What makes Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) unique?

WHAT MAKES THE 
IGLESIA NI CRISTO

(CHURCH OF CHRIST) 
UNIQUE?

MANY PEOPLE ASK what makes the Church Of Christ unique? How the Church Of Christ differs from different churches today? What’s the difference? The following answer these questions:

#1

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS THE ONE

WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE

The Bible not only tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ established His Church, but also teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ established only one Church. This is what the Lord Jesus Christ said in Matthew 16:18:

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 NKJV)

The Lord Jesus Christ said, “I will build My CHURCH.” He did not said, “I will build My CHURCHES.” Apostle Paul explicitly said the Church is the body of Christ:

“For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.” (Ephesians 5:23 NKJV)

Apostle Paul also clearly taught that there is only one body:

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:4-5 NKJV)

There is only ONE BODY (ONE CHURCH) with one hope, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. This Church is the Church of Christ:

“Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.” (Romans 16:16 NKJV)

The Bible explicitly tells us that the Church Of Christ is the one purchased by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ:

“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)

The Bible also explicitly tells us that the one body of Christ is the Church Of Christ:

“For just as the human body is one and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many as they are, constitute but one body, so it is with the Church of Christ.” (I Corinthians 12:12 NTME)

Thus, it is clear that the Church Of Christ is indeed the one written in the Bible.

Please Ponder this:

(1) Others say that the Church Of Christ is not the one true Church. But the Church Of Christ is the one written in the Bible. Can it be that the one written in the Bible is not the true Church?

(2) Others say that they are the one true Church, but their church is not written in the Bible or cannot be found in the Bible, but can it be that the one true Church taught in the Bible is the church not written or cannot be found in the Bible?

(3) The Bible is the word of God. The truth is those written in the Bible. The one written in the Bible is the Church Of Christ.

#2

THE ONE CALLED IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, 
THE ONE CALLED “CHURCH OF CHRIST”

It is clear that this Church is called after the name of Christ – Church Of Christ. This name proves the following:

(a) That this is the Church established and owned by Christ. The one true Church is indeed built and owned by Christ:

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 NKJV)

Christ is the owner and founder of the one true Church. He said, “I will build My Church.” thus, it is only right that the one true Church is called after His name, the Church Of Christ. How can a church claim that Christ is His founder and owner if they are not “Church Of Christ”?

(b) That this is the body of Christ. The one true Church is indeed the body of Christ:

“For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the church; and Christ is himself the Savior of the church, his body.” (Ephesians 5:23 TEV)

Christ is the head of the Church, His body. If the head is named “John,” then his body is the “body of John.” It cannot be that the name of the head is “John,” and his body called in different name. So is the one true Church. Christ is the head of the one true Church, thus as the body of Christ, the one true Church cannot be called “Catholic Church,” “Methodist Church,” “Divine Revelation Church,” etc.

Because the head of the one true Church is Christ, and because the one true Church is the body of Christ, thus, it is called “Church of Christ”:

“For just as the human body is one and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many as they are, constitute but one body, so it is with the Church of Christ.” (I Corinthians 12:12 NTME)

In spite of this fact, others insist that the “name” doesn’t matter. They say that it is not important that the Church is called “Church Of Christ.” They only say this because they are clearly not “Church Of Christ.” But, the Bible doesn’t agree with them. How important it is to be called “Church Of Christ” according to the teachings of the Bible?

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NKJV)

The Bible clearly says that “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Thus, the one true Church is indeed called “Church of Christ” and “there is no salvation in any other.” Thus, no one can claim that they are the one true Church if they one not Church Of Christ.

#3

ALL THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ARE BASED ON THE TEACHINGS WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE

The Church Of Christ firmly believes that the Bible is the word of God. But, one of the things that makes the Church Of Christ unique is the fact that ALL our doctrines are based on the teachings written in the Bible because the Bible itself says that we must not go beyond what is written:

 “Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.” (I Corinthians 4:6 NIV)

The Church Of Christ rejects all man-made doctrines (those not written in the Bible) because this is what the Bible says regarding the teachings of men:

 “They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” (Matthew 15:9 NIV)

The Bible also prohibits man to give personal interpretation to what the Bible says:

 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation.” (II Peter 1:20 NKJV)

The Lord God Himself taught us not to add nor subtract from His words or commandments:

