Who is Jesus to the members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo

WHO IS JESUS

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE

IGLESIA NI CRISTO

(CHURCH OF CHRIST)?

 WE believe in the Lord Jesus, and our belief regarding Jesus is what the Bible teaches about Jesus. The teachings of the Bible about Jesus is the belief of the Iglesia Ni Cristo about Jesus.

The Iglesia Ni Cristo firmly believes in what the Bible teaches that

Jesus is “the Christ of God”

“But what about you? he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered, ‘THE CHRIST OF GOD.’” (Luke 9:20 NIV, emphasis mine)

The Bible clearly stated that Jesus is “the Christ of God.” If Jesus is God, then God (Jesus) is the Christ of God. This is an absurdity.

The Iglesia Ni Cristo firmly believes what the Bible teaches that

Jesus is the Son of the Living God

“Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16 NIV)

Although the apostles teach that Jesus is the Son of the living God, however, the Bible also tells us that Jesus, the Son of the living God, is man in nature:

“And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely THIS MAN WAS THE SON OF GOD!’” (Mark 15:39, NIV, emphasis mine).

Thus, the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is the Son of the living God, and not the living God.

The Iglesia Ni Cristo firmly believes what the Bible teaches that

Jesus is the “man who was nailed t the cross”

who God made as Lord and Christ

“So, all the people of Israel should know this truly: GOD HAS MADE JESUS — THE MAN YOU NAILED TO THE CROSS — BOTH LORD AND CHRIST.” (Acts 2:36, New Century Version, emphasis mine)

Christ’s lordship doesn’t prove that He is God, because if so:  (1) then there will be two Gods, Jesus (the one made Lord) and the God that made Jesus as Lord; and (2) God is a “man nailed to the cross” as what the Bible explicitly says about Jesus.

The Iglesia Ni Cristo firmly believes what the Bible teaches that

Jesus is the man God exalted as Ruler and Savior

“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging Him on a tree. GOD EXALTED THIS MAN TO HIS RIGHT HAND AS RULER AND SAVIOR, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:30-31, Holman Christian Standard Bible, emphasis mine)

Jesus is our Savior, but He became our Savior because “God exalted this man to His right hand as ruler and Savior.” Although, Jesus is our Savior, but the Bible also mentioned that He is a man exalted by God.

The Iglesia Ni Cristo firmly believes what the Bible teaches that

Jesus is the Mediator between God and Man

 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 2:5, NIV, emphasis mine)

Apostle Paul’s statement clearly said that “there is one God.” And we are certain that the “one God” referred to by Apostle Paul is not the Lord Jesus because he also mentioned that “the man Christ Jesus” is the “MEDIATOR” between the one true God and men.

The Iglesia Ni Cristo firmly believes what the Bible teaches that

Jesus is the Servant of the God

of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has GLORIFIED HIS SERVANT JESUS. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.” (Acts 3:13 NIV, emphasis mine)

The Iglesia Ni Cristo firmly believes what the Bible teaches that

Jesus is the one sent by the One True God

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and JESUS CHRIST, WHOM YOU HAVE SENT.” (John 17:1,3 NIV, emphasis mine)

According to the Lord Jesus Himself, to attain eternal life, we must who the one true God is and we must accept that Jesus is the one SENT by the one true God. Indeed, Jesus is different from the one true God who sent Him.

Thus, let us stick to what the Bible teaches about Jesus.

If Jesus is the “Christ of God,” the “Son of the Living God, and the Mediator between God and men, who is the one true God? The Lord Jesus answered this question In John 17:3 and 1:

“Now THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE: THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD...

“After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: ‘FATHER, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” (John 17:3 and 1 NIV, emphasis mine)