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The Church Of Christ does not use the sign of the cross in its houses of worship and worship services. The Bible describes a mark that will be used by Satan that will be placed on the right hand and forehead of those he has deceived. The sign of the cross was established by the Roman Catholic Church to identify its members, which is why the Church Of Christ does not use it.
Watch time: 15:04 • That’s in the Bible • Hosted by Brother Bob Pellien
Scripture references:
Revelation 13:16
Revelation 14:9-11
In this episode
[0:35] Viewer questions
[1:20] Definition of the sign of the cross
[3:50] Meaning of the cross to Catholics
[7:08] What the Bible says about this mark
[12:12] Summary and review
Click to expand transcript
Full Episode Transcript
Brother Bob Pellien: In the sight of many, the cross has become an identifying symbol of Christianity. But why doesn’t the Church Of Christ use it? Or should we?
Brother Bob: The Bible. The basis of our faith in the Church Of Christ, which answers questions about proper worship, the right relationship with God, and most importantly, salvation. That’s in the Bible!
Brother Bob Pellien
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob: I’m Bob Pellien. Welcome to the program, That’s in the Bible. We received an email from a viewer and she asked the following: Why doesn’t the Church Of Christ use the sign of the cross?
[0:35] Viewer question
Why doesn’t the Church Of Christ use the sign of the cross?
Ivy
Brother Bob: Thank you very much, Ivy, for your email question, and thank you also for the opportunity to give a biblical answer.
Let’s frame our topic of discussion around these initial questions in order to give a clear and thorough answer:
What is the sign of the cross?
What does the sign of the cross actually mean or signify?
How does the Bible describe that mark or sign?
[1:20] Definition of the sign of the cross
So, before we turn to the Holy Scriptures for the Bible’s response, Ivy, to your question, for the sake of our viewers and of those of other Christian-professing religions that, well, may not know what’s really being referred to as the “sign of the cross,” let’s take a look at a couple of video clips that show what is the sign of the cross that is being done by the Roman Catholic Church. Take a look.
Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Voiceover: We begin with what is perhaps our earliest personal religious memory and practice–the sign of the cross.
An indulgence of 100 days is granted for making the sign of the cross and saying the words. And indulgence of 300 days for making the sign of the cross, with holy water.
Voiceover: As often as we make the sign of the cross, repeating at the same time these words, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.”
Brother Bob: So we can see that the sign of the cross is a sign that the members of the Catholic Church have made for themselves and we can see it everywhere in their religion. We can see the cross on their worship buildings. We can see the cross on their rosaries, which they always use when they pray, right? We can see also the cross in so many places and it’s become such a prevalent visual symbol, and everyone is convinced, of course, that it is a good symbol.
What have they themselves said, in fact, however, about the importance of that sign that the Catholic authorities have branded or required their believers to use?
Well, we have here their book and it’s entitled the Externals of the Catholic Church, and here on page 218, let’s take a look at what they have written about the cross:
The ordinary method of making the sign of the cross is that which every Catholic learns in early childhood—the putting of the right hand to the forehead…
Externals of the Catholic Church
John F. Sullivan, p. 218
Brother Bob: So, dear friends, what they’ve written here in their book then, is that it’s a sign that starts by putting one’s right hand to the forehead. And take note the use of the left hand, that’s wrong. That would be incorrect. That would not be the proper procedure. Bringing the right hand to the forehead is the method they teach to begin the sign of the cross.
[3:50] Meaning of the cross to Catholics
And because, you know, they are very particular on how to make the sign of the cross, what does the sign of the cross mean or signify for them? And how valuable is the sign of the cross to Catholics? You know, in another book, this one is entitled 1000 Questions and Answers on Catholicism. Page 240, this is stated:
What is the significance of the sign of the cross? The sign of the cross is an inseparable symbol of the Catholic faith.
1000 Questions and Answers on Catholicism
Philip O’Reilly, p. 240
Brother Bob: Well, so they claim that the sign of the cross, it’s an inseparable symbol. And it’s what identifies them as a Roman Catholic. It’s their symbol. It’s their sign. And because of this, just how often is the sign of the cross made or performed?
In another one of their books, this one is entitled My Catholic Faith, and it’s written by the authoritative writer of the Catholic Church, the Bishop, Louis La Ravoire Morrow, and he writes here on page 392 in his book. It’s very interesting, what he wrote:
We usually begin and end our prayers with the sign of the cross…. Nothing in the Church is begun, carried out, or completed, without the sign of the cross. It is used in innumerable blessings and ceremonials of the Church. At Mass alone it is used fifty-one times.
My Catholic Faith
Bishop Louis La Ravoire Morrow, p. 392
Brother Bob: Here, dear friends, we can learn how important it is to the Catholic Church. In fact, they use it fifty-one times in the Mass alone, and the mass, well, that’s their worship gathering. It is used, and as they said here, in the beginning of their prayers, at the end of their prayers for a total, as we cited there, fifty-one times. And in all the other ceremonies that they hold as well.
So, according to Catholic authorities, is the sign of the cross a symbol for just anyone and everyone? In fact if we’ll go back to that and even on the same page, page 392, it says:
The sign of the cross is the most common way of confessing our faith. By it we can know Catholics from non-Catholics.
My Catholic Faith
Bishop Louis La Ravoire Morrow, p. 392
Brother Bob: So, clearly that is a sign founded and made inside the Catholic Church, and as they stated here, for what purpose? To brand or to identify or to mark a Catholic from a non-Catholic. For clarification, the word ‘Catholic’ itself means ‘universal’ or ‘extending all over the world.’ So the cross, then, is to mark or to identify themselves as Catholics.
[7:08] What the Bible says about this mark
So now that we know what the sign of the cross is, what it means, how it is made, and who it is for, let’s now turn to the Holy Scriptures, the Bible, and find out how this sign or mark is described.
How does the Bible describe this mark or sign? In fact, dear friends, does the Bible make any mention of a sign that would identify or mark those in a Catholic or in universal church? We turn to Revelation chapter 13, verse 16 wherein it says this:
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
Revelation 13:16 New King James Version
Brother Bob: The Bible does mention then a sign or a mark given to a multitude of people, and where is this mark? It is said that it’s “on their right hand or on their foreheads.”
Now you know we’ve heard these arguments, some may argue that, well, you know, the sign of the cross of the Catholic Church, it’s just a hand gesture, they might say, which starts by putting, yes, the right hand to the forehead. It’s not a mark that is visually seen on the forehead or on the hand. But, dear friends, is that true? The cross is not a mark? Is the sign of the cross ever at any point in time a visual mark placed on their forehead? Of course it is! Every year we are able to visually see Catholics branded with or receiving a mark of the cross on their foreheads as they celebrate what they call “Ash Wednesday,” which all Catholics are encouraged to do.
So what does the Bible say about those who have received this sign or mark? What awaits people who possess or brand themselves with the sign of the cross on their forehead, or on their hand, or both for that matter? Is it a good sign? Should we all be making that sign of the cross? We turn again back to the Holy Scriptures for the answer of the Bible, and we turn to the book of Revelation 14:9, 10 and 11. Let’s find out, good sign or not a good sign:
Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
Revelation 14:9-11 New King James Version
Brother Bob: So dear friends, is it a good sign or not? Definitely not! The Bible describes what’s going to happen to those who have received this mark on their forehead or on their hand. What will happen to them? As we have read, “they have no rest day or night.” Why no rest ever? What’s the horrible fate that awaits them? Also as we read here, it will “be tormented with fire and brimstone… And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever.” Who will this happen to? As we read, “whoever receives the mark of his name.”
Therefore, dear friends, the sign of the cross, it’s not a sign from God. It’s not mentioned or taught by Christ’s apostles anywhere in the Bible. We should understand back in that first century, they had capital punishment back then and the cross was the instrument that was used to murder our Lord Jesus Christ. Ironically, a multitude of people have been taught and believe that the cross is a holy symbol. Now we know that it is a sign identifying someone that has been deceived by the ultimate deceiver, the devil, Satan, and he is branding them to be tormented in the lake of fire.
[12:12] Summary and review
So now that we have received a better understanding of this topic, let’s review so we can finally give a clear answer to the question of Ivy when she asked: Why doesn’t the Church Of Christ use the sign of the cross?
What is the sign of the cross?
Well, we’ve learned that it’s a mark or gesture that Catholics do during Mass and ceremonies. It involves the right hand and the forehead.
What does the sign of the cross mean or signify?
We also learned that the sign of the cross is an inseparable symbol of the Catholic faith and is used to identify, mark, or know Catholics from non-Catholics.
How does the Bible describe that mark or sign?
Is it a good sign, bad sign? The Bible says it’s a sign that marks those who have been deceived into a belief that leads them to everlasting torment with fire and brimstone.
Brother Bob: So to answer Ivy’s question: Why doesn’t the Church Of Christ use the sign of the cross? Well, members of the Church Of Christ do not use the sign of the cross because we are not Catholic, or Protestant for that matter, and we do not want to have the mark of those that will be tormented forever and ever. We will not use that mark.
To our friends and family who may be Catholic watching this program, in no way do we share these truths to offend or hurt your feelings in any way. In fact our intention is the extreme opposite of that. We love you, we love you so much that we cannot bear even imagining anything bad happening to you. That is why we bring to you the truth even if you will say, “That hurts.” It is because… We bring it to you because that’s in the Bible.
Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
Revelation 14:9-11 New King James Version
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
Revelation 13:16 New King James Version
Key Takeaways
The Church Of Christ does not use the sign of the cross or display crosses or crucifixes in its houses of worship.
The Bible describes a mark on the right hand and forehead that will be used to mark those deceived by Satan.
The Catholic Church established the sign of the cross as a mark for Catholics to identify themselves.
Want to learn more about what the Bible truly teaches?
What you’ve heard is just an introduction to the teachings written in the Bible and taught inside the Church Of Christ. The Iglesia Ni Cristo bases all its doctrines on the Holy Scriptures, not on human tradition.
Have a question you’d like answered on That’s in the Bible? Submit your question and we’ll use the guidance of the Holy Scriptures to help you find the answer—the truth that’s in the Bible.
Who is the Bird of Prey in Isaiah 46:11?
jeudi 30 juillet 2026 • Durée 10:55
Isaiah 46:11 describes a bird of prey that would do God’s work at a certain time and place. Some point to Cyrus of Persia as the fulfillment of that prophecy. But inside the Church Of Christ we know and believe that Brother Felix Y. Manalo was the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 46:11.
Watch time: 11:07 • That’s in the Bible • Hosted by Brother Bob Pellien
Scripture references:
Isaiah 46:11-13
Ezra 1:1
Isaiah 44:28
Romans 9:4
Romans 1:16-17
In this episode
[0:30] The prophecy of Isaiah 46:11
[1:45] Three conditions the Bible gives
[2:57] What the Bible teaches about Cyrus
[7:30] Whoever fulfills the conditions, fulfills the prophecy
[8:48] Proofs of Brother Felix Y. Manalo’s fulfillment
Click to expand transcript
Full Episode Transcript
[On-screen text graphics]
My pastor told me that the one prophesied in Isaiah 46:11 is not Felix Manalo, but Cyrus. Why don’t you believe that Cyrus is the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 46:11?
Russelly Brookner of Seattle, WA
Brother Bob: We’re very thankful to you, Russelly Brookner from Seattle, Washington, for that question, also for the opportunity to give you a different point of view from that of your pastor.
[0:30] The prophecy of Isaiah 46:11
Brother Bob: You know, since we’re discussing a particular prophecy and what it’s referring to, let’s examine the prophecy, and learn what are the conditions that one has to meet in order to be the fulfillment of that prophecy. The particular prophecy in question for today is recorded in Isaiah 46:11. And let’s read that verse, and even continue down all the way through verse 13. Here’s where it’s recorded, here’s what it says:
[1:45] Three conditions the Bible gives
[2:57] What the Bible teaches about Cyrus
[7:30] Whoever fulfills the conditions, fulfills the prophecy
[8:48] Proofs of Brother Felix Y. Manalo’s fulfillment
May Christians Drink But Not Get Drunk?
jeudi 21 mai 2026 • Durée 22:13
Christians should not consume alcohol in any setting, including casual or social drinking. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not serve alcohol or intoxicating drinks.
Watch time: 22:26 • That’s in the Bible • Hosted by Brother Bob Pellien
Click to expand transcript
Full Episode Transcript
Brother Bob Pellien: May a Christian drink alcohol as long as they don’t get drunk?
[SHOW OPEN]
The Bible, the basis of our faith in the Church Of Christ, which answers questions about proper worship, the right relationship with God, and, most importantly, salvation—That’s in the Bible.
Brother Bob: I’m Bob Pellien, and welcome to the program, That’s in the Bible. We’ve received quite a number of questions through email, and social media and such that pertains to a common issue, which is drinking alcohol or intoxicating drinks that can lead to getting a person drunk. Here are some of what we have received. The first is from Faye and she asks:
3:03 What does the Bible say about getting drunk?
6:04 Did Jesus Christ drink or serve alcohol?
12:10 Is social drinking bad for Christians?
Related Questions
Bible Verses Referenced in Video
Key Takeaways
Who Was God Talking to in Genesis 1:26?
jeudi 19 mars 2026 • Durée 11:28
Click to expand transcript
Who Was God Talking to in Genesis 1:26?
Brother Bob Pellien: When God said, “Let Us make man in Our image,” who was He talking to at this time of creation? Does that point to a trinitarian or plural god that many believe in?
[Show open]
Brother Bob: The Bible. The basis of our faith in the Church Of Christ, which answers questions about proper worship, the right relationship with God, and most importantly, salvation. That’s in the Bible!
[On-screen text graphics]
Brother Bob Pellien
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob: I’m Bob Pellien, and welcome to the program, That’s in the Bible.
In one of our other programs produced in the Church Of Christ called Face the Truth, an episode received various comments for the argument that Jesus is God, and part of a trinity that makes up God. Included in those comments is this one from Miguel. He writes:
[On-screen text graphics]
Miguel Aguinaldo
Genesis 1:26 And GOD said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… (pure evidence of trinity) in old testament as well.
Brother Bob: Well we’d like to thank you, Miguel, for your comment and, well, this opportunity to clarify biblical teachings. So together, let’s learn what the Bible is actually teaching in that verse that you’re pointing to. Miguel, you allege that the verse Genesis 1:26, you’re saying that it serves as a basis for belief in a trinitarian concept of God.
So, let’s frame that topic of discussion around these questions:
What is actually written in the verse mentioned there, Genesis 1:26?
When is Easter in 2026?
jeudi 5 février 2026 • Durée 14:02
Click to expand transcript
Voiceover: Next on That’s in the Bible!
Patrick (Michigan, USA): Why is Easter in March?
Nida (Phoenix, Arizona): What does Palm Sunday have to do with Easter?
Brother Bob Pellien: The Bible’s response is simple and direct.
Julie (Sydney, Australia): Hi, my name is Julie, and I’m from Sydney, Australia. And my question is “Should Christians really be celebrating Easter?”
Brother Bob: How can we, in the true Church Of Christ participate in what comes from service to an ancient pagan goddess?
[Show Open]
Brother Bob: Hello, I’m Brother Bob Pellien. Thanks for joining us on this special episode of That’s in the Bible, where today we’ll answer people’s questions about the Easter holiday.
When is Easter weekend?
Our first question for today comes from Patrick McDonald in Michigan. Let’s hear what Patrick asks about Easter.
[Video begins]
Patrick: Why is Easter in March?
[Video ends]
Brother Bob: Thank you for your question, Patrick. You know, Easter is not always in the month of March. In fact, let’s take a moment to quote an excerpt from a book entitled My Catholic Faith written by Louis LaRavoire Morrow, and he writes—on behalf of the Catholic Church—their explanation about the choosing of the date of Easter. Here’s what’s cited in that book on page 81:
[On-screen text graphics]
Easter and Palm Sunday
Should celebrate Easter?
Is tithing still applicable to Christians?
jeudi 29 janvier 2026 • Durée 14:12
Click to expand transcript
Is Tithing Applicable Today?
[On-screen text graphics]
Question: I know that Iglesia Ni Cristo members don’t give tithes to the Church or 10% of their income. However, many Protestant churches today are upholding that type of doctrine. Is tithing really still applicable in the Christian Era? Why or why not?
