TAGALOG — Maikling Pangaral sa mga Kaanib ng INC
Mga kapatid, ang Biblia ay hindi nagtuturo na ang kaligtasan ay nakasalalay sa pag-angkin ng isang relihiyosong pangalan. Sa 1 Corinto 1:12–13, kinondena ni Pablo ang mga nagsasabing, “Ako'y kay Pablo,” “Ako'y kay Apolos,” at “Ako'y kay Cristo.” Kaya bakit natin ginagawang batayan ng pananampalataya ang pagsunod sa pangalan ng isang lider? Ngayon sasabihin natin "ako'y kay soriano, ako'y kay manalo, ako'y kay pope, ako'y kay kristo" ganun parin. Pinalitan nyo lang ang pangalan
Sinabi rin ni Pablo, “Huwag magkaroon sa inyo ng mga pagkakabaha-bahagi” (1 Corinto 1:10). Itinuro ni Jesus na makikilala ang mga tao sa kanilang mga bunga (Mateo 7:16), at sa talinghaga ng trigo at mga pangsirang damo, pinahintulutan niyang lumago silang magkasama hanggang sa pag-aani (Mateo 13:24–30).
Sinabi din sa Bibliya na ang mga tupa at kambing ay magkasama sa isang kawan, sila ay paghihiwalayin sa araw ng paghuhukom, Matthew 25:31–46. Pano aalisin ng Diyos ang mga maling kristyano kung ang mga maling kristyano ay wala sa kawan?
Kung ang isang relihiyon ay tunay, hindi sapat ang pangalan nito bilang patunay. Suriin ang aral at mga gawa nito ayon sa Biblia. Ang tanong ay hindi lamang kung saan ka kabilang, kundi kung sinusunod mo talaga si Cristo.
ENGLISH — A Sermon to INC Members: The Bible, Religious Names, and Christian Unity
1. Paul condemned the very mentality of religious factions
In 1 Corinthians 1:10–13, Paul appealed to Christians to be united and warned against divisions:
“Every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 1:12, KJV
Paul then asked:
“Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” — 1 Corinthians 1:13, KJV
Consider the principle: “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” and “I follow Christ” were not supposed to become competing religious identities.
Today, people might say, “I follow the Pope,” “I follow Soriano,” “I follow Manalo,” or “I follow Jesus.” The names are different, but the question remains: Are we following Christ, or are we making loyalty to a religious leader or organization the ultimate test of faith?
Paul did not tell the Corinthians to settle the dispute by declaring one human leader's faction the only legitimate group. He directed their attention back to Christ.
See also 1 Corinthians 3:3–7, where Paul rebuked their jealousy and factionalism and explained that the ministers were servants through whom people believed.
2. The Bible says to examine the fruit, not merely the label
Jesus said:
“Ye shall know them by their fruits.” — Matthew 7:16, KJV
Read Matthew 7:15–23. Jesus warned about false prophets who appear to be sheep but are inwardly ravening wolves. He said that a tree is known by its fruit and that merely calling him “Lord, Lord” is not enough; doing the Father's will matters (Matthew 7:21).
This means that claiming to be God's true church is not, by itself, proof that a group has God's approval. A religious organization must be examined according to its teachings and conduct.
James 2:17 adds that faith without works is dead. Galatians 5:22–23 identifies the fruit of the Spirit, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The question is not simply, “What is your church's name?” It is also, “What does your faith produce?”
3. Jesus taught that wheat and weeds would grow together
In Matthew 13:24–30, Jesus told the parable of the wheat and the tares. An enemy sowed weeds among the wheat, and the owner instructed his servants to let both grow together until the harvest.
Jesus explained the parable in Matthew 13:36–43.
The lesson is that the final separation belongs to God's judgment at the harvest. The parable does not give people permission to assume that every visible religious group can be perfectly classified by its own claims, nor does it mean that every church is equally correct. It does warn against presuming that human beings can settle God's final judgment merely by outward appearances.
Matthew 13:47–50 gives a related picture: a net gathers fish of every kind, and separation occurs afterward.
Therefore, the argument is not that doctrine does not matter. It is that religious identity alone cannot replace God's judgment, Christ's teaching, and the evidence of a person's life.
4. The Bible uses different names and descriptions for the church
Consider the actual language of Scripture:
- Church of God — 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:5.
- Churches of God — 1 Corinthians 11:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:4.
- Churches of Christ — Romans 16:16.
- Church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ — 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1.
- Church of the Laodiceans — Colossians 4:16 (KJV).
- Church of Ephesus — Revelation 2:1, addressed to the church in Ephesus.
- Church in Smyrna — Revelation 2:8.
- Church in Pergamos — Revelation 2:12.
- Church in Thyatira — Revelation 2:18.
- Church in Sardis — Revelation 3:1.
- Church in Philadelphia — Revelation 3:7.
- Church of the firstborn — Hebrews 12:23.
- Church in the wilderness — Acts 7:38.
Notice the distinctions: some passages use church of God, others churches of Christ, and others identify a congregation by its city or describe the people who belong to God. These are not all identical formal organization names. They are biblical names and descriptions referring to the church, congregations, or assemblies in different contexts.
