Catholic Church in the beginning is the Church of Christ

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We believe that the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) is the re-establishement of the true church founded by our lord Jesus Christ, and that so-called Catholic Church was the Church of Christ in the beginning...

But, how was this happen? Wait, let us make it short and clear.

The church that was founded by Christ is the Church of Christ, but, the next administration after the death of the apostles whom took place, the Church of Christ later became the "Holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church" as what bishops in the Vatican council in 1870 decided unanimously to change its name. And because of a lot of changes happened in the time what i am saying about after the death of the apostles, it will and can never be the Church in the 1st century! So, as what prophesied, that Christ "have other sheep" (john 10:16) "from afar" (Acts 2:39) and in the "ends of the earth" (Isa. 43:6), the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) showed up in the time of first world war by God's messenger Bro. Felix Manalo whom commissioned to preach the TRUE WORDS OF GOD, came in these last days.

Yes. The “Catholic Church” was the church built by Christ in the beginning but later apostatized not because of the persecution, but because of APOSTASY (II thess 2:3).

As what was the meaning of Apostasy,

“Turning or falling away from true gospel teachings as individuals or as a people.” About.com

And that happens when the popes, emperors in Rome, bishops and etc. made teachings that caused the Church of Christ fall from the TRUE or ORIGINAL FAITH.

The question is, is the Church in the 1^st century the same as what the Catholic Church have and doing? A big NO! Click here for the answer.

Let us also quote authorities who’s proving what I am saying,

“This question poses itself with great urgency today. Does the claim of the Catholic Church to be the true Church of Christ still make sense? Is this claim, endorsed in the document of Vatican II, the last remnant of ecclesiastical pride…? For several reasons the Church’s claim to unicity has become a very difficult issue on our day. What are some of these reasons?

In the first place the traditional apologetical arguments in favor of the Catholic Church’s uniqueness are generally no loner regarded as valid. We cannot offer a strict historical proof that the Catholic Church is in essential continuity with the Church of the New Testament.” Gregory Baum, Faith and Doctrine a Contemporary View [New York: Paulist Press], pp. 91-92

The Roman Catholic Church, in the person of Gregory Baum, frankly admits that apologetical arguments in favor of her uniqueness are generally no longer regarded as valid. One of the reasons is that her mentors cannot offer a strict historical proof that she (catholic Church) is in essential continuity with the Church of the New testament (Church of Christ.)

“We also have lost the taste for the apologetical argument that appealed to unity, catholicity, holiness and apostolicity of the Catholic Church

…The Catholic Church, we used to argue, has four marks which distinguished her from other ecclesiastical bodies and certify her as the true Church of Christ. Today we have great hesitations in proposing such an argument.” Gregory Baum, p.92

And now, they are having great hesitation in proposing the four distinguishing marks that alleged certify her as the true Church!

Other proofs,

“…Few historians would suggest that this continuing self-identity of the Church can be demonstrated historically. When for instance, we look at the profound change that occurred in the early Church when the monarchial episcopate replaced other forms of apostolic ministry, we realize that we cannot “prove” that throughout this change the Church remained identical with herself.” (p.92)

Yes. As what the truth is, even in the Catholic authorities cannot prove that the Catholic Church is the same of the early church as what happen a lot of CHANGES.

But wait, let’s go back in the topic of that Church built by Christ, what was it again?

“5. Did Jesus Christ establish a Church? Yes, from all history, both secular and profane, as well as from the bible considered as a human document, we learn that Jesus Christ established a Church, which from the earliest times has been called after him the Christian Church or the Church of Christ… This Church, founded and organized by Jesus Christ and preached by the apostles, is the Church of Christ,… It is the only true Church and the one which God orders all men to join. ” Religion: Doctrine and Practice, by Rev. Francis Cassily, pp. 442-443 and p. 444

Clearly, the Church built by Christ was called after him; it was the Christian Church or the CHURCH OF CHRIST!

And how does other describes it?

“…The Church of Christ, which has been divinely instituted for the sake of souls and of eternal salvation…” The Papal Encyclicals, Anne Fremantle, p.153

“…the Church of Christ today must be in nature, in power, in teaching, what it was when it served men through the twelve apostles. It is to this Church that are all obliged to belong in order to be saved. Those people who through their own grave fault do not know the true Church, or, knowing it, refuse to join it, cannot be saved.” Father Smith Instructs Jackson, Rev. John Francis Nole, Bishop of Fort Wayne and Rev. Lester Fallon, pp. 35-36

Identical, isn’t it? How they describe the church is that we should enter or join Christ’s Church for the salvation. Because it was the TRUE CHURCH and those who refused to join cannot be saved, as what stated. What I am saying about being identical is what the authors referring to, the CHURCH OF CHRIST, and the CHURCH OF CHRIST, Iglesia Ni Cristo that is the re-establishment of the true church was identical in the teachings.

If you know about the teachings in the Iglesia ni Cristo, you will understand what I am saying. Simply, one of the teachings in the INC is what been said earlier, that it was the true church, and those who refuse to join cannot be saved!

Catholic Church’s BIG MISTAKE.

It is written in the bible,

“But there is something we must tell you and everyone else in Israel. This man is standing here completely well because of the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You put Jesus to death on a cross, but God raised him to life…Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone.” Acts 4:10,12

But what does the Catholic Church did?

“’Catholic’ is the ancient name by which the Church of Christ has been known for nineteen centuries, this name was given to her not for reasons of controversy, to prove something, but because it identifies her uniquely. It was first used by St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch in Syria, who was martyred about A.D 110. The Church founded by Christ is here, for the first time, called ‘the Catholic Church’, a name clearly to denote the Church throughout the world in union with the see or diocese of Rome. It was stress the unity of the universal Church that St. Ignatius invented the name.” Roman Catholic, Rev. Edward Taylor, p.3

“The council of trent made ‘Roman’ part of the official title of the church…” Roman Catholic, Rev. Edward Taylor, p.7

“In 1870, at the Vatican Council, the name ‘Roman Catholic Church’ was proposed, but it was rejected. The bishops assembled unanimously decided upon this official name: ‘The Holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church’” Discourses on the Apsotle’s Creed, Rev. Clement Crock, p. 191

Very clear, they CHANGED THE CHURCH’S NAME. It is clear therefore that this name did not come from the bible. This is not the name of the Church established by Christ, and therefore, not the Church that will be saved. Because it is written, His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone. (Acts 4:12)

Now, Who can prove that the Catholic Church is the Church in the 1^st century? (By historical facts? Oh no, not again!) Yes. It has its historical background but what we are talking here is, if the Catholic Church is STILL, SAME and IDENTICAL with the Church in the 1^st century!

NOTE: To others, especially to Catholicdefender2000, that is very happy making articles that say that the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church of Christ is admitting that the Catholic Church was the true Church in the beginning. So? we admit it because it is a fact. (Atleast we can say that we are in truth because we say FACTS, be ashamed because what others especially Sir Catholicdefender2000 makes lies, and twisted statements just to pull down the INC) He always misunderstood and make different meanings behind it like what he always quote when he want to debunk the INC,

(“Ang Iglesia Katolika na sa pasimula ay siyang Iglesia ni Cristo" [...the Catholic Church from the beginning is the (true) Church of Christ.]" - PASUGO Abril 1966, p. 46 )

Poor one, i thought he was a good defender but he always makes misunderstandings.