Living the Golden Rule

 

Can You Be Saved by Following the Golden Rule?

1:27 How can one be considered truly holy to be worthy of being saved on the day of Judgment?

7:19 How does the Bible describe all people no matter what they have accomplished in life? 

14:03 Can man by his own capability can become holy in the sight of God?

16:44 Since man is destined to be ungodly like what the Bible says, does that lead mankind without any hope?

20:00 What is God’s plan to make people holy and be worthy of salvation?

25:00 Is there any other way for a person to be made holy outside of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ?

26:45 What was redeemed by the blood of Christ?

27:24 How can a man remain in holiness worthy of eternal life after having been cleansed by the blood of Christ inside the Church Of Christ?

30:48 Can people bear fruits of righteousness outside the Church Of Christ?

34:20 What is the specific instruction by our Lord Jesus Christ to all of us in order to be saved?

[Show begins]

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INC International Edition

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Bob Pellien, San Francisco, California, Minister of the Gospel

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Today’s Topic: Can You Be Saved by Following the Golden Rule?

Brother Bob Pellien: There are over 2 billion people in the world today who identify themselves as Christians and many of these are convinced that being a Christian today, well, it’s as simple as doing good deeds for others or maybe following what many call the “golden rule”. Because doing good deeds, they would say, would make a person holy. But what truly makes a person holy in God’s sight? Is it just believing in God or being a nice person, maybe doing acts of kindness for others and then one is automatically holy and worthy to be saved on the day of judgement? 

Find out today here on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. I’m Bob Pellien and joining us today in our discussion is Brother Johnny Martin in Quezon City, Philippines, Brother Delven Blanco in Chicago, Illinois and Brother Rod Bruno in Toronto, Canada. Brothers, thank you for joining us in our discussion. 

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Johnny Martin, Quezon City, Philippines, Minister of the Gospel

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Brother Delven Blanco, Chicago, Illinois, Minister of the Gospel

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Rod Bruno, Toronto, Canada, Minister of the Gospel

Panel: Thank you Brother Bob.

Brother Bob: And Brothers today we’re talking about holiness. But that may appear to be a general term. But specifically, holiness in the context of one’s attainment of salvation. How can one be considered truly holy and of course then be worthy to be saved on the day of judgment?

Brothers if that question was being posed in your parts of the world, what kind of answers would you expect to hear in your regions. What do you think?

Brother Rod Bruno: What you hear Brother Bob, generally almost anywhere is [that] people feel that if they pray to God and they do good acts just like you said, follow the golden rule, which I believe is “do unto others as you would have them to do unto you” and I trust that comes from Matthew 7:12, one of the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is a common belief that as long as you’re good, you’re going to be okay on the day of judgment. 

Brother Bob Pellien: Is that the kind of answer you would expect to hear also, Brother Johnny on your side of the world?

Brother Johnny Martin: Yes, Brother Bob. In our conversations over here with the people in the Philippines, there are others who would hold the position that, you know, it really doesn’t matter what church a person is a member of or what religion a person is affiliated with, as long as they would stick to that so-called “golden rule” or try to be a good person, try to be a good neighbor, get along with everybody, then they will be okay and they’ll be able to receive the promise of salvation on Judgment Day.

Brother Bob Pellien: You know, but Brothers, we went out and asked these similar kind of questions on the street just to see if that was really that common of a way of thinking that “I can be holy just by being nice, I can be holy by being a good deed doer”. Well, let’s take a look at the kind of answers that we received:

Interviewee 1: I do believe that kind acts do come full circle and it can really change people’s lives. 

Interviewee 2: Simple as it is: “treat others the way you want to be treated”

Interviewee 3: It is very important that you understand between good and bad things that’s been done to you or else then you will keep passing on the bad ones [to everybody]

Interviewee 4: You see a homeless person, you give them some money, they might not use it for good use, but you’re still doing a kind act and you know, God’s watching us so the more good deeds you do, the more, I guess you can say it will help you go to heaven .

Interviewee 5: I don’t know, I’m not a very religious person. But I do think that, you know, if there is God, then He’s going to care more about people being nice than following our certain way of rules.

Interviewee 2: I think that good is not good enough. I think that we probably need more virtue such as courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and humble spirit. All those will equate to getting to heaven but there’s obviously much more to getting to heaven than just treating somebody nicely.

Interviewee 1: I think you have to accept God or whatever deity you may worship. I think you have to accept them as your Lord and savior.

