Published in God's Message (Pasugo) magazine, May 2007Understanding the message of the Last Messenger
While the doctrines he upheld are very much unlike the existing ones, yet they are distinctively and undeniably biblical.The teachings he preached are but a restoration of those taught by Jesus Christ and preserved and propagated by His apostles.IN FULL APPRECIATION of the Lord’s purpose in commissioning His messenger in these last days and in remembrance of the man whom God sent forth to preach His words, it is truly necessary that we arrive at a full understanding of the message that the messenger exalted most. Indeed, failure to understand this message is to jeopardize the very purpose of God in sending His messengers to people in every dispensation of time.
The many biblical prophecies fulfilled in the late Brother Felix Y. Manalo whose evangelical ministry brought about the reemergence of the Church of Christ (
Iglesia ni Cristo) in 1914, is our compelling argument that he is truly the messenger of God in these last days. This work as geographically designed by God has the Far East, specifically the Philippines, as its country of origin. Now, the
Iglesia ni Cristo has spanned the globe with a wide membership coming from 87 countries and territories, undoubtedly phenomenal by any human standard.
Despite bitter opposition from other religious groups, especially during the early decades of its historical beginnings, the Church’s membership has increased steadily and its expansion has gone unabated. People from all walks of life, even some from among its zealous detractors, have eventually found their way into this Church after having gained substantial knowledge and understanding of the biblical doctrines that Brother Manalo preached.
What is it really that this messenger from the Far East propagated? Was he sent to preach doctrines that are similar to those of the so-called Christian religions already existing during his time? Or, was he to introduce new doctrines that are truly unorthodox? What has drawn the attention of people in countries indisputably dominated by Catholicism and Protestantism to the Church he preached? What has attracted people of various races and cultures in the continents of Asia, Africa, Australia, the Americas, and Europe to embrace the
Iglesia ni Cristo faith?
Strict adherence to the BibleTo differentiate the teachings preached by Brother Felix Manalo from those espoused by the other Christian-professing religions is to draw the line that separates truth from falsehood. The fact is the preaching of this messenger has often been perceived as unique and peculiar, in the sense that the teachings he introduced do not identify with the dogmas already spawned by the major religions and readily accepted by the majority.
Most notably, there are many points of disagreement between the doctrines upheld by the
Iglesia ni Cristo and the teachings and practices of Catholicism and Protestantism. Why? Not because Brother Felix Manalo introduced new doctrines that are alien to the Holy Scriptures, but because the doctrines upheld by these major religions are those that have evolved into teachings that contradict the truths of the Bible.
Here, in the
Iglesia ni Cristo, the Bible is the sole basis of the faith and is highly magnified. Whatever the Bible says, the Church upholds with utmost fidelity, very cautious not to allow the slightest deviation or departure. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to those who believe, for in it is revealed the righteousness of God (Rom. 1:16-17). It is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, so that the children of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished for all good works (II Tim. 3:15-17).
However, the authority to preach the gospel is given only to those sent by God (Rom. 10:15), and those who preach without such authority merely preach “another gospel” (Gal. 1:6-7). Such unauthorized practice is a form of deviation from the truth that ultimately leads to destruction (II Pet. 3:15-16).
Precursor to the last commissioningAs the bishops who took over the administration of the early Church after the death of the Twelve failed to preserve the pristine teachings of the Mater, the Church gradually departed from its original state (Acts 20:28-30), This apostasy slowly but surely gave birth to a religious hybrid, a church whose doctrines are quite different from the original. The Church of Christ, therefore, evolved to become the Catholic religion which many generations worldwide have gotten acquainted with and have embraced for centuries, as though it were still the Church founded by Christ in its pristine state.
Following the Renaissance period, the sparks of negative and vehement protest loomed in the horizon. Such protests waged by the more enlightened individuals and members of the clergy ignited great interest in religion, and stirred challenging doubts on the scriptural or biblical soundness of Catholic doctrines and practices.
This crisis on the issue of doctrinal validity eventually caused an inevitable rift or division in the universal church, which reached its peak during the period of the Reformation in northern Europe. This development led to the withdrawal of many Catholics from the faith of their birth, not excluding the ex-communication of those who were charged of heresy, and the rise of numerous Protestant denominations, with a common battle cry –
sola scriptura (the Scriptures alone) and
sola fide (Faith alone).
Indeed, no amount of religious persuasion or eloquence was able to dissuade the protestant separatists from abandoning the Catholic faith. Such events marked the beginning of Protestantism.
This brand of Protestantism that was brought to North America was planted on Philippine soil by the Americans after the seeds of Catholicism were already set in place by the earlier colonizers, the Spaniards. That was the historical backdrop for the providential emergence of the Church that will restore Christianity to its original characteristics.
