ON THE OBSERVANCE OF SABBATH DAY

Answer:

We must first clarify and rectify certain points in your letter. If the person you are referring to in your letter as “the founder of the INC” is Brother Felix Manalo, we would like to make it clear that he is not the founder of the Iglesia ni Cristo. Brother Felix Manalo is the man whom we recognize and believe as God’s messenger who was instrumental for the emergence of the Iglesia ni Cristo in these last days as attested to by biblical prophecies (Isa. 46:11; 41:9-10; Rev. 7:2-3).

Before Brother Felix Manalo was sent by God to preach the Iglesia ni Cristo, he was once a member of the Seventh-day Adventist. However, he left that religion in search of the truth and of the true religion. Brother Manalo being once a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, understood the importance of observing Sabbath from the standpoint of an Adventist. However, he came to understand, from the biblical standpoint, that observing the Sabbath in the Christian Era is unbiblical.

Observing the Sabbath was God’s command to His ancient nation, Israel. It was one of the ten commandments God gave to Moses to be observed by ancient Israel as a symbol of the Lord’s covenant with them and to commemorate their deliverance from bondage in Egypt (Mal. 4:4; Exod. 31:16; Deut. 5:15). But, the same law that supposes that no work should be done during the Sabbath day no longer applies to God’s people in the Christian Era. Apostle Paul taught:

 “Let no one criticize you in matters of food or drink or for not observing festivals, new moons or the Sabbath.” (Col. 2:16, Christian Community Bible)

In fact, even during the time of the Israelites, God had put an end to the observance of Sabbath and caused it to be forgotten (Hos. 2:11, Revised Standard Version; Lam. 2:6, NKJV)

That is why we can read from the Holy Scriptures that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself  stated that “it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” (Matt. 12:12, New International Version). He even healed sick people on the Sabbath day (Matt. 12:10-13; Luke 13:10-17).