10 Facts about the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ)

Disclaimer: This post is not intended to disrespect people who hold this belief or attack the organization. I hope to encourage readers to think carefully and identify the problems with this belief. 

We explored the fundamental teachings of the Iglesia Ni Cristo in this blog post here. This time, let's look at what they claim about themselves, using the article they published on their website titled "10 things about the Iglesia Ni Cristo. You can find the link to their website here. 

Claim #1: "We are not a denomination"

They try to explain that they are not affiliated with the Restoration Movement. The Restoration Movement, prominent in the 19th century in the United States, sought to revive primitive Christianity by returning to the practices and beliefs of the early church as described in the New Testament. One of their groups is called the Church of Christ. The INC emphasizes that they have biblical prophecy as evidence of their authenticity. They back this claim up by mentioning that the Iglesia Ni Cristo was registered in the Philippines in 1914 and that both the time and place of this Church’s emergence are supported by biblical prophecy. 

Surprisingly, they did not include any resource or reference to support the alleged biblical prophecy. However, we know from their fundamental doctrines, that their premise for a prophecy is the need for a re-emergence. Blaming the Catholic church, they claim that the church Jesus established turned away. Therefore God sent a messenger, who would save humanity, in the person of Felix Manalo, who would restore the "true church". The establishment of the organization with the Philippine government in 1914, on the day WW1 broke out, is seen as the fulfillment of the prophecy quoting Bible verses like Isa. 43:5-6; 46:11; 41:9-11. They claim that the "Far East" refers to the Philippines and the term "ends of the earth" refers to a time indicating the day the First World War broke out. When looking at the verses used in context, however, we can see that they do not refer to any prophecy. The term "ends of the earth" has been confused with a time period, due to the Tagalog translation. The original meaning of the term refers to a geographical location. The "Far East" in the Bible does not refer to the Philippines. The Philippines did not even exist on the map at that time. And lastly, because the apostasy of the first-century church never occurred, there is no need for a re-emergence or prophet/messenger after Jesus.

Claim #2: We believe that Jesus Christ is a man and thus, not God. In other words, we don’t believe in the Trinity.

The INC claims that the word "Trinity" or its concept is not found in the Bible. They mention that the Bible speaks of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit but it never refers to all of them as gods nor as three persons in one God. They then invite readers to set up a one-to-one discussion with one of their ministers and they've also linked additional resources.

Let's first look at what the Trinity or its concept is. All orthodox Christians agree, that the doctrine of the Trinity holds that God is one essence but three distinct, co-equal, co-eternal Persons. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible affirms monotheism (there is only one God). The Bible also clearly teaches that God has one nature or being, but three centers of consciousness or persons. God is one What, and three Whos. Just like we share one nature or being (human being), the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit share one being - God. All three persons of the Trinity are fully God. But the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are clearly distinguished from each other by the way they interact with one another in personal ways. One example is Jesus’ baptism. As the Holy Spirit descends on the Son, the Father says, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased” (Luke 3:22). In Corinthians 8:6 and 1 Peter 1:3 Apostle Paul writes “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”. The Son is called God on numerous occasions ( John 1:1, Romans 9:5, Hebrews 1:8, 2 Peter 1:1). For example when Thomas calls Jesus “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). In the inception of the church, Ananias and Sapphira dropped dead after lying to the Holy Spirit since they had “not lied to people but to God” (Acts 5:1-4). INC uses 2 Corinthians 13:14 in their Benediction and Doxology at every service. This reveals the triune God and proves that the Holy Spirit is a Person. He’s not a thing, a force, an idea, or an emotion. How could one fellowship with a force? How could one share a friendship with a thing? The Holy Spirit has a voice (Acts 8:29). The Holy Spirit has a will (1 Corinthians 12:11). The Holy Spirit has feelings (Ephesians 4:30).

The Trinity is not a contradiction. The Bible does not teach that three beings are one being, or that three persons are one person. That would be a contradiction. The Bible teaches that one divine being is also three persons. This may go beyond our understanding since our human brains have no category for this most unique concept. While this goes beyond reason, it’s not against reason.