Ralph Joel Bayot
Bacolod City, Philippines
Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you so much, Ralph, for your question, and the opportunity to read to you the answer that’s here in the Holy Bible. Now, dear friends, as Ralph stated in his email—and it’s really true because many Protestant churches do, today, practice a Biblical doctrine called tithing, which by the way, is referring to the offerings to God—but his question specifically is whether or not that’s still applicable today. So before we get into the Bible’s answer to Ralph’s question, let’s just make sure that we properly define and understand the terms for everyone watching who might not yet fully understand what tithing is all about and who were really commanded by God to give tithes. Is that us? Is tithing still to be done by Christians today?
[On-screen text graphics]
Question:
The truth about tithing in the Old Testament
Are Christians commanded to tithe today?
What does the Bible say about offering?
Why Did Jesus Die?
jeudi 22 janvier 2026 • Durée 37:15
Click to expand transcript
[On-screen text]
That’s in The Bible Live
Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you for being here! Thank you for being here and being our studio audience today here in Burlingame studios. We appreciate it really, very much.
[On-screen text]
Brother Bob Pellien | Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob: I’m Brother Bob Pellien. Welcome to everyone here. Welcome to everyone viewing us on the internet as well as on Direct TV channel 2068. Thank you all and welcome.
As you know, on this show, That’s In The Bible, we explore the Bible’s teachings on all things relevant to salvation and eternal life. As it was mentioned earlier, questions do really pour in from all over the globe, and we always turn to the pages of the Holy Scriptures, and we get our answers directly from this book, from the Bible. Today we actually have three questions, but all of the three questions that we’ll be addressing, they have the same interwoven theme. Let’s take a look at the first two questions.
[Video question]
[On-screen text]
Idris Bashil
London, England
Idris: Why God, as a Father, had to send His Son, Jesus to die for our sins, including mine? In the world today, nobody can be guilty for anybody’s sin. We all pay penalties for our sins. So why does Jesus have to die for my own sins if He’s innocent?
Who Can Preach the Gospel?
jeudi 4 décembre 2025 • Durée 26:04
Click to expand transcript
Who Can Preach the Gospel?
[On-screen text graphic]
Kristina Larsen: How can we tell if God is speaking to us through a pastor?
Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you so much Kristina for that very insightful question. We say insightful because there might be some who have never been concerned with or even thought to wonder if their pastor, their priest, their bishop, their minister or whatever they call their preacher is actually preaching the true word of God to them. And of course on the flip side of that is the mentality, which is that well there doesn’t even need to be a preacher in order to hear the word of God.
Dear friends as we always do in this program and in every program produced by the Church Of Christ we will address these questions by reading the answers right here recorded in the Holy Bible. Kristina’s question of how can we tell if God is speaking to us through a pastor.
[On-screen text graphic]
Question: How can we tell if God is speaking to us through a pastor?
Brother Bob: It’s actually perfectly aligned with the instruction to us from the apostles. And let’s read one of those in this recorded in 1 John chapter 4, verse 1:
My dear friends, do not believe all who claim to have the Spirit, but test them to find out if the spirit they have comes from God. For many false prophets have gone out everywhere.
[1 John 4:1 Good News Translation]
False Preachers
Brother Bob: According to what is written here, dear friends, we should not believe—were instructed not to believe just anyone who may be claiming to have the spirit or presents as a . Why? Because there are many false prophets according to the Apostle John, many false prophets who have gone out into the world. Therefore, Kristina you are on the right track or Kristina has the proper frame of mind to ask that question, how can I tell? How can we tell, dear friends, know even if the one is sent by God or not?
“How can they hear without a preacher?”
Who can preach the gospel?
Preaching the gospel: The difference between true and false preachers
Three Biblical examples of messengers sent by God
Lord Jesus Christ
John the Baptist
Apostle Paul
How to prove a preacher is the fulfillment of a Biblical prophecy
Should Christians Be Cremated?
mardi 7 octobre 2025 • Durée 10:31
[Video starts]
Travis: Hi my name is Travis, from San Leandro, California and I just wanted to know if cremation is practiced by the people of God.
[Video ends]
Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you, Travis, for your question. Death is something that no one living in this world can avoid. It’s important to note first off that here—there’s no religious rituals that are performed for any member of the Church Of Christ who passes away. For example, there’s no prayers of the dead, there’s no religious ceremonies or services that members of the Church Of Christ take part in after losing a loved one. Why not? Well according to the Bible the dead will never again take part in anything that happens in this world. That’s mentioned in the Bible in Ecclesiastes chapter 9, verse 6:
They will never again take part in anything that happens in this world
[Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 Good News Translation]
Brother Bob: Nevertheless, the bereaved of the dead strive to give a proper or decent burial for their deceased loved ones, and well, this is understandable and of course very reasonable as well. But, Travis, everything that we do, all of our actions during this highly emotional moment in one’s life as to be—which by the way, is often influenced by cultural norms, whatever those actions may be, they have to be guided by God who is the One who, of course, then will be the One to comfort people in their time of loss by means of the power of the Holy Spirit. Should we cremate our deceased loved ones?
What is cremation?
Brother Bob: First, well, what does that even mean? Through cremation the remains of the deceased will be burned, and the ashes will be placed in an urn or sometimes dispersed over soil or water.
What happened to people who died in the Bible?
What does the Bible say about cremation?
Hinduism practices cremation
Resurrection of the dead
Is God’s Love Conditional?
jeudi 25 septembre 2025 • Durée 42:09
Click to expand transcript
Is God’s Love Conditional?
Announcer: We’d like to introduce to you our host for that for That’s in the Bible Live, Brother Richie Juatco!
Brother Richie: Hello Seattle! How’s everyone? How’s everyone today? Welcome to That’s in the Bible Live. We’re actually live here on location in beautiful Seattle, Washington. And we’re here at the INC Media Experience event or INCMX.
For those that don’t know what That’s in the Bible is, it’s a program where we take questions from people all around the world, wondering what is in the Bible and how it applies to our lives. Now, prior to this event, we actually sent out a camera crew to your beautiful city to find out if there was anyone in the city that had any questions that they’ve been wondering for some time. And they were hoping that they could find an answer from the Bible. So first of all, we would like to thank all those that asked questions to our camera crew, even those that reached out to us via email. But we wouldn’t especially like to thank Robert, Mark and Tyswanekwa, because the questions that they asked, we’re going to feature on our show today.
[On-screen graphic]
Topic: Following The Rules Set By A Church
Robert Nichols
Bothell, Washington
Topic: Spiritual vs. Religious
Mark Sokup
Topic: Conditions On Who To Love
Tyswanekwa Crosby
Federal Way, Washington
Brother Richie: Now these are the questions that they asked. Robert, the topic of his question was following the set rules by a church. So he wanted to know did he have to follow those rules. Mark asked about spiritual versus religious, there might be some of us that have heard that or someone wondering the difference between that; and Tyswanekwa, she asked conditions on who to love. She wanted to know if there was anything in the Bible that made her have to love someone a certain way.
Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it. “Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, Who are far from righteousness: I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory.
[Isaiah 46:11-13 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, we should notice three conditions that the Bible gives in order to describe this particular servant of God. Place of origin was the first. What was it? A far country in the east or Far East. The second, the task that was given to accomplish. What was it? To execute God’s counsel by bringing His righteousness near to people.
[On-screen text graphics]
Place of origin: a far country in the east or Far East
Task given to accomplish: execute God’s counsel by bringing His righteousness near to people
Brother Bob: God’s righteousness, as we have learned from other lessons, Romans 1:16 and 17, is the gospel. So, his role: to preach the gospel. And the third, people that God will send this servant to. Who were they? They are those who are far from righteousness, or far away from the true gospel.
[On-screen text graphics]
People that God will send this servant to: those who are far from righteousness
Brother Bob: So, we pose the question: Does Cyrus meet those Biblical conditions? Could Cyrus be the fulfillment of that prophecy, being the one referred to there?
[On-screen text graphics]
QUESTION: Does Cyrus meet these biblical conditions proving to be the one referred to?
Brother Bob: He can’t! Why not? What’s the proof? Let’s go over clearly what the Bible teaches about Cyrus. For example, in terms of the place of origin, where is Cyrus from?
[On-screen text graphics]
QUESTION: Where is Cyrus from?
Brother Bob: The Bible teaches this in Ezra, chapter 1, verse 1, wherein it says this:
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,
[Ezra 1:1 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Let’s pause there. We [already have] our answer. According to what we have read, Cyrus was from what place? Persia.
[On-screen text graphics]
Cyrus was a Persian
Brother Bob: In fact, he was the king of Persia, and Persia is not a far country in the east, as the prophecy describes. Persia is in the near east. Let’s take a look at another element of the prophecy, in terms of the task or the assignment, that God gave to Cyrus to accomplish. Was Cyrus to preach the gospel? Was it his assignment to preach the gospel, or to bring God’s righteousness near again to people?
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QUESTION: Was Cyrus a preacher of the gospel to bring God’s righteousness to people?
Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.” ’
[Isaiah 44:28 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, the Bible teaches the assignment of Cyrus, teaches that Cyrus was sent by God to restore Jerusalem and to restore the temple, not to preach the gospel to those that were far from the gospel, or far from righteousness as Isaiah 46:11-13 described. That was not the assignment given to Cyrus. Cyrus cannot, therefore, be the fulfillment of that prophecy. How about the people that God sent Cyrus to?
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QUESTION: How about the people God sent Cyrus to?
Brother Bob: Were those people far from righteousness, as the prophecy in Isaiah 46 indicated? Well, we have already learned that God sent Cyrus to restore Jerusalem and the temple, which was for God’s nation of Israel. What was the condition of Israel? Were they far from God’s words? Far from His righteousness? Far from His teaching? Far from His law, that they needed to be brought near to it again by Cyrus? We can read the answer to that in Romans. In the book of Romans, chapter 9. Let’s listen together to what’s recorded here in verse 4, [it’s described] like this:
the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.
[Romans 9:4 New International Version]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, the Bible makes [it] clear here that Israel [was] not far from God’s righteousness, or far from God’s law. In fact, they were the ones that already had the law. Therefore, we can safely conclude that the messenger being mentioned in the prophecy written in Isaiah 46:11 is definitely not Cyrus.
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The messenger being mentioned in the prophecy written in Isaiah 46:11 is definitely not Cyrus
Brother Bob: It’s impossible. Why? He does not fit that prophecy. He is from the wrong place [and] he did not do what the prophecy indicated. Why should we believe this? Because this is not merely an option that we feel, an opinion that we feel, but this is the truth, because that’s in the Bible.
Brother Bob: So, dear friends, if Cyrus is definitely not the messenger prophesied in Isaiah 46:11, then who is the one who fulfills the conditions described in the prophecy of Isaiah 46:11 and many more Biblical prophecies? It is none other than Brother Felix Y. Manalo.
Remember the three conditions that we learned about earlier, from the prophecy that the Bible gives to describe this particular servant of God? First, place of origin. What did we read? [A] far country in the east or Far East. What was the second? The task or the assignment given to accomplish. What was it? To execute God’s counsel, or His words, by bringing His righteousness—God’s righteousness.
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Place of origin: a far country in the east or Far East
Task given to accomplish: execute God’s counsel by bringing His righteousness near to people
Brother Bob: God’s righteousness is the gospel. Romans 1:16 and 17.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
[Romans 1:16-17 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: [Brother Felix Y. Manalo’s] assignment [was] to bring that gospel, bring God’s righteousness near, again, to God’s people. Number three, the people God will send a servant to was [an] important part of the prophecy. Who were they? Those who are far from righteousness, or far from the true gospel.
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People God will send this servant to: those who are far from righteousness
Brother Bob: Brother Felix Manalo was from the Philippine Islands, which is the Far East, a far country in the east. He was also a preacher of the pure gospel, never teaching personal opinions, but rather, always reading the Bible’s answers to questions. He was sent to people, who, until actually hearing what he preached from the Bible, were not even aware of how far away from the truth they really were.
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Brother Felix Y. Manalo:
from the Far East (Philippine Islands)
preacher of the pure gospel
sent to those who are far from righteousness
Brother Bob: That’s the reason why members of the Church Of Christ, from which this program is produced, believe it cannot be Cyrus. It’s not Cyrus, but instead, Brother Felix Manalo. He brought the true gospel near to people—brought those who were far from it, in false religions, brought them back to the true gospel, in fulfillment of the prophecy. He is the fulfillment of what is recorded here in the Bible.
When you’re ready to learn more about the fundamental teachings found here inside the Church Of Christ, visit us at incmedia.org.
Brother Bob: Why? There, you are going to find various series of programs all dedicated to answering your spiritual questions. You can also follow our Facebook pages at Iglesia Ni Cristo News and Updates, as well as Iglesia Ni Cristo Media.
There, you can view more of our shows. If you want to see how, for example, how the Church gets involved with our communities, you can go to incgiving.org.
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incgiving.org
Brother Bob: If you want to find a house of worship that is nearest to you, so you can join us and our worship services, visit the iglesianicristo.net.
And if you have questions you’d like addressed here on the show, please email them to us at answers@incmedia.org.
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Do you have questions about the Bible? Send your videos to: answers@incmedia.org
Brother Bob: Thank you all for joining us. We’ll see you again next time on That’s in the Bible!
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Faye
Am I forbidden to have a drink of wine or a drink with a meal, not to get drunk but enjoy a drink with a meal? What is the true definition of drunkard as it pertains to the bible?
Brother Bob: And we received this one from someone in Las Vegas named Jesse who asked:
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Jesse
What was the significance of Christ giving Judas the bread dipped in wine?
Brother Bob: Well dear friends, here we can see that the question is regarding the wine the Lord Jesus Christ used. Similarly, in one of our other programs also produced in the Church Of Christ called The Message, in an episode regarding why Christians should not drink alcohol, and we received a comment for that argument that Jesus is ok with drinking alcohol. Royce asked:
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Royce Dela Cruz
The transformation of water into wine at the wedding at Cana (also called the marriage at Cana, wedding feast at Cana or marriage feast at Cana) is the first miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John. Does this mean Jesus is doing the wrong thing?
Brother Bob: Well, thank you all for your important questions and also giving us the opportunity today to clarify the Bible’s teachings on these. So, let’s begin. Let’s learn, “What does the Bible actually teach regarding alcohol and intoxicating drinks that can get a person drunk?”.
In order to accurately answer these questions, let’s frame our discussion together around these sub-questions:
What does the Bible say about getting drunk?
Did Jesus Christ drink or serve alcohol?
What is forbidden so Christians will not fall into drunkenness?
Brother Bob: Alright, let’s start with the first question. What does the Bible actually instruct regarding getting drunk? Let’s turn to the Bible and open it to Luke 21:34 wherein the following is recorded:
“Be careful not to spend your time having parties and getting drunk or worrying about this life. If you do that, you won’t be able to think straight, and the end might come when you are not ready.
[Luke 21:34 Easy-to-Read Version]
Brother Bob: Notice who is giving the instruction: this is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ himself. What did Christ instruct? He said, “Be careful”. What should we be careful NOT to do? He said, “Be careful not to spend your time… worrying about this life… don’t spend your time having parties and getting drunk.” So according to Christ these are things that we should not do. According to the Bible then, the Savior Himself prohibits getting drunk.
Why? “What’s so bad if one gets drunk?” one may say. Some might even say “It’s just having fun, it’s harmless.” What are the consequences however that the Bible makes mention which we should understand? Dear friends, let’s go again to the Bible, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10:
…Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
[1 Corinthians 6:9-10 New Living Translation]
Brother Bob: Here we can see dear friends, we can read a long list of sins. What does the Bible make clear about people who commit these kind of sins? It says, “none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.” And, did you notice? Who’s among those that will not inherit the Kingdom of God or not be saved? Who’s included in this list was “drunkards”; or those who habitually drink.
Now we know why the Lord Jesus Christ prohibits getting drunk. Some even go so far though as to think that “Jesus drank alcohol and even served it to His disciples,” right?
That was Jesse’s and Royce Dela Cruz’s question as you can recall, they brought up Jesus using wine at the Last Supper as well as during the wedding in Cana. Royce even asked if Jesus did something wrong because he used wine in those instances.