Brother Bob Pellien: So Brothers, that’s quite a wide array of perceptions regarding doing good deeds to others. Most of them seemingly having that same idea of what’s going to  make us holier or make one worthy for entrance into the Holy City. 

Brother Johnny Martin: You know Brother Bob, with the people that we interviewed there in the video clip, there were a couple of things that I noticed. The first one was when we’re kind to people, we can change people’s lives. And it really is nice for people to be kind to their fellowmen and this is one of the things that we’re also taught to do as members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo or the Church Of Christ—following the teaching of the scripture or the Bible that we really love our fellowmen, that we do good to others, either we do things that are helpful to others, well that really is in agreement with the teaching of the Bible. 

And second thing that I do want to point out is I do hope that everybody watching at home was able to see that one of the young men said there’s more to getting to heaven than by just treating people nicely.

Brother Bob Pellien: Yeah, I noticed that also Brother Johnny, that particular statement that gentleman made that did seem to really stick out among all of them, didn’t it?

Brother Johnny Martin: It did, it did for me Brother Bob.

Brother Bob Pellien: Do you agree what they’re saying? But let’s go to the Holy Scriptures, brothers. Let’s turn to the Holy Bible for some instruction on this topic. 

[06:19] 

We can discuss the opinions of people we meet on the street but how does the Bible respond to the way these people on the street are thinking? The way these 2 billion people around the world, so many of these 2 billion so-called Christians in the world nowadays are believing concerning the way by which they will become holy. Brothers, what does the Bible say about this?

Brother Rod Bruno: Brother Bob, I was going to say that holiness will not hinder or good deeds, rather, would not hinder a person from getting closer and closer to holiness, but good deeds do not remove the wrongs that we have already done. It is impossible for a person, by his own merit, to become holy in the sight of God. It’s impossible.

Brother Bob Pellien: Is that correct, Brother Johnny, Biblically?

Brother Johnny Martin: Brother Bob, I would agree with Brother Rod with what he said because in fact, how does the Bible describe all people no matter what they may have accomplished in life or how many people they have been good to? You know, will that make them righteous or holy? We’re going to read what it says here in Romans 3: 10-12:

As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”

[Romans 3:10-12 New King James Version]

According to the Bible, is any man holy? The Bible just told us, “there is none righteous, no not one, and there is none who does good, no, not one.” Therefore in the eyes of God, even if a person have been very involved when it comes to humanitarian efforts, charitable acts, even if a person had really done his best to abide by the golden rule in his life, even if a person did everything he could to be a kind, nice person to his fellowmen, still, the fact remains that the Bible shows us right here: “none is righteous, none is good” 

Now, of course brothers and dear friends, there is one exception. There is one Man who did not commit any sin in the eyes of God and is holy and that would be no other than our Lord Jesus Christ. But besides our Lord Jesus Christ, all people have sinned therefore man on his own is not holy in the sight of God.  

Brother Delven Blanco: It’s good that you brought that up Brother Johnny because even our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, He wasn’t even holy by His own declaration or by His own capacity. If we consult the Holy Scriptures, what is written in John 10:36, it is clearly written there that even for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord God Himself was the one that made the Lord Jesus Christ holy.

Brother Bob Pellien: He was made holy, it wasn’t by either good and wonderful deeds that he made that determined His holiness. Well Brothers, surely many of our viewers at this point would want to jump in and argue, “That cannot be! That’s wrong”, they may say because maybe they would have in their minds, “Well I know a lot of people who are really good, I know a lot of godly people, surely they will be saved. They’re godly, they do good deeds, I know a lot of good and righteous people.” You know Brothers, many people would certainly want to respond like that. 

Brother Delven Blanco: Well, this is what our Lord Jesus Christ tells us, Brother Bob and we hope our viewers are following along as we read this verse. Here in Matthew 7:21-23, this is what the Lord Jesus Christ Himself teaches:

“Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me as ‘Lord’, but still won’t get to heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey my Father in heaven. At the Judgment many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we told others about you and used your name to cast out demons and to do many other great miracles.’ But I will reply, ‘You have never been mine. Go away, for your deeds are evil.’

[Matthew 7:21-23 The Living Bible]

The Lord Jesus Christ said, dear viewers, that not all who sound religious are really godly people. So even if one may sound religious, even if one claims that he is religious, it doesn’t automatically mean that he is holy. The Lord Jesus Christ also said that “they may refer to me as Lord, they may recognize Me, they may claim to know Me” but Christ said they still won’t get to heaven.