It is true, that the word Trinity is not found in the Bible. The word “Trinity” wasn’t used in Christian literature until the mid-second century by Theophilus, and the doctrine itself wasn’t officially formulated until the early fourth century when it was directly attacked by Arius. However, the elements of the Trinity have always been there. Christians have always understood, accepted, and taught the concept of the Trinity and this has been handed down by apostolic witnesses early in the history of the church. Christians from the very beginning have understood the mystery of the Trinity, even before they began using the term Trinity. These early Christians didn't figure things out through theories or philosophical theology. Instead, they understood because they met the God who appeared to them. C.S. Lewis explained it this way: 

"People already vaguely knew about God. Then came a man who claimed to be God, and yet he was not the sort of man you could dismiss as a lunatic. He made them believe him. They met him again after they had seen him killed. And then, after they had been formed into a little society or community, they found God somehow inside them as well: directing them, making them able to do things they could not do before. And when they worked it all out, they found they had arrived at the Christian definition of the three-personal God."

The Old Testament gives glimpses of the Trinity. In Genesis 1:26 God says in the plural, “Let us make mankind in our image.” God, the Father commanded it, God, the Son executed creation and God, the Holy Spirit hovered over everything in approval. 

The question everyone should ask is: "Who is Jesus?"

According to the INC, Jesus was the Son of God. A man born of a virgin. A human conceived supernaturally. Some members of the INC may even describe him as a "special man". Yet, they pray to Jesus, acknowledging him as a mediator. They baptize in his name. The church is named after him, but how much of the INC is really about Jesus? If Jesus is a mere human, isn't praying to him blasphemy? 

Who does the Bible say Jesus is? Or more importantly, what did Jesus claim about himself? Jesus is:

• God - John 1:1-4 clearly says that Jesus was the Word at the beginning through whom all things were made and who later became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). When asked who He was, He answered: "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). His Jewish audience exactly knew what Jesus was claiming, which is why they picked up stones to stone him for blasphemy (John 10:31-33). Another instance is in John 8:58 when Jesus boldly claimed “Before Abraham was born, I am!" And again, the people picked up stones to stone him, as they understood that Jesus was claiming to be the "I am" in Exodus 3. 
• God in Flesh - Religion is all about people trying to reach God. It's constantly striving to sacrifice or be "good enough" to make it to God. In Christianity, God lowered Himself to reach people. How can you and I have a relationship with someone of a different nature? It's almost like a human being trying to have a friendship with an insect. It's not possible! But because God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus, we now can have a relationship with God (1 John 5:20). Jesus bridged the gap for us. Jesus is Emmanuel - God with us (Matthew 1:23). Jesus expresses the true image of God.
• Christ - Christ is not a last name. Jesus represents humanity and Christ stands for His divinity. It means Messiah or anointed one (Matthew 16:15-16). In biblical times, anointing someone with oil was a sign that God was consecrating or setting apart that person for a particular role. An “anointed one” was someone with a special, God-ordained purpose. Throughout the New Testament, we see proof that Jesus is the Chosen One. During Jesus’ time, the Jewish people anticipated the Messiah would liberate Israel by overthrowing Roman authority and creating a physical kingdom. Only after Jesus’ resurrection did His disciples finally begin to understand the true meaning of the Old Testament prophecies about what the Messiah would accomplish.
• Lord - A lord is someone with authority, control, or power over others. To call someone "lord" is to acknowledge them as a master or a governing figure of sorts. The statement “Jesus is Lord” means that Jesus has “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 5:6). He is “our only Sovereign and Lord” (Jude 1:4). Jesus is the Lord of Lords (Revelation 17:14). When we declare, "Jesus is Lord," we pledge to follow His commands. Jesus questioned, "Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46). Recognizing Jesus as Lord logically involves yielding or submitting to His authority. If Jesus holds that position, He possesses authority over us, giving Him the right to direct our actions. Calling Jesus Lord is recognizing that Jesus is God and has supreme authority over all things. Jesus is Lord. It’s the truth, whether or not people acknowledge the fact. One day "every knee will bow down and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord." (Philippians 2:9-11). Jesus is more than the Messiah, more than the Savior; He is the Lord of all.
• Savior - the word Savior simply means “someone who saves someone else." Throughout the Old Testament, God is often described as the Savior, rescuing His people from various forms of danger. To understand Jesus’ role as Savior, we must understand our own desperate situation. People have committed sins against God, defying and willingly distancing themselves from the source of life, God. The consequence of sin is death, and so everything in our world is now dying. Because God is holy, He cannot tolerate sin. Therefore He will punish sin, leading to eternal separation from Him. Without a Saviour, humans are helpless. Without a Savior, we are dead in our sins. That is where Jesus steps in. Being God, Jesus is perfect and never sinned. He lived a perfectly righteous life and therefore did not deserve to die. But He chose to take our sins upon Him and to die a brutal death on the cross for us, paying the price for our sins - a price we could not pay. After three days, He resurrected, establishing His victory, and one day He will return to eradicate evil from this world completely. Because of His death and resurrection, anyone who trusts in Him can enjoy eternity in heaven. Jesus is the Savior to the person who trusts in Him. Every person needs rescuing. Jesus came to save you and me. His blood shed on the cross pays for all of our sins - past, present, and future. Jesus did not simply save us from something, He saved us for something. He saved us for a relationship with God, who loves us. What Jesus accomplished on the cross made the reconciliation with God possible. 