Did Jesus Christ drink or serve alcohol? Since Christ is the One who, as we already read, prohibits getting drunk, would He then commit the sin of being the stumbling block or assisting others in their drinking and getting drunk? Of course not. Why are we sure? What’s the proof? We turn this time to the writings of the Apostle Peter. He wrote the following in 1 Peter 2:21-22:
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
[1 Peter 2:21-22 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: So dear friends, the Bible makes it very clear that “Christ… committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”. What did we learn from that? Since He prohibits getting drunk, He will not commit the sin of deceitfully serving something that can get people drunk, or of course even drinking it Himself.
But look, now we know that there may be those, there may be even many who are probably wondering at this point in our discussion about the wine mentioned in the Bible then, that Christ clearly served.
We have to understand that not all wines are the same, and there is a winemaking process of aging fruit juices into alcoholic beverages. So within this aging process, or fermentation, of winemaking, would Jesus Christ be drinking and serving wine that is already fermented and can therefore get people drunk? Of course not! But wait, is it just us who is saying that? Why are we so sure, why are we so confident in saying that?
Are we the only ones who say it? Are we the only ones with that stand? Take a look. According to some scholars in the biblical languages which are Hebrew and Greek, what do these Bible scholars explain regarding the words that have been translated to English as “wine”? Let’s read from a published article from online, entitled “What Kind of Wine Did Jesus Drink?”:
The word “wine” in the Bible is not always alcoholic or equivalent to modern wine. The Bible uses one Greek word for “wine” and “grape juice” which could mean alcoholic wine of varying amounts or non-alcoholic grape juice (1 Tim 3:8; Titus 2:3). The Hebrew word for “wine” is yayin and the Greek is oinos (MT; LXX). Biblical “wine” is grape juice that may or may not have fermented. However, the wine of today has considerably more alcohol than wine in the first century because of modified yeast. The Bible includes a number of examples of unfermented “wine:”…
These references reveal that the word “wine” in Hebrew and Greek often refers to non-alcoholic grape juice in the Bible. …
The Bible does not contain one positive statement about intoxicating wine or any such drink. The Bible does include positive words about generic “wine” that is grape juice.
Brother Bob: Friends, what did we learn from these scholars of the Bible languages? They say, “The Bible uses one Greek word for “wine” and “grape juice” which could mean alcoholic wine of varying amounts or non-alcoholic grape juice”.
If one word is used in the Bible for the varying degrees of fermentation of grape juice into alcoholic wine, which should we understand the word to mean then? Simple grape juice, or intoxicating wine? As we read, “the word “wine” in Hebrew and Greek often refers to non-alcoholic grape juice in the Bible”.
So, what should we understand about the times the Bible is referring to alcoholic wine or intoxicating drink? They say, “The Bible does not contain one positive statement about intoxicating wine or any such drink.”
Therefore dear friends, the wine that Christ served and even miraculously made from water was not an intoxicating wine like what we know today that people would drink and get drunk. Those biblical verses cannot therefore be used as a basis or justification to drink alcohol.
Well, what about just “moderate-drinking”? What about “social-drinking”? Some even claim they can “hold-their-liquor” meaning to say they know when to stop drinking, to drink but not be drunk. Faye, as you can recall her question, even asked about drinking not to get drunk, but to enjoy a drink with a meal for example, she said. So Is social drinking bad for Christians? Is it ok?
So let’s answer that question. Is merely getting drunk the biblical prohibition? What is forbidden? Let’s turn again to the Holy Bible this time, we go to the book of Proverbs 23:31-32 which reads:
Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end, it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.
[Proverbs 23:31-32 New International Version]
Brother Bob: So dear friends, the Bible clearly says here “Do not”. And you know, we all know that when it begins that way, it’s presenting a prohibition. What’s the Bible prohibiting? It says, “Do not gaze at wine”. We need to understand what “gaze” means right? Because as we just read, we’re forbidden to do this to wine. According to Dictionary.com, let’s take a look at the definition:
“Gaze: to look steadily and intently, as with great curiosity, interest, pleasure, or wonder”.
Brother Bob: Dear friends, to gaze at wine is not to simply look at it; we don’t have to avoid passing through that section in the grocery store. But gazing at alcohol or wine is to look at it with pleasure, and with intent. The way we think of wine, as though with admiration and significance, that is what God prohibits His people to do.
Why? How is it described? You heard me read it dear friends, the Bible described it and said that it “poisons like a viper”. Who in their right mind would argue to be a “moderate or a social -drinker” of poison?
Likewise, how can one argue that drinking is ok when the Bible is instructing us not to even gaze at it, or think of wine with intent? So we can see here dear friends that getting drunk is not the only prohibition when it comes to intoxicating drinks. No.
Not only is it a sin to be drunk, but what else does God forbid so that His people will not make the mistake of getting drunk? 1 Corinthians 5:11 further clarifies this, I quote:
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
[1 Corinthians 5:11 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Here we receive another prohibition. What’s the prohibition regarding? It’s whom we should “not keep company with”. Who should we avoid or not keep company with according to what we have read? It’s “with anyone… who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler,… or an extortioner… or a drunkard”.
Therefore the Bible is not only prohibiting God’s people from getting drunk, or drinking, or thinking about drinking, but even associating with people who drink and get drunk.
Dear friends, why does God not want His people to drink? Let’s read what happens when people drink in Proverbs 31:5 it says:
When they drink, they forget the laws and ignore the rights of people in need.
[Proverbs 31:5 Good News Bible]
Brother Bob: This biblical truth can be seen in so many that break the law, dear friends. What is the correlation one may say of people drinking alcohol and breaking the law? The Bible said here, “When they drink, they forget the laws”. One causes the other, that’s the correlation.
What proves that these words written here in the Bible are really true, which is why God is forbidding His people to drink alcohol and intoxicating drinks? Consider, according to Alcoholrehabguide.org, what happens when people drink and forget the laws? Take a look:
Alcohol plays a large role in criminal activities and violence. Excessive drinking has the ability to lower inhibitions, impair a person’s judgment and increase the risk of aggressive behaviors. …roughly 40% of inmates who are incarcerated for violent offenses were under the influence of alcohol during the time of their crime.
Brother Bob: So we can see that God’s instructions to His people are for their own good and His command to stay away from alcohol guides us to abide by the laws of the land. If we forget about the laws of the land, well that would be bad enough. But what’s even worse, if we would forget God’s laws which reigns supreme over His people, which again is the reason why He prohibits drinking alcohol, even if it’s legal in our country.
For those who thought the Bible was merely prohibiting getting drunk, not simply drinking alcohol, you should acknowledge that no one ever got drunk by not drinking, whereas drunkenness always begins with one drink.
So to serve as a basis to not even have one drink or even want to drink, what biblical instruction are we given? Let’s read yet once again from the Holy Bible, and we turn to Ephesians 4:27, it simply says:
Don’t give the Devil a chance.
[Ephesians 4:27 Good News Bible]
Brother Bob: This biblical instruction should keep us from rationalizing the idea of drinking alcohol. Why? Our enemy, the devil, is not one to be underestimated. If given a chance, he will take advantage of our weaknesses, and deceive us. That’s why in one of the verses we have read earlier it taught, “Don’t fool yourselves”.
Dear friends, we started this discussion with these main questions in mind, let’s review what we have learned as the answers from the Holy Bible:
What does the Bible say about getting drunk?
Well, the Bible was very clear, right? God Himself and also our Lord Jesus Christ are both prohibiting getting drunk.
Did Jesus Christ drink or serve alcohol to others?
We learned that Jesus, He never drank or served alcohol or intoxicating drinks. No. The translated word “wine” that Christ used it’s not the same as the word “wine” that we commonly use today, which is why it cannot be a basis to justify drinking alcohol.
What is forbidden so Christians will not fall into drunkenness?
As we learned from the Bible, the Bible prohibits associating with people who drink and get drunk, think about drinking, and actually are drinking even if it’s not to get drunk.
Brother Bob: As members of the Church Of Christ, we’re so thankful to God and to our Lord Jesus Christ that they care so much about our welfare as to continue guiding us on how to live a life of holiness that will lead us to eternal life with them in the holy city, the kingdom of heaven.
Join with us as well. To do that, we’d like to continue inviting you to learn more about the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ. To do so, please visit us online and browse the different topics or set up an appointment to meet with a minister of the gospel here in the Church Of Christ.
“Be careful not to spend your time having parties and getting drunk or worrying about this life. If you do that, you won’t be able to think straight, and the end might come when you are not ready.
[Luke 21:34 Easy-to-Read Version]
…Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
[1 Corinthians 6:9-10 New Living Translation]
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
[1 Peter 2:21-22 New King James Version]
Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end, it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.
[Proverbs 23:31-32 New International Version]
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
[1 Corinthians 5:11 New King James Version]
When they drink, they forget the laws and ignore the rights of people in need.
[Proverbs 31:5 Good News Bible]
Don’t give the Devil a chance.
[Ephesians 4:27 Good News Bible]
The Bible is very clear: God Himself and also our Lord Jesus Christ are both prohibiting getting drunk.
Jesus never drank or served alcohol or intoxicating drinks. The translated word “wine” that Christ used it’s not the same as the word “wine” that we commonly use today, which is why it cannot be a basis to justify drinking alcohol.
The Bible prohibits associating with people who drink and get drunk, think about drinking, and those who drink even if it’s not to get drunk.
Want to learn more about what the Bible truly teaches?
What you’ve heard is just an introduction to the teachings written in the Bible and taught inside the Church Of Christ. The Iglesia Ni Cristo bases all its doctrines on the Holy Scriptures, not on human tradition.
Have a question you’d like answered on That’s in the Bible? Submit your question and we’ll use the guidance of the Holy Scriptures to help you find the answer—the truth that’s in the Bible.
Why did God say, “Let Us make man in Our image”? Who is God speaking to?
Are those whom God is addressing, are they involved in the actual creation?
Brother Bob: Well, let’s begin and find out first what is written in the verse mentioned, Genesis 1:26. Let’s turn to the pages of the Holy Bible. It says:
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
[Genesis 1:26 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, here we can clearly see that, well, it’s God Himself, first of all, that is speaking. And what is He discussing? He was speaking about the making or the creating of mankind. What did He have to say? He said, “Let Us make man in Our image.” Well, what did He mean? He said, “according to Our likeness.” What can we clearly notice? God is not alone in heaven. Proof? Well in the verse that we’ve just read, He said and used the pronoun, “Us” and “Our,” which refers, of course, to a plural number or more than one. How many more? The verse does not specify. It could be one more, it could be two more, it could be three more, or millions more.
Now we understand that those who believe in the trinity believe with all their heart that they know the specific number, although it’s not specified in the verse. And the number they’ve come up with is two. Not only that, they’ve even assigned exactly who those two actually are. They conclude that they are our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, believing that this verse, therefore, establishes proof of the trinity, or that God is composed of three parts. But that is not what is written in the verse. It’s not what’s written in the Bible.
What would be the harm in agreeing with or believing those assumptions of Miguel and others? Well, it would contradict what Jesus Christ Himself taught in John 17:3 and 1, which we have shared many times in our programs, that is that the Father is the only true God.
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1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Faither, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,
3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
[John 17:1,3 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: So instead of assuming, or jumping to conclusions about what the Bible means there in Genesis 1:26, and then, of course, taking a huge risk of being wrong, let’s simply ask why did God say, “Let Us make man in Our image”? Who is God speaking to? Who else was in heaven at this time that God could have spoken to? Well, in Matthew 24:36, our Lord Jesus Christ, of course, provides us the answer, as He discussed the day of judgment. I quote:
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
[Matthew 24:36 New International Version]
Brother Bob: Who did He say regarding who is with God in heaven? Jesus mentioned that it’s the, “angels in heaven.” So in this reference then that Jesus made as to who is in heaven with God, therefore, could have been spoken to at the time of creation?
Those that God was speaking to when discussing making or creating mankind were the angels that were actually there with Him in heaven. How many angels are there in heaven? The Bible also mentions in Hebrews 12:22 that there are countless multitudes of angels.
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But rather, you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering,
[Hebrews 12:22 Amplified Bible]
Brother Bob: What should we also notice in Christ’s teaching? Christ is admitting that there are things that the Father knows, which He does not. What in particular did Christ mention? When the Judgment Day would be. What did He say regarding the specific day or hour?
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“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
[Matthew 24:36 New International Version]
Brother Bob: Well He said, “no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Why does the Father know? Because He is the all-knowing. He is the only true God.
Now that we know who God was referring to when He said, “Let Us make man in Our image,” are those angels involved in the actual creation? God Himself answers our question, and He does so in Isaiah 44:24. Here’s what He said:
“I am the LORD, your savior; I am the one who created you. I am the LORD, the Creator of all things. I alone stretched out the heavens; when I made the earth, no one helped me.
[Isaiah 44:24 Good News Bible]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, although God was speaking to the angels when making man, here He clarifies regarding who was involved in actually creating mankind. He said “I am the one who created you… I alone…,” and what else did He say? “No one helped me.”
So we can see that when we learn what is actually written in the Bible, not only is there no biblical evidence of the trinity, but we can even find evidence against that belief that there’s three gods in one.
We started this discussion with these main questions in mind. Let’s review them and what we have now learned from the teachings of the Holy Bible. Number one, we asked:
What is written? What is actually written in the verse mentioned, Genesis 1:26? Can we read evidence of the trinity? And what did we learn? Nowhere in the verse is the trinity mentioned. There is no mention of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit all being together in one God. It’s not there.
Why then did God say, “Let Us make man in Our image”? Who was God speaking to? We learned from the Bible that the One and only true God was speaking to the angels that were with Him in heaven.
Are those God is addressing, are they involved in the creation? We learned from the Bible the angels were not involved in the creation of all things because God Himself, He’s the One who said He’s alone in creating all things. No one helped Him.
Brother Bob: So, it’s very important, Miguel, it’s very important to all who are believing such. Be careful to not go beyond what is written in the Holy Bible. Those that believe that Genesis 1:26 is teaching the trinity, they are adding to what is actually recorded there in that verse, and adding is strictly prohibited by God. We do thank you for giving us this opportunity to use the Bible to provide clarification on this very important topic. Thank you, Miguel.
We’d like you to continue learning about the Iglesia Ni Cristo, the Church Of Christ, and to do so:
Brother Bob: Please visit us online, browse the different topics or set up an appointment to meet with a Minister of the gospel inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ. And if you have any questions about the Bible and salvation, please email them to us:
Brother Bob: I’m Bob Pellien. Thanks for watching. See you next time right here on That’s in the Bible!
[Show close]
[Source: My Catholic Faith, pg. 81]
Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon of spring; the feast therefore is moveable, and can fall between March 22 and April 25. The Paschal season lasts till Trinity Sunday; till then joyous alleluia resounds.
Brother Bob: So here, Patrick, the Catholic Church writes not only about the moveable date of the Easter, here in this book My Catholic Faith, they also write about a season that they have created that begins with Ash Wednesday, which is also a moveable season.
But what is that season they call Lent? What’s it all about? They answer that in another of their books entitled The Visible Church. On page 184, they write:
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[Source: The Visible Church, pg. 184]
Lent is a season of penance set apart by the Church in memory of the fast of our Lord in the desert,… The date of the beginning of Lent varies from year to year, according to the date of Easter. In Latin it is called Quadragesima (fortieth), from which are taken the Italian Quaresima and the French Carame. The English name is from Anglo-Saxon Lenten, which means Spring.
Brother Bob: So there they speak of the season beginning with Ash Wednesday, which they call Lent. It’s a season of penance and that week [actually] leads up to Easter Sunday. They have Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter. And during that week they have what they call Holy Thursday. They have also Good Friday, they have Holy Saturday, which are special holidays inside the Catholic Church all pertaining to Easter.
Which brings us right into the next question, which is a question specifically about that Palm Sunday from Nida who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Let’s listen to her question.
[Video begins]
Nida: What does Palm Sunday have to do with Easter?
