The True Church
WITH THE PROLIFERATION of so many different religions and churches, many people are confused and do not know where to begin their search for the true Church. On the other hand, there are those who have just chosen to accept the popular and widespread belief that all religions are the same. But how could all religions be true when their doctrines and beliefs are not only different but also in conflict? The Bible teaches of only one true Church and that it has the name “Church Of Christ,” is prophesied, and believes the Father alone is the one and only true God.
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(Reference: Acts 20:28 Lamsa Bible, Emphasis Mine)
IMPORTANCE OF THE NAME "CHURCH OF CHRIST"
The apostles called the true Church the Church Of 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.”
(Reference: Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation Emphasis Mine)
Contrary to what many think, the name, as applied to Christ’s Church, is very essential, for no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved:
“…by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.”
(Reference: Acts 4:10– 12 The Message, Emphasis Mine)
Since it is only by the name of Christ can one be saved, so the name of Christ should not be removed from that of the Church He built:
“And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it.”
(Reference: Mathew 16:18 TEV, Emphasis Mine)
The name of the Church should follow the name of Christ, Who built and owns it. Moreover, as the Church is the body of Christ, the name of the Church must follow the name of its head.
“And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church…”
(Reference: Col. 1:18 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
Others claim that “Church of God” can be read in other Bible translations such as the New King James Version— that it is the more accurate rendering of Acts 20:28. Such claim is wrong because the latter part of the verse states: “which he has purchased with his blood.” The rendering “church of God” would mean that it was God who died and shed blood on the cross. This contradicts other Bible verses that teach that God is immortal (I Tim. 1:17), is a Spirit (John 4:24 Today’s English Version), has no flesh and bones (Luke 24:36–39), and therefore has no blood. It is the Lord Jesus Christ’s blood that washed the members of His Church of their sins:
“knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
(Reference: I Peter 1:18-19 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
“… Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”
(Reference: Rev. 1:5 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
THE TRUE CHURCH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPHECY
Prophecy proves that the religion or church that has the light is the true one. Any religion without light is, of course, in darkness:
“To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
(Reference: Isa. 8:20 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
The testimony referred to is a biblical prophecy:
“… For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
(Reference: Rev. 19:10 NKJV, Emphasis Mine)
Are there prophecies about the Church Of Christ that emerged in the Philippines? In John 10:16, the Lord Jesus Christ prophesied that He had other sheep. Christ called them His other sheep because they did not belong to the fold or flock at that time. These other sheep of Christ would come from the future:
“I have other sheep too. They are not in this flock here. I must lead them also. They will listen to my voice. In the future there will be one flock and one shepherd.”
(Reference: John 10:16 Easy-to-Read Version, Emphasis Mine)
Christ would bring them also, and they would be made one flock or one Church Of Christ (Acts 20:28 Lamsa).
“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.”
(Reference: Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation, Emphasis Mine)
In a related prophecy, Christ’s other sheep is said to emerge from the Far East:
“From the far east will I bring your offspring, and from the far west I will gather you.”
(Reference: Isa. 43:5 Moffat Translation, Emphasis Mine)
The place of emergence of Christ’s other sheep in the Far East is a nation composed of islands of the sea:
“Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea. From the ends of the earth we hear singing: ‘Glory to the Righteous One’.”
(Reference: Isa. 24:15-16 NIV, Emphasis Mine)
In fulfillment, the place where Christ’s other sheep would emerge is the Philippines, a country in the Far East composed of 7,641 islands that recognizes and glorifies the God of Israel, where Christianity has taken its deepest roots:
“The Philippines were Spain’s share of the first colonizing movement in the Far East…”
(Reference: World History, Vol. 2 p. 445, Emphasis Mine)
and,
“It cannot be without significance that the country which stands almost at the geographical center of the Far East, the Philippines, also be that in which Christianity has taken the deepest root.”
(Reference: Asia and the Philippines, p.169, Emphasis Mine)
The "Ends" of the Earth
The timeline in which the Church Of Christ will emerge from the “far east” by biblical prophecy will be at the time “ENDS of the earth.” “end(s) of the earth” refers to a time different from the “end of the earth.” Both are expressions of time, but the latter refers to the time when the world will meet its end, which is on the day of Judgment or the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
“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?“
(Reference: Mathew 24:3 KJV, Emphasis Mine)
The apostles had asked Jesus the signs of the end of the world. Christ’s reply was that they would hear of wars and rumors of wars, which would be followed by a war involving nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom; there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. All these are signs that the end is at the very doors:
“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?