Brother Bob Pellien: So Brother Rod, what Brother Delven is clearly pointing out here then from the Holy Scriptures is that well, they were doing a lot of good things, they were taking actions that others might measure as godly, but Brother Delven just read there, Brother Rod, that they are not going to heaven according to Jesus. 

Brother Rod Bruno: Well, what kind of good things were they doing? Were they doing the works that Jesus mentioned in that particular verse of Matthew 7:21 like “casting out demons in His name?” In the very holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ? Were they able to do miracles using the name of our Lord Jesus Christ? Probably they may have done some good deeds and kind acts but probably nothing close to what our Lord Jesus Christ is describing there but even those even though they proclaim Jesus is their Lord, they did these incredible deeds, Jesus Christ still denied  them on the day of judgment because in the eyes of God, they are not holy. In their own eyes they may be holy, but not in the eyes of God—something is missing. 

Brother Bob Pellien: Jesus said they would not enter the kingdom of heaven, Brother Johnny. 

Brother Johnny Martin: Yes, this part of our discussion might be surprising to a lot of people Brother Bob. They might not feel comfortable hearing what we have just heard from the scripture. But again, this is not our opinion, this is not our speculation or conjecture, but this is really the teaching of the Bible; it’s the truth. If people want to be able to enter the kingdom of heaven, if they want to go to heaven, the very important thing that they have to do is obey the will of God. 

Brother Bob Pellien: So even if Jesus is holy because God made Him holy, it’s not because of Christ’s own doing as we read earlier. What then if there are people who think that by their own power they can become holy, they can change their condition as described here as being unable to become holy, unable to be righteous in the eyes of God and no matter what they did, but they believed that they could transition to become holy or become righteous like our Lord Jesus in holiness. Brother Rod, can that be done?

[13:58]

Brother Rod Bruno: So the question that we are asking is “Can man by his own capability become holy in the sight of God?”

Brother Bob Pellien: Exactly, exactly.

Brother Rod Bruno: It would be best, of course, I think all of us think it would be best if we would consult the Holy Scriptures on this very important question. We can simply turn to the book of Jeremiah, and the chapter is 13 and the verse is 23. This is what we find recorded:

Can you ever change and do what’s right? Can people change the color of their skin, or can a leopard remove its spots? If so, then maybe you can change and learn to do right. 

[Jeremiah 12:23 Contemporary English Version]

These are rhetorical questions. Meaning the answer is no, you cannot remove the spots of a leopard. A person cannot change who he is and do what is right because what we learned from the scriptures, Matthew 24: 41, excuse me, Matthew 26:41, no matter how strong a man feels, God says, “the flesh is weak”. So we are created weak; we cannot make, by our own capacity, ourselves holy in the sight of God. It cannot be done. 

Brother Bob Pellien: So brothers and beloved viewers, it seems to me here, that would leave man in a condition of no hope; to be destined only to unrighteousness, destined only to evil, to gloom and doom, no chance then for salvation due to what the Bible’s describing in these verses that you were reading, Brothers, is due to mankind’s human weaknesses and nature of being ungodly. 

Does man then live in a state of hopelessness? Is there no chance for us to be counted holy in the eyes of God and be saved on the upcoming day of judgment? Dear friends, we’ll respond to these and so many more important questions just like these. Stay with us here on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. 

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INC International Edition

Brother Bob Pellien: Welcome back everyone to the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. Before the break, we asked this question: “Since man is destined to be ungodly, as we read from those verses earlier, what chance does he have then? Does that leave mankind without any hope?” 

[16:55]

Brothers, would God then be forced to accept people even though they are not holy? Or is there maybe some way for man to become holy in the sight of God? Maybe God would just have to accept people any way that they are—no need to do anything. Is that the way it is, Brother Johnny? 

Brother Johnny Martin: Well, you know, Brother Bob, that’s a very interesting question and I’d like to read what it says in the Bible to shed light on this particular subject. Let’s read what it says in Hebrews 12:14:

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

[Hebrews 12:14 New International Version]

Why is it very important that a person would be holy? Because the Bible just said right here, “without holiness, no one will see the Lord.” Now, what is the equivalent of not seeing the Lord? It is equivalent to not being saved, not entering the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, if people want to be able to receive salvation, if they would like to be able to enter the kingdom of heaven and be with the Lord Jesus Christ and the Almighty God, then what is essential? It is essential that people would be holy. That’s what the Bible said, “make every effort to be holy.”