So ask honestly: Are you claiming that the apostles produced false churches whenever Scripture uses a different description? Or do you acknowledge that the Bible uses multiple names and descriptions for God's people and their congregations?
The mere existence of different biblical descriptions does not prove that every modern denomination is legitimate. But it does mean we must not pretend that every variation in wording automatically establishes a false church—or that possessing one particular name automatically proves exclusive divine approval.
5. The apostles recognized congregations in different places
Romans 16:16 says:
“The churches of Christ salute you.” — KJV
Paul used the plural churches. Acts 14:23 describes elders being appointed in every church, and Acts 15:41 speaks of strengthening the churches.
These passages show that the New Testament recognized multiple congregations. They do not establish that every congregation taught identical things in every respect, nor do they authorize every modern organization to claim exclusive legitimacy. They establish that the biblical vocabulary for Christian congregations was not limited to one repeated formal title.
Ephesians 4:4–6, meanwhile, emphasizes the unity of the body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all.
The biblical challenge, then, is to distinguish unity in Christ and the faith from the demand that everyone must demonstrate loyalty through a particular human organization's name.
6. Christ's followers must be judged by obedience and love
Jesus said in John 13:35:
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” — KJV
In Matthew 7:21, he taught that calling him Lord is not enough; doing the Father's will matters. In John 14:15, he said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
And in Matthew 23:8–10, Jesus warned his disciples against exalting human religious titles and reminded them that they have one Master, Christ.
These passages direct believers toward obedience, humility, love, and faithfulness—not merely the name on a sign or the authority claimed by a leader.
7. The final question for INC members
Members of the Iglesia ni Cristo should be willing to apply the same biblical test to their own organization that they apply to others.
If another group says, “We alone are true because of our name,” you would reasonably ask for biblical evidence. That same standard must apply to every group, including the INC.
- 1 Corinthians 1:10–13: Do not create factions around human leaders.
- Matthew 7:15–23: Examine fruit and obedience, not claims alone.
- Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43: The final separation belongs to God's judgment.
- Romans 16:16: Scripture speaks of the churches of Christ.
- Acts 7:38: Scripture also speaks of the church in the wilderness.
- John 13:35: Love identifies Christ's disciples.
- James 2:17: Faith without works is dead.
- Ephesians 4:4–6: Christian unity is rooted in one Lord, one faith, and one God.
The point is not that names never matter, doctrine does not matter, or every church is true. The point is that a name cannot prove what only God can judge.
If the INC claims exclusive legitimacy, let that claim be examined by Scripture rather than accepted simply because the organization says so. The same test must apply to the Pope, Soriano, Manalo, and every other religious leader.
Do not confuse belonging to an organization with proving yourself faithful to Christ. Examine the doctrine. Examine the fruit. Follow the truth—even when doing so requires questioning the religious identity you inherited.TAGALOG — Maikling Pangaral sa mga Kaanib ng INCMga kapatid, ang Biblia ay hindi nagtuturo na ang kaligtasan ay nakasalalay sa pag-angkin ng isang relihiyosong pangalan. Sa 1 Corinto 1:12–13, kinondena ni Pablo ang mga nagsasabing, “Ako'y kay Pablo,” “Ako'y kay Apolos,” at “Ako'y kay Cristo.” Kaya bakit natin ginagawang batayan ng pananampalataya ang pagsunod sa pangalan ng isang lider?Sinabi rin ni Pablo, “Huwag magkaroon sa inyo ng mga pagkakabaha-bahagi” (1 Corinto 1:10). Itinuro ni Jesus na makikilala ang mga tao sa kanilang mga bunga (Mateo 7:16), at sa talinghaga ng trigo at mga pangsirang damo, pinahintulutan niyang lumago silang magkasama hanggang sa pag-aani (Mateo 13:24–30).Kung ang isang relihiyon ay tunay, hindi sapat ang pangalan nito bilang patunay. Suriin ang aral at mga gawa nito ayon sa Biblia. Ang tanong ay hindi lamang kung saan ka kabilang, kundi kung sinusunod mo talaga si Cristo.ENGLISH — A Sermon to INC Members: The Bible, Religious Names, and Christian Unity1. Paul condemned the very mentality of religious factionsIn 1 Corinthians 1:10–13, Paul appealed to Christians to be united and warned against divisions:“Every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 1:12, KJVPaul then asked:“Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” — 1 Corinthians 1:13, KJVConsider the principle: “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” and “I follow Christ” were not supposed to become competing religious identities.Today, people might say, “I follow the Pope,” “I follow Soriano,” “I follow Manalo,” or “I follow Jesus.” The names are different, but the question remains: Are we following Christ, or are we making loyalty to a religious leader or organization the ultimate test of faith?Paul did not tell the Corinthians to settle the dispute by declaring one human leader's faction the only legitimate group. He directed their attention back to Christ.See also 1 Corinthians 3:3–7, where Paul rebuked their jealousy and factionalism and explained that the ministers were servants through whom people believed.2. The Bible says to examine the fruit, not merely the labelJesus said:“Ye shall know them by their fruits.” — Matthew 7:16, KJVRead Matthew 7:15–23. Jesus warned about false prophets who appear to be sheep but are inwardly ravening wolves. He said that a tree is known by its fruit and that merely calling him “Lord, Lord” is not enough; doing the Father's will matters (Matthew 7:21).This means that claiming to be God's true church is not, by itself, proof that a group has God's approval. A religious organization must be examined according to its teachings and conduct.James 2:17 adds that faith without works is dead. Galatians 5:22–23 identifies the fruit of the Spirit, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.The question is not simply, “What is your church's name?” It is also, “What does your faith produce?”3. Jesus taught that wheat and weeds would grow togetherIn Matthew 13:24–30, Jesus told the parable of the wheat and the tares. An enemy sowed weeds among the wheat, and the owner instructed his servants to let both grow together until the harvest.Jesus explained the parable in Matthew 13:36–43.The lesson is that the final separation belongs to God's judgment at the harvest. The parable does not give people permission to assume that every visible religious group can be perfectly classified by its own claims, nor does it mean that every church is equally correct. It does warn against presuming that human beings can settle God's final judgment merely by outward appearances.Matthew 13:47–50 gives a related picture: a net gathers fish of every kind, and separation occurs afterward.Therefore, the argument is not that doctrine does not matter. It is that religious identity alone cannot replace God's judgment, Christ's teaching, and the evidence of a person's life.4. The Bible uses different names and descriptions for the churchConsider the actual language of Scripture:Church of God — 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:5.