Claim #3: We follow the Bible and only the Bible

The INC prides itself on the claim that they do not use external books or resources to support its doctrine other than the Bible. They explain that all their questions are answered by using solely the Bible, while other religions use other books to support their teachings. They also hint at the style of their doctrines - questions and answers. 

This is partially true. The INC primarily uses a Bible to explain its teachings. However, occasionally they do use other resources to support their claims (e.g some World History books to "prove" their claims regarding the outbreak of WW1 and that the Philippines is referred to as "the Far East", Catholic literature to discredit the Catholic faith) Their doctrines are based on a question-and-answer method. They pose a question and use different Bible translations to answer. We explained why this method of teaching is not only problematic but dangerous in our blog post here. This method can make the Bible say whatever you want. By asking a wrong question and cherry-picking a Bible verse to answer, one can twist the meaning of any given Bible verse. It is morally wrong to use the Bible's authority to mislead people. So do they only use the Bible? No. And even if they did, it would not necessarily mean that they use the Bible correctly. The problem is not only what they use, but also how they use the Bible to teach their doctrine.

Claim #4: We are not a cult 

They defend this claim by stating: "Unless being a cult means completely following God’s words written in the Bible, then we’re not a cult." Followed by an invitation to check out a link to a video they posted about this topic. They claim that the term "cult" is not necessarily negative or bad as it refers to "culture".

So, what is a cult? 

While Hollywood always portrayed cults as a small group of people living in secluded villages, dressing and living differently than the norm and performing ominous rituals, in reality, cults can be a lot harder to identify. The scary truth is that anybody can be involved in a cult, even highly educated and intelligent people can find themselves in a cult. Cults are not isolated to just religion and spirituality, but can also be found in social and political movements as well.

According to Webster's dictionary, a cult is a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work; a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion; a system of religious beliefs and rituals. The Oxford Dictionary has similar definitions: a small group of people who have extreme religious beliefs and who are not part of any established religion. In our blog post here, we break down the characteristics of a religious cult.

A cult is characterized by several key elements that set them apart from mainstream groups. They typically feature a charismatic leader. They often adhere to an exclusive belief system that includes extreme religious doctrines conspiracy theories and/or apocalyptic prophecies. Members are sometimes isolated either physically or psychologically from the outside world and it fosters a dependency on the group for social and emotional support and control over information. They tightly regulate access to outside information and discourage critical thinking. Cults exercise Behavior control. It can go as far as dictating someone's routines, relationships, and/or dress codes. Cults practice control tactics such as thought-stopping and black-and-white thinking. Both are used to manipulate members' thoughts and beliefs. Emotional manipulation is employed to keep members obedient with fear, guilt, and shame. The Bite model, which is control over Behavior, Information, Thoughts, and Emotions, was developed by Steven Hassan, a cult expert, who was in a cult himself.

1. Behavior Control: The INC leaders hold significant influence and authority over their followers. The members are strongly controlled by the INC's doctrines. From the way they ought to dress, to the way they have to submit to certain practices and rituals, to the way they address each other (language). They place restrictions on contact with leavers and discourage or prohibit members completely from associating with friends, family, or anyone who is not part of the organization. The INC cultivates a strong "us vs them" mentality in its members, isolating members from non-members. There is a rigid expectation on members to adhere unquestioningly to authority. Going against the administration is equated to going against God. Questioning or criticizing the leaders is not welcome and can be met with punishment or emotional manipulation. Members are manipulated into blind obedience. Permission from the administration is required on all major life decisions (e.g. marriage and weddings). There are tighter controls in the INC ministry. INC ministers and their families have to report and seek permission for major purchases, accepting any social benefits, medical procedures, school and course choices, and travel/holidays. 

