Why Do We Need Leaders in the Church?

BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Can we all just read the Bible on our own and come to the knowledge of the truth? Or is there a need for a person to hear the true message from those authorized by God to preach it? What is the role of the Church Administration in acquiring the knowledge of the truth that will lead us to salvation?

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The Bible: the basis of our faith in the Church Of Christ, which answers questions about proper worship, the right relationship with God and most importably, salvation. That’s in the Bible. 

BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Welcome everyone to this program That’s in the Bible, I’m Brother Bob Pellien. Today we’re discussing  the purpose of the Church Administration inside the Church Of Christ. You know, some outside may ask, why do we need leaders in the Church? They may believe the Church Administration is not needed because they can simply open up the Bible and read it for themselves. Many are convinced that by doing so they will come to the correct and proper understanding of God’s expectations upon humanity and therefore be rewarded with eternal life because of it. 

However, dear friends, if that were true wouldn’t everyone who opens up the Bible come to the same understanding? Wouldn’t everyone who opens up the Bible come to the same truth? Wouldn’t everyone be united in the same service to our Almighty God? So to help us discuss this topic then, let’s pose together the following questions:

1. Is the truth in the Bible revealed to everyone?
2. What role does the administration have in guiding people to the knowledge of the truth? 
3. Where can we find the administration that God has placed to teach us the full knowledge of the truth, so that we can acquire salvation? 

Alright friends, let’s start with the first question we posed together: Is the truth in the Bible revealed to everyone? Is the understanding about the mysteries of God and His Kingdom given to anyone and everyone who simply opens up the Bible to read it? Can they perceive it on their own? Well let’s let the Bible itself answer the questions. For that answer we turn to Romans 16:25 wherein this is recorded: 

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began

Romans 16:25  New King James Version

BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: The Bible teaches us that “the mystery has been kept secret since the world began,” however it has been revealed by the true preaching of the Gospel. Here is where maybe some may want to inject and say well, that it was kept secret in the past, yes, but now the Bible has been translated to many languages and I can just open it up and read it! But to whom has that secret, or let us say the knowledge of the true gospel, been revealed, according to the Lord Jesus himself? For that we turn to the words of our Lord Jesus himself. He said the following in Mark 4:11-12:

And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Mark 4:11-12 King James Version 

BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Who knows the secret? Well, according to our Lord Jesus Christ himself, it was to his disciples, the first century Church Administration. It was to them the mystery was given. If then, if people in that time had no connection to the apostles then to whom Jesus was speaking, they would not have a connection to acquiring the knowledge of the mystery that was given to the apostles at that time.  Those Apostles, remember,  were the leaders of the Church in the first century. The administration are those to whom the Lord Jesus Christ himself provided the teachings. But, what if someone would say or think, they do not need to be connected to the one God himself has sent, because they believe they can just read and learn the truth on their own, or maybe they believe they are educated enough to gain such understanding for themselves. But, you know dear friends, what is it that they can never acquire? Again, we turn to the Bible for the answer. 2 Tim 3:7: 

always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:7 New King James Version 

BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Dear friends, they will “never be able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” So what role then does the Church Administration have in guiding people to the knowledge of the truth, since the mystery of the kingdom of God is revealed to them according to the Bible? Here’s how: Colossians, written by the Apostle Paul, 1:25: 

I have become its minister, according to God’s administration that was given to me for you, to make God’s message fully known,

Colossians 1:25    Holman Christian Standard Bible ⓒ1995-2014

BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: The role of the administration placed by God, is what? To “make God’s message fully known!”  It is not surprising then, right dear friends, that so many people who are not in connection with the administration placed by God, it’s not surprising to see them go off on their own and establish their own religions, their own ideologies and develop their own opinions that are in conflict with the truth.

Where has God placed the administration with all these roles and the responsibilities to make His message fully known? Where can we find the administration to teach us the full knowledge of the truth so that we can acquire salvation? Where are they? Answer of the Bible, that’s in the Bible too, 12:28 of 1 Corinthians: 

God has appointed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then those who perform miracles, those who have gifts of healing, those who help others, administrators, and those who speak various kinds of languages.

1 Corinthians 12:28  International Standard Version (2014)

BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: So, dear friends, God has placed His administration with all the responsibilities to preach the true gospel and lead people to salvation inside the Church, the Church built and initially preached by none other than the Savior Himself our Lord Jesus Christ. What is the result when we listen to the true preaching of the gospel, taught by those with authority to preach it, and we also obey it? And then, we also obey it. What’s the result? The Bible answers that this way, Ephesians 3:6 and 21: 

And this is the secret: that the Gentiles will have their full share with the Jews in all the riches inherited by God’s sons; both are invited to belong to his Church, and all of God’s promises of mighty blessings through Christ apply to them both when they accept the Good News about Christ and what he has done for them.

May he be given glory forever and ever through endless ages because of his master plan of salvation for the Church through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 3:6 & 21 The Living Bible. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1971

BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: Beloved friends, you too are invited to belong to Christ’s Church and become a recipient of God’s promises and mighty blessings, God’s “master plan of salvation” is  “for the Church through Jesus Christ.”  And why do members of the Church Of Christ give such high regard and respect to the Church Administration? You know, that’s answered in the Holy Bible as well. 1 Corinthians 16:16, the Bible answers this way: 

to be subject to such leaders [treating them with courtesy and respect], and to everyone who helps in the work and labors [for the benefit of yourselves and the church].

1 Corinthians 16:16 AMP (2015)

BROTHER BOB PELLIEN: So the truth is dear friends, that the words of God teach us to treat our leader with respect and we love to do that as members of the Church Of Christ because we can also see how much the Church Administration loves us as well.

Alright, so let’s review what we have received from the holy scriptures regarding the questions we posed. Such as, we asked: 

1. Is the truth in the Bible revealed to everyone? Is the understanding about the mysteries of God and His Kingdom given to just anyone and everyone who simply opens up the Bible to read it?Well, we learned that the mystery of God’s Kingdom has been hidden, which is why so many read the Bible, yes,  but never come to the knowledge of the truth.

    

2. What role does the administration have in guiding people to the knowledge of the truth? 

   We learned also that God reveals His mystery to His administration that He placed to make the message of truth fully known so people may believe it, obey it, and be saved. 

3. Where can we find the administration that God has placed to teach us the full knowledge of the truth so that we can acquire salvation? 

   We also learned from the Bible that God has placed His administration inside the Church Of Christ. And the one He entrusted His administration to today deaf friends, is Brother Eduardo V. Manalo our Executive Minister and the Deputy Executive Minister,  Bro Angelo Erano V. Manalo. To them God has revealed the true gospel. He reveals it to the Church, to the Church Administration and the administration of the Church Of Christ today continues to preach it to fulfill the master plan of salvation established by our almighty God for all the members of the Church Of Christ.

Dear friends, we’d like you to continue learning about the teachings of the Bible taught inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ. To do so, please visit online and browse the different topics or set up an appointment to meet with a minister of the gospel. If you have any questions about the Bible or salvation, please email them to us. I’m Bob Pellien. Thanks for watching. See you next time right here on That’s in the Bible!