THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS - WORD FOR WORD IN THE BIBLE by Bro. Beltran, O.P.

The Sacrament of Baptism by Nicolas Poussin

Originally posted in Roman Catholic Apologetics on December 8, 2009 at 8:19am

The Catholic Church has NEVER TAUGHT that a doctrine must be found WORD FOR WORD in the Bible in order to say it is true. however, we will use the same argument of the fundamentalists so as to show there are really SEVEN SACRAMENTS in the Bible which they insists to omit:

BAPTISM -The Sacrament by which we are incorporated into the Church.

“Repent and be BAPTIZED everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of all your sins” (Acts 2:38 KJV)

CONFIRMATION -The Sacrament by which we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit to attain spiritual maturity by laying of hands.

"Now he that CONFIRMETH us with you in Christ and that hath anointed us, is God: Who also hath sealed us and given the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts." (2 corinthians 1:21-22 Douay-Rheims Version)

COMMUNION -The Sacrament by which we receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ

“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the COMMUNION of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the COMMUNION of the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16 KJV)

CONFESSION -The Sacrament by which we confess and ask for the forgiveness of the sins we committed after baptism.

“And many that believed came, and CONFESSED, and showed their deeds” (Acts 19:17 KJV)

ANOINTING OF THE SICK -The Sacrament by which a sick person is anointed with oil.

“And they cast out many devils, and ANOINTED WITH OIL many that were SICK, and healed them.”(Mark 6:3)

MARRIAGE: -The Sacrament by which a man and a woman united together in a loving commitment.

“He that giveth her in MARRIAGE doeth well; but he that giveth her not in Marriage doeth better” (1 Corinthians 7:38 KJV)

ORDINATION -The Sacrament by which a person is consecrated to serve God.

“Must one be ORDAINED to be a witness to us .. that he may take part of this ministry..” (Acts 1:22-25 KJV)

Why they are called Sacraments?

Because all of which are instruments of Christ through his Church in order to sanctify and give us his grace, the Apostle Paul called the way Christ sanctify us through the Church as a “sacrament”(mystery).

“This is a great SACRAMENT: but I speak in Christ and in the church.” (Ephesians 5:32 Douay-Rheims)

AYON SA BIBLIA: Felix Manalo ay isang Sugo at Anghel! By Bro. Beltran, O.P.

St. Michael the Archangel defeated Lucifer and thrown him out of Heaven. The fallen angel and his legion of demons were thrown on the earth. Thus, it is no wonder that there are false angels roaming on the earth. One who claims being an Angel from the East yet impregnated several women and let even his biological son and now grandson to reign his own invented religion. What a very [Fallen] Angelic act?

Karaniwan na nating naririnig na si Felix Manalo ay ipinangangaral na ANGHEL at SUGO ayon sa mga Ministro de Manalo. ito ba ay totoo? kung ating susuriin ang Biblia. ay may katotohanan nga na si FELIX MANALO ay isang Anghel. NGUNIT, TALIWAS SA INIISIP NG MGA MANALISTA. ano nga bang URI NG ANGHEL AT SUGO ITONG SI MANALO? Sagutin po natin ito ng AYON SA BIBLIA:

"at inihagis ang malaking Dragon, ang Matandang Ahas, ang tinatawag na Diablo at SATANAS ang DUMADAYA sa boong sanglibutan; siya's inihagis sa lupa at ang KANIYANG MGA ANGHEL ay inihagis na kasama NIYA" (APOCALIPSIS 12:9)

Sa Nasabing talata. ay may sinasabing mga ANGHEL na kasama ni Satanas na INIHULOG sa lupa. ito pa ay natupad. at isa sa mga ANGHEL NG DIABLO na nakilala ng kasaysayan ay YAONG LUMITAW SA SILANGANAN - Sa Pilipinas! ito po si Felix Manalo. ano ang katunayan na siya nga ay ANGHEL ? ganito ang sabi ni San Pablo Apostol.

"Datapuwa't kahima't o ISANG ANGHEL na mula sa Langit ang mangaral sa inyo ng anomang EVANGELIO NA IBA SA AMING IPINANGARAL sa inyo ay Matakuwil" ( GALATIA 1:8)

Natupad nanaman po ang sinasabi ng Biblia. na may ISANG ANGHEL NA MAGDADALA NG IBANG ARAL NA HINDI ITINURO NG MGA APOSTOL. walang duda na ang kinatuparan nito ay SI ANGHEL FELIX MANALO. ano po ang katunayan? na IBA ANG TURO NI ANGHEL MANALO kaysa mga APOSTOL? kuha po tayo ng halimbawa. ayon sa APOSTOL NA SI PABLO. si Cristo ay DIYOS. babasahin ko po ang PABORITONG VERSION na biblia ng mga Ministro Manalista. ang MAGANDANG BALITA BIBLIA, (Revised Tagalog Popular Version)

"..Cristo Jesus, kahit siya'y LIKAS at TUNAY NA DIYOS" (Filipos 2:5-6 MBB)

Ayon kay Apostol Pablo. si Cristo ay TUNAY NA DIYOS. ano naman ang turo ni ANGHEL Felix Manalo? si Cristo ay isang TAO LAMANG AT HINDI DIYOS. kung gayon SIYA NGA ANG SINASABI NI PABLO NA ISANG ANGHEL NA MAGTUTURO NG IBA SA ITINURO NG MGA APOSTOL. isa sa mga tanda na si Anghel Felix Manalo ay TUNAY NA ANGHEL DE DIABLO AY ITO:

"At makakarinig kayo ng mga digmaan at mga ALINGAWNGAW NG DIGMAAN .... at magsisibangon ang maraming bulaang propeta at ILILIGAW ANG MARAMI" (MATEO 24:6,11)

TUMPAK ang Hula ng BANAL NA KASULATAN!! ISA SA MGA TANDA NG MGA WAKAS (DIUMANO ) ay Digmaan at MARAMI ANG MALILIGAW NG LANDAS dahil sa PAGBANGON NG BULAANG PROPETA.

ANGKOP NANAMAN PO ITO KAY ANGHEL FELIX MANALO. Siya ay ANGHEL NA MAY DALANG IBANG ARAL (GALATIA 1:8) SA kASAGSAGAN NG UNANG DIGMAANG PANDAIGDIG( MATEO 24:6) ay nagsimula nyang ITATAG ANG KANIYANG IGLESIA AT NALIGAW ANG NAPAKARAMI (Mateo 24:11)

ANONG TAWAG SA MGA tulad ni Anghel Felix Manalo ayon sa Biblia? eto po ang Kasagutan ni Haring Solomon,

"Ang MASAMANG SUGO ay nahuhulog sa kasamaan .." (KAWIKAAN 13:17)

ayan! kaya tama po ang sabi nila. SI MANALO AY ANGHEL AT SUGO. un nga lang ANGHEL DE DIABLO at MASAMANG SUGO. hehehe.. oh yan ahh? AYON SA BIBLIA IYAN!!

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Bro. Beltran, O.P. wrote this in Roman Catholic Apologetics on December 9, 2009 at 11:42pm

Pagdepensa sa Antas ng Banal na Orden o 'Hierarchy' sa Santa Iglesia

The Apostles and the 70 Disciples

Anonymous said...

Ang mga Apostoles noon walang RANGGO parang sa militar, samantalang ang mga Katokliko o Katoklito may mga Ranggo isa na namang imbento yan. Pawang daddag wala sa biblia mga likha ng malilikot at mapaglarong kaisipan ng mga MANGMANG!

October 10, 2009 11:35 PM

Fr. Abe, CRS said...

