Does the True Church Founded by Jesus Christ Was Apostatized ?

“Adherents hold that Iglesia ni Cristo is the only true church of Jesus Christ as restored by Felix Manalo. The church recognizes Jesus Christ as the founder of the Church. Meanwhile, its reestablishment is seen as the signal for the end of days.^[2][18][20] For example, its founding in July 27, 1914 coincides with the beginning of World War I.^[32] They believe that the church was apostatized by the 1st^[23] or 4th century due to false teachings.^[21][35] The INC says that this apostate church is the Roman Catholic Church.” (“Wikipedia – The Free Encyclopedia”, www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iglesia_ni_Cristo)

Is it true that the Church established by the Lord Jesus Christ on 33 AD in Jerusalem was totally apostatized during the first or fourth century; and this apostatized Church is now known as “The Roman Catholic Church”? My answer is that “This is not true – it’s a big lie” – a blasphemy against God, of which only a person obsessed by the devil has a gust to do that to God. Before we start our sharing, it is probably a good idea to define what apostasy is. The Catholic Church defines Apostasy as the complete and voluntary abandonment of the Christian religion, whether the apostate embraces another religion such as Paganism, Judaism, Mohammedanism, etc., or merely makes profession of Naturalism, Rationalism, etc.” A heretic person is different from an apostate person; a heretic only denies one or more of the doctrines of a revealed religion, whereas the apostate denies the religion itself, a sin which has always been looked upon as one of the most grievous. Webster Dictionary defines Apostasy as 1: renunciation of a religious faith  2: abandonment of a previous loyalty : DEFECTION.

My sharing will be more on a layman’s point of view, I am not a theologian so to say. Catholics firmly hold and believe that the true Church founded by Jesus Christ will never be totally apostatized and be converted into a church managed by Satan. Why? It is because Jesus Christ has promised that his Church will never be overcome by any satanic powers. “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build MY CHURCH, and the GATES OF HADES will NOT OVERCOME IT.” Matthew 16:18 . Do you believe when Jesus Christ said “the gates of Hades will not overcome my Church”? Do these words of the Lord had another meaning that need an interpretation from an honored bible exegete? In this verse, we are taught that this particular Church which he has established belongs to him and no such powers that can overcome this Church in any manner and in any time, or else he would have said that “my church will be overcome by Hades in a little while then it will be revived afterwards”. But rather, it simply states that no such power can overcome his Church. Do you know why? Let us cite at least some three reasons from the Bible. 1.) “16. And I will ask the Father, and he will give another Counselor to be WITH YOU FOREVER- 17. the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17. It is God the Father himself who will give the HOLY SPIRIT to stay with this Church FOREVER. Do you understand that verse – what does forever means ? Can you imagine, it is God himself sending the Holy Spirit to the Church – can there be such any power to suppress what God has done. Can there be any power to overthrow the Holy Spirit away from the Church? Now, if that will be the case, what kind of God have we – a weakling God? Precisely, how can Satan overcome the Church if the Holy Spirit himself remains in the Church FOREVER. It was the same Holy Spirit that strengthen the martyrs of early Church to die for the faith but never give up to the whims of Satan, never, never, never. 2.)”I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And  I HOLD THE KEYS OF DEATH AND HADES.” Revelation 1:18  This verse says that Jesus Christ hold the keys – meaning to say he has the POWER – over death and Hades, so if he has power over death and Hades – how can these powers overcome the Church - which in fact this Church was not only owned by Jesus Christ but was purchased with his own blood? Do you mean to say that Satan is more powerful than Jesus Christ that why he can convert the Church into his own and put it under his dominion? It is a great insult to the Lord and Savior to believe that such kind of satanic teaching, and it really made me furious to hear about that. 3.) Jesus Christ has promised before he ascended to heaven, “and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I WILL BE WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE”.  Matthew 28:20. What does this verse convey to us? – “I will be with you ALWAYS – until the END OF THE AGE” – does this needs an official interpretation from a learned Bible scholar? These three scriptural references revealed to us an important truth - that the true Church founded by Jesus Christ in Jerusalem way back 33 AD can never be overcome by whatsoever power that proceeds from Satan; the Church cannot - in any manner or at any time – be APOSTATIZE because the Holy Spirit remains within the Church ALWAYS and FOREVER until the second advent of Jesus Christ.

So, now we have two choices whether whom shall we believe: those who teaches that the True Church founded by Jesus Christ was apostatized in the first century; or the Lord Jesus Christ who said that his Church cannot be overcome by the gates of Hades? These two claimers are saying two different contradicting things; if one of them is true then the other one is false. Who of them is telling the truth? Well I can assure you from the Bible that it is Jesus Christ who is telling the truth:”21.To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22. He committed no sin, and no DECEIT WAS FOUND IN HIS MOUTH.” 1 Peter 2:21-22. Therefore, if Jesus Christ is telling us the truth then it follows then that our detractors are telling a lie – they are liars. And what does the Bible says about liars, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a LIAR and the FATHER OF LIES.” John8:44. I don’t have any personal quarrel with them, at any rate, they will be responsible for their actions and accountable to God for all the souls they had led astray. Friends, thank you very much for the time you spared with me. I will really appreciate if you could join me in spreading our Catholic Faith to others in a simplest way that our heart can afford, maybe it’s a song, a poem, a reflection, an insight, a faith experience, a joy in giving etc. God bless us all.