to become complacent in their espoused faith in the thought that one religion is as good as the other. They have ceased to look for the true religion or that which belongs to our Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ thinking that the religion they have been born into is already the right one. They no longer embark on a legitimate search for the true Church that God and Christ command everyone to join. There are those who contend that by virtue of creation, they are of God. They further aver that simply calling upon and serving God makes them His people.
This is a grave threat to the human race far greater than the threat posed by dreaded diseases or nuclear bombs. Precisely, for there may still be an opportunity for escape from the latter, whereas, if one is contented in the faith he or she has embraced, yet it is not the true faith that shall merit salvation, then he or she is just waiting for the day of God’s wrath.
We, members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ), maintain that being in the true Church or religion means being counted as God’s people. We believe that this is truly important and necessary. Hence, the value of being included among God’s chosen cannot be overemphasized.
How does the Bible show the need for man to be called into the Church Of Christ? What was the condition of man before the sight of God which is why he needed first to be called into the true Church for him to have the right to serve and worship God? In Colossians 1:21, this is recorded, thus:
“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled.” (New King James Version)
Because of wicked works or sin, man became an enemy of God and was alienated from Him. Reconciliation is therefore inevitable if one wants his services to God to be accepted, otherwise he remains alienated from Him or an enemy of God!
Others might say: “What’s preventing me from calling upon God? Is not the right to worship one of the unalienable rights of a citizen?” Based on constitutions promulgated by man, yes. But how does the Bible, the repository of God’s words, characterize the pitiful condition of those who sinned? The prophet Isaiah proclaims, thus:
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” (Isa. 59:2 nkjv)
Because of sin God refuses to listen to man. In effect, man’s sin serves as the dividing wall that separates him from God.
How then can man, who is separated from God because of sin, be reconciled to God? Again we learn from Apostle Paul, thus:
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” (Eph. 2:13 New International Version)
Reconciliation with God is not possible through a person’s own effort. Without the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, man, who has been separated or who was once far away from God because of sin, cannot go near Him. Man needs first to be redeemed. And redemption is through Christ’s blood.
Why is it important for man to be redeemed through the blood of Christ? The epistle to the Hebrews informs us, thus:
“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so we may serve the living God!” (Heb. 9:14 niv)
The blood of Christ cleansed the true Christians’ consciences from acts that lead to death, hence, affording them the privilege to serve the living God. Sinners who were embraced by the shed blood of Christ stood to benefit as their sins were forgiven. Is there no other way by which man may be forgiven of his sins aside from the shedding of Christ’s blood? The epistle to the Hebrews continues to enlighten us, thus:
“In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Heb. 9:22 niv)
Fortunate, indeed, are those who benefited from the redemptive power of Christ’s blood. Their sins are forgiven. They can now call upon God as the dividing wall between them and God has already been torn down.
Knowing about the importance of redemption, it comes as no surprise when people claim to have been redeemed, themselves. But according to the Bible, which Church was redeemed by the precious blood of Christ? Who then earned the right to serve and worship God? Speaking to the elders of the Church, Apostle Paul declared, thus:
“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, before man can rightfully serve and worship God, he needs first to be called into the Church Of Christ so that he would be redeemed. What happened then to the enmity between God and man when man became a part of Christ’s body or became a member of the Church Of Christ? Again, Apostle Paul explicitly expressed, thus:
“Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.” (Eph. 2:15 nkjv)
According to Apostle Paul, because of the one new man that Christ has created in Himself, the enmity between man and God has been abolished. What is the one new man that paved the way for the abolition of the enmity between man and God? How was it created? The one new man is composed of Christ who is the head, and the Church as the body (Col. 1:18). Thus, those who were called into the true Church Of Christ are no longer regarded by God as His enemies; instead, God regards them as His own. They are those upon whom God has bestowed His mercy (I Pet. 2:10 gnb).
“This is a great mystery. (I’m talking about Christ’s relationship to the church.) But every husband must love his wife as he loves himself, and wives should respect their husbands.” (Eph. 5:32-33 God’s Word)How can man have union with or be related to Christ? The answer is clear: He must be a member of the Church that belongs to Christ. Why? Because it is the Church that Christ has relationship with. Hence, one cannot avoid or evade the Church Of Christ. Now, why does man need to be in union with Christ, which is through membership in the Church Of Christ? In his first letter to the Corinthians, Apostle Paul explained the rationale for having a relationship with Christ, thus:
“For just as all people die because of their union with Adam, in the same way all will be raised to life because of their union with Christ.” (I Cor. 15:22 gnb)Therefore, to be in union with Christ is of utmost importance. It is not mere acceptance of Christ as one’s Savior that will ensure salvation on the day of resurrection. Those who have union with Christ will be raised from their grave on the day of resurrection in order to receive the promised eternal life. But which church has relationship or is in union with Christ? Which is it that Christ recognizes as His? In Matthew 16:18, our Lord Jesus Christ Himself declares, thus:
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.” (Revised Standard Version)The truth seeker cannot miss the true Church. Christ built only one Church. He called it “my Church” (Matt. 16:18) and the apostles called it the Church Of Christ (Acts. 20:28 Lamsa Translation). Hence, those who belong to any religion or church other than the true Church Of Christ are not in union or have no relationship with Christ, and they do not have eternal life (I John. 5:11-12 niv).
This article was originally published in the Pasugo: God’s Message magazine.
