On Knowing Whom We Worship
One of the most difficult things to defend in modern life is certainty. We live in an age where almost everything is negotiable. Truth is often presented as personal preference, beliefs are treated as lifestyle choices, and conviction is sometimes mistaken for stubbornness. The prevailing wisdom is to keep one’s faith private, flexible, and open-ended, as though certainty itself were a form of arrogance.
Yet for many who continue to hold on to their Christian faith, especially within the Iglesia Ni Cristo, certainty is not arrogance. It is refuge. Because when the world grows louder, when opinions multiply endlessly, and when life itself becomes unpredictable, there is comfort in knowing exactly whom you worship.
This conviction begins with a simple but profound belief: that there is only one true God, and He is the Father, the Creator of all things.
This belief is not anchored in philosophy or inherited tradition alone. It is founded on the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. When Christ prayed, He addressed the Father as “the only true God” (John 17:3). It is striking, if one pauses long enough to consider it. In the most intimate moments recorded in Scripture, Jesus did not point to Himself as the true God. Instead, He directed all glory and worship to the Father. There is a quiet beauty in this simplicity.
The world often complicates spirituality. People create systems of belief so intricate that ordinary men and women begin to feel distant from God, as though divine truth must be deciphered through endless interpretations. But Scripture repeatedly returns to clarity. There is one God. One Creator. One Father.
And that is why this doctrine feels deeply personal to many believers. It reminds us that behind the vastness of the universe, behind the countless stars and galaxies that human eyes may never fully comprehend, there exists One who knows our names, hears our prayers, and remains unchanged amidst the chaos of life. Filipinos, I think, understand this longing instinctively.
We are a people who pray through storms. We whisper “Bahala na ang Diyos” when plans fail. We clasp our hands tightly in hospital corridors. We bow our heads before meals, before exams, before difficult conversations. Faith, for us, is not an intellectual exercise alone. It is woven into the rhythm of ordinary life. And in those moments of vulnerability, certainty matters.
To know that God is eternal, that He does not grow weary, that He is not limited by time or circumstance, is not merely a theological point. It is a source of courage. Human beings tire. We become anxious. We lose sleep. We fear what tomorrow may bring. But the One we worship remains steadfast. His strength does not diminish. His wisdom does not falter.
This same clarity extends to the understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ.
On Knowing that Christ is a man, not god
For many Christians around the world, discussions about Christ’s nature can become deeply complex. But the Iglesia Ni Cristo upholds what it believes to be the plain testimony of Scripture: that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior appointed by God, and the mediator between God and men. He is exalted above all creation, beloved by the Father, and worthy of honor because of His obedience and sacrifice.
Yet He Himself testified that He is a man who tells the truth He heard from God (John 8:40). The apostles likewise taught that there is one God and one mediator between God and men—the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5).
For some, this distinction may appear merely doctrinal. But in the lives of believers, it carries emotional significance. Because Christ’s humanity makes His example profoundly relatable. He hungered. He thirsted. He grew tired. He experienced sorrow. He prayed fervently. He endured suffering.
There is comfort in knowing that the Savior understands human weakness not from a distance, but through experience. When life becomes difficult, believers do not look to an unreachable ideal. They look to someone who walked among men, faced trials, and remained obedient to God until the very end.
This is why Christ continues to inspire such deep devotion. Not because He claimed earthly power, but because He demonstrated perfect faithfulness. And then there is the Holy Spirit.
On Knowing that the Holy Spirit is the power sent by God
In an era fascinated by mystical experiences and sensational spirituality, the Iglesia Ni Cristo teaches something quietly practical: that the Holy Spirit is the power sent by God to guide, strengthen, and comfort His people.
The Holy Spirit reminds believers of Christ’s teachings. It strengthens them in moments of weakness. It comforts the Church during times of trial. Anyone who has endured seasons of grief, anxiety, or uncertainty understands how precious such comfort can be. There are days when prayers feel heavy. Days when worship requires effort. Days when faith itself feels like carrying water uphill.
And yet somehow, believers continue. They rise for worship services despite exhaustion. They remain faithful despite disappointments. They hold on despite circumstances that would tempt them to let go. Perhaps this quiet perseverance is itself evidence of the Spirit’s work—not loud, not theatrical, but steady.
Steadiness is underrated in our generation. People chase novelty. They seek dramatic transformations. But spiritual maturity is often less dramatic than people imagine. More often, it looks like consistency. Choosing faith every day. Choosing worship when convenient and when inconvenient. Choosing obedience when no one is watching. That, I think, is what it means to soldier on.
Not because all questions have easy answers. Not because life becomes free of hardship. But because somewhere deep inside, the believer has settled the most important question of all: Who is God, and whom shall I serve?
Once that answer becomes clear, the storms of life do not necessarily disappear. But they no longer have the power to uproot a faith anchored in certainty. And in a world where almost everything changes, there is something profoundly liberating about belonging completely to the One who never does.
— billymacdeus
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