Interesting Questions-78

"...according to His mercy He saved us"
(Titus 3:5)

Letter to the Editor:
PASUGO, October 2003, p.2

IN MOST OF your religious articles, I noticed that you advocate that church membership is necessary for attaining salvation.  As I understand it, you teach that one of the righteous works that must be done by man is to enter your church. Hence, according to your doctrine, those who are not members of your church will not be saved. But apostle Paul dearly declared that, "Not by works of righteousness  which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us" (Titus 3:5).   Doesn't Paul here that entering any church is unnecessary in attaining salvation? How can you reconcile your teaching and Apostle Paul's?

Grace Peralta
Palawig, Zambales, Philippines

Editor's reply:

    Apostle Paul’s statement in the verse you cited does not in any way preclude church membership as requirement in attaining salvation. In fact, Apostle Paul taught the importance of the true Church and the importance of membership therein in man’s attainment of salvation (Eph. 5:23). This, he learned from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself who taught the necessity of entering the Church of Christ for man’s salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself declares:

     “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved …” (Jn. 10:9, New King James Version).

     Those who entered Christ who is the door are found in the fold:

     “I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe….” (Jn. 10:9, Revised English Bible)

     The fold or flock, where the people who entered Christ are found, is the Church of Christ which He purchased through His own blood:

     “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)

     The “works of righteousness” ,mentioned by Apostle Paul, which will not bring us to salvation, are the”… works [done] in righteousness, which we did ourselves” (Titus 3:5, American Standard Version), because apart from Christ, we cannot bear fruits of righteousness (Jn. 15:4-5; Philip. 1:11). Much as we would want to be righteous in all our ways, we would still fall into sin (Titus 3:3; Rom. 7:18).

     Truly, God is merciful (Lk. 6:36). In fact, the Scriptures proves that not only is the Lord full of mercy but also is “full of constant love” (Ps. 103:8, Today’s English Version). And  salvation, certainly, is according to God’s mercy. But Apostle Peter explained that those who obtained God’s mercy are the members of the Church of Christ:

     “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people … who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (I Pt. 2:9-10, NKJV)

     Apostle Peter here is referring to those who are sanctified through the “sprinkling” of Christ’s blood (I Pt. 1:2, Ibid.). And Apostle Paul, the one who wrote Titus 3:5, testifies that it is the Church of Christ which was purchased by Christ through His blood (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation).

     Thus, there is no contradiction between the teaching of Apostle Paul that “according to His mercy He (God) saved us” and the biblical doctrine upheld by the Iglesia ni Cristo, declaring that to be saved one should join the Church of Christ because it is here where one can obtain God's mercy.

 

___________________

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. For the latest Worship Service Directory of Iglesia ni Cristo Locales and Congregations outside the Philippines, please visit www.iglesianicristoworshipservice.com or just click link at home page.