Interesting Questions-40
Clarifying
the only one Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 8:6;
Acts 2:36);
and the only one Lord God (Mark 12:29; John
17:1,3)
"The Lord said to my Lord" (Matthew 22:24)
Letter to the Editor:
PASUGO, March-April 1993, p.2
I AM REACTING to the statement that the Church of
Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo) recognizes Jesus Christ as the "only one
Lord" (Feljun B. Fuentes, "Some Misconceptions About Iglesia Ni
Cristo Unity," Pasugo, March-April 1992, p.5).
I notice that this statement is against the
teachings of Jesus Christ who told us that "the Lord our God is the
only Lord" (Mark 12:29, TEV). How could you explain this
inconsistency between the Iglesia ni Cristo and Christ's teachings
in the Gospels?
Dennis M. Fermace
Quezon City, Philippines
Author Feljun B.Fuentes replies:
Thank you for writing us. It is a pleasure
to answer your question which may also be in the minds of our
other readers.
Apostle Paul recognized one Lord Jesus Christ
(cf.
I Cor. 8:6) because it was God Himself who made Him both Lord and
Christ (cf. Acts 2:36) Christ's Lordship is not inherent in
Him but given to Him by God. God did not make any other man lord
like Christ, hence, there is only one Lord Jesus Christ.
yet for us there
is one
God, the Father, of whom are all
things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom are all
things, and through whom we live.
(1 Cor. 8:6, NKJV)
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has
made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both
Lord and Christ.” (Acts
2:36, NKJV)
In Mark 12:29, Christ recognizes God as
the
only LORD GOD when He said " the LORD our God,
the LORD is one". God's Lordship is inherent
in Him.
Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear,
O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
(Mark 12:29, NKJV)
In John 17:1,3 Jesus Himself made it clear who is the only
one Lord God: "After Jesus finished saying this, he looked up to
heaven and said, Father,
the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, so that the Son
may give glory to you.3
And eternal life means
to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus
Christ, whom you sent. (Good New Translation)
Thus, Iglesia ni Cristo
recognizes only
one Lord God and only one Lord Jesus Christ.
This Iglesia ni Cristo teaching is consistent
with the teaching of Christ (Matthew 22:44)
who
said:
41 While
the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
42 saying,
“What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “ The
Son of
David.”
43 He
said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:
44 ‘The LORD said to my Lord', "Sit at my right hand,
Till I make your enemies Your footstool"'?
45 If
David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” (Matthew
22:41-45, NKJV)
Thus, the Lord who said
"Sit
at my right hand, Till I make your enemies Your footstool" is
the LORD GOD.
And the Lord to whom this was said is the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Please note that in the Genealogy of Jesus
Christ, Jesus is the Son of David:
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David,
the Son of Abraham: (Matthew 1:1, NKJV)
___________________
Note: Verses in smaller font
were added for clarity. Emphasis ours.
Bible Study
Suggestion: If you have further questions, please feel free
to visit the
Iglesia ni Cristo congregation nearest you. A minister or
an evangelical worker would be happy to answer any biblical question
you have in mind.