IGLESIA NI CRISTO EVANGELISM: NOT KEEPING SILENT UNTIL SALVATION SHINES

IGLESIA NI CRISTO EVANGELISM:  

NOT KEEPING SILENT

UNTIL SALVATION SHINES

INVITATIONS TO GRAND evangelical missions (GEMs).  Distributions of pamphlets and religious magazines.  Request to listen or watch religious programs on TV and radio.  These and other ways of sharing the true gospel to non-members continue unabated, as members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) devote much of their time, effort, and even financial resources to the noble mission of spreading God’s message for man’s salvation in these last days.

     Indeed, the Iglesia Ni Cristo remains committed to evangelism or to spreading the Good News even if the world faces persistent problems and perils.  With God’s abiding guidance, it will continue to reap success in this noble mission of proclaiming to all people God’s words as the world approaches its nearing end.

FULFILLING THEIR CALLING

Every member of the Church Of Christ makes it a point to fulfill his duty to never keep silent until salvation shines:  “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.  I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem
and makes her the praise of the earth.  You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.”  (Isa. 62:1, 6, 7, 3, New International Version)

     Moreover, in His pronouncement, our Lord Jesus Christ likens the members of His Church to the branches of the vine and thus He expects them to bear fruit;  He also warns them that the branches that do not bear fruit will be taken away (John 15:16, 2).  Thus, members of the Church Of Christ in these last days fulfill this mandate by sharing their faith to others and winning them over to the Church.  And to illustrate their mission to convert people into the Church, Christ likens them to lights of the world that should shine brightly in the dark:

     “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” (Matt. 5:14-15, New King James Version)

     Christ does not count worthy any member of His Church who dodges his obligation to share his faith.  God’s true servants should take seriously their role as God’s instruments in making known the message of salvation to the world in as much as it is God Himself who wants all men to be saved (I Tim. 2:3-4).

SAVING SOULS

Fulfilling their mission to win people over to the Church is no ordinary undertaking; it is a noble mission because in so doing, they are saving souls—snatching them from the fire:  “Save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” (Jude 1:23, NIV)

     Hence, by taking part in this holy endeavor to spread the gospel of salvation, they manifest their love and compassion for their fellowmen.  However, Apostle made it clear that not everyone has the authority to preach the gospel, for it is the ministers and evangelical workers who are given the gift to preach (Rom. 12:5-6; II Tim. 4:1-2).  Even so, as “lights of the world,” they should illuminate others who are still in the dark on the true knowledge that leads to salvation (Matt. 5:14, 6).

     Time is really of the essence.  Thus, the task of snatching or rescuing as many souls as possible from the fire on Judgment Day—which is swiftly drawing near because the events that serve as the signs of this appointed day given by Christ have been fulfilled (Matt. 24:3, 33, 6-8) and because on that day “the heavens and the earth… are reserved for the fire… and perdition of ungodly men” (II Pet. 3:7, NKJV)—is made more urgent and immediate.  Before time runs out, they are doing everything they can accomplish their great mission of sharing the true faith.

PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS

Member of the Church of Christ received God’s compassion through Christ; He died for them as explained by Apostle Paul:  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” (Rom. 5:8-9, Ibid.)

     Furthermore, His death benefited His Church only; and Christ Himself will save the Church, His body (Eph. 5:25, 23).  And so, they were justified through the blood of Christ when God called them to become members of the Church Of Christ—the Church which He redeemed with His 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). 

     Thus, God delivered them from condemnation and brought them to salvation.  And because they have been redeemed, they should proclaim what God did to them and His righteousness to others.  Indeed, the faith that will assure them salvation and eternal life is faith worth sharing and they should not keep it to themselves:

     “I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness
In the great assembly;
Indeed, I do not restrain my lips,
O Lord, You Yourself know.
I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth
From the great assembly.” (Ps. 40:9-10, NKJV)

FORTIFYING THEIR OWN SALVATON

Not only do members of the Church show their care and concern for humanity when they share with everyone God’s Message of salvation; such works also fortify their hope for their own salvation.  Apostle Paul mentioned those who labored with him in the gospel, noting that their names “are written in the Book of Life” (Phil. 4:3, Ibid.).  To labor in the gospel is to take part in “spreading the good news…” (Phil. 1:5, Contemporary English Version).  Hence, the time and efforts that faithful members of the Church Of Christ share for the service of God will never be wasted (I Cor. 15:58)—they are certain of attaining salvation in the Second Coming of Christ.

     Moreover, they follow the example of the early Christians who, according to Apostle Paul, helped “in the work of [spreading] the gospel from the very first day until now.” (Phil. 1:5, Today’s English Version).  Thus, participating in sharing the gospel ought to be a consistent and continuous practice among true Christians.  True enough, many brethren today, despite successfully converting many people to be baptized in the Church, continue to show the same enthusiasm as that of the early Christians in fulfilling this mission to proclaim the good news of salvation.

     They understand that in sharing their faith, the reward is well worth the struggle and sacrifice.  The Bible guaranteed that those who are “willing to share” (their faith) are “storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (I Tim. 6:18-19, NKJV)  *

Based on the article written by

Brother Roland A. Aguirre

PASUGO GOD’S MESSAGE

JULY 2012/VOLUME 64

NUMBER 7/PAGES 4-6