"Ang mga Apostoles noon walang RANGGO parang sa militar, samantalang ang mga Katokliko o Katoklito may mga Ranggo isa na namang imbento yan."

Ha, ha, ha... E hindi ba nakalagay sa Biblia ang Deacon, Presbyters, Bishops?

Isaiah 61:6 [KJV] "Ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God..." [Ayan, hindi ba tahasang inihula ng Propeta Isaias ang pagkakaroon ng mga Pari bilang mga Ministro ng Dios.]

Psalm 132:9 [KJV] "Let Thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and Thy saints shout for joy." [The priests of God shall be blessed. This is a prophecy. Christ is the High Priest. But the prophecy speaks of other priests; that is plural. There will be other priests as Ministers of Christ and of God.]

Much more:

BISHOPS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Acts 1:20 [KJV] There is a Bishoprick of the Apostles

1 Timothy 3:1 [KJV] "This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a good work."

Titus 1:7 [KJV] Bishop is a Steward of God.

PRESBYTERS

1 Timothy 4:14 [KJV] "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hand of the PRESBYTERY." [The Presbyteral Order is affirmed in the Bible and not only that, the term Presbyter means Elder. There are many other texts referring to Church leaders as Elders or presbyteroi in Greek.]

DEACONS

1 Timothy 3:10 [KJV] "And let this also be proved; then let them use THE OFFICE OF THE DEACON, being found blameless."

Yan ang mga ranggo ng Iglesia Catolica.

Meron na palang Deacon, Presbyters and Bishops sa Military ngayon. Hindi ko alam yan a. He, he, he... Ang alam ko ay Liutenant, Captain, Major, Colonel, at General ang mga ranggo duon sa Military. He, he, he... Masyadong pilyo itong Anonymous Anti-Catholic na ito.

Pawang daddag wala sa biblia mga likha ng malilikot at mapaglarong kaisipan ng mga MANGMANG!

Yung ranggo ng Deacons, Presbyters and Bishops na nasa Biblia, kapag tinawag mong ranggo ng militar, hindi ba yun ang KAMANGMANGAN? Sino ang MANGMANG? Basta kami Biblia ang aming sinusunod. He, he, he...

Kita naman kung sino ang nagsisinungaling.

Samantalang sa INC ay merong:

ANGHEL, ANAK NG ANGHEL AT APO NG ANGHEL!

MERONG EXECUTIVE MINISTER AT VICE EXECUTIVE MINISTER?

Tanong: SAAN SA BIBLIA ANG EXECUTIVE MINISTER? NASAAN DIN ANG VICE EXECUTIVE MINISTER? Meron ba? He, he, he... Chapter and verse please. Paki lang. He, he, he...

October 11, 2009 11:13 AM

Kasagutan sa Paninira ng Anonymous Anti-Catholic

Jesus commands his Apostles to Eat His Body and Drink His Blood during the Last Supper

Anonymous said...

Lahat ng sinasabi mong father ay puro namamatay

ang Ama namin nasa langit gumawa ng lahat lahat at walang katapusan. Papaanong magiging ikaw yon taga lupa ka lang Abe. Panay ang kain mo sa katawan ng Anak Niya. Tuwing misa nagbibigay ka ba ng dugo ng Anak Niya? Kung hindi maliwanag na binago nyo na naman ang kasulatan, dagdag bawas bawal ng biblia yan.

APOCALIPSIS 22:18-19 hala lagot ka Abe.

October 10, 2009 11:26 PM

Fr. Abe, CRS said...

"Lahat ng sinasabi mong father ay puro namamatay ang Ama namin nasa langit gumawa ng lahat lahat at walang katapusan."

Sino bang baliw ang nagsabi sa yo na bawal tawaging ama ang namamatay?

Ginawa ng Diyos na Ama si Abraham, bakit hindi ba alam ng Diyos na mamamatay si Abraham? Siempre alam nya. Kaya hindi masama na tawaging ama ang namamatay.

Nung sinabi ng Diyos na: "Igalang mo ang iyong AMA at Ina." Yun bang amang pinagagalang ay namamatay o hindi? Namamatay! Bakit para kang baliw na nagtuturo at insinuating na masamang tawaging ama ang taong namamatay?

Yung Ama sa Langit ay hindi namamatay. Tama yon. Turo yan ng Biblia at aral Katoliko din yan. Pero tinawag ng Biblia ang mga taong namamatay na 'ama'. Sa katunayan, patay na si Abraham ay tinatawag pang: AMANG ABRAHAM!

Lk 16:24 "And he cried and said, FATHER ABRAHAM, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame."

Sa Tagalog ANG BIBLIA:

Lk 16:24 "At siya'y sumigaw at sinabi, Amang Abraham, maawa ka sa akin, at suguin mo si Lazaro, upang itubog niya sa tubig ang dulo ng kaniyang daliri, at palamigin ang aking dila; sapagka't naghihirap ako sa alab na ito."

Yung 'Father' or 'Ama' dyan ay parehong titulo at parehong Capital Letter. Sa taong patay na pinatungkol. Higit sa lahat, nung sumagot si Abraham hindi nya pinagalitan o pinagbawalan na tawagin syang Father Abraham o Amang Abraham sa halip sinabi nya sa yumaong mayaman: "Anak". Ibig sabihin tinatanggap nya ang pagka-ama nya.

Kaya tigilan muna ang iyong ilusyon at kabaliwan. Wag mag-imbento ng aral.

"Papaanong magiging ikaw yon taga lupa ka lang Abe."

Bakit ang biological father mo ba hindi taga lupa?

* Taga saan, taga Impierno? He, he, he... Ibig sabihin demonyo ang biological father mo kung ganyan.

* Taga Purgatorio? Sabi nyo walang purgatorio. He, he, he...

* Taga Langit? Oy kasalanan yan kasi sabi mo ISA LANG ANG AMA SA LANGIT. He, he, he... "Panay ang kain mo sa katawan ng Anak Niya."

Kasi sabi ni Cristo kainin ninyo ito. Ang tanong bakit ikaw ay hindi kumakain ng Katawan ni Cristo? Ibig sabihin hindi ka tunay na alagad.

"Tuwing misa nagbibigay ka ba ng dugo ng Anak Niya?"

Kayo nga wala ng Body of Christ wala pang Blood of Christ. Mas masama ka kung iyan ang uri ng criteria ang gagamitin natin. Doble doble ang inalis nyo sa Biblia. Mas malalim ang kapahamakang daranasin mo nyan. Ingat ka.

Ang pinagkalooban ng Tinapay at Alak nuong Last Supper ay mga Apostoles, mga leaders ng Santa Iglesia. Subalit sa mga hindi Apostol sapat na ang isang elemento:

1 Corinto 11:27 "Kaya't ang sinomang kumain ng tinapay, o uminom sa saro ng Panginoon, na di nararapat, ay magkakasala sa katawan at dugo ng Panginoon."

Kumain o uminom. It's or. Once sacred specie is enough to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord.

"Kung hindi maliwanag na binago nyo na naman ang kasulatan, dagdag bawas bawal ng biblia yan.

APOCALIPSIS 22:18-19 hala lagot ka Abe."

Lagot ka, ginawa n'yong Anghel si Manalo. Wala sa Biblia yon.

Lagot ka inilibing nyo si Eranyo sa Tabernakulo, wala sa Biblia na pwedeng libingan ang Tabernakulo.

Lagot ka ginawa nyong foundation day ang July 27, wala sa Biblia yon.

Lagot ka ginawa nyong Santa Cena ang December 25, sabi nyo ay pagan day yon. He, he, he...

LAGOT KA... KUNG ANO ANO ANG INIMBENTO NYONG ARAL.