Brother Bob Pellien: Without holiness, they would not enter the Holy City, obviously. Brother Rod, Brother Delven, it seems to me then, based on what Brother Johnny was reading there, there is a way and it’s very, very important that all our viewers, everyone finds that way. It’s something important, wouldn’t you say? 

Brother Delven Blanco: Yes Brother Bob. That’s why even in the verse that Brother Johnny read to us, it says that we have to make every effort so men or people have to exert effort—we have to do something in order to reach that stature or to reach the holiness that the Lord God is seeking from man. 

[19:04]

Brother Bob Pellien: So we have to reconcile then the first part of our study to what Brother Johnny just read. Since God knows that man whom—anyway, He’s the One who created mankind, and He knows man is created weak, is prone to committing sin, well, what then is His plan? God must have made a way to fix this situation, to change the situation of man’s inability to become holy on their own. Brother Rod, what’s the plan? 

Brother Rod Bruno: Well, Brother Bob, God does have a plan and He made His plan very clear within the pages of the Holy Scriptures so that there would be no excuse, so that man, may, through effort, through every effort, may become holy in the sight of God.

Brother Bob Pellien: Well what is that plan?

Brother Rod Bruno: That plan is recorded in the book of Ephesians, if I can read, Brother 1:5, from the Amplified version of the Bible. It says,

He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will–In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace

[Ephesians 1:5,7 Amplified Bible]

The plan, Brother Bob, is through our Lord Jesus Christ we may be redeemed, receiving the complete pardon of all of our sins which would make us holy in the sight of our God. 

Brother Bob Pellien: So He did have a plan for mankind to be able to change their condition or weak, sinful condition and ability to become holy in the sight of God by the means of the blood of Christ there on the cross—that’s mankind’s only chance; that’s mankind’s only hope.

Brother Delven Blanco: Yes, that’s right Brother Bob, and Apostle Paul said this similarly to the Romans in Romans  5:8- 9,

But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted, made righteous, and brought into right relationship with God) by Christ’s blood, how much more [certain is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation and wrath of God. 

[Romans 5:8-9 Amplified Bible Classic Edition]

So, the Apostle Paul not only taught the Ephesians, Brother Bob, Apostle Paul also taught the Christians in Rome that one cannot become holy clearly by his own capabilities. One is made justified, one is made righteous only by means of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Brother Bob Pellien:  But wait, surely all of the multitudes of viewers who are joining us in our study, Brothers, I know they would want to jump in right here and say, “There’s got to be another way”. You know, even they may also be saying, they can agree, they’re convinced that the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is important in the whole plan of salvation, but they are also convinced that they can change their own condition from being unholy to holy by means of doing good things. 

So that returns then to the question, “Is there really no other way for people to become holy and saved other than through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ? Is there another way?” Friends, we will answer that when we come back. Stay with us. 

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INC International Edition

Brother Bob Pellien: So dear friends, so far in our panel discussion, well, we’ve learned some very important things such as where people cannot become holy on their own by doing good things, but instead, need to be cleansed from sin and that cleansing can only be by and through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ shed on the cross. 

But then, here’s the point, there may still be those here in the program here today that are thinking, well, they can be cleansed, they can become holy by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross by believing in it, by doing good things. That’s how they will avail themselves of the cleansing power of that blood. There may also be some who do not yet know the importance of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Well, that’s the point of our discussion today. That’s why this discussion is so very important. 

So Brothers, let’s toss  it back to you. What can you say whether the scriptures have to say, how do you respond to the way of thinking of others that they can avail themselves of the saving power of the blood of Christ just by being a good deed doer?

[24:57]

Brother Johnny Martin: You know Brother Bob, the one very interesting question asked here is, “Is there any other way for a person to be made holy outside of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ?” Well, dear friends we’re not going to give our opinion, we’re only going to read what it says in the Bible to get the answer. And this is what it says in Hebrews 9:22:

In fact under the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness [neither release from sin and its guilt, nor cancellation of the merited punishment]. 

[Hebrews 9:22 Amplified Bible]

So, dear friends, our question is, “Is there any other way that a person could be made holy outside of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ?” The answer of the Bible is no. The Bible says, “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” And of course, whose blood alone brings about the forgiveness of a person’s sins? That is the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

So even if a person says that he acknowledges the Lord Jesus Christ or that he believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and even if a person says that he’s been trying to abide by the golden rule and be a nice person, treating others kindly and gently as he lives here in the world, however, if that person is yet to  be under the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, not yet covered by that redemption, he is not yet forgiven of sin, he is not yet made righteous or holy before the Lord our God. 