The year 1914 came, not merely as a historical period but as the time for the fulfillment of God’s plan for man’s salvation in these last days. This was the year when the Church of Christ reemerged through the last messenger in the person of Brother Felix Manalo.
When Brother Manalo called for allegiance to the truth and fidelity to the written words of God, he sounded nothing short of being heretical to those who held on tightly to the so-called orthodox teachings of the apostate church. Thus, his preaching stood in constant opposition to Catholic and Protestant hermeneutics. While the doctrines he upheld may have been viewed as unusual and, in fact, are very much unlike the existing ones, yet they are distinctively and undeniably biblical.
The message he preachedThe following is a brief presentation of some fundamental teachings upheld by the Church of Christ that reemerged through the instrumentality of Brother Felix Manalo. These teachings and others that will not be mentioned here because of space limitations have time and again invited a variety of reactions from other religious groups. To wit:
The true God. The one and only true God is the Father, the Creator. He alone is the Creator of heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things therein, and the seas and all that is in them (Neh. 9:6; Isa. 44:8; 45:21).
This teaching from the Old Testament is what our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles preached (John 17:1-3; I Cor. 8:6). That one God as introduced also in the New Testament is a spirit (John 4:24) and, therefore, has no flesh and bones (Luke 24:39).
The same teaching opposes the widespread belief in the Trinity. The Bible speaks of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, but never did it refer to all of them as gods nor as three persons in one. Both the Old and the New Testament Scriptures point to the Father alone as the true God.
The Son Himself emphatically declared that the Father is the only true God (John 17:3, 1). The prophets also taught that we have only one Father who created us (Mal. 2:10; Isa. 64:8). He alone is God; there is no one like Him (Isa. 46:9), who is from everlasting to everlasting, eternal (Ps. 90:2), immortal (I Tim. 1:17), and tireless (Isa. 40:28).
The Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Matt. 3:17), is the only Savior appointed by God (Acts 13:23). He is the sole mediator between God and man (I Tim. 2:5) and the only way to the Father (John 14:6).
He does not have two natures. He is not god-man (Hos. 11:9; Ezek. 28:2). He is a man in nature or state of being according to His own testimony (John 8:40) and according to the writings of His apostles (I Tim. 2:5; Acts 2:22; Matt. 1:18, 20).
Human attributes were present in Christ. He experienced hunger (Matt. 4:2), thirst (John 19:28), weariness or tiredness (John 4:6). He slept (Matt. 8:24) and died (Matt. 27:50; I Cor. 15:3). But, distinct from all mortals, Christ did not commit any sin (I Pet. 2:21-22; Heb. 4:15).
He has been exalted by God and made as Lord (Acts 2:36). He was given a name above all other names, that in the name of Jesus Christ every knee should bow, those in heaven and those on earth (Phil. 2:9-11).
He has been elevated by God far above all principality, power, might, and dominion, and every name that is named, and all things have been put under His power and authority (Eph. 1:21:22). But, Christ will eventually subject Himself to the true God (I Cor. 15:27-28).
He had in so many instances introduced Himself as the Son of God but never did He during his entire public ministry appropriate for Himself the title God or God the Son, because He is not God but a man.
The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the power (Acts 1:8) sent by the Father in the name of Christ to teach and remind His messengers of all things that Jesus said (John 14:26). God reveals the meaning of His words to His messengers through the guidance of the Holy Spirit (II Pet. 1:20-21).
The Holy Spirit is also sent by Christ to help His servants overcome their weaknesses and infirmities (John 15:26; Rom. 8:26). The Holy Spirit strengthens, edifies, and comforts the Church (Eph. 3:16-17; John 14:26). It has never been referred to as God in the Scriptures. It is not God but one of the spirits being sent by God on earth (Rev. 5:6).
Church membership. Membership in the Church of Christ is indispensable for the attainment of salvation in the Christian era. All men need salvation inasmuch as all men have sinned and, consequently, all of mankind is sentenced to die in the lake of fire, the wages of sin (Rom. 5:12; 6:23; Rev. 20:14). To be saved from the liability of eternal punishment, man should by faith enter the fold or flock which is the Church of Christ, the only Church He redeemed through His crucifixion (John 10:9; Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:23).
Inside this Church, members are taught the right way of living in accordance with the commandments of God. Therefore, righteous living, not excluding sacrifices when necessary, is among the requirements of Church membership (II Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:22-24; Matt. 24-13).
Christ will not save those outside His Church because this will violate the law of God. The law requires that sinners should atone for their won sin (Deut. 24:16; Rev. 20:14) and only the sinless man Jesus Christ can pay the ransom for the sins of His Church (Rom. 5:8-10; 3:24-25; I Pet. 2:21-22). Faith alone, or faith without works, can not save man, but faith made perfect through works can (James 2:14, 17, 22-24).
