| IQ No. |
Inquiry Subject |
Inquiry Highlight |
| IQ-02 |
Why
Church of Christ
in Acts 20:28? |
I CONSULTED SEVERAL Bible translations and
versions, and I found out that in most renditions, instead of
"Church of Christ," the phrase written in Acts 20:28 which
refers to the true Church is either "Church of the Lord" or
"Church of God." As far as I know, only Lamsa's Translation
mentions "Church of Christ." Why do you believe that "Church of
Christ " is the correct name of the Church founded by Christ?
Jasmine Domingo, Cotobato City, Philippines
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| IQ-19 |
Is "body of Christ"
(Colossians 1:18) composed of many religious groups believing
in Christ? |
MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE
teachings of the Bible is that all religions that believe in
Christ, like the various Protestant groups to name some,
compose the Church of Christ mentioned in the Holy Scriptures.
Remember that this Church is also referred to by the Holy
Scriptures as the "body" of Christ (Col. 1:18). The analogy is
so purposive to indicate that as a literal body is made up of
many parts, the Church built by Christ, though
only one, is composed of many religious groups believing
in Christ.
Ma. Cecilia Conception, Los Andes, Chile
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| IQ-25 |
I am
saved even if I refuse to enter the Church of
Christ? |
TO SAY THE LEAST, the doctrine
that membership rn the Church of Christ is necessary for
salvation is highly problematic. For what about the people to
whom it is extremely improbable to preach the doctrines you
uphold—like those in very remote tribes or in places where
Christianity is illegal? As for me, it's my conviction that as
long as I follow God and Jesus Christ I will go to heaven. This
is all that matters. I am saved even if I refuse to enter the
Church of Christ.
Carlo Ulack, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
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| IQ-26 |
Can one be saved just by accepting Jesus as
personal savior? |
HE BIBLE IS CRYSTAL CLEAR about salvation
as a free gift from God. . . . . God loved us so much that "he
gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Thus, Jesus
bore our curse (Gal. 3:13) and experienced death for
us (Heb. 2:8-9)—He was the one who took the penalty of our sins
(II Cor. 5:21). When we receive Jesus as a personal savior we
are no longer condemned as written in Romans 8:1 which says
"there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
. . . . . " Therefore, because of the grace of God we are saved
and not by being member of any church (Eph. 2:8), let alone your
church.
Willy Austria, Maryland U.S.A.
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| IQ-42 |
Who founded the
Iglesia ni Cristo in 1914, was it Jesus Christ or Felix Manalo? |
I AM CONFUSED about some of the doctrines of
your religion, I have several questions which I believe many of
your readers also have in mind. These are my questions;
1. Who founded the Iglesia ni Cristo in 1914, was it Jesus
Christ or Felix Manalo?
2. If it was our Lord Jesus Christ, did he come to Manila
in 1914 for the purpose of establishing His church?
3. Or, was Iglesia ni Cristo founded by Felix Manalo
who stated in his application to the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) that said applicant is the FOUNDER and present
head of the Iglesia ni Cristo and desires to convert said entity
into a unipersonal corporation as published several years ago in
PASUGO?
4. If the Iglesia ni Cristo was founded only in 1914,
where was it from 33 A.D. to 1913?
Gertrudes Beltran,
Las Pinas, Philippines
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|
| IQ-73 |
How can your church claim to be of God
when you preach that Jesus is a man? |
THE 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.
Dominciano Astorga,
Panay, Philippine
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| IQ-92 |
True believers
are baptized into one body or one Church |
MY FRIEND, WHO is member of your Church, has been
trying to prove to me and to my friend Grace (we are both Born-Again
Christians) that your Church is the only Church Christ Jesus will
save come Judgment Day. But aren't those who have accepted Christ as
personal Savior, believe in Him, and follow His commands the ones
who will be saved? And also, isn't the meaning of Iglesia (Church)
believers in Christ? Therefore, if one believes in Christ, he is
already a member of the Church of Christ. Thus, Iglesia ni Cristo is
not a organization but comprises many groups who believe in Christ!
Also, how true is your belief that your Brother Felix Y. Manalo is
the messenger of God in these last days? Do the verses you use
to prove his comission really pertain to him?
Lany Decena Magbalita,
lani.magbalita@intel.com
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question.
|
| IQ-93 |
Why do you call your church - Iglesia ni Cristo or
Church of Christ? |
I WOULD LIKE to know why you call your Church
Iglesia ni Cristo or Church of Christ—you use Christ's name in the
name of your religion—when you believe that Jesus is not God?
Also, shouldn't the Church be called "Church of God" as stated by
Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:13, I Corinthians 10:32 and II
Thessalonians 1:4? Romeo Estores,
Philippines
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|
| IQ-94 |
The temple or
house of worship is the house of God |
IT IS CLEARLY stated in the Bible that "God does
not dwell in temples made with hands" (Acts 17:24). So, why do you
call your temple or chapel as "house of God" when, obviously, your
chapels and temples were made with man's hands? This is certainly a
doctrinal error on your part.
Jeremy Sedenio,
Mabalacat, Pampanga, Philippines
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|
| IQ-96 |
God saves regardless of
number |
THE BIBLE STATES that God wants all
men to be saved (cf. I Tim. 2:4, TEV). Salvation is for and through
the Church (cf. Eph. 3:9-10, Ibid.). Do you think that your Church
which is not yet worldwide can save man? And is it not against God's
desire to save the few?
I believe that only the majority Church of today (majority group of
believers today, not during Noah's time) could stand along
with God's desire to save mankind, especially when He gave His
assurance to them—"What I have planned, that I will do." (Is. 46:11,
Ibid.)