October 11, 2009 11:06 AM

Answering an Anti-Catholic on Confession and Intercession

The Patriarch Isaac blessing Jacob

CATHOLIC TRADITION - Confessing sins to a priest. Petitioning saints and Mary.

Obviously these doctrines are supported by the Sacred Scriptures.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS - We are to confess our sins and needs to God alone.

Your statement is a very nice slogan but it is illogical and UNBIBLICAL. Where is that in Sacred Scriptures? That statement that we confess our sins to God alone is Satanic because it destroys the order of nature that God establish:

1. It will put into hell all guidance counsellors.

2. It will put into hell all parents who are the first guidance counsellors of their kids and to whom we confess or confide our secrets, mistakes and sins.

3. It will put to hell all people who are admitting their mistakes to another person whom they hurt or have committed sins against.

4. It will put into hell all people who are saying 'Sorry' to another person.

IF WE HAVE TO CONFESS OUR SINS TO GOD ALONE THEN ALL OF THE ABOVE WILL GO TO HELL.

It directly violates the Sacred Scriptures from the Old to the New Testament:

Leviticus 5:5-6 [King James Version] "And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall CONFESS that he hath sinned in that thing: And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and THE PRIEST SHALL MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR HIM CONCERNING HIS SIN."

Ha, ha, ha... Imagine, WORD FOR WORD the sinner was commanded by God the Father to confess his sin by going to THE PRIEST for the Atonement of his sin. I am wondering if this Anti-Catholic who posted this question in this Blog in one of the posts comments really read the Bible. Especially since the necessity of going to the priest is repeatedly commanded by God the Father since the Old Testament [Lev 4:26, 31, 35/ 5:13/ 6:7].

That command to CONFESS is very categorical and explicit. It is by oral admission and by act of repentance through sins offering under the leadership of the Minister of God - the priest. So, the Catholic practice is very very BIBLICAL.

Joshua 7:19 [KJV] "And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I PRAY THEE, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make CONFESSION unto him; and TELL ME NOW WHAT THOU HAST DONE; HIDE IT NOT FROM ME."

Ha, ha, ha... CONFESSION, word for word. Ha, ha, ha...

Much more:

1. Joshua the leader of the People of God exercises spiritual fatherhood by calling Achan 'MY SON'. Just a verse up Josh 7:18 "Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah..." show that Achan is not the biological son of Joshua. Yet Joshua exercised fatherhood over him, treating him as a son and giving him moral and spiritual command TO CONFESS WHAT HE HAS DONE.

2. Joshua clarified that the Confession must be to the Lord, as the Catholic Church teaches, but

3. Joshua also insists that the sin or the deed must be told to him. It must not me hidden from the leader of the people of God.

Confession then is a must but it must be done to God through or by telling our sins to the priest or minister of God.

This is further elucidated by King Hezekiah when he explained the duties of Levites or priests:

2 Chronicles 30:22 [KJV] "And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the GOOD KNOWLEDGE fo the LORD: and that they did eat throughout THE FEAST SEVEN DAYS, offiring peace offerings, and MAKING CONFESSION TO THE LORD GOD of their fathers."

These are handed on by Jesus to the Apostles:

1. To be teachers of faith of the people

2. To keep the feasts

3. To offer peace offerings

4. To make CONFESSION to the LORD God

In the book of Ezra, it is further clarified that confession of sin is done in the House of the Lord. And even before the Congregation present with people weeping together:

Ezra 10:1 [KJV] "Now when Ezra had prayed and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore."

These scenario is very common among Catholics inside the Catholic houses of worships during Good Friday, evening of Holy Thursday or during retreats or recollections which usually end in Confessions and the Holy Mass.

This example of Ezra also show that public Confession is Biblical which is also done by the Catholic Church every Mass when it gathers the congregation. Led by the minister the Catholics pray: "I confess to Almighty God..."

In Nehemiah 1:6 and Daniel 9:20 these two prophets confessed their sins and the sins of their people. These are perfect example of prayer of intercession and petition on behalf of others:

Nehemiah 1:6 [KJV] "Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, AND CONFESS THE SINS OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, which we have sinned against thee; both I and my father's house have sinned." [Here the prophet intercedes for the sins of his people and his family. The sins of the people were confessed to God but not directly, it was done through the intercession or prayer of petition by the prophet Nehemiah.]

During the time of the Prophet Daniel the Temple was destroyed and they were in exiles. He confessed not only his sins but the sins of the people which is another beautiful example of Intercession Prayer:

Daniel 9:20 [KJV] "And while I was speaking and praying, and CONFESSING MY SIN and THE SIN OF MY PEOPLE Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God." [Confession is directed to God but the intercession of the leader of the people or the minister of God is also essentially important and practiced by the God's faithful people from time immemorial.]

The anti-catholics are deceived by this statement regularly occuring in the book of Psalms and in the other parts of the Bible:

Psalm 32:5 [KJV] "I will CONFESS my transgressions unto the Lord; and THOU forgavest the iniquity of my sin."

However, studying the text and its historical milieu doesn't support the position of those who are attacking the Sacrament of Confession:

1. It doesn't have the word 'ALONE'. It doesn't say "I confess my transgressions unto the Lord ALONE."

2. The addition really distorts the Biblical texts and its meaning. Because it rejects the other Biblical passages showing God asking the people to go to the priests for the atonement of their sins and it rejects the other passages showing that the Prophets or the Man of God can INTERCEDE ON BEHALF OF THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE.

Sorry for you dear Anti-Catholic. Better luck next time.

I John

1:9 If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ha, ha, ha... Your knowledge and use of Sacred Scriptures are very superficial. Once again that verse doesn't state that we must confess to God alone. Instead, confessing to others first is acceptable to God. This is evident even prior to the coming of the Messiah as shown above and this was practiced by St. John the Baptist and the repentant people of his time:

Mark 1:5 [KJV] "And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, CONFESSING THEIR SINS." [So, they were going to St. John the Baptist to confess their sins. Of course that confession is directed to God but the intercessory presence of St. John the Baptist was highlighted.]

Your position is too narrow because the Apostles are teaching that even to a non-minister of God, one can confess their sins:

James 5:16 [KJV] "Confess your faults to one another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed."

Ha, ha, ha... So, it pulverizes your position. Imagine, an Apostle is teaching the Christians to confesss their faults to their fellow human beings. That is Confession to a Human Person. Then, he followed it with Intercessory Prayer for each other. Perfectly Catholic. This is further supported by the Lord Jesus when He ordered His followers to settle matters of sin first by personal dialogue:

Matthew 18:15 [KJV] "Moreover, if thy brother shall TRESPASS against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."

This is a matter of sin. The first thing to do is dialogue. Approach the person. On the part of the sinner he must admit his sin, he must be sorry for it. He must admit and be sorry for it to the one to whom he had transgressed. This is the Biblical Teaching on Sin and Reconciliation. It starts on the human level first, then to the level of the community, then to the level of the Church and then to be elevated to God.

The anti-Catholics violate this order. They eliminate the first and second and third level established by God for the good of His people. That's foul.

Matthew

6:9, 12 After this manner...pray ye: Our Father... forgive us....

You have shamelessly used this passage against us. Let me remind you that we Catholics are the most dedicated religion which recites the OUR FATHER day in and day out. It is part of our Official and Every Act of Worships and Prayers. Something that the Iglesia ni Manalo, Seventh Day Adventist by Ellen Gould White and the Born Again Evangelicals cannot boast of.