Baptism. Baptism as commanded by Christ (Matt. 28:19) and practiced by His apostles is done through immersion in water (Rom. 6:4; John 3:23; Acts 8:36-38). To qualify for baptism, one must be thoroughly educated about the words of God, believe in them. Repent, and renew his life (Mark 16: 15-16; Acts 2:38).
Infants are not baptized in the Church of Christ because they are incapable of fulfilling the requirements for baptism. Rather than receiving baptism, infants or little children are dedicated to God in prayer, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them (Matt. 19:13-15). Their baptism comes later on in life, that is, after they shall have qualified for it.
Worship. The Church uncompromisingly rejects all forms of idolatry. The members worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24) during the congregational worship service, through psalms and hymn-singing, prayers, study of the words of God, and the sacrifice of offerings and thanksgiving (I Cor. 14:26, 15; 16:2; Heb. 13:16; II Cor. 9:7).
Christ Himself considers as important the assembling together of the Church members in order to worship. The Bible says every time the Church members meet to worship, Christ stays in their midst through the Spirit, as He promised (Matt. 18:20; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 3:16-17).
Therefore, the worship service is not to be neglected or forsaken. Willfully forsaking it is regarded as a serious violation of God’s commandment (Heb. 10:25-27).
Brotherhood of believers. Members of the Church observe the brotherhood as established by Christ (Matt. 23:8). Brethren ought to love one another for this proves that they are the true disciples of Christ (John 13:34-35; I Pet. 2:17).
It is evil to hold a feeling of hatred against a fellow believer for whoever hates his brother is a murderer and shall not attain everlasting life (I John 3:15).
In observance of genuine brotherhood in the Church, members who have conflicts or disputes among themselves are commanded to reconcile through the guidance and mediation of the elders or officers in the Church (Matt. 5:23-25; Eph. 4:32; I Cor. 6:4).
Unity in the Church. The Church adheres to sacred unity. This unity is absolute as defined in Scripture, for in this, God, Christ, and the Church are joined together as one (John 17:23, 21). As the Father and the Son are completely united in everything, so should the members of the Church always be (John 17:9-11, 23).
This unity is to be observed in the name of Jesus Christ and for the glory of God (I Cor. 1:10; 10:31). Discord or dissension is strictly forbidden among Church members because the body of Christ, which is the Church, is not a divided entity. Divisions and strife are earthly, sensual, and devilish (I Cor. 1:10, 13; James 3:14-15).
Resurrection of the dead. The dead will be resurrected on the appointed time, which is on the Second Advent of the Lord. Christ would not have been resurrected if there were no resurrection at all (I Cor. 15:12-13).
However, there are two kinds of resurrection. Those who have done good will rise first (on the Second Advent of Jesus) and receive eternal life. On the other hand, those who have done evil will rise after a thousand years (from the time of the first resurrection) and will be condemned in the lake of fire (John 5:28-29; Rev. 20:14).
Those who died as faithful members of the Church will join the first resurrection on Christ’s Second Coming (I Cor. 15:23). The disciples who will be found alive upon His return shall no longer experience the pangs of death but will be included among those to be resurrected first, to meet the Lord in the air and dwell with Him in the Holy City forever and ever (I Thess. 4:16:17).
The Holy City, New Jerusalem. The Lord has prepared a place, the Holy City, where He promised to take His disciples on His Second Advent (John 14:2-3). The splendor of this city is described as having the glory of God (Rev. 21:10:21). It is the future and permanent home of those whom Christ will save. Life there is perfect – no more hunger, thirst, sorrow, pain, evil, and death (Rev. 7:15-17; 21:1-4, 23-25; 22:1-5).
But, only those handed over by the Father to Christ may enter the New Jerusalem (John 17:12). These people are those who were called by God into the fellowship of His Son (I Cor. 1:9) by means of the pure gospel as received from God’s messengers (II Thess. 2:14; II Cor. 5:19-20). Those who are called by God are gathered in one body (Col. 3:15), which is the Church (Col. 1:18) named (after its founder) Church of Christ or Iglesia ni Cristo (Rom. 16:16; Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation).
Upholding the message
The aforementioned beliefs are but some of the fundamental teachings expounded upon in the ministry of Brother Felix Manalo. It was not his purpose to divert from the mainstream beliefs, but to present the unadultered words of God which are found in the holy Scriptures. This is the very purpose of his commissioning in these last days.
The doctrines he propagated may be perceived as new and unique because many people in this era have been deceived into believing unscriptural doctrines and adhering to traditional religious practices. But those who will embark on a serious and objective study of the teachings preached by Brother Felix Manalo will no doubt conclude that these teachings are but a restoration of those taught by Jesus Christ and preserved and propagated by His apostles. This is Christianity in its true form and shape.
So, these teachings handed down by the man whom Iglesia ni Cristo members believe to be God’s messenger in these last days are faithfully upheld by this Church to this very day, without fear of contradicting beliefs that were branded per accidens as orthodox teachings of Christianity.
