The article argues that John 5:22-23 supports the Christian doctrine that Jesus should be worshiped as God, countering the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s teaching that Jesus is not divine. It emphasizes the phrase “just as” (Greek: kathos) in the passage, which mandates honoring Jesus in the same way as the Father, including worshiping Him as God. The author asserts that failing to honor Jesus as God equates to failing to honor the Father and constitutes idolatry. The conclusion highlights the gravity of denying Jesus’s divinity and urges readers to believe in and honor Jesus as God, referencing John 5:24 as a call to faith and eternal life.
The article’s claim that John 5:22-23 requires worshiping Jesus as God misrepresents the text and contradicts the broader biblical narrative. INC teaches that Jesus is not God but the Son of God, a distinct being subordinate to the Father (John 14:28, 1 Corinthians 15:28). The command in John 5:23 to honor the Son “just as” the Father does not equate to worshiping the Son as God. Instead, it highlights the authority and role the Father gave to the Son, such as the authority to judge, as stated in verse 22. This delegated authority demonstrates the Father’s supremacy, affirming Jesus’s role as the Father’s servant and messenger (Acts 2:36, John 7:16).
The article contradicts its own premise by interpreting kathos (“just as”) to mean equal worship while ignoring passages that explicitly state the Father alone is the true God (John 17:3). Honoring Jesus as the appointed Judge and Savior does not mean equating Him with God; it means recognizing His God-given role, consistent with Philippians 2:9-11, which states that Jesus is exalted by God and that glory given to Him ultimately glorifies the Father.
Furthermore, the accusation that INC commits idolatry is both unfounded and unbiblical. INC worships the Father as the one true God in accordance with Deuteronomy 6:4 and 1 Corinthians 8:6. Claiming that those who do not worship Jesus as God dishonor the Father overlooks Jesus’s own teaching in John 5:30, where He emphasizes His dependence on the Father.
Lastly, the article disregards the biblical admonition to refrain from passing judgment on others’ faith (Romans 14:10-13). Asserting that INC does not honor God at all contradicts the biblical principle that ultimate judgment belongs to God alone (James 4:12). Instead of divisive accusations, biblical interpretation should aim to understand differing perspectives in light of Scripture.
In summary, the article’s arguments conflict with key biblical teachings about Jesus’s subordinate relationship to the Father and the Father’s unique status as the only true God. The article’s misinterpretation of “honor” and unjust judgment of others’ beliefs undermine its credibility and biblical foundation.
True Iglesia Information 