[Video ends]
Brother Bob: Thank you, Nida. Palm Sunday, one week prior to Easter, is what was made by the Catholic Church and they write about it also in this book entitled The Visible Church. Let’s turn to page 171 where they write:
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[Source: The Visible Church, pg. 171]
It is likely that the use of palms in our churches began in early Middle Ages… The palm is a symbol of victory. Among pagan nations victorious armies decked themselves and their chariots with palm branches. The Jews used palms to express rejoicing especially on their great Feast of Tabernacles.
Brother Bob: Palm Sunday, one week before Easter, is a Sunday which they use a lot of palms in their mass, and it has its roots in ancient pagan culture wherein their pagan armies would use palms as a symbol of victory with their armies. And maybe they would say, “Well, we would want to use that ancient pagan custom and attach it to Christ for a victory. Let’s call it a victory of Jesus and let’s also use that pagan cultural tradition. Let’s turn to Holy Scriptures for the Bible’s response to that way of thinking. In Titus chapter 1 verse 14:
Not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.
[Titus 1:14 New King James]
Brother Bob: When the Jews of the first century incorporated those pagan practices and began to use them during the time of our Lord Jesus Christ—that being the use of palms—which is currently being used today, and Palm Sunday in the Roman Catholic Church, the Bible’s response is simple and direct. We should not implement, we should not use or give heed to such kind of Jewish fables and such and the commandments of men and not of course most especially the commandments and traditions of ancient pagan cultures. Palm Sunday is something that we should not participate in inside the true Church.
Another question submitted by Julie from Sydney, Australia. Julie asks this:
[Video begins]
Julie: My question is should Christians really be celebrating Easter?
[Video ends]
Brother Bob: I think of all, that’s the most important question. Should we be celebrating it? Even if we will master all of its history, master all of the traditions attached to Easter, and understand all of their roots and origins, it follows [that] question that you ask. Should we participate in it? Should we incorporate that mindset that “well because it’s fun and because children enjoy it by having Easter eggs and chocolate Easter bunnies, and we have Palm Sunday, and we have Easter celebrations. Should true Christians of today participate?
It’s important to understand the origins of the whole Easter [tradition]. The Catholic Church wrote inside their Encyclopaedic Dictionary on page 161 a very important piece of information that we have to consider when answering that question “Should we participate in it?” They wrote:
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[Source: The Catholic Encyclopaedic Dictionary, pg. 161]
EASTER (etymology uncertain: St. Bede derives it from Eastre, a forgotten dawn goddess). The English name for the Sunday of the Resurrection of Our Lord,… Meat, eggs, and other foods formerly forbidden in Lent are blessed and there are still numerous local customs, some of pagan origin.
Brother Bob: In this Catholic Encyclopaedic Dictionary, they write about Easter, [mentioning] that it is derived from Eastre, a forgotten dawn goddess. Should we, whether it’s from Eastre or it’s from Ishtar, from Babylonian and ancient Egyptian times and if it has such kind of origin, how can we in the true Church Of Christ participate in what comes from service to an ancient pagan goddess? What does the instruction of God through the apostles have to say if there’s a tradition or if there’s something that is absent from the Bible (which Easter is absent from the Bible) if there is a holiday being practiced today called Easter with a season of Lent leading up to it having various practices of pagan origin? What are the instructions of the Lord for all who want to serve the Lord properly today?
Apostle Paul wrote the following, I Corinthians chapter 10 and beginning in verse 20 it says:
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.
[1 Corinthians 10:20 New International Version]
Brother Bob: That’s a very powerful response of the Lord here, dear friends, through the apostles. “I do not want you to be participants with demons” and if in the eyes of the Lord participating in traditions and practices that have their origin and roots in service to ancient pagan goddesses—if he considers that a demonic practice, then as members of the Church Of Christ, we’ll follow that instruction of God through the Apostle Paul when he said, “I do not want you to be participants in that.”
Here inside the Church Of Christ, we will not participate in the practices that are correlated with Easter traditions of today not found in the instructions of our Lord in the Holy Bible. In fact, there is another instance wherein Apostle Paul was addressing such things in his letter this time to the Ephesians. What did he write to them about these pagan traditions and pagan cultures? Should we allow them to be incorporated into Christian practices in service to the one true God?
Here is what he wrote in his letter to the Ephesians. I quote 4:17:
Therefore I say this—indeed, in union with the Lord I insist on it: do not live any longer as the pagans live, with their sterile ways of thinking.
[Ephesians 4:17 Complete Jewish Bible]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, the instruction is clear. Do not live in the ways of paganism. If these practices of Easter—being it with the rabbit, and the egg, and the Palm Sunday palms, and the various other elements and such holidays as Easter have their roots in paganism—God prohibits his people from participating.
Response of someone: “Hey, it’s no big deal. We’re just going along with the tradition for fun. We’re not connecting ourselves to its roots in paganism. We just want do it because it’s fun for the children,” they would say. Or “It’s just something that’s part of our lifestyle of today in service to the Lord.” If we will violate these principals of God and then try to call it a worship to Him, will He find it acceptable?
God’s answer was written in Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Here in chapter 2 in verse 22 as well as 23. He writes:
These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
[Colossians 2:22-23 New International Version]
Brother Bob: If we would put into practice that Lenten season, whether it’s to be fasting and self-abasement, allegedly, in service to the Lord in attempt to prepare for Easter, the Lord calls such regulations that are imposed by human traditions in such things is that, He said they will have no value. They teach that it will restrain a person from sin and it will give glory to God. It will cleanse them from their human iniquities. The Bible is clear. It has no value in such ways.
Well, dear friends, members of the Church Of Christ, therefore, do not participate in the practices of the Easter and Lenten season. Instead, we give thanks to the Father for sending His Son to redeem us through his shed blood on the cross and we will worship Him with all our heart and soul in compliance with the laws and ways of worship given in the Holy Bible. That’s all we have time for today. Dear friends, what you have heard is just an introduction to the teachings of the Bible taught in the Church Of Christ.
We invite you to learn more and join with us. And if you have questions you’d like answered on this show, email them to us and we’ll use the guidance of the Holy Scriptures to help you find your answer, the truth that’s in the Bible. Thanks for watching. I’m Brother Bob Pellien and we’ll see you again next time.
What are tithes?
Who were commanded by God to give tithes?
Is tithing still to be done by Christians today?
Brother Bob: So let’s get right to it, as I said, and what are tithes then as defined here in the Holy Bible? Well, we can read the answer recorded in the Scriptures here in Leviticus 20, chapter 27. We’re going to read verses 30, 32, as well as 34:
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord…And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord…These are the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai.
[Leviticus 27: 30, 32, 34 New International Version]
Brother Bob: So dear friends, here, the Bible clearly explains that a tithe is the one-tenth, or the 10% of the harvest, the 10% of the livestock, or whatever source of livelihood that the children of Israel had during that time that was commanded to be offered to God.
[On-screen text graphics]
Tithe
1/10 or 10% of the harvest, the livestock, whatever source of livelihood the children of Israel would offer to God.
Brother Bob: This was God’s command to them, and, as we just read, through Moses. Because this is a command regarding the offering, God is very specific on how it should be performed. Is there proof of this that He even makes very clear where, when, and how these tithes were to be done and performed? Yes. Let’s take a look at it. The first is where. Where was the nation of Israel instructed by God to bring their offerings or tithes? We can also read that answer in Deuteronomy chapter 12, verse 11, and it says that here like this:
The Lord will choose a single place where he is to be worshiped, and there you must bring to him everything that I have commanded: your sacrifices that are to be burned and your other sacrifices, your tithes and your offerings, and those special gifts that you have promised to the Lord.
[Deuteronomy 12:11 Today’s English Version]
Brother Bob: So as we have just read here, dear friends, when it comes to the giving of offerings to God, like the tithes as was instructed to the nation of Israel, He instructed that it should be done in a single place that He chooses. He chose those to be brought to Him in the worship service offered to Him. This is what we have learned thus far. Let’s have a brief recap. First, who was commanded to offer? The Bible’s answer? God’s nation of Israel.
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Who was commanded to offer?
God’s nation of Israel
Brother Bob: Number two, what was to be offered? The answer of the Bible? The result of their harvest or their herds.
[On-screen text graphics]
What to offer?
Result of harvest of herds
Brother Bob: Number three, how much was to be offered? What was the answer of the Bible? The 10%, which the Bible called tithing.
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How much to offer?
10% or tithes
Brother Bob: How about when we asked where to offer? The answer of the Bible? In the place chosen to hold worship service.
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Where to offer?
In the place chosen to hold worship service
Brother Bob: And how about the ‘’when’’ question? The answer of the Bible? During the worship service.
[On-screen text graphics]
When to offer?
During worship service
Brother Bob: So now that we can better understand, first of all, what tithes are or the offerings that were commanded by God in the Old Testament to the nation of Israel, in order to answer Ralph’s question, however, he asks if tithes like that are still applicable in the Christian Era.
[On-screen text graphics]
Is tithing still to be done by Christians today?
Brother Bob: We need to learn, we need to understand what are God’s commands regarding these things in the New Testament all that God has instructed regarding offering now.
Well, let’s go ahead and open up the Bible once again. To begin responding, we turn to the writings of Apostle Paul, II Corinthians 9:7, which reads this way:
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
[2 Corinthians 9:7 New International Version]
Brother Bob: Here we can see, dear friends, what God commands the Christians. He was specific. He specifies, first of all, who should give. What did He say? Each one should give. What else was the instruction? How much should each one give? What was the Bible’s answer? We just read it together. He said, “What he purposes in his heart.” So not 10% anymore. Now it’s what the person purposes in his heart. It’s from their heart.
Brother Bob: And what else was answered in this verse? How one should feel when he does offer. What’s the expectation of God that we just read through the writings of Apostle Paul here? He’s looking for a cheerful giver.
What other instructions are given to Christians regarding their offerings? We can also read in I Corinthians. This time we read in I Corinthians, chapter 16, verse 2. This commandment of the Lord concerning offerings is given:
On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
[I Corinthians 16:2 New International Version]
Brother Bob: In this verse, what is to be offered? What is it? Is it still the fruit of the land as we read in the early verse concerning tithing? Is it still a one-tenth of the herd of livestock? Is that what it is? What did we read in the Christian Era? Money was set aside in accordance with their income. How about the question [of] how it should be prepared? Apostle Paul also answered that. It should be set aside or budgeted weekly.
How about God’s command on the place where one should give their share, give [the] offerings they have set aside for Him? That is answered in Hebrews. Hebrews chapter 13, verses 15 and 16, wherein this is instructed:
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
[Hebrews 13:15-16 Revised Standard Version]
Brother Bob: So, dear friends, it’s quite obvious that these verses are referring to worship service offered to God. Why are we sure? Well, it speaks of praising God. It speaks of acknowledging His name to the fruit of our lips, for example, praying and hymn singing of praises to the Lord. And we can see that God gave a commandment concerning offering. What did He say? Don’t neglect. Don’t forget to bring your share or sacrifice offering.
And that’s what we do when we come before Him in worship as members of the Church Of Christ, as one purposes in their heart, they cheerfully bring their sacrifice offering, not a tithe that was commanded specifically 10% in the ancient times as God dealt with the nation of Israel. Unfortunately, if there are Protestant groups, be it Seventh Day Adventist or other groups that set aside a commandment to their people on how much they will offer, that’s wrong based on what the Bible teaches. So just as in the Old Testament, the command given to us today is to bring our offerings. Bring it in the place of worship. Bring it during the worship service. But the difference? It’s not a tithe. It’s a free will, voluntary, sacrifice, offering that one cheerfully brings as their offering to God.
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It’s NOT a tithe. It’s a free will, voluntary, sacrifice. It’s an offering that one cheerfully brings to God.
Brother Bob: So, dear friends, this is what we have learned about God’s command concerning offering in the New Testament. We’ve learned who was commanded to offer. What was the Bible’s answer? God’s nation in the Christian Era.
[On-screen text graphics]
Who was commanded to offer?
God’s nation in the Christian Era
Brother Bob: We posed the question, “Where should our offerings be brought?” And the Bible answered again. It should be brought in the place chosen by God to hold worship service.
[On-screen text graphics]
Where to offer?
In the place chosen to hold worship service
Brother Bob: We asked the question, “When should we offer?” And the Bible answered that too: during the worship service.
[On-screen text graphics]
When to offer?
During worship service
Brother Bob: We asked the question, “What should be offered?” And the Bible again gave a response: the monetary offering set aside from our income.
[On-screen text graphics]
What to offer?
Money set aside from their income
Brother Bob: We also asked the question, “Well, how much should we offer? Should it be a tithe? Should it be 10% as was commanded during the ancient nation of Israel’s time?” The Bible answered again: the amount is what is purposed in one’s own heart.
[On-screen text graphics]
How much to offer?
Amount purposed in heart
Brother Bob: So, dear friends, the command of God to the Israelites regarding the amount to offer, the amount of offering He is to receive, it’s different from His commandment that He gives in our time to the true Christians. The amount He commanded to Israel, that offering of the 10% or a tithe, that’s different than His instruction today. God’s command to the Christians is that we are to offer what is purposed in our heart.
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God’s command to the Christians is to offer what is purposed in our heart.
Brother Bob: Well, it could be 10% or it could be more than 10%. It is what is purposed in one’s own heart. Therefore, the answer to Ralph’s question regarding if tithing is still applicable today in the Christian Era is a resounding no. We have learned that God is very specific when it comes to offerings to Him. The tithing that others are enforcing today, where 10% is taken, some of them even take it out of a person’s bank account in order to make sure they give their tithe. That’s way outside of what God is commanding from His people today. Tithing cannot be enforced today because God did not command tithing for His people today.
[On-screen text graphics]
Tithing cannot be enforced today
Brother Bob: This is what we believe. This is what we do inside the Church Of Christ. Why? Because that’s in the Bible.
Dear friends, when you’re ready to learn more about the fundamental teachings found here inside the Church of Christ, please visit incmedia.org.
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Learn more at incmedia.org
Brother Bob: There, you’ll find various series of programs dedicated to answering your spiritual questions. You can also follow us on our Facebook pages: Iglesia Ni Cristo News and Updates and Iglesia Ni Cristo Media, where you can view more of our shows and see how the Church gets involved and interacts with the communities.
Brother Bob: You can find also a worship service and a house of prayer near to your home. Visit the iglesianicristo.net. There, you’ll find a directory of houses of worship.
Brother Bob: Find the one that’s near to you and you can go there. Join with us. Meet the minister. Meet the brothers and sisters inside the Church Of Christ. Learn the basic fundamental teachings we embrace, here, inside the Church. Join us in worship. And if you have questions that you’d like even answered here on the show, please email them to answers@incmedia.org.
Brother Bob: Thanks for joining us. We’ll see you again next time on That’s in the Bible!
[Video ends]
[Video question]
[On-screen texts]
Jon Seligmda
San Diego, CA
Jon: And my question is, If Jesus is not God, then Him dying on the cross—what significance is that? How does that save us from our sins?
[Video ends]
Brother Bob: Those are very good questions, do you agree?
Audience: Yes.
Brother Bob: Our final question was written by Cathy Do. She’s from Hampton Park, Australia, and she had a very similar question. She wrote it in via e-mail and she simply asked the question that was very much like that. She asked, “Why was Jesus Christ crucified?”
[On-screen text]
Why was Jesus Christ crucified?
Cathy Do
Hampton Park, Australia
Brother Bob: Well, thank you very much Idris. Thank you very much Jon. Thank you very much Cathy, and even all of the others that have reached out to us via email or letters with questions all along these same lines. The Biblical event where our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, well that’s not a secret. That’s very well known almost to all people and of course especially those within so-called Christianity. But what’s unclear to many, which prompted these kinds of questions, is “why?” Why did that happen? Even though there might be some that they can site the verse in the Bible, for example 1 Corinthians 15:3, that says that Jesus died for our sins, it still leaves many perceiving it to be an [incomplete] answer.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
[1 Corinthians 15:3 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Many still beg for more of an explanation because they really want to understand fully. So, since many already know that Christ died on the cross, they have heard that He died for the forgiveness of sins. In order for us to really understand why, what’s that all about, there’s some important preliminary information that we got to receive first. For example, what’s “sin” in the first place and why is that so bad? What kind of consequences and results does committing sin actually bring?
[On-screen text]
Why did Jesus have to die?