You have also forgotten several passages in the Gospel of Matthew:

Matthew 16:19 [KJV] "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsover thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in haven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

This is a superlative power given to the Office of Peter. The authority to open and close heaven is handed on to a human person... The Leader of the Church. This is further supported by the succeding verses that shows The Church as the last arbiter on matter of sins here on earth:

Matthew 18:17 [KJV] "And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto THE CHURCH: but if he neglect to hear THE CHURCH, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican."

Take note that in v. 15 prior the issue here is about 'Trespass'... It's about Sin. Then it was followed by the power given to bind and to loose on heaven and earth to the rest of the Apostles, similiar to the one given to Peter in 16:19. See Matthew 18:18.

1 Timothy

2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus [not Mary, not saints, not priests, not the pope];

We are not teaching that there are many Mediators between God and Man. What we are teaching is that CHRIST THE ONLY MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN GAVE AUTHORITY TO HIS MINISTERS TO FORGIVE SINS AND TO RECONCILE PEOPLE TO GOD:

John 2o:22-23 [KJV] "And when he (Jesus) had said this, he breathed on them (Apostles), and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost; WHOSE SOEVER SINS YE REMIT, THEY ARE REMITTED UNTO THEM; AND WHOSE SOEVER SINS YE RETAIN, THEY ARE RETAINED."

Which Church is the fulfillment of this Biblical Passage? THE CATHOLIC CHURCH!

The fact that your ministers cannot forgive sins is a proof that you are fake because you do not possess the spiritual powers and authorities handed on by Christ to the leaders of His Church through the Holy Spirit. It only goes to show that you do not have the presence of the Holy Spirit in your ministers. They are useless because they are fake, artificial, self-invented. That is why together with St. Paul our Catholic Ministers of the House of God - the priests can declare:

2 Corinthians 2:10 [KJV] "To whom ye forgive anything, I FORGIVE ALSO: for if I FORGAVE anything, to whom I FORGAVE IT, for your sakes FORGAVE I it IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST."

Ha, ha, ha... THAT'S IT! ST. PAUL FORGIVES IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST. The Apostles from Peter to John the Beloved forgave "In the Person of Christ." Because the Apostles are chosen and empowered by Christ. They are Ministers of Christ. And one of the authorities given to them is to forgive sins in the person of Christ. This is what we call THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION:

2 Corinthians 5:18 [KJV] "And all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and HATH GIVEN TO US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION."

O ho, ho, ho... Do you have that? No, you don't have that and you even denounce us for having it. Ha, ha, ha... We have that Ministry of Reconciliation and we are proud of it because we, being the True Church, is the recepient of such heavenly gift.

I John 2:1, ...And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

CORRECT. AMEN TO THAT. BUT JESUS GAVE THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS TO HUMAN PERSONS - TO THE MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH. Besides, where can you read in the Bible that Confession is to God ALONE? That is the contention which you have not presented me.

Refuting an Anti-Catholic Claiming that the Church is Not Founded on Peter

The Lord Jesus calling Sts. Peter and Andrew

CATHOLIC TRADITION - The church is founded on Peter.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS - Jesus Christ is the foundation of the church. Peter was a man like you and me. Jesus called Peter Satan in Matthew 16:23 when Peter rebuked Jesus dying. When Cornelius tried to worship Peter, Peter responded, "Stand up; I myself also am a man." (Acts 10:26). The pope needs to remember Acts 10:26 when he has men bowing to him and kissing his hand like he is worthy of worship.

1 Corinthians

3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Matthew

21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected [Jesus], the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

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CATHOLIC TRADITION - The church is founded on Peter.

Definitely, the Church is founded on Peter and not to your founder. Definitely not to Ellen Gould White, not to Felix Manalo and not to Eli Soriano. The Lord Jesus personally testified to that and it was explicitly mentioned in the Bible:

Matthew 16:18 NIV] "And I tell you that you are Peter, [Note: Peter means rock ], and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

So, Jesus built the Church on Peter. Your claim is already refuted and our Catholic Tradition is found to be BIBLICAL.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS - Jesus Christ is the foundation of the church.

JESUS IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH WHO FOUNDED THE CHURCH ON PETER. Of course since Jesus is the Founder then He is the foundation of the Church. Peter is the rock on which Jesus founded the Church. But the foundation of the Church is the founder.

You are creating a contradiction on something that even Jesus didn't pose.

Peter was a man like you and me.

The Catholic Church NEVER stated that PETER IS NOT MAN so I don't know why you are using that line of argument which is a clear refutation of the devil that is in your mind rather than what the Catholic Church really teaches. That is a product of your own imagination. Not even Jesus says: "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church and since the Church is built on you then you are not a man." Ha, ha, ha...

You are hallucinating. Of course Peter is a man. We never taught otherwise.

Jesus called Peter Satan in Matthew 16:23 when Peter rebuked Jesus dying.

Of course because Jesus was reprimanding him but Jesus didn't take away His earlier declaration that He will build His Church on Peter. Having committed a mistake doesn't mean that God abandon that man. David became a murderer and adulterer but God did not abandon him. The plan and decision of Christ to choose Peter was still active and operative despite that mistake and reprimand.

When Cornelius tried to worship Peter, Peter responded, "Stand up; I myself also am a man." (Acts 10:26).

Of course, that is wrong. Because Peter is not God and therefore must not be worshipped. The Catholic Church is not teaching that Peter must be worshipped. It is never our doctrine and it is never a Catholic teaching. Give me an official teaching of the Catholic Church commanding the Catholic members to worship Peter. Let me see if you can give.

The pope needs to remember Acts 10:26 when he has men bowing to him and kissing his hand like he is worthy of worship.

Obviously, you are ignorant of the Biblical Teaching on Bowing.

You are making it appear as if the Bible is teaching that Bowing is exclusive to God and when one bows that is an ACT OF WORSHIP ONLY. O no, no, no. There are bowing in the Bible that is not act of worship and not prohibited by God. There are bows that are mere act of reverence, of respect, of honor proper for a person or creature of God:

Gen 18:2 Abraham bowed before the Three Angels.

Gen 19:1 Lot bowed with his face toward the ground before the Two Angels.

Gen 23:7 Abraham bowed before the people of the land, and the children of Heth.

Gen 23:12 Again, Abraham bowed before the people of the land.

Gen 33:3 Jacob bowed down to the ground 7 times until he reached his brother Esau.

Gen 33:6 The handmaidens and the children of Jacob's clan bowed themselves before Esau.

Gen 37:10 Joseph the Dreamer dreamed of a vision from God which means that his father and mother bowed down to him.

Gen 41:43 The people of Egypt were commanded to bow their knee in front of Joseph as the right hand of the Pharaoh.

Gen 42:6 The brethren of Joseph, the patriarchs of Israel bowed themselves with their faces on the ground before Joseph. [Gen 43:26, 28]

Gen 48:12 Joseph bowed himself to the earth before his father Jacob.

Gen 49:8 Jacob bestowed his blessing to Judah which is a sacred prophecy that the children of Judah's father shall bow to him.

Ex 11:8 Moses prophesied that the servants of Pharaoh shall bow down before him later...

Num 22:31 Balaam bowed to the ground when he saw the angel standing before him with sword in hand.

Jgs 7:5-6 The people bowed down to drink water. He, he, he...

Ruth 2:10 Ruth bowed down before Boaz as a gratitude for his magnanimous goodness.

1 Sam 20:40-42 Jonathan and David fell on their knees, bowed to each other and kissed each other to show the depth of their friendship.