2. Information Control: 

This can come in a few forms. Information Control is limiting access to information that's not sympathetic or in agreement with the group's ideology. INC members are discouraged from looking at anything critical of the group. The INC administration works hard to promote its own beliefs and ideology as the sole source of truth. You will never hear the leaders encourage their members to fact check them on everything they teach, or to examine any information critical regarding their doctrines. They do exactly the opposite by banning certain websites and prohibiting the use of social media. INC leaders exercise control over what information their members should access. There is a strict hierarchy of authority where they control the narrative, discouraging members from seeking information outside the organization, and creating an environment where questioning their teachings is discouraged. They try to shield their members from friends, family, or others who might offer alternative perspectives. They distort information to make the INC's beliefs more acceptable which includes misquoting sources or withholding information and creating propaganda. They went as far as boycotting the largest Philippine's media company to enlarge the reach of their own network (Net 25 / Eagle Broadcasting Corp.) This way, the INC becomes the only source of truth to their members.

3. Thought Control: 

It's designed to shape members' thoughts beliefs and attitudes to align with the cult's ideology and the leader's directives. The INC administration demands absolute loyalty from the members. INC members are required to pledge unwavering loyalty to the administration. #1 of INC's self-made 10 commandments is to obey and submit fully to the INC church administration. Critical thinking is downplayed and looked at as a bad thing. Questioning the teachings or the authority of the leaders is labeled as disobedience and a sin. Language plays a very large part in thought control. Using loaded language, words, or phrases that are filled with emotions, is a way to evoke strong emotional reactions to manipulate the member's opinions. This appeals to people's emotional faculties. This is to block people's thinking or intellectual capabilities to avoid critical thinking. Young INC members are groomed to tie their identity to their membership in their formative years. As early as 4 years old, a child in the INC is taught to say and declare "I am a member of the Church of Christ". Slogans like "Proud to be an INC", "One with EVM" and "Obey and never complain" are promoted to reinforce the cult's ideology, the member's identity, and allegiance to the leaders.  

4. Emotional Control:

It's a tactic aimed at keeping the members obedient. It's manipulating the member's emotions so that they won't rely on objective truth but on their feelings, whether it's positive or negative. Feelings are easier to manipulate and therefore easier to control. Love bombing is a classic tactic in cults and INC is no exception. INC ministers and their families are "adopted" into the family of the administration. For ministers and their families, the INC administration should be regarded as their "new family" that replaces their biological parents in terms of authority. Being indebted or a feeling of overwhelming gratitude towards the INC administration is being cultivated in the members. New recruits (especially Non-Filipinos) are showered with excessive affection, attention, and praise to create a sense of belonging and attachment. This is not to be confused with genuine kindness and being welcoming, but it's the excessive and conditional love and affection given to new recruits as if they will never be loved and accepted more than they are in this group. Shaming and guilt tactics are made to feel members guilty or ashamed for any perceived failures, doubts, or disobedience. This then reinforces their dependency on the INC for redemption ("Balik loob"). INC cultivates this feeling of dependency in their members to the organization, to provide emotional support, belonging, and purpose. This makes it difficult for them to imagine a life outside the INC. Fear, however, is the main emotion they use to control members. Fear tactics are effectively being used to make their members obedient to remain in the INC and stay obedient to the administration. The fear of the end of the world, fear of being shunned, losing one's salvation, family and friends, reputation and so much more are the driving force that keeps the members inside like invisible chains. 

Claim #5: We don't practice infant baptism

This claim is based on the Bible verses Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38, and Ephesians 4:21. They mentioned that one should be taught the words of God, believe in them, repent, and renew his life to qualify for baptism. And since an infant won't be able to be able to do all these things, INC teaches against infant baptism.

This is one of the teachings of the INC that opposes the Catholic faith. It is important to understand, that in the INC doctrine, a water baptism in full immersion is essential for salvation. 