Brother Bob: So let’s answer those questions first and we’ll be taking the questions that they have addressed there and answering them in phases. First, what’s “sin” in the first place? Let’s begin turning to the pages of the Holy Scriptures and we do so at the outset of our study, reading 1 John 3:4. The definition of sin, if you will:
Whoever sins is guilty of breaking God’s law, because sin is a breaking of the law.
[1 John 3:4 Good News Translation]
Brother Bob: Very simple and direct Biblical answer, right? Sin, according to the Bible, is when one breaks God’s law. And when it comes to laws, we know that ignorance of the law is no excuse. That’s a very common saying as well. Therefore, since we all live under the law, it’s our responsibility to seek, a responsibility to learn, a responsibility to understand how to live within the confines of the law. What are the consequences if one sins or breaks the laws of God? How bad are the results of that? This is very important. I’m going to ask you to please remember this as our lesson unfolds. The consequence of sin? [Verse] 59:2 the Prophet Isaiah writes this:
It is because of your sins that he doesn’t hear you. It is your sins that separate you from God when you try to worship him.
[Isaiah 59:2 Good News Translation]
Brother Bob: That’s so important, audience. Please remember that. We’re going to come back to that. If I will ask you during the course of our study, what happens because of sin? What’s the answer? He doesn’t hear you.
It is because of your sins that he doesn’t hear you. It is your sins that separate you from God when you try to worship him.
[Isaiah 59:2 Good News Translation]
Brother Bob: There’s a consequence to sin. A separation from God. According to the Bible, there’s a dividing wall that’s now there. We’re separated from God. He no longer hears, He no longer listens. One then could be praying, one then could be worshiping, doing all kinds of things, but when that wall of separation is there, that’s it. A person is no longer acceptable to God and He said, “I won’t even hear.” But, of course, then one might think or say, “Hey, I’ll just pray. I’ll just ask God to forgive me.” But we can’t forget what we just learned here. He’s no longer listening to the prayers or listening to the worship. [Of] whom? Those that have committed sin, those who have violated His laws. So a sinner has no more relationship with the Creator because of sin that has divided and separated from God. Remember that because that’s an integral part of the unfolding of our answer to the questions that we have heard from those posing questions for our study today.
So it was asked earlier, what’s so bad about committing sin? Why is it so serious? Why is it so tragic? Why is such a brutal response such that God will no longer even listen, we will be separated from Him? It is because of sin we’re separated, but it gets much worse than that. We know that when one breaks the law he’s got to pay for it, right? Agreed?
Audience: Yes
Brother Bob: You go to pay for it. When anyone breaks the law, what’s the payment? What’s the price to be paid according to the Holy Scriptures? We often read this verse because it’s so important, but let’s go ahead and do so once again in our study for today. [Romans] 6:23:
For the wages of sin is death, …
[Romans 6:23 New king James Version]
Brother Bob: Read it with me audience. What does it say?
Brother Bob: The wage or price to be paid for sin is death. The Bible makes clear that the payment for committing sin, it’s not an insignificant payment. It’s death. Now one might be thinking like this for example, “Hey. Come on. That’s not so bad. I thought it was going to be much worse than that. I’m going to die anyway so I guess when I die my sins are all going to be finished. It’s all going to be paid for.” Not necessarily so because is death, the mere ending of our biological existence, is that the full payment for sin? The death that we all know is when a person stops breathing, right? Somebody says you’re going to die, everybody knows what that means. The wage or price for sin is death, but not just the ending of our breath. What death is the Bible calling the payment or the price to be paid for sins that we have committed, and how long is the payment? How long is this sentence of the punishment? We turn to the Bible once again. In the Book of Revelation 20:14,10:
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
[Revelations 20:14,10 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: It’s not merely then just the ending of our biological existence, the ending for our breathing, but the Bible mentions a second death, and that’s a very serious event, that’s a second death in the lake of fire, and one would be tormented there. The sentence is eternal torment. That’s very tragic. That’s very serious. Breaking God’s law places a person into such a horrific predicament that we would find ourselves in because of sin. What we need is to find a way out of that, right? We got to change that. We got to find a way so that we don’t have to face the consequence. Because facing that consequence and avoiding that consequence has to become—and I think everybody here would agree—has to become the top priority of a person who has committed sin. Do you agree? What do you say?
Audience: Yes.
Brother Bob: That’s got to be top priority for sure. This is where one will see then and this is where the role of our Lord Jesus Christ starts to enter in and become so extremely important to understand. OK. So a recap of our initial segment of our study.
[On-screen text]
>> 1. Committing sin or breaking God’s law is no trivial thing.
[On-screen text]
>> 2. The moment one commits sin—knowingly or unknowingly—he or she is separated from God.
Brother Bob: What happens to our relationship with God? It becomes what? It’s severed, it’s separated, severed, cut, or whatever word you want to use. It is no more.
[On-screen text]
>> 3. They must then pay the price, in the lake of fire forever and ever.
Brother Bob: There’s a price to be paid for that and that price to be paid is a death, second death, eternal torment in what the Bible calls a lake of fire. This is serious stuff. This is very, very important. When people ask those questions that were posed and they asked, “Well why did Jesus die on the cross?” Because of what we have just discussed, it makes the answer to their question so vital. They’ve got to know it.
Let’s ask two more important questions before we learn and get to the real meat of the significance of what our Lord Jesus Christ did there on that cross. And to give a better perspective all about that subject, let’s ask another question, which is how many people are in that horrific predicament in the first place, having committed sin, been separated, from God and are on their journey to the lake of fire and eternal torment? How many people have committed sin? What do you think, studio audience? Some? Most? All? None?
Audience: All.
Brother Bob: Wow. You have certainty in your answer. You seem very, very sure. Are you really, really sure of your answer?
Audience: Yes.
Brother Bob: 3:23 in the book of Romans.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
[Romans 3:23 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: You’re correct. All have committed sin. It’s a Biblical truth everyone has sinned and whether or not we would not want to admit it, none of us raise our hand and say, “Hey, I’m perfect. I’m good enough already. I haven’t committed any sins.” We are all in the horrific predicament of needing to find a way out of that predicament and be saved from the punishment that is due to us because of our humanity, our human weakness and propensity to sin and violate the law, God’s law.
So what’s our options? We can all pay for our sins. You can pay for our own sins, but that wouldn’t be wise. That would mean that we’re going to be cast into that lake of fire that we read about and be punished forever. So that’s not a good option to choose. Can someone else pay for our sins? Can you pay the sin of the one sitting next to you? Can I pay for your sin? Can you pay for my sin? There is a law regarding sinners. A law of God pertaining to those who have committed sin. What’s the law of God pertaining to sinners? I’m going to ask the audience to please remember this. We’re going to come back to this too. What’s the first one I said we’re going to come back to? Isaiah 59:2 right? What happens because of sin is, what? OK you go that one already. Separation. Now the law of God pertaining to sinners. Deuteronomy 24:16:
“Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin.
[Deuteronomy 24:16 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: So let’s remember this. Is it an option to get out of the horrific situation because of sin? Can we have someone else answer for our sin? What do you say?
Audience: No.
Brother Bob: No. God’s law states very, very clearly there, and I’m going to ask you to remember it. It’s very important. We’re going to come back to it at the very end. God’s law states clearly: a person shall be put to death for their own sin. Meaning God does not allow anyone to pay for the sin of somebody else. So when I ask, what is the law of God pertaining to sinners? What’s our answer? Everyone has to answer for their own sin. OK? Got it? We can understand the fairness of that, you agree it’s fair? Everyone’s got to answer for their own. Nobody can be punished for the sin of somebody else. That’s fair, right? We can easily agree with that. We can understand the fairness of that law. In fact, even laws of governments, a lot of laws of government that are patterned after that principle in order to be just, in order to be fair. Now there might be some, that when they hear these verses in the Scriptures that we’re reading, they would say, “Well if that’s God’s law, then how did the Lord Jesus pay for the sins of others?” You get the point? Seems like there’s some kind of conflict there, they would say. Did Jesus break God’s law? Is Jesus exempt from following God’s law, following God’s justice, God righteousness? Are we accusing Jesus of breaking that law? It was God’s law that said nobody can answer for the sin of somebody else. Are we accusing Jesus of violating the law? What do you think? Of course not. In 2 Corinthians chapter 5, I will read how this came to be. In 2 Corinthians, chapter 5, there’s a lot of important information contained here in verse 21:
Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.
[2 Corinthians 5:21 Good News Translation]
Brother Bob: I’m going to come back and ask you that again a couple of times, too. Was Jesus innocent or guilty of sin?
Audience: Innocent.
Brother Bob: Innocent. Very clearly and directly stated here. Christ was without sin. Forgive me if I pause again. We read Romans 6:23, right?
For the wages of sin is death, …
[Romans 6:23 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Jesus didn’t commit any sin, right? Should He die? Seems like He should not die, right? But did He die? That’s what brought about the question that all of us viewed from the videos, right? Why did He die?
Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.
[2 Corinthians 5:21 Good News Translation]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, we asked earlier, did Christ break God’s law? He did not. He did not break it. We’re sure of it because what was the first sentence here? That’s why I paused and emphasized that. What was the first sentence? He committed no sin. Sin is a violation of the law. Christ did not break God’s law. It seems like we’ve got a conflict here if you’re really paying attention closely. Does Jesus not have to, is He exempted, does He [not have] follow God’s justice, God’s law, God’s righteousness? The truth is that Christ, of course, follows these laws and commands and righteousness of God.
“But I thought that no one can die for the sin of somebody else? That’s God’s law.” But here, Apostle Paul said that God made Jesus share our sin in order that once we entered into union with Him, then we’d be able to share His righteousness. We need some more explanation about that, agreed? Yes. We got to understand that because that seems to create a conflict. Jesus didn’t commit any sin but He’s made to be sin, for us? Then He gets nailed and crucified on the cross for it. It seems there’s a violation of God’s law. So our question now is, “How did He do that?” How does he share our sin? How did Christ then pay for the sins of others, saving them from the horrific punishment that we read about together, and at the same time not violate or break God’s law? How did He do that? How did He fix that conflict? OK. Don’t forget that question. Therein is the real response to the questions these people have posed to us.
But for the fullest of understanding of the response we’re going to have to answer and give you some additional important information first. Key information that will help us understand the response. One of the keys in understanding what Christ did is knowing first the only way that God will pardon, the only way God will forgive someone who has sinned or has broken or violated His Law. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of people who believe that they’ll be forgiven for breaking the law by just praying to God. “OK, Lord. Please forgive me. Then presto, automatically I’ll be forgiven. Or maybe by doing good deeds, I’ll be forgiven. Having a deep strong faith, then I will be forgiven. Changing my way of life, then I’ll be forgiven for my sins. God will forgive me. God is very nice.” We have to remember, because of the sin that was committed, that’s why I told you to remember that, what happened because of sin? We’re separated from God. We read Isaiah 59:2. What did He say? “I’m not going to listen, I’m not going to accept their worship.”
It is because of your sins that he doesn’t hear you. It is your sins that separate you from God when you try to worship him.
[Isaiah 59:2 Good News Translation]
Brother Bob: That’s a horrific condition so one can not just say, “I’ll just pray. I’ll just pray.” The major problem here is sin. It’s not something that can be ignored. It’s not something that can just be covered up.
It’s not just something that can be erased by being a good deed doer. So how can one receive the forgiveness of sin? We have to understand these points first before we move on in the sequence of our study. For example Hebrews, the Bible responds in 22, 9:22 of Hebrews it says:
Indeed, according to the Law almost everything is purified by blood, and sins are forgiven only if blood is poured out.
[Hebrews 9:22 Good News Translation]
Brother Bob: Sins are forgiven only if blood is poured out. The Bible did not say, “Sins will be forgiven by being a good deed doer. Sins will be forgiven by being a nice guy. Sins will be forgiven by praying or doing this or doing that.” That may be nice things that true servants of God do, but those are not the things that bring about the forgiveness of sin.
But what is? Shedding of blood. That’s the way, that’s the only way sins are forgiven. Nobody can change that. That’s the Biblical truth. It’s only if the blood is poured out. Pouring out of blood, of course, symbolizes a sacrifice that has been made. But it’s not just that anyone’s blood that can be poured out, and then presto, sins are forgiven. Whose blood? Whose blood only will bring about the forgiveness of sins? Let’s return again in the book of Hebrews chapter 9, this time verse 14:
how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[Hebrews 9:14 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: You can see it’s only the blood of Christ that can be used to pardon or forgive someone’s sins. No one else’s because everyone has committed their own sins. No one can answer for the sins of somebody else. We need to answer for our sin.
If one is fortunate enough, then, to be redeemed or under the saving umbrella of the blood shed by our Lord Jesus Christ, then that Isaiah 59:2 element that we began our study with, gets changed, right? God will then accept that person’s worship. They’ve been forgiven, they’ve been cleansed as that verse showed clear there if you caught the very end of the verse 14. It’s not on the screen anymore. But so that they can serve the living God. That was the end of that verse.
how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[Hebrews 9:14 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: There you go. They’ve been cleansed from their conscience from dead works or sin so they can do what again? Because of Isaiah 59:2 and was separated, but now that’s been cleansed. We can now do what? We can serve again. The horrific tragedy is fixed under the umbrella of the blood shed by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Committing sin is no trivial thing, not a small thing. Receiving forgiveness is also a serious matter and one should not assume—it’s dangerous to assume—that one can just be forgiven by the whims of their own ways and in their own desires. In the Christian Era, forgiveness can only be brought about through the sacrifice or the pouring out of Christ’s blood. That’s what we read together. What specifically did Christs’ pouring out of His blood, do? Who did He shed His blood for? Who benefited from the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ? What did Christ pay for with His blood? Allow me to read from the book of Acts 20:28, the Bible says this:
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]
Brother Bob: What does it say, audience? With what? With His blood. He purchased or redeemed with His blood. The Church, the Church Of Christ was purchased, the Church was paid for with His blood. Those inside the Church then, they’re horrific and tragic end has been fixed. They can now worship God. They can now pray to God. They can do good deeds that He will find acceptable to Him. They’re saved from their horrific life long sentence because God forgives them due to the blood of Christ. With that information, remember it because now let’s go back to our question that we left off with a while ago regarding, how did Jesus share our sins? How’s that? Did He die for our sins? Shed His blood to purchase and redeem the Church Of Christ? Because I thought we’d read Deuteronomy 24:16, which clearly said that nobody can do that.
“Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin.
[Deuteronomy 24:16 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Nobody can pay for another’s sins. We all saw that on the screen. We just now learned that Christ paid for the sins of those in His church. He shed His blood to purchase. It’s the Church Of Christ. That’s paying for someone else’s sins, right? Isn’t it?
It’s as clear as can be because the Church—it’s not a building with the steeple and some cement—that’s not the Church. That’s our house of worship. That’s the chapel. The Church is the people.
How did Jesus then die for the Church, answer for the sins, share the sin of the people, without violating that law of God? We don’t accuse Him of violating that. Christ did so by creating something with the Church so that the sins of those in His church would be considered as His own. Therefore, allowing Him to pay for the sins without violating God’s righteous law. This is so important. What did Christ create with His church to accomplish that? What did He do? What did He create with His church? Ephesians, in the book of Ephesians chapter 2, verse 15:
having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
[Ephesians 2:15 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Forgive me I pause. The enmity. What’s the meaning of that word “enmity”? What word do we get from that word “enmity”? The state of being enemies. If two people are enemies, there’s enmity between them. They’re in a state of enmity. Mankind has been separated from God because of sin. We’re in a state of enmity with God. We are considered enemies of God because of our stubbornness in sin. But wait a minute, what did the Apostle Paul state here?
having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
[Ephesians 2:15 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Peace was made. Christ created one new man with His church, thus establishing peace. That enmity was abolished, the ordinance abolished. The ordinance, second death, lake of fire, payment for sin, death, [they’re] abolished. Peace with God is established. Where? In the Church. Christ said He created in Himself from the two, one new man. God does not view Christ and the Church Of Christ now as separate. He views them now, together as just one. How is it? How is it that Christ and His Church make up just one new man? We read this verse often Colossians 1:18:
And He is the head of the body, the church,…
[Colossians 1:18 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: The two are no longer two in the eyes of God. The one new man created by Christ is comprised of a head and a body. Christ being the head, and the Church being His body. These are terms that we can all easily understand, right? Because we all have a head, we all have a body, and if we’re ever caught by the authorities breaking the law with any part of our body, be it hands caught stealing, our feet caught trespassing, we’re going to go the authorities and say, “Excuse me officer, it’s my hands that were stealing that. Not me. It was my feet that was trespassing. Not me.” They’re connected. The head’s responsible for what the body does. It’s not separated. Here, what did the Lord do? He joined that head to the body, Christ being the head, the Church being the body, the Church being composed of people that commit what?