“So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors…
“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
(Reference: Mathew 24:3, 33, 6-8 KJV, Emphasis Mine)
Thus, in other words, these events would happen during the time “end(s) of the earth” which precedes the time “end of the earth.” Take note that the first sign indicating that the time is in the “end(s) of the earth” is that “ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars.” Although there have been many wars that happened in the history of the world, this “war” mentioned by the Bible will be followed by another war of the same kind, “see that ye be not troubled: for these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Thus, many wars happened in the past. Still, only one “war” that was described as “nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” that would follow after the first “war” that would be rumored as “wars and rumours of wars” – this is the “Great War” (also called the First World War). The outbreak of the First World War was rumored or talked about throughout the world through Mores Code by the telegraphic lines that were already in place spreading the news of the outbreaks. The “Great War,” or (World War One) which started on July 27, 1914, and ended on November, 1918. Then it was followed by another World War, the Second World War (1939-1945). Following the two World Wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes occurred in diverse places, magnifying and growing with much more intensity worldwide.
“Jesus now tells His followers how they could discern when the world was actually entering into the beginning of the birth pangs that would bring about the rebirth of Israel and ultimately the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. The approach of the end of the age would see several phenomena on the earth occurring at the same time. Those phenomena, would be: 1. Many nations rising up against many other nations 2. Kingdoms rising against kingdoms 3. Famines 4. Disease epidemics 5. Earthquakes in various places. In Mark 13 the word troubles is used by our Lord instead of disease epidemics… Wars between nations, or even between kingdoms, is and has been a common occurrence. History has recorded famines at various times. There have been times of great disease epidemics. There have been earthquakes in the past, but increasingly so in the present day. Jesus tells His disciples, however, to be awaiting a specific time during which all of these phenomena would be in evidence at the same time. The first such time in world history occurred during the years of World War I (1914-1918) and immediately following …”
(Reference: Mathew 24:6-8 footnote, Last Days Bible, Emphasis Mine)
Thus, the appointed time of the emergence of the church of Christ was the time called by the biblical prophecy as “end(s) of the earth,” is the time the “end of the earth” or the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is near, that began in 1914, the year of the outbreak of the First World War:
“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.”
(Reference: The Story of the Great War, Vol. 3, p.923)
This was the first sign indicating that the time is already in the “ends of the earth.”
The Church of Christ emerged in the Far East and was registered on July 27, 1914, specifically in the Philippines, simultaneously or at a precise and significant moment — the commencement of the First World War on July 27, 1914. The connection between these two historical events and the biblical prophecies is not a coincidence but a profound and prophetic realization.
FROM THE FAR WEST I WILL GATHER YOU
Also as prophesied, the Church from the Far East would reach the Far West, “from the far west I will gather you” (Isa. 43:5). This would happen when in the East or the Philippines (islands of the sea) people could see God’s brilliant deeds:
“till in the far west men have awe of the Eternal, and in the east they see his brilliant deeds; for his vengeance pours out like a pent-up stream, driven by a blast of wind.”
(Reference: Isa. 59:19 Moffatt Translation, Emphasis Mine)
When the Church Of Christ’s mission of salvation would have spread throughout the Philippines, it would reach the Far West. This part of the prophecy was fulfilled when Brother Eraño G. Manalo officiated at the first worship service in Hawaii on July 27, 1968. This was followed by another gathering of brethren in San Francisco, California. These are the official beginnings of the Church Of Christ in the Far West. According to the 1976 World Almanac, Hawaii and California are part of the region of the United States called Far West:
“FAR WEST: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii.”
(Reference: The World Almanac Handbook of Facts 1976, Bicentennial Edition, p.88)
THE ONE TRUE GOD
What other identifying marks does the Church Of Christ possess that further identifies that this is the true church built by Christ? It teaches that the Father is the ONLY true God; this is another proof of the true Christian church (I Cor. 8:6). Christ Himself revealed that to know the true God means eternal life, one of the requirements to attain life eternal:
“After Jesus had said this, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father…
And this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent—Jesus the Messiah.”