Brother Delven Blanco: And so Brother Johnny, maybe most of our viewers would want to know what was redeemed by the blood of Christ. Dear friends, the answer is also written in the Holy Scriptures. Here in Acts 20: 28,

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 George M Lamsa Translation]

The Church Of Christ, according to the Holy Scriptures is the one that the Lord Jesus Christ redeemed with His precious blood. 

[27:23]

Brother Bob Pellien: Brother Rod, once that happens, how can a person remain in a state of holiness, worthy of eternal life after having been cleansed by the blood of Christ here inside the Church Of Christ when in fact as all of the verses we read earlier. I think Brother Rod you were the one who read it that man is weak. How are we going to remain in that condition of being cleansed or forgiven?

Brother Rod Bruno: Well, there are other things, of course, Brother Bob that must be done and for us to know those things, the best is to consult the Holy Scriptures. What was the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ? If we look here in the book of John 15:7, this is what He taught. Allow me,

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it. 

[John 15:7 Good News Translation]

According to our Lord Jesus Christ, we have to remain in Him and also His words must remain in us. 

Brother Bob Pellien: Exactly. What else is there, Brother Johnny?

Brother Johnny Martin: Brother Rod read was verse 7, let’s read verse 5 where the Lord Jesus Christ says this,

“I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.

[John 15:5 Good News Translation]

[29:05]

What does our Lord Jesus Christ tell the members of the church He founded to do? He says here, “remain in me.” So it’s very important that people would remain in our Lord Jesus Christ. They would stay as branches attached to the vine who is our Lord Jesus Christ, that they will remain members of the body or the church founded by our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Now why is that very important? What is it that those remaining in our Lord Jesus Christ are able to do? He said, “Those who remain in me and I in them will bear much fruit.” Well what is that fruit that they’re able to bear? According to Philippians 1:11, that would be the fruit of righteousness or the fruit of holiness. Therefore, if we would remain branches attached to the vine with Christ where we would remain members of the body or the church that belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ, we are able to bear fruits of holiness. 

[30:11]

Brother Bob Pellien: And supposed so Brother Johnny, based on what you just read there, supposed they tried to do any kinds of acts of righteousness or such outside of the body of Christ, outside the church where He shed his blood, what did Jesus say, would they be able to do that, based on what you just read?

Brother Johnny Martin: Well our Lord Jesus Christ said right here, “for you can do nothing without me.” 

Brother Bob Pellien: What’s the “nothing”? They cannot perform fruits of righteousness, acts of righteousness and that’s kind of been the underlying theme, that’s the point of our whole discussion, Brothers. 

[30:48]

Can’t mankind—that’s the question, you know—can’t they bear fruits of righteousness from the position of being outside the Church Of Christ which is His body? Brother Rod, what does the Bible have to say about those who would insist in saying, “No, I can do acts of righteousness even though I’m not inside, attached as a branch, part of the body of Christ, the Church Of Christ. I can still be a good person.”

Brother Rod Bruno: Well, Brother Bob, of course, none of us are against people doing acts of kindness and good deeds, but for our acts of kindness and our good deeds to mean anything, they can only be done through Christ. If someone wants to be holy before his God and creator but insists on doing works and acts of kindness, which is actually our duty, without our Lord Jesus Christ, well, our Lord Jesus Christ answers that kind of thinking through the Holy Scriptures here in the book of John 15: 4- 6, let me read. It says here,

Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me. Those who do not remain in me are thrown out like a branch and dry up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned. 

[John 15:4-6 Good News Translation]

If they insist on remaining separate from Christ or don’t believe in the value of the church redeemed with His blood, then they would be all by themselves and probably among those people where Christ said, “I do not know you, your works are iniquities”. And they would too be driven away and they would be gathered like dry branches and thrown into the fire, we all know what that “fire” refers to.

[33:29]

Brother Bob Pellien: Will they have the capacity to save themselves, Brother Rod?

Brother Rod Bruno: Absolutely not, Brother Bob. There’s no other way except for our Lord Jesus Christ. If there was another way, all the tears and the prayers of our Lord Jesus Christ asking God to spare Him from that cup of His death, all of that was in vain if there’s another way other than Christ, which you and I, and hopefully our viewers know, there’s just no other way.