Audience: Sin.
Brother Bob: Who has committed sin? Some? Most? All?
Audience: All.
Brother Bob: All have committed sin. That’s why Christ is allowed, He’s the only one that’s allowed to pay for the sins of those who are inside His body. He’s answering for the sins of His very own body. Suppose someone would say, “I’m not interested in any of that. I’m expecting that Jesus is going to answer for my sins too because I believe in Him even though I’m outside of the body, the Church Of Christ.”
What are they actually trying to make Jesus do? They’re trying to make Him violate the law of God, right? Jesus won’t do that. He will answer for the sins of His body only and that body is His Church, the Church Of Christ. If He were to pay for the sins of those who are outside of His body, then that would go against God’s law and He will not do that. He will not answer for the sin of somebody else.
Somebody may wonder, “Why is forgiveness of sins and being saved only possible in the condition of being in the body of Christ, His church? Isn’t Jesus the Savior for all people? Doesn’t He have the authority over anyone and everyone?” That’s always what people say and it’s so nice to hear. But it’s not Biblical. People already know that Christ is the Savior. They might already know that He’s the Savior and they think that He has the authority over any and all. Let’s turn to Ephesians 5:23:
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 Good News Translation]
Brother Bob: What does it say?
Audience: The Church.
Brother Bob: “Anyone and everyone who just believes and is a good deed doer.” No, no. That’s not what it says. That’s what people preach, but that’s not what the Bible says.
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 Good News Translation]
Brother Bob: Clearly, Christ has authority over the Church. Christ is the Savior of His church and, because we’ve learned in the other verses that we have read and we can also see in that verse we just read there, the Church is His body and that’s why this is the reason why Christ’s death, Him being crucified, Him dying so horrifically there on that cross is so significant. It was to give the people in His Church a way to have their sins forgiven. We can’t do it on our own. We can’t. if we’re going to do that on our own we’re going to answer in the lake of fire. That’s not the plan. He wants us to be saved so we make the salvation plan. What’s the Lord Jesus Christ’s condition for those who are outside because maybe somebody with be thinking, “Well, this is now kind of exclusive. This is some kind of closed salvation club, thus Church Of Christ. What about anyone who is outside the Church but they want to benefit from what Jesus has done?”
To finish up the pronouncement of the Lord Jesus, this is so simple and clear to anyone who wants to be saved. What is it?
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved,…
[John 10:9 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: There’s a simple instruction. He referred to Himself as a door. Gave the instruction to enter in. If you want to be saved, the Lord Jesus says, “If anyone,” emphasize the word “anyone” in your mind. It’s not exclusive. It’s not discriminatory. It’s open for anyone who wants to be saved. If one says, “Yeah, I do want to be saved because I am a sinner and I don’t intend to experience the horrific punishment that is due me.” Then enter the body of Christ because they had answered for it. If you can’t command the head to answer for your sins. If you’re outside, because God made it very clear law, nobody can do that. Nobody can answer for the sin of somebody else.
Christ brought it to the cross and nailed it there. Be part of this body. Be part of His Church and enter. We’re able to see very clearly that there’s no discrimination, then, entering the Church Of Christ. It’s an open invitation and that’s why members of the Church invited all of you in our audience today, those of you viewing us on the internet, viewing us on Direct TV, viewing us on channel 49 there in the Philippines. Although people who that Christ’s death is significant for anyone who just believes in Him, we have learned that His death is significant only for those who have followed His instruction to enter into His body, the Church, that He gave His life to redeem and purchase with His blood, that brought about the forgiveness of sins. This is what we believe.
Why do we believe this truth, beloved brethren? Why do we believe this? Because that’s in the Bible.
Audience: That’s in the Bible.
Brother Bob: Precisely, because that’s in the Bible. We want to thank everyone for being here. We want to thank those, our friends, who have posed these questions that we have addressed today. Thank all of our guests who are watching us on all of our various media outlets. We want to thank our live studio audience for joining us. If and when you are ready to learn more about the fundamental teachings found here inside the Church Of Christ, visit incmedia.org.
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Learn more at incmedia.org
Here you’re going to find various series of programs all dedicated to answering your spiritual questions. You can also follow us on our Facebook pages at Iglesia Ni Cristo News and Updates, as well as our Facebook page Iglesia Ni Cristo Media.
[On-screen text]
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Brother Bob: There you can view more of our shows and see how the Church gets involved and interacts with the community. If you want to find a house of worship that is nearest to your home, please visit iglesianicristo.net.
Brother Bob: If you have any questions that you’d like answered on this show, please e-mail them to answers@incmedia.org and we’ll get to them in our future shows.
[On-screen text]
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Brother Bob: Thank you all for joining us. We’ll see you again next time on That’s in the Bible.
Question: How can we tell if God is speaking to us through a pastor?
Brother Bob: The Bible’s instruction was clear. He said test them to find out. So obviously the next question that we have to pose together is, what’s the test and how do we test those who would be presenting themselves as a preacher or a spokesperson of God, true preacher?
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Question: What’s the test? How do we test those who present themselves as a “preacher” or a “spokesperson” of God?
Brother Bob: But before we delve into the Bible’s explanation of how to test the preacher to see if he’s really sent by God, let’s first understand, why is it so important to do that?
Brother Bob: Why do we need to know that? Dear friends, because what would be the harm if one ended up listening to and following a preacher that is not sent by God? Maybe many would think that, “Well, they’re safe as long as they’re holding, as they’re reading from the Bible. That should be good enough.” But listen to the response of the Holy Scriptures, this time in the writings of Apostle Peter. Second Peter 3:16, he wrote:
This is what he says in all his letters when he writes on the subject. There are some difficult things in his letters which ignorant and unstable people explain falsely, as they so with other passages of the Scriptures. So they bring on their own destruction.
[2 Peter 3:16 Good News Translation]
Brother Bob: So we can clearly see here, dear friends that there are people who are explaining the passages of the scriptures, but doing so falsely. And although all you know they might sound like they know what they are saying, what did the Bible call them? The Bible calls them ignorant and stated here that they are bringing on their own destruction. So consider this, if the false preacher is headed to destruction where do you think all those who listen, all those who follow him are also heading? Destruction too, of course. Exactly.
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It’s so vital to know if a preacher is truly from God.
Brother Bob: That’s why it’s so vital to know if a preacher is truly sent by God. So dear friends, what is the benefit of actually hearing a genuine preacher of God? Again, we go to the Bible for the answer and this time is recorded in the book of Romans, Chapter 10, in fact verses 14 and 15. It says this:
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? . . .
[Romans 10:14-15 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: So the benefit of hearing a genuine preacher of God is actually learning then how to properly call upon God. Notice the sequence of events that was recorded in these verses in the Bible so that that could happen. First, one cannot properly call to God or have his or her prayers heard by Him if they don’t believe in the Biblical instructions that God established to be heard.
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One cannot properly call to God if he doesn’t believe in God’s biblical instructions.
Brother Bob: Then next, there’s no way that one would be able to believe in those biblical instructions if in fact they have never been taught those instructions.
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One cannot believe in those biblical instructions if he has never been taught those commands.
Brother Bob: And one would not correctly be taught God’s commands if they never encounter or hear a genuine preacher sent by God.
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One would not correctly be taught God’s commands if he never encounters or hears a genuine preacher from God.
Brother Bob: Therefore, dear friends, finding a genuine preacher is the first step that one has to take in order to be able to call upon God. Again, that’s why it’s so vital to know if a preacher is truly from God or not. So we should take notice that a genuine preacher has the authority from God to preach.
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A genuine preacher has an authority from God to preach.
Brother Bob: It’s not just their own proclamation, “I’m a preacher.” Why? Because God is the one who sends him. That’s what we just read. And if one is not sent by God he will not be able to correctly preach God’s words. That’s what the Bible says. And how so they preach unless they are sent?
Brother Bob:So now that we know the value of a true preacher sent by God, let’s find out, [how] are we going to be able to tell if one is true or not true? Well what’s the test that only a true preacher, one who has the spirit and is truly sent by God? What is the test that only he can pass? Well, listen to what’s recorded here in the Holy Scriptures. The writings of the Prophet Isaiah 8:20 says:
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.
[Isaiah 8:20 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, the Bible clearly states that one has to speak according to the law and speak according to the testimony, in order to prove that there is light or truth in him. It’s the criteria that a preacher has to meet in order to prove or demonstrate that they are indeed sent by God to preach. So what is that law mentioned here? What’s the law and what is that testimony referred to here in the prophecy of Isaiah that will serve the evidence that a preacher is truly sent by God? Let’s take a look at those two criteria. Let’s find out first, what is that law that was mentioned there and how would a true preacher speak according to the law?
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Question: What is the law and how would a true preacher of God speak according to the law?
Brother Bob: Jesus Christ, of course being an undisputed true preacher sent by God, well he’s the one who gives the answer and he does so here in John Chapter 7 verses 16, 17 and 18. I quote:
Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory on the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.
[John 7: 16-18 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Here, dear friends, Jesus Himself explains that we would be able to know who is true. How? Concerning that doctrine or God’s law. Jesus did not preach His own doctrine.
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Christ, being a true preacher from God, spoke only to God’s law and not His own.
Brother Bob: Christ Himself, of course being a true preacher sent from God, spoke only according to God’s law and not His own. It’s already known that God’s laws and doctrines are written right here in the Holy Bible. A true preacher sent by God to preach God’s words will teach by reading God’s words written here in the Bible. Then if someone is preaching claiming that what they’re preaching is from the Bible, he must then read it to prove that he is speaking according to the law. If he cannot read what he is preaching then it’s a clear sign that he is not speaking from God, but instead is speaking from Himself. And of course then this would prove that he’s not sent by God to preach and would automatically then disqualify him from the test. In short he fails the test.
There are many preachers that are well versed in the Bible even if they could memorize it you know, citing different biblical passages in their sermons. We have already learned very important truths. Number one: false preachers will also use the Bible but will explain it falsely. That’s why we read that from Apostle Peter.
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1.False preachers will also use the Bible but will explain the meaning falsely.
2.Reading the Bible is not the only criteria of the test.
Brother Bob: Number two: reading the Bible is not the only criteria of the test. Remember that one must speak according to the law and according to the testimony. That’s what we read in Isaiah 8:20. So let’s find out now what is the testimony that a true preacher of God will speak according to? And we can read here in the book of Revelation 19:10:
And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
[Revelation 19:10 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, this is so important the testimony that a true preacher from God will speak according to the spirit of prophecy because God is the one who sends His messengers to preach. He is also the one, then, who validates them. How does he do that? Through biblical prophecy. A true preacher sent by God would be able to speak according to the particular prophecy about him, which would testify that he is indeed from God.
So let’s take a look at this a little bit deeper.
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Question: Who are some examples of messengers sent by God to preach that spoke according to the biblical testimony of their authority?
Brother Bob: Let’s look at some examples of messengers sent by God to preach that spoke according to the biblical testimony of their authority. Let’s take a look at three examples.
Let’s start with our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, one of God’s own prophecies regarding His son Jesus Christ.
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Jesus Christ
Brother Bob: Well we all know is the greatest messenger of all. We can read that testimony recorded here in the writings of Prophet Isaiah 61, verse 1 and 2:
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,
[Isaiah 61:1-2 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, we should take notice in this verse that in this prophecy there is no mention of the messenger’s name. How would we know? How would we know whom then it’s referring to? Who then will explain and speak according to the testimony of the messenger mentioned here? It will be that particular messenger himself. How did Jesus do that? How did he speak according to this prophecy that testified of His authority being sent by God? Here it is. It’s recorded in Luke Chapter 4 verses 17 through 21:
And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
[Luke 4:17-21 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Jesus Himself explained that He was in fact the one referred to in the prophecy. John the Baptist is another example of one sent by God to preach and he spoke according to biblical testimony concerning his authority. What was God’s prophecy regarding him? Let’s read that as well. It’s also recorded in the writings of the prophet Isaiah, Chapter 40, verse 3:
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.
[Isaiah 40:3 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Notice again that the messenger’s name is not mentioned, the one referred to as crying in the wilderness.
It did not mention his specific name but how did John the Baptist speak according to this testimony concerning him? Him being sent by God? let’s read that. It’s recorded in the in the writings of apostle John, chapter 1 verses 19 through 23:
Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’as the prophet Isaiah said.”
[John 1:19-23 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: John the Baptist here, dear friends he explained, he himself is the one that explained that while he was in fact the one referred to in the prophecy of Isaiah. That prophecy gave testimony of him.
Another example of this is Apostle Paul. We can read another prophecy. In this prophecy is a testimony of Apostle Paul’s authority. Let’s read one more testimony. This one again going back to the prophet Isaiah 49:6:
Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
[Isaiah 49:6 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: By now, dear friends, we should notice God’s policy. His policy when making a prophecy regarding a messenger he will send in the future. First of all, He does not include the name of the messenger. That’s one. It is the messenger himself that will speak according to the testimony. Did Apostle Paul make known that he was God’s messenger? In Acts 13:46 and 47 it says this. Let’s listen to the to the Apostle Paul here:
Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
[Acts 13:46-47 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: As we can see here, dear friends, in these Biblical examples the messenger of God sent to preach His words not only speaks according to the law of God or the true doctrine, but also reveals the prophecy validating that God Himself is the one that has really sent them. In this way we would always be able to know who is actually sent by God and who is just claiming to be because anyone can make the claim.
Some might think you know that, “Can a false preacher just make a claim like that? Well the Apostle Paul made the claim. John the Baptist made a claim. Jesus made the claim.” But they read the testimony. They read the prophecy concerning them, the Bible verse. They could say that anyone could just claim to be a messenger of God. How can we know, how could we do the test, apply the test?
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Question: How can we tell if a particular preacher is actually the fulfillment of a biblical prophecy?
Brother Bob: If a preacher is speaking to the testimony or a biblical prophecy is it really truly about them? It’s a very good question that’s posed there because the best one to answer that, first of all it can’t be said it has to be Jesus Himself because many people, in fact, did not even believe Him even after He revealed the prophecy that He was a messenger sent by God. Let’s take a look at what was recorded here in John Chapter 5:36:
But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
[John 5:36 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: It’s so important, dear friends, because Christ explains that it’s the work being done or accomplished. If it’s the same work that God gave in the prophecy, which proves then or bears witness that one is a messenger sent by God or that that one is fulfilling the prophecy, if they don’t do the work contained in the prophecy it can’t be speaking about them. Being able to fulfill the work stated in the biblical prophecy is something that a false preacher will never be able to do and that will reveal who is true, who is false. So as the apostle stated in the verse we read earlier, we should not believe just anyone who presents themselves as a preacher from God.
[On-screen text graphic]
We should not believe just anyone who presents themselves as preachers from God, but instead we need to test them first.
Brother Bob: What was the instruction? He said test them first. Because if one cannot read in the Bible what is the authority for their preaching, if he cannot reveal the biblical prophecy that testifies of their authority as a messenger of God, if one has not accomplished the work stated in the prophecy, then that person, that preacher fails the test. And then he’s not sent by God should not be listened to. He is a false preacher. One has no right to preach God’s words unless God sends him to do so. But if we are fortunate enough to encounter a genuine preacher sent by God in connection with the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, we should pay very close attention to it to every word that is preached. Why? Because God will make His will known through him. This is what we should believe. This is what we believe also here inside the Church of Christ. Why? Because that’s in the Bible.
Dear friends, when you’re ready to learn more about this and all the other fundamental teachings found here inside the Church of Christ please visit incmedia.org.
[On-screen text graphic]
learn more at incmedia.org
Brother Bob: Because there you’ll find various series of programs dedicated to answering your spiritual questions. You can also follow our Facebook pages
Brother Bob: Iglesia Ni Cristo news and updates. Also Iglesia Ni Cristo Media. There you can view more of our shows and see how the church gets involved also with the community. You can find out all about that incgiving.org.