1 Sam 24:8 David bowed to King Saul.

1 Sam 25:23 Abegail bowed herself on the ground before David. [1 Sam 25:40-42]

1 Sam 28:14 King Saul bowed before the old prophet Samuel. [A man of God can be bowed down]

2 Sam 9:8 The son of Jonathan bowed to King David as an act of gratitude.

2 Sam 14:22 Joab bowed down to the king. [see v.33]

2 Sam 18:21 Cushi bowed to Joab.

2 Sam 24:20 Arauna bowed before the king.

1 Kgs 1:16 Bathsheba, the king's wife, bowed herself before the king.

1 Kgs 1:23 The prophet Nathan bowed himself before king David to the ground.

1 Kgs 1:31 Bathsheba BOWED to the ground and did REVERENCE to the king.

1 Kgs 1:47 King David bowed his head to the BED. [Ha, ha, ha...]

1 Kgs 1:53 Adonijah bowed before King Solomon.

1 Kgs 2:19 King Solomon bowed to his mother Bathsheba.

2 Kgs 2:15 The two sons of prophets bowed themselves before Elisha.

1 Chron 21:21 Ornan bowed himself before David.

Job 31:10 The just Job says that let others bow to his wife...

1 Corinthians

3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

That is why the Catholic Church is THE TRUE CHURCH because it is not established by a human founder but by JESUS CHRIST Himself, in Person.

The Catholic Church doesn't teach that Peter founded the Church but JESUS FOUNDED THE CHURCH. However, Jesus founded it on Peter. He, he, he...

21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected [Jesus], the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

We are not rejecting Jesus because we are members of the Church that He personally built and established and ransomed by His own Blood. Your religions are founded by Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ellen Gould White, Felix Manalo or Eliseo Soriano. They are human built but ours is built by the Lord: "Unless the Lord build the House in vain do its builders labor." [Psalm 127:1]

Questions About Limbo, Salvation and Life After Death

Elisha watches the Prophet Elijah being carried by the Chariot of Fire

These questions are given by Bro. Anthony Arbado, 3rd Order OATH [Order of the Alliance of Two Hearts] and he got them from his students in religion, the youth of MHCC [Mary Help of Christians Crusades]. Hope these answers will be of help to these students.

*******

Anthony Arbado December 8 at 6:50pm

Father, i want to ask where did the prophets went when they died? because LIMBO does not exis according to the catholic teaching...

Those grave sinners before jesus was born, are they saved? how?

How are those people who had no chance to know jesus be saved?

*******

Abe Arganiosa December 8 at 11:22pm

Dear Bro. Anthony,

O, you have the making of a great theologian eh. Your questions are heavy. He, he, he...

Before I answer your direct question let me clarify first some points. If we are going to read the document released by the Holy See and is composed of International Theological Commission entitled THE HOPE OF SALVATION FOR INFANTS WHO DIE WITHOUT BEING BAPTIZED you will find out that "The theory of limbo is not ruled out". In fact, "the report concludes that limbo remains a 'possible theological opinion.' Anyone who wants to defend it is free to do so. This document, however, tries to give a theological rationale for hoping that unbaptized infants may be saved."

SO, IT IS NOT TRUE THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DECLARED THAT LIMBO DOES NOT EXIST. It is simply a theological opinion and NOT AN OFFICIAL TEACHING OF THE CHURCH. Those who favor it can speak for it and those who do not believe are free to do so.

The International Theological Commission focused more their attention to the possibility of Salvation for unbaptized children who died prior to Baptism by giving weight to God's universal salvific will and to solidarity in Christ.

Now, to answer your questions:

1. Where did the prophets GO when they died?

The Catholic Church followed the Sacred Scriptures that there is a reserved place for the dead prophets prior to the Redemptive Act of Christ on the Cross. But, both the Scriptures and the Church didn't provide an explicit Proper Name for it the way the Bible did for Heaven and Hell, and the way the Church named and defined Purgatory.

In the Old Testament the first stunning presentation of life after death is the case of Enoch:

Genesis 5:24 "Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away."

There is no mention of a name. The righteous Patriarch was simply taken by God. It means he is not in Hell but he is not yet in Heaven because it was close yet due to the absence of the Messiah. It means that the souls of the righteous persons in the Old Testament are enjoying the blessedness of life proper for those rewarded for the children of God but not yet the full Glory of Heaven.

The case of Enoch is very similar to that of the Blessed Virgin Mary because she simply disappears without trace and every body is convinced that God had taken her. But in Mary's case we are sure that she is in the Glory of Heaven because of Rev. 12:1.

The second case is that of Elijah:

2 Kings 2:11 "As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind."

The word use is 'heaven' but there is no assurance that it is the Glory of Heaven or Eternal Salvation in theological term. Heaven in that passage could mean 'sky' because he was brought upward by the chariot of fire. Anyway, Elijah cannot enter Heaven prior to its opening by the Death of the Messiah. However, his appearance in Transfiguration [Matthew 17:3] points that he is alive and blessed by God and in company of Moses.

In the New Testament, the most striking passages for me is that of the case of DIVES AND LAZARUS or THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS in Luke 16:19-31.

In that passage, Jesus narrated a case which He illustrated prior to His Death on the Cross and Resurrection. The Beggar died and was brought to the 'Bosom of Abraham'. And Abraham was presented as Living and is capable of Communication. He is in a place without suffering but there is no Glory of God as described of Heaven in the Book of Revelation.

The term Bossom of Abraham could mean, he was in the company of the Blessed in a place prior to Eternal Life in Heaven.

Then finally, St. Peter teaches that:

1 Peter 4:6 (New International Version) "For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit."

So, when Jesus was dead on the Cross His Spirit went to the abode of the dead who are not in Hell and preached the Gospel to them. These could be souls in Purgatory or those who are already Holy Prophets and Patriarchs waiting for the fullness of salvation by the coming of the Messiah. In fact, many scholars from both Catholic and Protestant even refers to these souls as those who died during the Old Testament particularly during Noah's Flood.

In any case Bro. Anthony, no particular name was given to it.

2. Those grave sinners before jesus was born, are they saved? How?

Well, if the sin is truly GRAVE which means MORTAL SINS then they are in Hell and of course not saved. Mortal Sin whether before or after the death of Jesus could lead man to damnation. St. John explicitly provided us with Biblical Text for Mortal and Venial Sin:

1 John 5:16-17 (New International Version) "16If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 17All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death."

THERE ARE SINS THAT LEAD TO DEATH. For instance, those who rebelled against God in the desert due to their disobedience and hardheadedness. Many Fathers considered them as damned. David committed murder and adultery yet he was forgiven because he asked forgiveness. So it answers your HOW.

Even if they committed grave sins they could be saved IF THEY REPENTED PRIOR TO THEIR DEATH. If they didn't repent and no conversion until death then they are doomed to hell because their grave sins have become mortal. They have refused all the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Another way is that, if they died repentant yet not fully cleansed of sin then they would be cleansed in Purgatory and therefore will not be damned. In that case, THE PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR THEIR SOULS.

This is obvious in the case of King Saul and his son Jonathan. We know that King Saul committed mistakes during his lifetime and made grave sins against David and even consulted a 'Medium' which is Black Magic, an abomination to God. But, before he died he must have prayed to God. THEN THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL PRAYED AND FASTED FOR SAUL, JONATHAN AND THE SOLDIERS for a week [1 Samuel 31:13 and 2 Sameul 1:12]

Then Judas Maccabees, in the classic passage in favor of Purgatory offered money for the souls of the dead [2 Maccabees 12:42-46].

3. How are those people who had no chance to know jesus be saved?

First, by following their Good Conscience.

Second, by living a good and moral life.

Third, by loving God and their neighbor.

Fourth, by their search for God, Truth and the Meaning of Life even though they have not heard of Jesus.

The third question is dealth more extensively in CCC and in Gaudium et Spes.

I hope I have given you a clear view of the teaching of the Church. If you do not understand it you can ask the OATH fathers for better explanations. Sometimes it needs a personal explanation to be understood easily.