[34:01]

Brother Bob Pellien: So there’s no other way other than our Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross where He shed His blood to redeem His church. What are His instructions for us, all viewers who may be joining us in our discussion today? What specific command does Jesus pass to us today?

Brother Johnny Martin: Well, Brother Bob, when it comes to being saved, our Lord Jesus Christ tells us exactly what we are to do. And we can read that here in John 10: 7 and 9,

So Jesus spoke again: In very truth I tell you, I am the door of the sheepfold. I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe.

[John 10:7,9 Revised English Bible]

The one speaking here in the verses that we have read is our Lord Jesus Christ. And what is our Lord Jesus Christ speaking of in the verses? Being safe or being saved. Now what does our Lord Jesus Christ tell people to do in order to be saved? He says, “I am the door; come into the fold through me.” We must come into the fold or we must come into the flock and we read that earlier. That’s the Church Of Christ or in Filipino, Iglesia Ni Cristo. So, when people are inside the fold or the flock, then what will happen? We will have salvation on the day of judgment.  

[35:34]

Brother Bob Pellien: So brothers, Brother Delven, why is this so important? 

Brother Delven Blanco: Well, according to what we read, according to what Brother Johnny read, it is the flock or the sheep that will be safe or saved. So only the flock or the Church Of Christ that was redeemed by Christ’s blood will be saved on the day of judgment. 

Brother Bob Pellien: Okay, so Brothers, since the Church Of Christ then is what was redeemed by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, not only have members of the church received redemption and the forgiveness of sins, we now have also the right and privilege to worship the living God and recognized as the true Christians. 

Brother Johnny Martin: And Brother Bob that’s the reason why we’re always extending invitations to everyone watching the program to please come and attend our congregational worship services, our Iglesia Ni Cristo Evangelical Missions, please also check out our website incmedia.org, iglesianicristo.net and even undergo Bible study on doctrines so that dear friends you would be able to learn more of the teachings of the Bible in order for us to receive the promise of salvation.

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To learn more about the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ), log onto iglesianicristo.net and incmedia.org 

Brother Rod Bruno: That’s right Brother Johnny because there’s so much to learn during the Bible studies, it’s not just about this particular topic which we can see is very important, but we can learn about probably the greatest question: “Who is God?” or another question: “Why did He make us?”. This is all answered during the course of Bible studies in the Church Of Christ and we strongly encourage all of you—find time; like the scriptures says, “make every effort” so that you can learn and know and do the will of God. 

Brother Delven Blanco:  And that’s very important dear friends because as true Christians, we’ll have the right and the privilege to render the true worship to the Lord God and ultimately receive the promised salvation on the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you all for your wonderful contributions to our discussion. We want to sincerely thank Brother Johnny Martin, in Quezon City, Philippines, we want to thank you as well, Brother Delven Blanco there in Chicago, Illinois and of course Brother Rod Bruno in Toronto, Canada. Brothers, we want to thank you for giving to us Bible-based answers so that as Apostle Peter said to the members of the church: “You will be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are.” 1 Peter: 3:15. 

Well, that does it for us here on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. We hope you’ll join us again next time. I’m Brother Bob Pellien, and thanks for watching.

As we come to the end of our program we invite you to join us for a short closing prayer.

Almighty Father above, Lord we wish to thank You for joining us together from various places from around the world that we could join in the study of Your holy teachings as we pose to you, Lord God the question of so many who ask how to become holy in Your sight, how to become worthy of eternal life on the upcoming day of judgment. We thank You dear Lord for revealing, through the power of Your holy teachings, that it is from within the one true Church Of Christ that one can serve You in accordance to Your will, be cleansed and forgiven of sins committed and thus be truly holy and be able to enter Your holy kingdom. Lord God, please forgive whatever sins and shortcomings we may have. If our friends joining us in our study of Your teachings today have made their decision while watching this program, that they will leave behind all ways of life and join with us here inside the Church Of Christ, in accordance to You way of life and serve You, dear Lord in accordance to Your will, attached to Your Son here inside the one true Church Of Christ, please, Dear Father help them, guide them to overcome hindrances, any challenges that they will face. May Your blessings reach out and touch all the viewing audience to this program today. Lord Jesus, as our one Mediator to the Father, bring our requests to Him. Ask His blessing and His grace upon this program and all who have viewed it this day. Heavenly Father, together we thank and praise You, in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.