Brother Bob: From all of us here in That’s in the Bible team, thank you so much for joining us and we’ll see you again next time here on That’s in the Bible.
[On-screen graphics]
cre-mate
past tense: cremated; past participle: cremated
dispose of (dead person’s body) by burning it into ashes, typically after a funeral ceremony]
Brother Bob: Let’s take a look at how the people of God have set the example for us regarding this. We turn to the book of Genesis verses 1-4 we’ll also read verses 10 and 11 Good News Bible:
Sarah lived to be 127 years old. She died in Hebron in the land of Canaan, and Abraham mourned her death. He left the place where his wife’s body was lying, went to the Hittites, and said, “I am a foreigner living here among you; sell me some land, so that I can bury my wife.” Ephron himself was sitting with the other Hittites at the meeting place at the city gate; he answered in the hearing of everyone there, “Listen sir; I will give you the whole field and the cave that is in it. Here in the presence of my own people, I will give it to you, so that you can bury your wife.
[Genesis 23:1-4, 10-11 Good News Bible]
Brother Bob: So, Travis, dear friends, burial was clearly the practice of God’s people, for example, in this case of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. Abraham, well he mourned her death and buried her body into the ground. There [are] so many more examples in the Bible that really show to us God’s people burying their loved ones into the ground. For example in the book of Genesis 50:26:
They embalmed his body and put it in a coffin.
[Genesis 50:26 Good News Bible]
Brother Bob: As well in the book of Joshua 24:32:
Now they buried the bones of Joseph,
[Joshua 24:32 Amplified Bible]
Brother Bob: In those verses the Bible speaks about the processes that Joseph’s family went through, so as to obey God’s expectations or commandment of burying those who had served the Lord God in ancient times. One of the most famous individuals mentioned in the Bible is Moses, of course. Everyone has heard of Moses. What did God himself do with Moses after he died? Did He burn him, cremate him, and sprinkle his ashes? Let’s turn to the book of Deuteronomy this time wherein the Bible gives a response to that, verses 5 and 6. Let’s take a look at what’s recorded there:
So Moses, the LORD’s servant, died there in the land of Moab, as the Lord had said he would. The LORD buried him in a valley in Moab, opposite the town of Bethpeor, but to this day no one knows the exact place of his burial.
[Deuteronomy 34:5-6 Good News Bible]
Brother Bob: So, dear friends, clearly God himself even took the act of burying Moses to further emphasize how important burial really is. So it’s a normal practice of burying those who have passed away. How about our Lord Jesus Christ, the savior, in the Christian Era of time? Was there any example given in the Holy Scriptures or any information provided to us about Jesus himself regarding this topic? Here in the book of John chapter 19, verses 40, 41, and 42:
The two men took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices according to Jewish custom of preparing a body for burial. There was a garden in the place where Jesus had been put to death, and in it was a new a new tomb where no one had ever been buried. Since it was the day before Sabbath and because the tomb was close by, they placed Jesus’ body there.
[John 19:40-42 Good News Translation]
Brother Bob: So dear friends, Travis, even our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the Son of God, was also buried after He passed away. So if God’s people are to be buried is there any record in the Bible which shows how God himself then feels about cremation, or the burning of bodies.
Brother Bob: Is there anything that the Bible shows us wherein God would not approve of that option? Let’s again turn to the Holy Scriptures in the book of Amos chapter 2, 1 and 2 it says:
The LORD says, “The people of Moab have sinned again and again, and for this I will certainly punish them. They dishonored the bones of the king of Edom by burning them to ashes. I will send fire upon the land of Moab and burn down the fortresses of Kerioth. The people of Moab will die in the noise of battle while the soldiers are shouting and trumpets are sounding.
[Amos 2:1-2 Good News Bible]
Brother Bob: So clearly God was angry with the people. Why was He angry with the people of Moab? Because of what they had done with the king of Edom. What did they do? They burned his bones. The Bible makes very clear that they had dishonored his bones by burning them to ashes.
Brother Bob: So, dear friends, if God is truly angered by the burning of the deceased, how then did cremation come about in the first place? What religious custom is the burning of the dead or cremation connected to? If it’s not connected to God, and not connected to the Bible (and that is what God’s people are supposed to be doing), how did it come about? In the Britannica Encyclopedia of World Religions here on page 268:
In HINDUISIM in India, cremation is the preferred form of disposing the dead. The placing of the body into the fire is regarded as a kind of final sacrificial offering, and the burning of the body is often understood to begin the process of REINCARNATION;”
[Britannica Ency. Of World Religion p. 268 (2006)]
Brother Bob: Therein lies the truth: cremation is the practice of Hinduism because they believe it’s the start of the reincarnation process, which of course is not in the Bible, and it is not in accordance with God’s teachings.
Brother Bob: But what can a true servant of God hope for if they pass away and are properly buried? Here in Psalms 49:15, the following is recorded:
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for he shall receive me.
[Psalms 49:15 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Travis, dear friends, they will be redeemed, they will be resurrected from the grave, not from an urn or from ashes being sprinkled somewhere, but they will be resurrected from the grave to life, true life in the kingdom of heaven. We, inside the Church Of Christ, believe in these biblical teachings. We follow these instructions as well. Why, dear friends? Because that’s in the Bible.
Thank you, Travis, for your question, and if anyone viewing the program today has questions of your own, please send in your videos to us here at the email shown on the screen: answers@incmedia.org.
[On-screen text graphic]
Do you have questions about the Bible? Send us your videos to: answers@incmedia.org
Brother Bob: Visit our site incmedia.org because there you’re going to find many shows similar to this one wherein the true teachings of our Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ are upheld by the true Church, the Church Of Christ, the Iglesia Ni Cristo. Thanks for watching. I’m Brother Bob Pellien. We’ll see you next time on That’s in the Bible.
We’re going to use those three questions, to answer an overarching question, which is: Is God’s love unconditional? And we hear that all the time, right? We hear that “God’s love is unconditional. No matter how you choose to live your life, He’s going to love you just the same.” And it’s so nice to hear, it makes you feel good. But we want to know: what’s in the Bible? Is that according to the Bible?
What is a “condition”?
So what we’re going to do is we’re going to find that out. But before that, let’s find out what “condition” is. What’s the definition of “condition” [and let’s find out if God has any for His love]. So [a condition] is something that must exist before something else can happen. Another word to say that is a “prerequisite” or a “requirement” or “rule” or “restriction.” So does God not have [conditions]? We’ll find out. Let’s go to Tyswanekwa’s question first. We can actually hear it from her:
[Video starts]
So even when I was at my grandma’s church yesterday, they made this statement that God did not make man and man to be together, woman and woman to be together. But I believe God [doesn’t] make mistakes…It’s almost like you make Him less comforting, less inviting. So I’m grateful that I’ve decided to have my own relationship outside of church…but I don’t agree with making them feel bad…Where in the Bible does it tell us to be conditional lovers? Where does it tell us to only love someone “this” way or if they are like “this”?
Tyswanekwa Crosby
Federal Way, Washington
[Video ends]
Does the Bible give conditions on who to love?
Brother Richie: So again, we’d like to thank Tyswanekwa for her question. And just so that we can see if we can know where she’s coming from. Let me see a raise of hands: who here wants someone to give them conditions on who to love? Is there anyone here that wants to be told who to love? So we can kind of see where she’s coming from, right? Because when it comes to love, if someone is going to give their love, he or she is going to come up with their own conditions that someone has to meet to give that love, right? Love can’t be forced, you can’t force someone to love someone else.
For example, this gentleman here, you can’t be forced to love this lovely lady, right? By the way, are you two married? You are, so you do love each other! You love each other because you had your own conditions to be met, and you met those conditions. And that’s how it is, right? It’s your love, it’s your life, it’s your choice.
And there are many people, they choose who to love without worrying about what is written in the Bible. So why are there some [that asked] that question from the Bible? Why is it that, not only Tyswanekwa, but many people, [want] to know what is in the Bible regarding that? Well, to many, the ideal situation is: choose who to love, and have God’s love upon you and upon the one that you love as well, right? Because that would actually be [a] great situation.
Who does God choose to love?
So when it comes to God’s love…now we’re on the topic of God’s love. Does He have conditions? We all have conditions for our love. And many people say, “No, God’s different. He doesn’t have any conditions. Well, we don’t want to answer for God because His words are written in the Bible, we’ll just read His answer.
When it comes to God giving His love, what is it that [He] requires, if He does have any requirements. Let’s read what is written in the Bible, we’re going to read from what’s recorded here in Deuteronomy. We’ll read chapter 7. We’ll read it together here, we’ll put it on the screen. Here in verse 6 to 7, it says:
You are a holy nation. The Lord your God has set you apart for himself. He has chosen you to be his special treasure. He chose you out of all the nations on the face of the earth to be his people. The Lord chose you because he loved you very much…
[Deuteronomy 7:6-7 New International Reader’s Version]
Brother Richie: When it comes to God giving His love, how is it that the Bible describes that? Well, here we can read that He did give His love to the ancient nation of Israel. Now, what’s the proof that He loved them? Well, according to what we’ve read, it says He chose them to be His people. Some might say, “I don’t understand” or “aren’t we all God’s people? God created all of us.” And that’s true. God created every single one of us. But as we have learned, He doesn’t love everyone the same. What’s the proof? It says that He chose some to be His special treasure. He set them apart to be His people.
So, now when it comes to God giving His love, just like the rest of us, that’s His choice, right? It is His choice. He’s the one that comes up with the conditions that have to be met. And really God’s love…that’s what we want. Right? That is so important to have. If there’s anyone’s love that we’re going to work for, that we’re going to try to win over, it should be God’s.
Now, some might think, “Why? Well, what’s so great about having God’s love?” Well, if that’s the question, why is that such a wonderful situation to have God’s love in our life? Again, let’s go to what is recorded. We’ll read the situation that God makes for those that He does choose to love. We’re going to read from what is recorded here in the book of Psalm, Chapter 91, we’re going to read verses 14 to 15. It says:
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
[Psalm 91:14-15 New International Version]
What does it mean to love God?
Brother Richie: According to the Bible, what kind of a situation is it if God chooses to love someone? That’s a wonderful situation. Our God Himself said that the one He loves, he’s going to protect, He’s going to deliver, He’s going to honor, He’s going to rescue those that love Him. If they call to Him, He’s going to answer them. If they’re in trouble, He’s going to be with them in trouble. Who here wants that situation? Who here wants God to be with them always? We all do. But just because we want it, does it mean we get it? Well, this particular servant, how come he got it? Well, God gave the answer. He answered and He said, “Because he loves me.”
So there was a condition met. Our God gave him the love and the protection that he needed. So, if someone thinks, “Well, I love God, too.” And we can all say that (we should say that) we all love God. But we know that love is much more than words. There’s a saying that we all know when it comes to talk, right? They say talk is…”talk is cheap.” Anyone can say that. The ladies that are here: If someone says they love you, is that all you need to believe it? No, even us as human beings, right? For us to believe someone that they love us, they’ve got to prove it. So when it comes to God’s love, does that have to be proven? Again, some might say, “No, God is different!” Well, wait a second, let’s use God’s words. If someone loves God, what does that mean? Let’s read His words. From what is written here in 1 John, we’re going to read chapter 5, verse 3. This is what it actually says:
For our love for God means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not too hard for us,
[1 John 5:3 Good News Translation]
Brother Richie: What is the biblical definition of loving God? Well, according to what we have read, it says it means we obey His commands. So His commands are what we need.
Someone might think, “Well, what are God’s commands? I thought [there’s] only ten?”
There [are the] first ten commandments that were written down. But God has a whole Bible of commandments. For our life, from the very first time we receive life to the time that we lose it. Our God gives us commandments, He gives us instructions, He shows us how to live our life the way that He intended. He shows us how to think when we’re in trouble. When we face certain challenges, He shows us how to surround ourselves with the right people. He is the one that is guiding us and instructing us. And if we follow all those commands we prove that we love Him.
Now in all the commands that God gives, so that we can show that we love Him, is there any command regarding whom we should love? Because that goes right into what Tyswanekwa was asking, you know. She said, “Well, show me in the Bible that I have to love someone this way, if they’re like this…” Does God have any commands regarding whom we should love? Let’s find out. We’ll read here from what’s recorded in 1 John, we’re going to read chapter 2, and the verses are 15 to 16:
Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. Because everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world.
[1 John 2:15-16 Holman Christian Standard Bible]
Brother Richie: Does our God give instructions regarding whom we should or shouldn’t love? Yes. What is it that we read? He said, “Do not love the world or the things [in] the world.” We have to understand there’s only two types of people: one who loves God, it means they’ve learned His commandments, they follow His commandments; and the second, the ones that don’t, they are of the world. What is it that God said? “Do not love the world or the things [in] the world.”
But I would like to ask, please answer this question: Despite God’s command, despite His instruction to us, do we still get to choose who to love? What’s your answer? We do. That’s our choice. Whatever we want, whoever we want, we can love. But can we say, “God will love me unconditionally, regardless of whom I choose to love.” Can we say that? No. We could say that, but that won’t be the truth.
So to summarize, the Bible’s answer to Tyswanekwa’s question, we can see that:
[On-screen text]
God chooses whom He loves based on His personal conditions
We prove our love for God by obeying His commands
We lose His love if we disregard His commands
Brother Richie: God chooses whom He loves based on His personal conditions. We can understand that because that’s how we give our love. What else, we prove our love for God by obeying His commands. And we lose His love if we disregard His commands. That’s what we should believe in because that’s in the Bible. So that is our first question.
The difference between spiritual and religious
Let’s go to our second question. And this is actually what Mark had to ask:
[Video starts]
What’s the difference between being spiritual and religious?
Mark Sokup
[Video ends]
Brother Richie: So again, we thank Mark for that question. And we know that this question is very interesting, because if you Google this question, “spiritual versus religious,” you know how many results you’re going to get? We did that just recently. And we can see, we had hundreds of millions of results. It was just in a fraction of a second, I believe it was 332 million posts of everyone answering, right? So it is a very interesting question. Well, let’s just go to the definition, let’s find out. So what’s his definition of “spiritual”? It says:
[On-screen text]
spiritual (adjective)
relating to deep feelings and beliefs, especially religious beliefs
of or relating to the inner character of a person
Brother Richie: It says “relating to deep feelings and beliefs, especially religious beliefs…of all relating to the inner character of a person.
[On-screen text]
religious (adjective)
living and worshiping according to the beliefs of a particular religion
having a strong belief in a god or gods
Brother Richie: Okay, how about “religious”? The definition of religious, we can see that it’s very close, it says, living and worshipping according to the beliefs of a particular religion; having a strong belief in a god or gods. So they actually have a commonality about beliefs about God: about having to be how to be with God, how to connect with God.
So why are people trying to differentiate between the two? Well, let’s see a show of hands. Has anyone here heard the term or the trend, “spiritual but not religious”? Is there anyone that has heard that? That term is when someone rejects organized religion as a primary means of enhancing their spiritual progress. And you know, we don’t blame a lot of people, we actually understand that. We understand why people are leaving organized religion, because most of the time when someone wants to connect with God, they’ll go to religions to find the truth, to find guidance. But unfortunately, many times what they find are lies, corruption in religion, and they find religious preachers saying, really whatever they want, or whatever other people want.
So there are those that opt to having a life with God [away from] those religions. They feel, “if these religions are just coming up with their own way of being with God, I’m better off going direct.” Therefore, the term: “spiritual, but not religious”.
[On-screen text]
“According to the public religion research Institute, 33 percent of Seattle residents are religiously unaffiliated.”
Source: Are We Losing our Religion? Searching for Spirituality in Seattle
Brother Richie: In fact, Mark’s not alone and asking that question. Just here in your own backyard here in Seattle, we can see that there are 33% of Seattle residents are religiously unaffiliated, this is according to seattlemag.com. But because it’s so diverse, religion is so diverse, it’s hard to break it up as [an] either/or, to lump religion all together, because we know they’re not all the same. Saying that religion is all the same, that’s already a mistake.