The Lord loves us all, then why are we treating Born Again, INC and ADD as our enemies?

St. Peter the Apostle preaching in Rome

We do not treat them as enemies but they treat us as enemies. IN OUR OFFICIAL DOCTRINE WE CALL THEM SEPARATED BRETHREN. IN THEIR OFFICIAL DOCTRINE THEY INSISTS THAT WE ARE IDOL WORSHIPPERS, PAGAN WORSHIPPERS, MARIOLATERS, ETC. THEY ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE WILL NOT BE SAVED. In short for them we are devil's minions.

splendor236: They attack our faith and they are stealing into their heresies hundreds of thousands of Catholics. Then, IT IS OUR DUTY TO EXPLAIN THE FAITH, DEFEND THE FAITH AND TEACH THE FAITH. SO THAT OUR FAITHFUL WILL NOT SUCCUMB TO HERESIES. Loving others does not mean letting them spread their evils, errors and heresies.

splendor236: IF WE HAVE THAT KIND OF THINKING THEN WE ARE USELESS. IT IS LIKE LETTING THE AMPATUANS BE FREE TO MASSACRE PEOPLE, ANYWAY THE AMPATUANS ARE OUR BROTHERS.

The Born Again massacres souls not by guns but by the poisons of HERESIES.

ACTUALLY IT IS THE OTHER WAY AROUND. THEY ARE THE ONE TREATING US AS ENEMIES. We believe that they are children of God AND CAN BE SAVED. Yet they believe THAT WE SHALL NOT BE SAVED. What are we then for them? THE DAMNED!!! THOSE GOING TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL.

THE SPLENDOR OF THE CHURCH BLOG REACHED 150,000 VISITORS' MARK

The Immaculate Mother of God: The Woman Clothed with the Sun

Through the grace of the Almighty Lord our Blog just recently reached the 150,000 visitors' mark. And it shows that since we started this Blog 3 years ago the number of our readers and visitors have increased about a hundred times more. At the same time we have been visited by people from 194 countries and our registered followers is now 83 strong and counting. The number of posts has increased to 1, 223.

This is all the more sweet because we reached this milestone right when our country celebrates the Solemnity of our beloved Patroness: THE IMMACULATE VIRGIN MOTHER OF GOD.

Thank you very much Dear Lord for your blessings and love.

GLORY TO THE FATHER AND TO THE SON AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.

REFUTING AN IGLESIA NI MANALO ON THE HOLY TRINITY

The Holy Spirit descending from on High

One God, the Father

We believe that the one and only true God is the Father, the Creator. We hold this belief because it is the doctrine taught by our Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles (John 17:3, 1: I Corinthians 8:6). God is a Spirit (John 4:24), and, therefore, He has no flesh and bones (Luke 24:39).

There is no trinity of persons in God. Though the Bible speaks of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, never does it refer to all of them as gods nor as three persons in one God; rather, it points to the Father alone as the true God. The Son Himself emphasized that only the Father is the true God (John 17:3, 1) and that He himself is a man telling the truth which He received from God (John 8:40). The prophets also teach that we have only one Father who created us (Malachi 2:10); Isaiah 64:4, 8). He alone is God, there is no other God and no one is like Him (Isaiah 46:9)

God is from everlasting to everlasting, with no beginning or end (Psalms 90:2), immortal (I Timothy 1:17), and does not tire or become weary (Isaiah 40:28).

He alone is the creator of heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things therein, and the seas and all that is in them (Nehemiah 9:6)

The Lord Jesus Christ

The Iglesia ni Cristo believes that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 3:17), is the one and only Savior given by God (Acts 13:23). Christ is the sole mediator between God and men (I Timothy 2:5) and the only way to God (John 14:6).

But we do not subscribe to the belief that Christ is God-Man. He is man in nature according to His own testimony (John 8:40) and the teachings of His Apostles (I Timothy 2:5; Matthew 1:18).

The attributes of a human being were found in Christ. He hungered (Matthew 4:2), thirsted (John 19:28), became weary or tired (John 4:6), slept (Matthew 8:24), and died (Matthew 27:50; I Corinthians 15:3). However, Christ as distinct from all men, is the only one who did not sin (I Peter 2:21-22; Hebrews 4:15).

He has been exalted by God and given a name above all other names, that at the name of Christ every knee should bow, those in heaven, and those on earth (Philippians 2:9-11). He has been placed by God far above all principality, power, might and dominion, and every name that is named, and all things have been put under His feet (Ephesians 1:21-22). Christ will eventually subject all His power and authority to the true God (I Corinthians 15:27-28). He had in so many instances introduced Himself as the Son of God but never did He appropriate the title “God” nor “God the Son” for Himself because He is not God but man.

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the power (Acts 1:8) sent by the Father in the name of Christ, to teach and remind His messengers of all the things that Christ said (John 14:26).

Christ also sends the Holy Spirit to help us in our weaknesses and infirmities (John 15:26; Romans 8:26). The Holy Spirit strengthens, edifies, and comforts the Church of Christ (Ephesians 3:16-17); John 14:26). And although the Holy Spirit is a spirit, never do the Scriptures refer to Him as “God the Holy Spirit” because He is not God but one of the spirits being sent by God.

*******

One God, the Father

One God, the Father... but before that ONE SPIRIT... ONE LORD... [cf. Eph 4:4-6].

We believe that the one and only true God is the Father, the Creator.

We also believe that there is only one God and that is the Father, the Creator. However, Jesus is called 'God' too in the Bible. In Hebrew 1:8 the Father called The Son 'God':

Hebrews 1:8 (King James Version) "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."

Since the Father does not tell a lie it means that Jesus is God. Don't tell me that God is lying when He stated that? Because if you will claim that Jesus is a false God then you are destroying the credibility of the Father and the Bible. Besides, JESUS IS ALSO CALLED CREATOR:

Hebrews 1:10 [KJV] "And, thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands."

So, the one who put the foundations of the earth is Jesus and the heavens are the works of His hands. He is a Creator then. John the Evangelist declares that the Word [Jesus] is already together with God... and Himself God in the beginning [John 1:1]. And this Word is the Life and Light of the world [John 1:4-5]. Much more: "All things were made by Him, and without him was not any thing made that was made" [John 1:2]. What is that? It means that Creation was made by Christ and without Him Creation is not possible. He, he, he... that is God.

Jesus is the Reason for Creation. He is Necessary for Creation and He is the very Reason and Goal of Creation.

Concerning Jesus being the TRUE GOD, here is the verse from the INC's favorite Bible:

The Revised Tagalog Popular Version of MAGANDANG BALITA BIBLIA ( The favorite bible version of Iglesia ni Manalo) states,

"Nawa'y magkaroon kayo ng kaisipan ng tulad ng kay CRISTO HESUS, na kahit siya'y likas at TUNAY NA DIYOS" (Filipos 2:5-6)

That verse is shared to me by a very young Catholic Apologist named Bro. Beltran, O.P. He, he, he... It is stated there word for word, categorical, explicit that JESUS IS TRUE GOD. Now, WHERE CAN YOU READ IN THE SACRED SCRIPTURES THAT JESUS 'IS NOT A TRUE GOD'? OR THAT JESUS IS 'A FAKE GOD'? Where? Chapter and verse please.

Jesus is also referred to in the Bible as the Only God:

John 1:18 [NIV] "No one has ever seen God, but GOD THE ONE AND ONLY, who is at the Father's side, has made him known."

In Contemporay English Version the translation is even more devastating for your position:

John 1:18 [CEV] "No one has ever seen God. The only Son, WHO IS TRULY GOD and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like."