Ermilita Monilar,
Dangcagan, Bukidnon, Philippines
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|
| IQ-104 |
The true Born Again
Christians, who are they? |
I AM A born-again Christian. I wrote to you to
clarify certain issues regarding our Lord Jesus Christ. You
teach that Jesus is man. If this was so, then the Scriptures should
not have stated that every knee should be bowed before Jesus.
You also uphold that Jesus is not God because He is not omnipotent,
omniscient and omnipresent. But didn't Jesus say that ALL authority
is given unto Him? The Savior didn't say that SOME authority was
given unto Him.,
Moreover, Christ didn't say that unless a man joins the Iglesia ni
Cristo, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. But what He said was
that a man must be born again. This is the key and not your
so-called Church. Thus, who are we to believe? Your Church, or
Jesus?
Noel Rojas,
Manila, Philippines
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|
| IQ-108 |
Joining the
Church for good reasons and right motives |
I AM VERY much attracted
to one of the members of your Church. I have tried my best to
win her heart but friendship was all she could reciprocate my love
with.
She tells me that the members of your Church are not allowed
to have romantic relationships, much less marry, with non-members.
I find this cruel. What if a member happens to fall in love with a
non- member? Do your doctrines have power over one's heart?
I am willing to be a member of your Church so she could
accept my love. To my surprise, she rejected the idea. She
told me it was not the proper way of joining your Church. What,
then, is the proper way?
David Dularza,
Pangasinan, Philippines
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|
| IQ-116 |
On building
houses of worship |
I HAVE SEEN PHOTOS
of many of your houses of
worship on the special issue of your magazine (April 2003
issue I believe). I admire the style
and architecture your chapels. I
notice that you usually quote Haggai 1:8 and other
verses in the Old Testament to support
your practice of building houses of worship.
However, there doesn't seem to be any verse in the New
Testament regarding the command of building
houses of worship. In fact, we cannot read in the Bible that Christ
or the Apostles built houses of worship. How then do you explain
your practice of constructing houses of worship;
Fedelino Parto,
Ontario, Canada
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|
| IQ-122 |
Unity during
elections |
I MET A member of your Church whom I worked
with in a systems project in Singapore last month. She was
in a hurry to get back to Manila to catch up with your national
elections.
Though not very familiar with Philippine politics, I asked
her whom she's favoring for the presidential post. But, I was
surprised when she said the Church would have to decide on that.
What exactly is your Church's basis in implementing this rule on
your members? If the candidates you support do not make it
to public office, wouldn't that mean that your goal was
defeated?
J. Brittany Coneley,
Chicago, USA
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|
| IQ-142 |
"God will
judge those outside the church"
I Corinthians 5:12-13 Romans 2:12-15 |
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.
Aniway E. Abranilla,
aniway2000@yahoo.com
Click here to read the full Answer to the Question
|
| IQ-153 |
Why Lamsa for
Acts 20:28 |
I AM AN avid reader of
Pasugo and among the articles I admire is "Toward
Responsible parenting"'
(September-October 1992 issue).
However, I have noticed that whenever you refer to Acts
20:28, you always cite George Lamsa's version
which used the expression
"Church of Christ" instead of "Church of God" which most Bible
versions carry. The reason you give is that God is a spirit.
He doesn't have bones and flesh, and blood to be shed for and in
behalf of the people who live in His Church to gain salvation.
These are the questions that arose in my mind. Please answer them:
1. Who is this George Lamsa to change some words of the
Bible?
2 What are his own views, concepts, and reasons
for changing them?
3. The Bible takes a neutral stand-for all which were written
therein are parables. Why does your church interpret them literally?
4. Why is it that your Church is bringing Christ's name into
the Church's name if you do not believe that Christ is God?
5. Which are Gcd's priorities in saving us: the Church
where we j belong, or the way we perform our role in this world of
God's creation?
Jame Jeraldy M. Balingit,
Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
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|
| IQ-152 |
Overemphasizing
the Church |
I'VE BEEN READING your Pasugo magazine
for more than a year now and I've noticed that most of the articles
you publish give so much emphasis on the importance of
the Church of Christ. Why are your articles so
"church-centered"? Don't you think you are diminishing
Christ's importance by overemphasizing the church?
James Bondoc,
Quezon City, Philippines
(in progress) jf93p3
|
| IQ-159 |
Belittling the importance of the Church
of Christ |
The greatest paradox:
The greatest paradox in today's religious
scene is the utter disregard by many people for the significance of the Church on
the issue of salvation. Nowadays, many Christian-professing
preachers peddle the teaching that
membership or affiliation with any particular Church is no longer
necessary for man's salvation and attainment of eternal life.
Man allegedly need not become a member of any Church,
let alone the Church of Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo) to gain entrance
into heaven. Their zeal in propagating this opinion is matched
only by their enthusiasm in preaching that faith in Christ is enough
to be saved. Their teaching necessarily undermines the
Church's reason for being and virtually reduces it to
insignificance. Ironically however, these same people
belong to various religious groups or churches.
The oft-repeated
argument: The oft-repeated argument of those who belittle the importance of the Church of Christ is that,
"It is Christ not the Church, who will save us; the Church is
not the Savior but Christ, thus, it is Christ not the
Church whom we need to attain salvation." The problem with people who cling
tenaciously to such belief is that they either miss or choose to
ignore the more important issue.
The more
important issue: There is no dispute in the fact
that Christ is the Savior. The whole of Christendom acknowledges
this and hence it is a non-issue. In the same vein, it is
pointless to take issue on the statement that the Church is not
the Savior. In the first place, no preacher teaches that it is.
No where in the Bible does it says so, either. The more
important issue here, therefore, is not so much who the Savior
is, but whom the Savior will save.
Click here to read the full Answer to the above important
Issue
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