But to get away from getting in all the complexity, let’s just go straight to the point. You know, the question is: Which one should I be? How should I be with God? Right? If that is how someone wants to be [saying], “Okay, this is my life, right? What’s the best way to be with God to have him in my life? How is it that I can tailor fit what I have so far, and have God with me?”
How can I be put right with God?
So we can ask the Bible that. What does the Bible say about those [who] want to be with God, kind of on their own terms where they are in life. Let’s read from what’s recorded here in Romans, chapter 10. This is what God through Apostle Paul says very clearly about those that want to be with God. He says here:
I can assure you, they are deeply devoted to God; but their devotion is not based on true knowledge. They have not known the way in which God puts people right with himself, and instead, they have tried to set up their own way; and so they did not submit themselves to God’s way of putting people right.
[Romans 10:2-3 Good News Translation]
Brother Richie: According to what we are learning from what is in the Bible, God has His own way of putting people right with Himself. So again, God’s the One that comes up with the way. He’s the one that comes up with the conditions, He’s the one that has His own terms on how to connect with Him. And the people that don’t know that way, the Bible says they’ve resorted to coming up with their own way. We can attest to that. We can see there are so many different people coming up with different ways. And although they might be very devoted in the way that they have selected, the Biblical truth is: it’s not based on true knowledge.
So instead of asking, the question “Should I be spiritual? Should I be religious?” The question we should ask is, “What’s God’s way? How is it that I can be with Him?” If we’re asking for God’s way, we can just come up with it on our own? Let’s go to His answer. What is it that God teaches, so that we can be with Him we can be amongst those considered, or at least He considers His people? Let’s read here. God does give this answer and reply here in Jeremiah 7, the verse is 23. He said:
but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.
[Jeremiah 7:23 New International Version]
Brother Richie: According to Him, to be with Him, to be part of His people, we have to obey all the commands He has for us. So we are learning, just as we learned earlier, actually, it’s being reinforced now that there is a way to have a connection with God. But in pursuit of that, we can’t disregard that He has commandments. He has prerequisites, He has conditions that have to be fulfilled first.
So again, another question to everyone. These commandments that are being mentioned in the Bible; are we forced to follow these commandments? No, I mean, someone can try but they can’t, right? But can we say God is going to connect with us our way? No, we can say that either. Because we have learned, we can even come up with our own way to be with God.
[On-screen text]
Trying to come up with our own way won’t lead to God
God has His own way of letting people connect with Him
If we want God in our lives, we can’t avoid obeying His commands
Brother Richie: So let’s summarize the Bible’s answer to Mark’s question, we can see that trying to come up with our own way, won’t lead to God. We’ve also learned that God has his own way of letting people connect with him. And if we want God in our lives, we can avoid obeying His commandments, that really is the truth. Why do we say that? Because that’s in the Bible.
Am I obligated to follow church rules?
Brother Richie: Let’s go to our final question that we’re going to feature today. And this is from Robert, listen to what Robert asked:
[Video]
If I attend a church, am I morally obligated to adhere to the rules that they believe in their church or am I allowed to believe how I feel?
Robert Nichols
Bothell, Washington
[Video ends]
Brother Richie: You know, there’s probably a lot of people just like Robert. They want to belong to a church, they probably grew up in a church, but what they are hearing, what they know is being taught in the church that they’re in, they don’t think that it’s right. So they have this dilemma. What is it that they should do?
We commend Robert and all those that asked, we appreciate that question. Because if one doesn’t know, it’s never too late to find out what is actually written in the Bible. The question that he asked is “If I attend a church, do I have to follow the rules and beliefs?” Well, to put it simply, the answer is “no.” But it can also be “yes.” Why is it that we say that?
We first have to find out which church is he referring to? Someone would think, “Why? Aren’t they all the same?” No, they’re not all the same. Although all of them say that they follow the Bible. But what is it that we could see? They’re different, they’re different in name, they’re different in belief, they’re different in doctrine, they’re different. So it is clear something is happening. How can everyone follow the Bible, but everyone come up with different ways? Someone might think, “It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to get all confused in that just as long as I’m worshipping. It doesn’t matter what church I do it in, right?” Well, that’s what we can ask. Because if we are worshipping so that God can accept us, let’s ask God that. Does He accept all worship that is being rendered to Him? Listen to what He teaches. We’re going to read here in Matthew, chapter 15, and the verse is 9. This is what God himself says:
Their worship of Me is worth nothing. They teach what men have made up.’”
[Matthew 15:9 New Living Translation]
Brother Richie: Yes or no, please answer based on what we read. Does God accept all worship rendered to Him? What’s the answer? No. In fact, He’s the one that says that there is worship, it’s worth nothing. What kind of worship is that? We got to make sure that’s not our worship. It is a worship that what is being taught is what men have made up. What are teachings that men have made up? They’re any teachings that are not written in the Bible. Because if they’re not in the Bible, somebody made it up. And what God said [is] if someone made it up, well, then that’s worth nothing.
So if that’s the type of church that Robert was referring to, that “If I attend that church, you don’t have to follow the beliefs and the rules there?” The answer, it’s not only “No, you don’t have to follow that.” The answer is also “You shouldn’t be attending that church in the first place.” Now, if there are churches that God says, “that’s worth nothing,” well, which church should we be a part of? Because there’s a lot of churches, there are so many options of churches, it can get very confusing, but our Lord Jesus Christ, He gives this insight when it comes to this topic of churches. We’ll read from what He teaches. Here in Matthew 16, and the verse is 18. It says:
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church,…
[Matthew 16:18 New King James Version]
Brother Richie: According to our Lord Jesus Christ, how many churches did He build? How do we know [only] one? Why are we so sure? What did He say? He said, “I will build My church,” right? That’s singular. Now this Church that He built, how does He regard it? He said, “That’s Mine. I will build My church.”
So of all the options of churches that one has, with more churches being built and being established, the only one that really matters is the Church that our Lord Jesus Christ built. Why? Because that’s the Church that the Bible is actually teaching [about].
Did Christ build a Church?
Well, which Church is that? Now, if we just came up with the name on our own, we would be included in what God said, “That’s worth nothing.” Because we can’t do that, right? We can’t just make it up on our own. It has to come from the Bible, it has to come from God, our Lord Jesus Christ said, “That’s my Church.” What’s the name of His Church? What did the apostles call the Church built by our Lord Jesus Christ? We want to know that what is written, let’s read from what is recorded here in Acts 20, we’re going to read verse 28. It says:
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’s the value of the Bible?
Brother Richie: The Church written in the Bible, the Church that our Lord Jesus Christ said, “That’s my Church.” What is it called? Church Of Christ. Now, if the Biblical Church Of Christ is what Robert was talking about, he said, “If I attend that church or have to follow the rules and beliefs in that church?” The answer is “Yes.” Why? Because the true Church Of Christ will only teach what is written in the Bible.
Someone might think, “Why is that so important for me to know? Why do I need what is written in the Bible or the Holy Scriptures? What’s the value of the Holy Scriptures?” Let’s read that so that we know here in 2 Timothy, will read from chapter 3 will read verses 15, all the way to 17. It says:
and that from childhood, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
[2 Timothy 3:15-17 New King James Version]
Brother Richie: What’s the value of the words written in the Holy Scriptures? Well, we just enumerated it, right? The Bible says it’s “profitable for doctrine.” That’s why if there is a doctrine, a church or religion, the doctrine has to be written in the Bible. If it’s written somewhere else, that someone else made it, God said, “Well, that’s no use to Me.” The doctrine written in the Bible, that is God’s teachings on how we should live properly—instructions.
What else? If we’ve made something—have done something wrong? What is the value? [The Bible] says, “it’s for reproof and correction.” How many of us here have made mistakes in our life? It’s very hard [to] admit that, right? Because if you don’t, that’s a mistake. That’s not the truth. Right? So how do we fix it? How do we correct it? We follow the instructions that are in the Bible. What are those instructions for? It says they are instructions in righteousness. We want to be righteous, right? But we can’t come up with it on our own right? We don’t want to be self righteous. We want to be righteous in the eyes of God. So we follow His instructions.
Someone might say, you know, but I don’t think it’s enough. That’s why I think there’s something more that I need. Well, what does the Bible say? It says, it will make you thoroughly equipped for every good work. It’s all we need. There’s nothing more there’s nothing missing. In fact, even if we go up, what else is it profitable for it says “for salvation.” How many of us here want to be saved from the dangers that we see around us and the dangers that are coming? We all want that, right? But just because we want it doesn’t mean we get it? We need wisdom for it. Where are we going to get that? It comes from the Bible.
Now all of those instructions; are we forced to follow it? As we mentioned earlier, you can force us. You can try, but just like love, it has to come from us. So we know that these instructions, they’re just conditions. We’re the ones that choose if we’re going to follow or not. And just so that we’re clear, let’s go to the definition of “condition” again.
[On-screen text]
Condition (noun) something that must exist before something else can happen
Brother Richie: Condition is something that must exist (so let’s say following, obeying), before something else can happen. What is this “something else that can happen”? What if someone says, “You know, okay, let me give it a shot. Let me learn what is actually written. And if I follow what is going to happen, what is the promise that God gives if someone needs His conditions and they follow His commands?”
Let’s read from what He promises. And these promises are even in ancient times, what is it that He says, we’re going to read from Deuteronomy 28, we’ll read 1 to 3. And we’ll also read 8, He said:
If you fully obey the Lord your God, and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth, all these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.
[Deuteronomy 28:1-3, 8 New International Version]
Brother Richie: What’s going to happen? What promise does God make if one is going to follow His commands? That is a wonderful life. It says all these blessings will come upon us. It says that you’ll be “blessed in the city and blessed in the country.” Imagine wherever you go, the blessing is going to follow. He said anything you put your hands to do, God is going to bless. How many of us want that situation? We all do. But who gets it? Just someone that wants it?
If we can go back, [the Bible] says, “you will be blessed…All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you.” We want that. “If.” It’s a very small word, it’s only two letters. But if you say “if,” what does that mean? There’s a condition there. What’s the condition, if you obey the Lord your God. No one will force us to obey. But we cannot disregard God’s commands, and expect that He’s going to bless us.
So, what’s our takeaway from Robert’s question? We can see here:
[On-screen text]
Find out if the church you’re attending is the biblical Church Of Christ
The biblical Church Of Christ will teach only what is in the Bible
Following the rules actually written in the BIble will mean a life with God
Brother Richie: Find out if the church you’re attending is the biblical Church Of Christ, because that’s the one that the Bible is teaching of. That’s what’s important. How are we going to know that? It says the biblical Church Of Christ will teach only what is in the Bible. So at least we have some way of assessing which one is the Biblical Church Of Christ. Follow the rules actually written in the Bible. Following them will mean a life with God. That is possible, having a life with God; having actual guidance, actually having Him help us. That is possible on the condition that we take into consideration He has set rules and conditions that have to be met.
You know, we know about relationships, we know that there is one that sets the conditions, and one that meets those conditions. If we look at the relationship of the Creator and the creations, which one sets the conditions and which one meets those unconditionally? Who sets the condition? The creations or the Creator? Creator, right? Who meets those conditions unconditionally? It’s the creations, right? That’s why when someone says, “No, God will love you unconditionally, just the way you are, you don’t have to do anything.” What they probably don’t realize, there are switching the roles of who is the Creator, and who are the creations.
There are many of you that are here. And we’re very happy that you’re here with us today. That, just like the three questions that we went over, maybe you want to be loved by God, you want to be spiritual, you want to be religious, you want to be part of the right Church. But maybe, just maybe there are some that have not yet considered that God has conditions that have to be met first. Where are we going to find that? Where are we going to find His conditions? Where are we going to find His commands that need to be followed? Well, that’s in the Bible.
We understand this might be the very first time you’re hearing and seeing what is actually written in the Bible. Maybe there might be some that might be a bit confused. Because everything that they’ve been told from what is in the Bible, this might be a shock. But that’s the reason why we’re here. That’s the reason why we want to help, the only thing that we want to give you is actually what is in the Bible, it is your choice. It is how you want to decide what to do with it.
And you will notice, after the show, not only will I be available, all [my] other co-ministers that we have are always around, please don’t hesitate, come ask us. What is it that we’re going to do? We’re not going to answer on our own? Who are we? The only thing that we can do is help you find the answer that comes from the Bible. If the answer comes from the Bible, that is God answering your question. You know, there are many people just like you sitting where you are, that had questions, no one could answer. And it just stayed an empty question in their heart. But they were able to find the answer that actually comes from the Bible after searching for so many years. We would like to show you a video regarding them. Please take a look:
[Video starts]
Fred Reed: For a long time of my life, I had lots of questions.
Sol Velasquez: So I kept looking through all the churches, all the religions and still my questions were not answered. And sooner or later I just left because I was disappointed.
Voiceover: This might sound familiar to you. In fact, chances are you’ve walked out of your own religion for the very same reasons.
Sol Velasquez: I didn’t go to church for so long because they were all the same.
Voiceover: It’s nothing to be ashamed of. We all want answers, real ones. Ones that are backed up with more than just someone’s story. But what would it mean to you if you actually got answers to your questions? Like really got the answers .
Fred Reed: You don’t have to wonder or imagine, that type of deal, a lot of the hocus pocus stuff that goes on in some churches.
Nicholas Victorio: I think once you get to a Bible study, and you hear the lessons, that’s the biggest hurdle. And once you get to a Bible lesson you want to learn more.
Voiceover: You see this place does exist. A place where questions about the Bible are answered, well by the Bible.
Nicholas Victorio: Any question I had was answered. They explained it to me using the Bible. And not using their own interpretation of it. So, coming from a Mormon church it wasn’t like that. When you ask questions you got different answers all the time.
Fred Reed: And all of a sudden, there’s actually THE church that actually teaches what’s in the Bible.
Voiceover: And the good thing is you don’t have to look for it anymore. You just have to take a few minutes to set up a time to sit down with one of the ministers of the Church Of Christ and ask your questions.
Nicholas Victorio: Once I started hearing the gospel and the way we teach the Bible, it was a no-brainer for me to really know that this was the true Church.
Voiceover: They did it. They found their answers, isn’t it time to find yours?
Sol Velasquez: So I went to the Bible study and they treated me like part of the family. So okay I’ll sit in and I learned, I learned a lot during that Bible study.
Fred Reed: I always gain something from every minister, not seeing anything like this in my entire life, where you can walk up to any one of them and they can answer any question you have but they’re not gonna give you their opinion. They’ll never give you their opinion. All they’ll do is reach over pull out the word of God and let’s see what it says right here in the word of God and they’ll find a scripture and yes it does answer the question.
Nicholas Victorio: And the unity of Iglesia Ni Cristo is what I love. You truly see the same answer that you ask from one minister to the other. Seeing that we just use the Bible and we just believe what the Bible says, is truly the only truth I can believe in.
Voiceover: So ask yourself, what do you want to do next? What are the Bible questions you’ve waited so long to ask? And when you’re ready, we’ll be right here waiting for you.
[Video ends]
Brother Richie: We really hope this is not the last time that we’re going to see you. We’re really happy that you’re here with us. And we invite you to stay. Learn more about the Bible, the Church Of Christ offers group and one-on-one Bible studies. And we invite you to observe a worship service that we have here in the Seattle house of worship. Hopefully you can get this schedule, it’s out in some of the booths.
Here in Seattle, they have a weekday worship service on Thursday at 5:45am and 7:30pm. So before you go to work, if you want to observe a worship service first or after in the evening. On Saturday, they have a 7pm worship service. On Sunday, they have a 7am. If you speak the Filipino language that will be in Tagalog. Or at 10am they have one in English. Even the children have a Children’s Worship Service that they’re easily able to understand the lesson. That’s at 12pm.
And if you’re anywhere else in the Washington State area, there are different local congregations that you can attend and it will be the exact same lesson. It’s the same hymns. It’s the same verses wherever you are in this particular Church Of Christ. If you have a friend that is attending a worship service in Australia on the same weekend, you can call each other, you could talk about the exact same worship service. This is a congregation part of one whole Church. If you would like a question that you have answered on this particular show, email us either a written or a video question at answers@incmedia.orgWe’re so happy that you came out with us. I’m Brother Richie Juatco. Thank you so much for joining us on That’s in the Bible Live.