But is baptism necessary for salvation? Baptism illustrates a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Being immersed in the water illustrates dying and being buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water pictures Christ’s resurrection. However, the Bible teaches that baptism is not required for salvation. Requiring anything besides faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is a works-based salvation. To add anything to the gospel is to say that Jesus’ death on the cross was not sufficient to purchase our salvation. To say that baptism is necessary for salvation is to say we must add our good works and obedience to Christ’s death to make it sufficient for salvation. Jesus’ death alone paid for our sins. Baptism is an important step of obedience after salvation but cannot be a requirement for salvation. The Bible teaches that salvation is received through faith alone (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).

Claim #6: We don’t celebrate Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, or any holiday based on pagan beliefs. 

According to the INC, the Bible prohibits adding to or subtracting from what is written in it, therefore they do not follow any religious holidays rooted in pagan beliefs. They have linked their resources for a deeper explanation of each holiday on their website. 

Going through each holiday would require separate posts, but is there some truth to this claim? Is it wrong or sinful to celebrate Christmas, Easter, or any other holiday? Let's explore the main Christian holidays: Christmas and Easter.

Is Christmas a pagan holiday? 

The short answer is: No. Christmas is the Christian remembrance and celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The exact pagan roots of Christmas remain uncertain. The winter solstice or Saturnalia, often tied with Christmas, was never celebrated on December 25. Other Christmas symbols, such as trees and candles, may have had some pagan connotations, but these are so common in human experience that it can hardly be claimed that their use was ever exclusive to paganism.

Is Easter a pagan holiday? 

Again, the short answer is: No! Easter is the Christian celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Christians believe that Jesus, the Son of God, died for our sins on a Roman cross, was buried, and rose to life again. Just like the claims of Christmas being pagan, the claims of Easter being pagan are based on hearsay, assumptions, and inferences, with no hard evidence to back them up. 

We might explore this topic in a separate blog post in the future, but for now, let's just look at the claim.

Does the INC celebrate anything that's not in the Bible? 

The short answer is: Yes! They certainly celebrate birthdays. Specifically the birthday of their leaders. They also celebrate anniversaries. The Bible nowhere instructs Christians to celebrate holidays. Days such as Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Independence Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day birthdays, anniversaries, etc., are not mentioned in Scripture. The only holidays mentioned in Scripture are the Jewish feast days. Yet the INC does not celebrate any of them. The only birthday celebrations mentioned in the Bible were Pharao's (Genesis 40:20) and Herod's (Matthew 14:6, Mark 6:21-22). Does that mean celebrating a birthday is sinful or unbiblical? Of course not! There is nothing wrong or sinful about valuing, recognizing, and remembering someone's life. Jesus himself had a birthday. That's why Christians celebrate Jesus coming to earth on Christmas. It may not be his actual birthday, but Dec 25 is the day early Christians chose to celebrate His life and there is nothing wrong with that (since nobody celebrates the day itself but the person, Jesus). Almost everything has some sort of pagan roots at this point (e.g. wedding rings) and not everything is found in the Bible. While there is no command in the Bible for New Testament Christians to celebrate holidays, neither is there a prohibition from doing so. Critical thinking and sharp discernment are required of every individual to decide on those matters. The celebration of holidays is a matter of conscience. Romans 14:4–6a makes this clear: “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. . . . One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.” 

Claim #7: We are not a Filipino church

Here they claim that has congregations around the world and members from over 147 ethnicities. While the majority of members are Filipinos and a lot of congregations in the Philippines, people from many different races and cultures make up the Church Of Christ. They even posted a picture of Non-Filipino people followed by a link to learn more about the INC

This claim certainly made me laugh. Why would they include this as a fact? Well, maybe because it is not so obvious. This fact seems oblivious in my humble opinion. If what they claim is objectively true, nationalities or ethnicity would not matter. The majority of the members are indeed Filipinos. INC is the most influential in the Philippines. It's the largest cult in the Philippines. The leader primarily preaches in Tagalog, even when he preaches outside of the Philippines. The main language spoken within the organization to this day is still Tagalog, as this is the language of the "sugo" (messenger). The INC culture is rooted and tied to Filipino values and traditions. Their teaching to bloc-vote is exclusive to the Philippines. If they look and sound Filipino, does that make them a Filipino church? You decide. If Felix Manalo was indeed sent by God to save the whole of humanity, this would include all races and nationalities and this reality would be reflected in reality.

