INC on Salvation, The Rising of the Dead, The Judgement Day, & the New Jerusalem
- Salvation
Every generation lives as though it has mastered the art of planning for tomorrow. We build careers that stretch decades into the future, purchase homes meant to outlast us, invest for retirement, and speak constantly about five-year plans, financial security, and personal milestones. There is wisdom in preparing for the future. The Scriptures themselves commend diligence and foresight. Yet amid all this careful planning, one question quietly remains: have we prepared with equal seriousness for the life that does not end?
This is where Christianity gently interrupts the rhythm of ordinary living. The Gospel never presents human life as a self-contained story bounded only by birth and death. Instead, it invites believers to see earthly life as preparation for eternity. Every decision, every act of obedience, every sacrifice made in faith acquires a different significance when viewed through the lens of God’s promises. Success is no longer measured solely by accomplishments that fade with time, but by faithfulness that reaches beyond it.
This conviction lies at the heart of the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s teaching regarding salvation. The Church believes that all people stand in need of salvation because all have sinned. Left to ourselves, humanity cannot escape the consequence of sin by personal goodness, wealth, influence, or human achievement. The Scriptures describe salvation not as something earned through human effort, but as something made possible through the Lord Jesus Christ, who established His Church. Membership in the Church Of Christ, according to this belief, is not viewed as a cultural identity or a social affiliation. It is understood as God’s appointed means through which people enter into the saving work of Christ, by entering into the fold -- the Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo).
To many people today, such a teaching may appear exclusive. Contemporary culture often favors the idea that every path eventually leads to the same destination, provided one’s intentions are sincere. Yet throughout the Bible, God’s pattern has consistently been one of invitation accompanied by instruction. Noah’s family entered the ark before the flood came. The Israelites followed God’s prescribed way of deliverance during the Passover. Christ Himself declared that He is the door through which people must enter. These biblical narratives remind believers that salvation has never been left entirely to human preference but has always been revealed according to God’s will.
This understanding naturally shapes how members view the Christian life. Faith is not merely about feeling spiritually inspired during moments of worship. It is about remaining faithful because eternity is real. Such faithfulness becomes especially meaningful when life is difficult. It explains why believers continue attending worship services despite demanding work schedules, why they remain steadfast during personal trials, and why they strive to obey God’s commandments even when doing so requires sacrifice. They are living not only for the present age but for the promise that lies beyond it.
- the Resurrection of the Dead & the Judgment Day
One of the most comforting promises found in Scripture is the resurrection of the dead. Death remains humanity’s greatest equalizer. It arrives without regard for age, status, or achievement, leaving behind empty chairs at family gatherings, unanswered phone numbers, and photographs that slowly become treasured memories. Every Filipino family, in one way or another, carries the memory of someone deeply loved who is no longer physically present. All these, by default just turn like a dust of memory, a remembrance.
The Christian hope, however, extends beyond remembrance. The Iglesia Ni Cristo believes, in accordance with the Scriptures, that there will be a resurrection. This conviction rests upon the resurrection of Christ Himself, for if Christ was raised from the dead, then death no longer possesses the final word. The Bible teaches that all who have died will rise again. Those who have remained faithful will receive life, while those who rejected God will face judgment. For the faithful members of the Church Of Christ, there is also the blessed hope that those who remain alive at Christ’s return will meet Him without first experiencing death, joining together with those who will rise again as if they were just fallen asleep in the faith - for they will be called, to rise again when Judgment Day comes - to be saved, those who remained true to their faith inside the Church of Christ.
This promise transforms the way believers understand grief. Sorrow remains real because separation always hurts, yet grief is no longer empty of hope. Every funeral becomes not only a farewell but also a reminder that God’s final chapter is yet to come - the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Few biblical teachings have stirred the human imagination more deeply than the promise of Christ’s second coming. Across centuries, Christians have waited with anticipation, believing His words that He would return to receive His faithful disciples. The Scriptures also describe signs that would precede that day—wars, earthquakes, famines, increasing wickedness, and a gradual cooling of people’s love for God. Reading these passages today, one cannot help but notice how remarkably familiar they feel. Every news cycle seems filled with conflict, uncertainty, economic hardship, and moral confusion. The world appears increasingly advanced technologically while simultaneously becoming more fragile spiritually.
Yet the biblical response to these signs is not panic. It is preparation.
The Lord Himself declared that no one knows the exact day or hour of His return except the Father. This uncertainty is intentional. It invites believers to remain spiritually awake rather than spiritually comfortable. Christian faith has never been about predicting dates. It has always been about cultivating readiness.
Readiness is expressed through ordinary faithfulness. It is found in choosing integrity when dishonesty appears profitable, in remaining devoted to worship when schedules become crowded, in extending forgiveness when resentment feels justified, and in continuing to trust God even when prayers seem unanswered. These quiet decisions, repeated over a lifetime, become the evidence of a faith that is prepared to meet its Lord. All of these promises ultimately point toward the destination that Christ Himself described—the Holy City, the New Jerusalem.
- The Holy City - the New Jerusalem
Human beings spend much of their lives searching for a place that finally feels like home. Some leave provinces for Manila. Others leave the Philippines entirely, pursuing opportunities abroad while carrying homesickness in their hearts. Many OFWs understand this longing intimately. They build lives in distant countries, celebrate birthdays through video calls, and dream of the day they can finally come home. Home, after all, is not merely a location. It is the place where love remains, where peace is complete, and where one finally belongs.
The Scriptures reveal that God has prepared such a home for His faithful people.
The New Jerusalem is described not merely as a beautiful city but as the fulfillment of humanity’s deepest longing. It is a place where suffering no longer exists, where tears no longer need to be wiped away because sorrow itself has ceased, where death has lost its authority, and where hunger, pain, fear, and separation have all become memories of a world that has passed away. It is not simply paradise restored. It is the perfect dwelling place prepared by Christ for those who remain faithful until the end. For the believer, this promise changes everything.
It reminds us that the sacrifices made for God are never wasted. The prayers offered in secret, the temptations resisted, the worship services faithfully attended, the kindness shown when no recognition follows, the perseverance maintained through seasons of hardship—all of these belong to a larger story whose ending has already been written by God.
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This series has carried the title “Soldier On” because the Christian life has never been described as effortless. It requires conviction in a culture of compromise, faithfulness in a world of distraction, humility in an age of self-promotion, and endurance when circumstances tempt us to surrender. Yet Christians do not continue simply because they possess remarkable strength. They continue because they trust the One who has promised a future greater than anything this present world can offer.
And that may be one of the most beautiful truths of the Christian faith. The journey is long, the road is often difficult, and the burdens are undeniably real. Yet every worship service attended with sincerity, every commandment obeyed with love, and every step taken in faith draws the believer closer to the home that Christ Himself has prepared.
In the end, the Christian life is not simply about surviving the present world. It is about remaining faithful until the day when faith becomes "sakdal", when hope becomes fulfillment, and the members of the Church of Christ finally hear the words they have longed for all their lives: "Natapos ko ang aking takbuhin, makakaasa akong tatamuhin ko ang Bayang Banal".
— billymacdeus
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