A recurring question posed to members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo: “Can’t a person have a direct relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ for him to be saved, that is, by acknowledging Christ as one’s personal savior and by calling upon His name? And why is there a need for a messenger?”

The answer: The Lord Jesus Christ Himself taught that, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him …” (John 6:44 King James Version).

By this pronouncement of the Savior, it is clear that no man can go directly to our Lord Jesus Christ unless he is drawn or brought by God to Him.

God’s instrument in bringing people to Christ is the messenger He has sent. The messenger of God should be accepted and believed in, for such is the work of God (John 6:29). To God’s messenger is entrusted the ministry and the message of reconciliation (II Cor. 5:18–20). Consequently, only the messengers sent by God can preach the pristine gospel that people should believe in (Rom. 10:15, 17).

The people who heard and believed the preaching of the messenger will be brought by God to Christ (Isa. 43:5; John 6:44) to become part of one fold, that is, the Church Of Christ or the Iglesia Ni Cristo (John 10:16; Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation). The Church is Christ’s body which He will save (Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23). Hence, the members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo are those who truly have a relationship with Christ and with God.

Those who say that there is no need for God’s messenger, that all one has to do is to call upon Christ and use His name in performing wondrous deeds with the thought of being saved on Judgment Day, will be disappointed. On that day, they will be spurned by the Savior (Matt. 7:21–23). We must remember that Christ Himself taught that those who accept His messenger accept Him and the Lord God (Luke 10:16).

Thus, it is imperative to believe in and accept God’s messenger in order for one to establish a relationship with Christ and with God.