(Reference: John 17:1,3 ISV, Emphasis Mine)
Based on the statements of the Savior, knowing the only true God is essential to obtaining eternal life. In other words, a wrong belief in God, or not knowing who the only true God is, prevents one from being saved. In His prayer, Christ used the pronoun “you” referring to the Father as the “one and only true God.” This discounts the doctrine of the Trinity. If the Trinity were true, Christ should have used the pronoun “us” to include Him and the Holy Spirit. He never taught the trinity or even the concept of the trinity. The word “trinity” cannot be found in the Bible.
The apostles also taught that the Father alone is the only true God:
“All of you are part of the same body. There is only one Spirit of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God’s people. We have only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. There is one God who is the Father of all people. Not only is God above all others, but he works by using all of us, and he lives in all of us.”
(Reference: Eph. 4:4-6 CEV, Emphasis Mine)
In the one body or one true Church, there is only one true faith, and in that true Christian faith, there is room for only “one God who is the Father.” The apostles did not teach that there is one God composed of three divine persons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The teaching that the Father alone is the true God was also taught by the prophets:
“Don’t you know that we all have God as our Father? Didn’t the one God create each of us?…”
(Reference: Mal. 2:10 CEV, Emphasis Mine)
Therefore, the belief that the Father is the only true God is the teaching of Christ, the apostles, and the prophets. This is also the teaching upheld by the only true Church today, the Church Of Christ that emerged in the Philippines on July 27, 1914 as the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. No other church called “Church Of Christ” teaches that the Father alone is the only true God. If a church teaches the trinity or a variation of it, it is not truly of Christ and of God.
Even by focusing only on these three main points — name, prophecy, and belief in the only one God, the Father—as the start of one’s search, one can clearly see that the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) is the only true Church.
IN CONCLUSION
1
The true church of Christ carries the true name of Christ since the church is its “body and Christ is the head of it” (Col 1:18), and “no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved” (Acts 4:10– 12 The Message).
This church is the one prophesied to emerge from the “Far East” (Isa. 43:5 MT), from the “islands of the sea” (Isa. 24:15), at the time “ends of the earth” (Isa. 43:6; 24:16 NIV). This church will “exalt and give glory to the God of Israel” (Isa. 24:15),and recognize the Father as the one and only true God introduced by Christ, the Apostles, and the Prophets (Jn. 17:1,3; I Cor. 8:6; Mal. 2:10).
2
The Philippines is located at the geographic center of the Far East and is the only Christian country in which Christianity has taken the deepest roots. A country that recognizes the God of Israel and is made up of 7,641 islands.
3
The timeline in which the Church Of Christ will emerge from the “far east” by biblical prophecy will be at the time “ENDS of the earth” (Isa. 43:6). “end(s) of the earth” refers to a time different from the “end of the earth.” Both are expressions of time, but the latter refers to the time when the world will meet its end, which is on the day of Judgment or the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The commencing of the “ends of the earth” by biblical prophecy is the time when there will be “wars and rumors of wars” (Mat. 24:6), undoubtedly marking the outbreak of the “First World War.” The first war of its kind, a 3-dimensional war battled from air, ground and sea, was rumored or widely talked about throughout the world through Mores Code by the telegraphic lines that were already in place spreading the news of the outbreaks. This war was known as the “Great War” or (World War One) which started on July 27, 1914, and ended on November, 1918. Then it was followed by another World War, the Second World War (1939-1945). Following the two World Wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes occurred in diverse places, magnifying and growing with much more intensity worldwide.
It is during this period when the prophesied messenger in Isaiah 41:9 would emerge. And so it was that Brother Felix Manalo registered the Iglesia Ni Cristo with the Philippine government on July 27, 1914 — the exact same date when “World War I” broke out:
“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, Vol. 3, p.923)
4
Thus the prophecy of Christ’s other sheep to appear “in the future” was indeed fulfilled:
“I have other sheep too. They are not in this flock here. I must lead them also. They will listen to my voice. In the future there will be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:16 ETRV, Emphasis Mine)
5
WE KINDLY EXTEND our visitors to an invitation to explore the prophecies of the last messenger of God, who worked to reestablish the true Church of Christ. To gain further insight into this subject, we invite you to visit the following link below, which provides information on various topics related to God’s last messenger:
God's Last Messenger
AFTER THE GREAT Apostasy, it was prophesied by the bible that the true Church Of Christ, necessary for man’s salvation, would reemerge in the Far East through God’s last messenger in these last days. This messenger’s mission is to restore the original Church Of Christ and its pristine teachings of Christ and to introduce the one true God – the Father…
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(Eph. 4:29, Amplified Bible)
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(1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Amplified Bible)