The Name Should Be "Church of Christ"

I met yesterday a member of the Ang Dating Daan or is now called Church of God International. I haven't actually talk to him about religion. I don't know him and have no interest in talking to him.

But when he read and learned through the slogan written in my car which says, "Ako'y Iglesia Ni Cristo" (I am member of the Church of Christ), the then started to talk to me by asking, "Iglesia ni Cristo ka? (Are you member of the Iglesia ni Cristo)?

I answered him with Yes. And then he then told me that the true church built by Christ in Jerusalem is not called Church of Christ but Church of God in Christ.

I asked him why he believed that it was what the true Church is called. And he said that it was called like that because the Church built by Christ is owned by God. So, since Christ is the founder of it, so it is called Church of God in Jesus Christ.

After his brief explanation, I then asked him if he wants to hear my answer why the true Church of Christ is called "Church of Christ" or in Filipino "Iglesia ni Cristo".

He said yes so I started to talk and here's what I told him:

It is true that the owner of the Church is God. When I mention God, it is understood that I am referring to the Father because according to Christ in John 17:3,1 the Father is the only true God.

However, the Bible clearly mentioned that those things owned by God are given to Christ. In other words those things of God are of Christ too.

So, if the Church is of God, then it is also true that it is of Christ.

But why is it that the church's official name is not Church of God but Church of Christ?

(1. ) The church is called Church of Christ because the founder is Christ. I am sure, you will agree that the founder of the Church is Christ. It is recorded in the Bible when Christ said, "I will build my Church" in the book of Matthew in the Bible.

So, if the founder of the church is Christ, then it is rightful to call his church, Church of Christ. But it is not the only reason for it. Continue reading.

(2. ) The owner of the Church is Christ. If you already read what has been written in Matthew 16:18, you'll read that Christ said, "My Church". These words is referring to the church he would build.

In other words, Christ called the church he would build his Church. If he will to say this, of course he would say, My Church. His apostles on the other hand called the Church, Church of Christ.

(3. ) The head of the church is Christ and the body of Christ is the church. Now, how do you call my eyes. Isn't it right that you would rather say, "Eyes of JML" when you would refer to my eyes? The same is true to the body of Christ which is the church. Since the church is the body of Christ, then it is also right to call the church, Church of Christ.

(4. ) The church is the wife of Christ and Christ is the husband. There are many writings in the Church that describe that the church is the wife of Christ.

Haven't you notice that the wife carries the name of the husband? For example, the name of the girl when she was still single was Mary Crisostomo. But he became the wife of Mr. Jose Bolantoy. And because of this, her name became Mary Crisostomo Bolantoy.

Now, since the church is the wife of Christ, then it is of course rightful for the church to carry the name of Christ. And that is the reason why the church is called "Church of Christ".

I think these reasons are clear already. But these are not just the reason. There are other reason too, like Christ purchased the Church.

Haven't you read what has been written in Acts 20:28? The verse tells us that Christ purchased the Church with his own blood.

So, it is true that God is the owner of the church. But Christ purchased it already with his on blood. And buying a property means transferring ownership from one to another.

Since Christ purchased the church already, then the Church is already owned by Christ and he has the right over the Church.

Try the Iglesia Ni Cristo

I just wanted to invite everyone who visited this blog who are not yet member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo to try to listen the teachings of the Church.

I know that some people have told you already about the Iglesia Ni Cristo. But I am sure that what they have told you are just part of the hearsay that they also heard from those who are persecuting the Church.

If you'll read the Bible, especially in the book of First John, you'll learn that it's God's teaching to check the spirit of those who are teaching spiritual teachings whether the spirit is of God or not. But checking couldn't be done by simply listening to those people who have no authority.

For example, if you want to learn the teaching of the Catholic Church, it would be better if you listen to the teachers inside the Catholic Church. If you want to check the teachings of the Baptist Church, then attend their worship service and listen to their teaching. But if you want to examine the Iglesia ni Cristo, the best way to do it is by attending the seminar on doctrine of the Iglesia ni Cristo.

In this way, what has been planted in your head is really the teaching of the church you are examining not just the hearsay you heard from someone who are not even affiliated with the Church.

Why Churches of Christ?

I was asked by a Catholic with this question:

In the Romans 16:16 it was mentioned "churches of christ". Does it mean that there are lots of churches of christ?

Actually, what was referred to when mentioned "churches of Christ" was the members of the church. The members were called "churches of Christ" because the church of which they were members was the Church of Christ.

For example: why are we calling some Christians as Catholics? Well, it's because they are member of the Roman Catholic church.

Catholic Church because the Faith is Universal

My Catholic Friend attempted to prove that the Catholic Church is the church founded by Christ by simply telling me that Apostle Paul mentioned in the book of Romans that the Faith of Roman Christian is universal.

However, I told him that it couldn't be used as proof because of some reasons:

1. The letter of Paul to the Romans is not for all people in Rome but for the members of the Church of Christ in Rome.
2. Apostle Paul is not an Apostle of the Roman Catholic Church, but an apostle in the Church of Christ.
3. The faith mentioned by Apostle Paul is not the faith of the Roman Catholic Church but of the Church of Christ.

And we should also not forget that Christ built only his own Church or the Church of Christ. He didn't build any churches, especially the Roman Catholic Church, except his own Church.

Church of Christ, not Roman Catholic Church

Catholics argued that the one built by Christ is the Roman Catholic Church not the Iglesia ni Cristo because the Iglesia ni Cristo emerged only on 1914 in the Philippines while the Roman Catholic Church existed already before other church started to exist.

These people simply are confused about the Iglesia ni Cristo. Iglesia ni Cristo is a Filipino term for "Church of Christ". And just like what I wrote in my previous post, the Church of Christ that emerged in the Philippines in 1914 is one and the 3rd group among the 3 groups of members of the Church of Christ.

If you'll examine the Bible, Christ in Matt 16:18 mentioned that He would built His own Church. Remember, the church that Christ would built is His own Church not the Roman Church. Christ call this church His Church and Apostles call it Church of Christ.

The Iglesia ni Cristo

The Iglesia ni Cristo is the only church founded by Christ. It is composed of three (3) groups of members: (1) The Jews; (2) the Gentiles; and (3) those who are in the Far East. The first and second group, the Jews and the Gentiles, became members of the Church of Christ in the first century during the administration of Christ's Apostles. The third group, those who are coming from the Far East, became members of the Church of Christ only during the time of the ends of the earth.

The place that the Bible called as the Far East is the Philippines. The time that the Bible mentioned as the ends of the earth, in Gregorian Calendar, started on July 27, 1914. The Iglesia ni Cristo that emerge in the Philippines in July 27, 1914 is the third group of members of the Church of Christ or Iglesia ni Cristo.

Three (3) of its main doctrines are:

1. The Father is the only true God. No other God besides him but He alone.
2. Christ is the son of God. He is not the God-the-son. He was sent by God to earth to save the mankind.
3. The Church of Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo) is the body of Christ. It is the one that Christ will save. Christ will not save those who are outside of his body.