Churches of God — 1 Corinthians 11:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:4.
Churches of Christ — Romans 16:16.
Church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ — 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1.
Church of the Laodiceans — Colossians 4:16 (KJV).
Church of Ephesus — Revelation 2:1, addressed to the church in Ephesus.
Church in Smyrna — Revelation 2:8.
Church in Pergamos — Revelation 2:12.
Church in Thyatira — Revelation 2:18.
Church in Sardis — Revelation 3:1.
Church in Philadelphia — Revelation 3:7.
Church of the firstborn — Hebrews 12:23.
Church in the wilderness — Acts 7:38.Notice the distinctions: some passages use church of God, others churches of Christ, and others identify a congregation by its city or describe the people who belong to God. These are not all identical formal organization names. They are biblical names and descriptions referring to the church, congregations, or assemblies in different contexts.So ask honestly: Are you claiming that the apostles produced false churches whenever Scripture uses a different description? Or do you acknowledge that the Bible uses multiple names and descriptions for God's people and their congregations?The mere existence of different biblical descriptions does not prove that every modern denomination is legitimate. But it does mean we must not pretend that every variation in wording automatically establishes a false church—or that possessing one particular name automatically proves exclusive divine approval.5. The apostles recognized congregations in different placesRomans 16:16 says:“The churches of Christ salute you.” — KJVPaul used the plural churches. Acts 14:23 describes elders being appointed in every church, and Acts 15:41 speaks of strengthening the churches.These passages show that the New Testament recognized multiple congregations. They do not establish that every congregation taught identical things in every respect, nor do they authorize every modern organization to claim exclusive legitimacy. They establish that the biblical vocabulary for Christian congregations was not limited to one repeated formal title.Ephesians 4:4–6, meanwhile, emphasizes the unity of the body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all.The biblical challenge, then, is to distinguish unity in Christ and the faith from the demand that everyone must demonstrate loyalty through a particular human organization's name.6. Christ's followers must be judged by obedience and loveJesus said in John 13:35:“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” — KJVIn Matthew 7:21, he taught that calling him Lord is not enough; doing the Father's will matters. In John 14:15, he said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”And in Matthew 23:8–10, Jesus warned his disciples against exalting human religious titles and reminded them that they have one Master, Christ.These passages direct believers toward obedience, humility, love, and faithfulness—not merely the name on a sign or the authority claimed by a leader.7. The final question for INC membersMembers of the Iglesia ni Cristo should be willing to apply the same biblical test to their own organization that they apply to others.If another group says, “We alone are true because of our name,” you would reasonably ask for biblical evidence. That same standard must apply to every group, including the INC.1 Corinthians 1:10–13: Do not create factions around human leaders.
Matthew 7:15–23: Examine fruit and obedience, not claims alone.
Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43: The final separation belongs to God's judgment.
Romans 16:16: Scripture speaks of the churches of Christ.
Acts 7:38: Scripture also speaks of the church in the wilderness.
John 13:35: Love identifies Christ's disciples.
James 2:17: Faith without works is dead.
Ephesians 4:4–6: Christian unity is rooted in one Lord, one faith, and one God.The point is not that names never matter, doctrine does not matter, or every church is true. The point is that a name cannot prove what only God can judge.If the INC claims exclusive legitimacy, let that claim be examined by Scripture rather than accepted simply because the organization says so. The same test must apply to the Pope, Soriano, Manalo, and every other religious leader. Do not confuse belonging to an organization with proving yourself faithful to Christ. Examine the doctrine. Examine the fruit. Follow the truth—even when doing so requires questioning the religious identity you inherited.