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Besides the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ), the Bible mentions no other “flock” in which people will be certain of salvation.
A FLURRY OF OPINIONS flies when people are asked about what they believe to be the way to salvation. One of the most common is the belief that it is enough to simply believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. Among those who hold on to and peddle this notion are renowned Bible scholars, recognized experts in biblical languages, and many allied disciplines. However, just because they are considered learned does not mean they are the authority when it comes to salvation. So, the best recourse is to ask the Savior Himself.
Jesus Christ emphasizes the need for salvation. He tells us, thus:
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 New King James Version)
That is how important and valuable salvation is. To own the whole world, if that were even remotely possible, would still be meaningless if one loses his soul or if he doesn’t receive salvation. Those who will not be saved will be thrown into the lake of fire:
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:8 nkjv)
Hence, more than anything, people must make sure that they are among those who will receive salvation. In order to do this, they should listen, not just to anybody, but only to our Lord Jesus Christ because only through Him can they attain salvation, thus:
“To the only God our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and magnificence, empire and power, before all ages, and now, and for all ages of ages. Amen.” (Jude 1:25 Douay-Rheims)
Between the words of the Savior and everyone else’s opinion—including those of the brightest and revered minds on the planet—the right choice is obvious: heed the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Add to it the fact that, left to his own devices, no man can lay bare the meaning of God’s words (II Tim. 3:7) because they are kept hidden in mystery (Rom. 16:25). Understanding and enlightenment come only to His messengers to whom the gift of discerning His words has been given (Luke 8:10), foremost of whom is the Lord Jesus Christ. So it is but right that we heed His words—and not anybody else’s—as to how we can attain salvation.
So that people will receive salvation, it is not enough that they simply profess faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. They need to obey what He says, thus:
“So Jesus spoke again: In very truth I tell you, I am the door of the sheepfold. … I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe. …” (John 10:7, 9 Revised English Bible)
People must be found inside the fold or flock. Even if someone says that he believes in God Almighty and in Jesus Christ but refuses to obey these words, still such a person will not receive salvation. This is because the place where one can receive the salvation promised by Christ is none other than inside the fold or flock. The fold that is being referred to is none other than the Church Of Christ:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation)
Those who are certain of receiving salvation are those who are inside the Church Of Christ. Besides the Church Of Christ, the Bible mentions no other “flock” in which people will be certain of salvation. Hence, only the Church Of Christ can lead man to salvation. If the belief that other religions could lead people to heaven were true, then Christ’s command to enter the flock or the Church Of Christ would lose its meaning. People, then, cannot avoid joining the fold or flock. Instead, they should seek it out and join it willingly out of understanding and faith that it is where people need to be in order to be saved. As to why people must seek and become members of the Church Of Christ, this is the further testimony of our Savior:
“… on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18 nkjv)
This is what people need to have faith in because these are the words of our Savior: the Church that He established will not be overcome by Hades or death come the Day of Judgment. It is so because His Church is what Christ will save.
Paul, an apostle of Christ, spoke about those who truly have been redeemed by Christ:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:1 nkjv)
The importance of being counted among those who are “in Christ” cannot be understated. According to the Apostle Paul, they are those who now have no condemnation. This is so because they have been cleansed by Christ’s precious blood (Heb. 9:14, 22 nkjv).
Therefore, those who are in Christ are the only ones who have been redeemed with His blood. Others argue, didn’t Christ die for the whole world? On the contrary, He died for His Church only (Eph. 5:25). So, for people to benefit from Christ’s redemption, they need to be in His body, the Church:
“For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.” (Eph. 5:23 nkjv)
Take note that the Bible doesn’t say churches because Christ has but a single body. This body is none other than the Church that is of Christ or the Church Of Christ. Man needs to be in the body of Christ because it is the only way by which Christ can answer for his sins. For the rule or law of God is clear: everyone must die for his own sins (Deut. 24:16). Christ died so that we may live, but we need to be in the place where we will benefit from His death: His body or His Church—the Church Of Christ. This is the only religion that man needs in order to receive salvation.
So, before the sight of God, not all churches or religions are equal. The Church Of Christ stands out as the only one that leads to salvation. This is neither an opinion nor a theory of just any man, but rather the immutable stand and teaching of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Why not choose to believe Him? ❑