Right there you are: TRULY GOD!!! He, he, he... So, where can you find in the Bible that Jesus is NOT TRUE GOD? That is your burden.

We hold this belief because it is the doctrine taught by our Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles (John 17:3, 1: I Corinthians 8:6).

The Lord Jesus and the Apostles didn't teach that 'HE IS MAN ONLY' which is really your doctrine. That is the Heresy of Arianism, the denial of Divinity of Jesus.

God is a Spirit (John 4:24), and, therefore, He has no flesh and bones (Luke 24:39).

The Bible also says that the Eternal Word who is God became Man and therefore from being pure Spirit He incarnated and has gotten enfleshed [John 1:1 and 14]. This is futher supported by St. Paul when he declared that the God Christ humbled Himself despite the fact that he is TRUE GOD:

Philippians 2:6 [Contemporay English Version] "CHRIST WAS TRULY GOD. But he did not try to remain equal with God. Instead he gave up everything and became a slave, when he became like one of us."

Obviously, Ramil is not only aware of the Spiritual nature of God but has not taken into consideration the Sublime HUMILITY of God.

There is no trinity of persons in God.

There IS a Trinity of Persons in God. The Bible teaches it:

Matthew 28:19 "Baptize them in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

As you can see there is only One NAME which refers to the One Being of God but it has 3 Persons: The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. That is Trinity in God: One in Three and Three in One. There is unity of Being but there is distinctions of Persons.

Though the Bible speaks of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, never does it refer to all of them as gods

Neither do we refer to them as gods. O, no. Never. And will never be.

nor as three persons in one God;

The Bible is categorical in saying that there is only One God. But it also states that Jesus is God and that the Holy Spirit is God. Yet there are not three gods but they are One. That is why the Lord Jesus said: "The Father and I are one" [John 10:30]. What makes them One their having Unity of Being. Yet Jesus distinguishes Himself from the Father, so we say that they are distinct in Persons.

On the part of the Holy Spirit.

He is called the THE SPIRIT OF GOD [Gen 1:2/ 2 Chron 24:20/ Is 61:1/ Ez 11:24/ Mt 3:16/ 12:28/ Rom 8:9/ 15:19/ 2 Cor 3:3 'The Spirit of the Living God'/ 1 Jn 4:2] and

He is the THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST [Rom 8:9/ Gal 4:6/ Phil 1:9/ 1 Pt 1:11].

So, your spirit and you are one even though it can be distinguished. But in reality when I say 'your spirit' it means 'you'. The same thing for the Spirit, it is the Spirit of God it means it is God Himself. It is also the Spirit of Christ it means that Christ is God because he shares the same Spirit with God. That is why even though the three can be distinguished from each other they are truly ONE.

rather, it points to the Father alone as the true God.

The Bible disproves you. Jesus is TRULY GOD because Jesus and the Father are ONE. Then the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is THE SPIRIT OF GOD.

The Son Himself emphasized that only the Father is the true God (John 17:3, 1) and that He himself is a man telling the truth which He received from God (John 8:40).

Of course the Son calls the Father the true God but the Holy Spirit by whose inspiration the Bible is written refers to the Son as TRULY GOD [John 1:18, Phil 2:6 CEV]. So, the Father and the Son are united in Being One God.

Then, Jesus NEVER taught that HE IS NOT GOD. Instead, the Father called Jesus GOD [Heb 1:8]. And it is nowhere stated in the Bible that Jesus is ONLY HUMAN. That is invented by Arius a heresy swallowed by Felix Manalo. That is why both of them are heretics.

The prophets also teach that we have only one Father who created us (Malachi 2:10); Isaiah 64:4, 8).

He, he, he... I think you have failed to take into considerations these passages:

John 1:3 LNT "He created everything there is. Nothing exists that He did not create."

Colossians 1:16 NIV "For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him."

The Father, Himself, declared the Creating Power of the Son:

Hebrews 1:10 NIV "He also says, 'In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands..."

So, the Father and the Son are both Creators! How about the Holy Spirit?

Job 33:4 KJV "The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life..."

That is very clear. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are both Creators because they are One.

He alone is God, there is no other God and no one is like Him (Isaiah 46:9)

There is only One God but the Bible presented that One God as having 3 Divine Persons: [1.] Father, [2.] Son and [3.] Holy Spirit. Where can you find in the Bible that the Son is not God? And when can you read in the Bible that the Holy Spirit is not God?

God is from everlasting to everlasting, with no beginning or end (Psalms 90:2), immortal (I Timothy 1:17), and does not tire or become weary (Isaiah 40:28).

Exactly. That is why Jesus and the Holy Spirit are One God with the Father because they are Eternal, Immortal and does not become weary:

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever."

It means eternal. Actually if the Father is Alpha and Omega [The First and the Last] in Revelation 1: 8 so is the Son in Revelation 1:17-18 and 2:8. And the Holy Spirit is eternal as well:

Hebrews 1:14 The Eternal Spirit...

The Holy Spirit is co-equally Eternal with the Father and the Son. If God is Eternal then the Spirit of God must be Eternal. If the Spirit of God is Eternal then Christ whose Spirit is the same Spirit of God must be Eternal too.

In case of the Son, He is eternal and is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the Living One says Rev 1:18 but He experienced death because according to St. Paul in Philippians 2 because He humbled Himself by His Incarnation. His death was an act of self-sacrifice of the Son through His becoming man yet He lives forever and ever and is God.

He alone is the creator of heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things therein, and the seas and all that is in them (Nehemiah 9:6)

God alone is the Creator of Heven and Earth, that is also the Catholic Teaching but what is the meaning of that term God. It means The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit whom the Bible presented each as creator of the World. Genesis 1:2 speaks of the Spirit of God while John 1:1 speaks of the presence of the Word in Creation. And these verses are supported by Heb 1:10 and Job 33:4. The Bible explicitly and categorically referred to Jesus and the Holy Spirit as Lord and God.

The Lord Jesus Christ

The Iglesia ni Cristo believes that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 3:17), is the one and only Savior given by God (Acts 13:23). Christ is the sole mediator between God and men (I Timothy 2:5) and the only way to God (John 14:6).

Jesus is Lord and Savior because He is God. He can mediate between God and men because He is God. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life because He is God. If he is not God then he cannot be a Savior and Lord. And he cannot be the Way, the Truth and the Life.

But we do not subscribe to the belief that Christ is God-Man. He is man in nature according to His own testimony (John 8:40) and the teachings of His Apostles (I Timothy 2:5; Matthew 1:18).

The Bible says that Jesus is human BUT IT ALSO SAYS THAT JESUS IS GOD. That is why JESUS IS GOD-MAN. That is so simple.

Then Jesus referred to Himself as human but the Father called the Son God [Heb 1:8]. The human nature of Jesus is merely the effected by His Divine Power. He chose to be a man but His real nature is God. His real nature is Divine Nature:

Philippians 2:6-7 [New International Version] "Who, BEING in NATURE GOD did not deem equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being MADE in HUMAN LIKENESS. And being found in APPEARANCE AS A MAN, he humbled himself..."

There you are. Before His Incarnation His NATURE IS GOD which is supported by John 1:1. Then out of humility, by His own choice HE TOOK THE NATURE OF A SERVANT... HUMAN NATURE. Thus, He is God-Man. But the human nature in Christ is only an assumed nature... a taken or made nature. He made it by His Divine Power because He wanted to become a man. And He appeared on Earth as Man to die for our sins.

MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS: WHERE CAN YOU FIND IN THE BIBLE THAT JESUS IS MAN ALONE? OR THAT JESUS IS 'NOT GOD'? OR THAT JESUS ONLY HAS A HUMAN NATURE?