 “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” (Deuteronomy 12:32 NKJV)

The Bible warns that those who add anything to it, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and those who take away from it, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life:

 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.  And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19 NIV)

Thus, no church can claim to be the true Church if they uphold teachings or doctrines not written in the Bible. We must base our beliefs and service of God with what the Bible teaches and not with man-made doctrines. The Bible or the Holy Scriptures are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation:

 “And you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.” (II Timothy 3:15-17 TEV)

Thus, the Bible is the sole basis of the beliefs uphold by the Church Of Christ. All the doctrines of the Church Of Christ are based on the teachings written in the Bible. If the Bible is silent, the Church Of Christ is silent. The Church Of Christ speaks only what the Bible speaks.

#4

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST UPHOLDS

THE BIBLICAL TRUTH THAT THE FATHER ALONE IS THE ONE TRUE GOD

The Church Of Christ is truly unique for it upholds the absolute oneness of God, the biblical truth that the Father alone is the one true God.

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said that we must recognize the Father as the only true God in order to attain eternal life. These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in John 17:1 and 3:

“After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: ‘Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you...

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:1 and 3 NIV)

Apostle Paul, addressing to the members of the one true Church, also said the following:

“Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” (I Corinthians 8:6 NIV)

Apostle Paul said, “Yet for US (he is referring to the members of the one true Church or the true Christians) there is but ONE GOD, THE FATHER...” Is there “other God” aside from the Father? This is what the Father Himself (the one true God) says:

“Declare what is to be, present it-- let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.” (Isaiah 45:21 NIV)

Thus, the one true Church or the true Church Of Christ upholds the doctrine that there is one true God, the Father alone. The Lord God proclaimed that He has witnesses from the ends of the earth witnessing that He alone is the true God:

“Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

“Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 43:10, 5-6 KJV)

#5

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS TESTIFIED AS GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE IN THESE LAST DAYS THROUGH BIBLICAL PROPHECY

Regarding the uniqueness of the one true Church, Apostle Peter taught us the following:

“But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light. At one time you were not God's people, but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God's mercy, but now you have received his mercy.” (I Peter 2:9-10 TEV)

And what testifies to the Church Of Christ as being God’s chosen people? This is also answered by Apostle Peter:

“And we have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.” (II Peter 1:19 ASV)

Another uniqueness of the Church Of Christ is that she has the word of prophecy confirming her election as God’s chosen people or nation.

GOD’S NATION FROM THE

ENDS OF THE EARTH

The Bible prophesied that there will be God’s “Holy People” from the “ends of the earth”:

“The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: ‘Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.'’ They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted.” (Isaiah 62:11-12 NIV)

The prophecy mentioned a “Holy People.” They are not the ancient people of Israel, nor the first-century Church Of Christ because as the Bible stated they are from the “ends of the earth.” The prophecy also mentioned that “Holy People” was “Redeemed of the Lord.” The Church of Christ is the one redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ:

“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).”

What makes us more certain that this is not the first-century Church of Christ is the fact that they were also called by Isaiah’s prophecy as “Daughter of Zion.” The first-century-Church is the one called in the New Testament as “Zion”:

“But you have come right up into Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the gathering of countless happy angels; and to the church, composed of all those registered in heaven; and to God who is Judge of all; and to the spirits of the redeemed in heaven, already made perfect; and to Jesus himself, who has brought us his wonderful new agreement; and to the sprinkled blood, which graciously forgives instead of crying out for vengeance as the blood of Abel did.” (Hebrews 12:22-24 LB)

The “Zion” referred to in this verse is the first-century Church of Christ. Take note that the “Holy People” referred to in Isaiah 62:11-12 is called “Daughter of Zion.” The true Church is likened to a chaste virgin:

“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (II Corinthians 11:2 NKJV)

Thus, the “Daughter of Zion” is not the first-century Church of Christ, but the Church of Christ from the “ends of the earth”:

“The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: ‘Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.'’ They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted.” (Isaiah 62:11-12 NIV)

The period “ends of the earth,” otherwise known as the end times or last days, is different from the end of the world. The end of the world is the second advent of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Day of Judgment. The Scriptures states:

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3 KJV)

What was our Lord Jesus Christ’s answer to this question of His disciples? In verse 33, Christ said:

“So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!” (Matt 24:33)

The "ends of the earth" is the period of time when the end of the world is near, at the very doors. What are the visible signs that the Day of Judgment is approaching? Our Lord Jesus Christ gave the sign of a major war, which was unlike any war in the past:

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” (Matthew 24:6 NKJV)

What our Lord Jesus Christ gave was not an ordinary sign, but the sign that the end of the world is near. That is why this is a war that would be heard. Who would hear about this war? What makes this war different from any other in the past? In a related prophecy, Prophet Isaiah spoke of a war that would be heard all over the earth involving all the armies of the world:

“Come near, you nations, to hear; And heed, you people! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, The world and all things that come forth from it. For the indignation of the LORD is against all nations, and His fury against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them, He has given them over to the slaughter.” (Isaiah 34:1-2 NKJV)

A war of this scale never occurred in the history of mankind until the First World War:

“The first terrible war, which involved the whole world and caused so much death and destruction, was World War I.” (World History in an Oriental Setting, p. 850)

The news about this war could not have spread all over the world until the fulfillment of another prophecy which would occur at a time when the world’s end is near:

“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” (Daniel 12:4 NKJV)

Before the end of the world, knowledge would increase, enabling the news of this war to travel fast so that the whole world could hear about this war. This increase of knowledge was manifested in technology:

“The electric telegraph was the product of many minds in many lands, but it became a practical success in the hands of the American, Morse, in 1844. A submarine cable was laid between England and France in 1851 . . . telephone entered commerce with the American inventor, Bell, in 1876. The Italian, Marconi, succeeded with wireless telegraphy around 1896. Radio was invented shortly before the First World War.” (World History, vol. 2, p. 543)

The First World War was unique in many ways. It was the first war global in scope, and the news of this war was heard all over the world. When did the First World War begin?

“The first great campaign on the southeastern battle grounds of the Great War began on July 27, 1914, when the Austrian troops undertook their first invasion of Serbia” (The Story of the Great War from official Sources, p. 291)

When, on the other hand, was the Church Of Christ officially registered with the Philippine government? On July 27, 1914—concurrent with the outbreak of the First World War. The reemergence of the Church of Christ in the Philippines in 1914 is the fulfillment of biblical prophecies attesting to its election by God. The fulfillment of the prophesied “Daughter of Zion” whom the Lord “proclaimed to the ends of the earth,” and called the “Holy People” and “the Redeemed of the Lord.”

THE CHILDREN OF GOD

FROM THE FAR EAST

The Bible also prophesied the place where God’s chosen people from the ends of the earth will come from. In a related prophecy, Isaiah 43:5-6 proclaimed:

“Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 43:5-6 NKJV)

God’s Holy People from the ends of the earth of Isaiah 62:11-12 are also the “Sons and Daughters of God” of Isaiah 43:5-6. These children of God from the ends of the earth will come from the east, from “afar” or from the Far East:

“From the far east will I bring your offspring...” (Isaiah 43:5 Moffatt)

God’s chosen people from the ends of the earth will emerged from the Far East. The country called the Philippines where the Church If Christ emerged in 1914 is indeed in the region called Far East:

“It cannot be without significance that the country which stands almost at the geographical center of the Far East, the Philippines, should also be that in which Christianity has taken the deepest root.” (Dela Costa, Horacio, S.J. Asia and the Philippines, Manila: Solidaridad Publlishing House, 1967, p. 169.)

 Thus, the emergence of the Church Of Christ in the Philippines in 1914 is indeed the biblical prophecy regarding God’s chosen nation in these last days. One of the uniqueness of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) is that prophecies of the Bible testified or confirmed her being God’s chosen people or God’s nation in these last days.

CONCLUSION

The Church Of Christ is indeed unique. She is far different from other churches because the Church Of Chris is:

(1)   THE ONE WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE

(2)   THE ONE CALLED “CHURCH OF CHRIST”

(3)   THE ONE THAT ALL TEACHINGS AND DOCTRINES ARE BASED ON THE TEACHINGS WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE

(4)   THE ONE THAT UPHOLDS THE BIBLICAL TRUTH THAT THE FATHER ALONE IS THE ONLY TRUE GOD

(5)   THE ONE THAT TESTIFIED AND CONFIRMED TROUGH BIBLICAL PROPHECIES

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