Claim #8: We believe the reestablishment of the Church is Bible-based and supported by biblical prophecy.

Here they explain the significance behind the timing of INC's registration in the Philippines and the outbreak of World War 1. Find out how this Church grew from the East and made its way to the West, claiming that there are biblical prophecies to back it all up. 

We explored this claim in this blog post here. But to summarize: There is no passage in the Bible backing up any prophesy of a registration in a country to signal the re-establishment of the Church Christ established.

1) The apostasy of the church never happened. Any reputable source or Bible scholar would back this up. Therefore, there is no need for a re-establishment. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church that Christ has built. 

2) The concept of registering a church with the local government is not a biblical concept, nor did it exist during the time the book of Isaiah was written. 

3) The date of the outbreak of WW1 is controversial, but most reputable historical resources agree that July 28, 1914 (the day Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia) was the day that started it all. 

4) The INC got the whole East-West prophesies all wrong. The Philippines did not exist during Prophet Isaiah's time nor during Apostle John's time. Any Bible scholar could attest that there is no biblical end-time prophecy regarding the Philippines anywhere in the Bible.  

Claim #9: We don't practice tithing

To explain this they quote 2 Corinthians 9:7, claiming that the Bible does not give specifics but commands each to give “as he purposes in his heart.” 

Tithing is an Old Testament concept. The tithe was a requirement of the Law in which the Israelites were to give 10 percent of the crops they grew and the livestock they raised to the Tabernacle. The New Testament nowhere commands, or even recommends, that Christians submit to a legalistic tithe system. The New Testament nowhere designates a percentage of income a person should set aside. Some Christian churches have taken the 10 percent figure from the Old Testament tithe and applied it as a “recommended minimum” for Christians in their giving. Although no tithe is demanded of a Christian, the New Testament talks about the importance and benefits of giving. We are to give as we are able. Sometimes that means giving more than 10 percent; sometimes that may mean giving less. It all depends on the ability of the person and the needs of the body of Christ. Every Christian should diligently pray and seek God’s wisdom in the matter (James 1:5). Above all, offerings should be given with pure motives and an attitude of worship to God and service to the body of Christ. 

Religious cults often employ manipulative tactics to encourage members to increase their offerings. This can include exploiting psychological vulnerabilities, instilling fear or guilt, creating a sense of obligation or exclusivity, and employing charismatic leaders who exert influence and control over followers. Through these means, cults seek to enhance financial contributions from members, fostering dependence on the group while advancing the cult's goals. And it is no different within the INC. The members are not commanded to give 10 percent. Yet because of the many different money pots and frequency of the services within the organization, a member most likely far exceeds giving 10 percent of their income. 

Claim #10: We believe that to be saved, you need to enter Christ and be part of His body or Church.

Here they boldly claim that, according to the Bible, for a person to be saved, he or she should enter in by Christ, by becoming a member of His body or Church because it is His Church that Christ will save. "We’re not shy in saying that to be saved you need to be part, or a member, of the true Church Of Christ because that’s what the Bible teaches."

Let's explore this bold claim:

The Bible teaches that man is saved through Christ alone and faith alone. Nowhere in the Bible is Jesus equated to an established religion. The concept of "membership in a church" or organized religion other than the Jewish faith did not exist during Jesus' times. The Bible clearly teaches that once you have accepted Christ as your Savior, and put your faith in Him, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). In other words, one has to believe and trust that Jesus alone has the power to save from death. Nothing we can ever say or do can earn us salvation. A church or religious establishment cannot save anyone. Nor can a membership or a denomination. Religion cannot save. Here the INC misuses the biblical term "Church" or "Ecclesia" in Greek. Unlike our modern definition of the church (a human-created institution patterned after central government), the term ecclesia in the Bible means "the gathering of the summoned" or “the called-out” assembly. Ecclesia is a congregation of believers. INC members are being programmed for slavery by man-made institutions that distort and subvert the truth of God. But ecclesias are not religious institutions: they are bodies of "called-out" Christians living and working together in free communities (as opposed to central government). When ecclesia is understood and recognized, and the term "church" is exposed and discarded, the Scriptures take on new meaning.