The attributes of a human being were found in Christ. He hungered (Matthew 4:2), thirsted (John 19:28), became weary or tired (John 4:6), slept (Matthew 8:24), and died (Matthew 27:50; I Corinthians 15:3). However, Christ as distinct from all men, is the only one who did not sin (I Peter 2:21-22; Hebrews 4:15).

As explained above Jesus became human because He wanted it but St. John the Evangelist and St. Paul are united in proclaiming that prior to His becoming man Jesus was and is God. Even the Father declared the Divinity of Jesus. The reason why He did not sin and cannot sin because of His Divinity. He has powers over Satan and over Sin and Death because He is God. Not even angels can remove sins and destroy the power of death. Only God can do so. That is why Jesus is Lord and God.

He has been exalted by God and given a name above all other names, that at the name of Christ every knee should bow, those in heaven, and those on earth (Philippians 2:9-11).

But prior to that in Phil 2:6 St. Paul explains that Jesus is of Divine Nature. He simply humbled Himself. Since He humbled Himself the Father honored Him that honor is not an honor proper for a man but an honor proper for God. Worship and Honor and Lordship belongs to God alone. The fact that the Father recognized the Lordship of Christ means that He is proclaiming the Divinity of the Son in Unity with Him and the Holy Spirit.

He has been placed by God far above all principality, power, might and dominion, and every name that is named, and all things have been put under His feet (Ephesians 1:21-22).

Correct. That is why JESUS IS GREATER THAN MANALO. And Jesus is the last messenger of God and not Manalo [Hebrews 1:1]. And these honors given to the Son proves all the more the Divinity of Jesus. Because no creature is worthy to own all these powers except God alone. Why are they handed on to Jesus because He is exactly like the Father in Divinity and that all these powers belong to Jesus by INHERITANCE... which means BY RIGHT.

Christ will eventually subject all His power and authority to the true God (I Corinthians 15:27-28).

Jesus is God before He came down to earth. And in coming down He humbled Himself because He appeared in the nature of Man even though He was of Divine Nature. Then by rising again the Father handed to Jesus all power that He abandoned out of Humility. It is an act of Divine Love that the Father handed every Power and Authority to the Son and the Son out of His great Love for the Father offers Him everything. Then who owns All Powers and Authorities, the Father or the Son? BOTH. Because they share the same Divinity and they are One. Their offering and giving to one another is simply a manifestation of their total love and unity with each other.

He had in so many instances introduced Himself as the Son of God but never did He appropriate the title “God” nor “God the Son” for Himself because He is not God but man.

Jesus never said that 'I am not God'. Neither did he say 'I am ONLY human' nor 'I am not equal with the Father'.

Of course Jesus decided not to say He is God because His intention is to proclaim the Father. Then it was the Father and the Holy Spirit and the Apostles who proclaimed the Divinity of Jesus. The Father in Hebrew 1:8 called Him God and the Holy Spirit inspired St. John to call Jesus God and the same Holy Spirit inspired St. Paul to call Jesus God. So, what is your problem? If Jesus proclaimed His own Divinity then it would appear as if He is proclaiming Himself. Jesus proclaims the Father and the Father proclaims the Son. That is the mutual love and honor between the Father and the Son.

The Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the power (Acts 1:8) sent by the Father in the name of Christ, to teach and remind His messengers of all the things that Christ said (John 14:26).

The Holy Spirit is not only a 'power' but a Person. That is why Jesus and the Bible uses the Pronoun 'HE' for the Holy Spirit. To show that He is a Person and not simply a force or power.

How can a power teach? He, he, he... That is absurd. Did your electric power teach you? Did your 'Kili-kili' power teach you lessons or truths? We can learn from powers but it was our own intelligence or the teaching abilities of our teachers that taught us those lessons not the power itself. The fact that you admitted that the Lord Jesus sent forth the Holy Spirit to teach us it means it is PERSON not simply a power.

In John 14:26 "...He shall teach you all things" St. Paul declares the non-human power and ability of the Holy Spirit. That power is not human or angelic but Divine. It means that the knowing capacity of the Holy Spirit is Infinite and Unbounded.

How can the Holy Spirit teach all things? Does he know all things? Is he omniscient? Yes, because He is the Spirit of God and therefore God Himself. That is why He can search the deepest things of God [1 Corinthians 2:10]. Only God can search, can scrutinize and can fathom the deepest things of God and the fact that the Holy Spirit can do so is due to the fact that He is The Spirit of God. He is God.

Christ also sends the Holy Spirit to help us in our weaknesses and infirmities (John 15:26; Romans 8:26).

The Holy Spirit also sent Christ too and has anointed Him for a mission [Luke 4:17-18 and Isaiah 61:1-2]. As Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit sent Jesus to earth. He, he, he... Who then is higher or who has greater authority? BOTH. They are One in Divinity. Because the Holy Spirit is also THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST:

Galatians 4:6 The Spirit of the Son

1 Peter 1:11 The Spirit of Christ

Thus, as Jesus is Life [John 1:4]... The Way, the Truth and the Life [John 14:6/ 5:21] in the same manner the Holy Spirit gives life [John 6:63/ Job 33:4]. They are co-equal in giving life and co-equal in being creator.

The Holy Spirit strengthens, edifies, and comforts the Church of Christ (Ephesians 3:16-17); John 14:26).

He can do that and He is doing that because He is the Spirit of Christ. Jesus established His Church and therefore it is His own Spirit that guides, strengthens, edifies and comforts His Church.

That is not the Iglesia of Manalo because that one is founded NOT BY CHRIST but by Felix Manalo and his cohorts way back July 27, 1914. MANALO IS NOT CHRIST AND CHRIST IS NOT MANALO. Therefore your church or sect is not guided by the Spirit of Christ.

The best proof of that is your Dogma that the Church founded by Jesus apostasized. Excuse me. If the Holy Spirit according to Eph 3:16-17 and John 14:26 is the one that strengthens, comforts and builds up the Church founded by Jesus why did it succumb to 'apostasy'. If that is the case THE HOLY SPIRIT OF THE INC IS NOT THE REAL HOLY SPIRIT BECAUSE IT IS VERY WEAK AND USELESS IN PRESERVING THE CHURCH. It only means that the spirit guiding the INC is the Devil and not the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ.

And although the Holy Spirit is a spirit, never do the Scriptures refer to Him as “God the Holy Spirit” because He is not God but one of the spirits being sent by God.

Your manner of reasoning is very strange. The Philippines is never mentioned in the Bible as Far East yet you insist on it.

The Bible does not mention Felix Y. Manalo as an Angel or The Bird of Prey yet you insist on both heretical claims.

The Bible doesn't mention that when God's messenger dies his biological son must replace him as Executive Minister and when the son dies he will be replaced by the grandson. You are doing that. How come? Very interesting isn't it? He, he, he...

Now, this is what the Bible says of the Holy Spirit:

John 4:24 GOD IS SPIRIT [Take note the 'Spirit' there is capitalized to show that it refers to the Person of the Holy Spirit]. And,

2 Corinthians 3:17 THE LORD IS THE SPIRIT.

The Contemporary English Version is more devastating for you in its translation:

1 corinthians 3:17 CEV "THE LORD AND THE SPIRIT ARE ONE AND THE SAME"

He, he, he... The great problem for you is that the Father declared these words solemnly in the Bible:

Deuteronomy 6:4 HEAR, O ISRAEL: THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD.

How will you solve the problem then? JESUS IS LORD! THE LORD IS THE SPIRIT! THE FATHER IS ONE LORD. It means that these Three Persons are ONE BEING though distinct as Persons.