Fr. Don Don Aquino: A Homily About The Holy Trinity.

What Every Catholic Must Know Before Visiting Iglesia ni Cristo

Dear all Catholics,

Do you have a relative, classmate or a friend who is a member of “Iglesia ni Cristo”? There are a lot of things you need to know about it because someday, if you join this cult it will turn you to someone you are not. It will make you an unreasonable false accuser. Members of Iglesia ni Cristo are required to invite non-members to visit the nearest INC chapel. They usually don’t discuss doctrines with you but rather, they will let you go to their nearest local for you to hear their teachings. They want you to go to their chapel not only because of their teachings but also for you to see the beauty of their chapels, discipline and brotherhood but do not be deceive, the devil do not appear to you in red tall horn with fire but they will appear to you as everything you want. There are some things that you should know before you accept any invitation for their Bible Lesson and that is to study you Catholic Faith. One of the weaknesses of those Catholics or even devout Catholics who left the Catholic Church and joined INC is the lack of explanation behind the mysteries of the Catholic Faith. As a result, they will believe whatever the INC ministers about Catholicism and they are speechless and unable reason out because of their lack of knowledge about Catholic Faith. Some will unreasonably attack INC with lack of knowledge about the Catholic Faith, as a result a persecutor of INC becomes an INC member. You do not want that to happen to yourself.

This is what will happen if you will accept an invitation from Iglesia ni Cristo.

“The Name Game”

You will sit and listen to the INC ministers reading the Bible from one verse to another and talks about salvation and the life of man and it’s ending is for you to know that the name of the Church that can save you written in the Bible is “church of Christ”(Acts 20:28 Lamsa only) and it is also the name of their church “Iglesia ni Cristo”, therefore you must join INC in order to be saved. Do not be deceived, what is written in the Bible is the church is necessary for salvation and whoever will enter it and obey the commandments of God will be saved. If you follow the line of thinking of INC ministers, you would drink the contents of a bottle labeled as “drinking water” without thinking if it’s water or not. There is only one church built by Christ and Christ promised that it will last forever. He said “I am always with you until the end of time” c.f (Matt 28:20). Only the Catholic Church is the church that exists from the 1st century until today. Therefore, the church which Christ built is the Catholic Church. It is also Traditional, St. Ignatius a student of St. John the Apostle named the church “Catholic Church”. The church built by Christ was mentioned by many names, the name “church of Christ” is only a descriptive name of the church built by Christ. If you read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, you’ll see that it was also used to refer the Catholic Church

Catechism of the Catholic Church 811 “This is the sole Church of Christ, which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic…”

Iglesia ni Kristo in the Philippines is only built in 1914 by Felix Manalo. It is so unreasonable to join a church because you can find its name in the Bible especially it can be read in Lamsa Version. Do not join INC just because you think that you do not belong to the “Church of Christ”, you are already in the Church of Christ, the original one the Catholic Church which was protected by God for almost 2000 years.

“The Apostasy”

The name game is not enough to convince you so probably you will raise the questions,

“What happen to the church which Christ built”? 
“Why the Catholic Church is not the true church’?

The INC ministers will quote some Bible verses that speak about apostasy where members of the church will abandon the true faith and some were killed to prove that the church which Christ built was gone after the end of the 1st century. However, it only speaks about the individual members of the church not the church itself, that’s what apostasy means. Whenever a person abandons his faith, he is an apostate and committed apostasy. They are trying to prove that apostasy is fulfilled by the Catholic Church because the Catholic Church invented many doctrines by the council. One thing that they failed to understand about the church build by Christ is it was likened as a mustard seed (Matt 13:31-32). The kingdom of God which is the church will grow and will undergo development. Its development can be seen in the book of Acts where they gather together and had a council to settle a doctrine ( see Acts 15), that’s why the development of the Church doctrine is also through a council. And it cannot teach wrong doctrines

Apostasy is the opposite of the promises of Christ:

Christ promised the he will be with his church until the end of time – Matthew 28:20
Christ promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it – Matt 16:18
Christ promise that he will send his Counselor to be with his church forever – John 14:16-18
Christ promised that the church will be guided into all truth – John 16:13

And according to Paul, the glory of the church will last to all generations forever and ever. – Ephesians 3:20-21

Apostasy is the weakness of all their teachings. If you can refute it, the rest of their teachings cannot stand especially about the doctrine about of Last Messenger.

“The Error of Bible Alone”

Iglesia ni Kristo believes that the Bible alone is the sole basis of faith. If it’s not written in the Bible, they will reject it. By nature we Catholics believe that the Bible is the word of God. There are some Catholics falsely believe that the teachings of God are all written in the Bible alone and this becomes an advantage for the INC ministers. Ministers will show Catholic teachings that are not found in the Bible such the term “Trinity” “Purgatory” and even the word “Catholic”. This is one thing that every Catholics should understand the Catholic Church do not use the Bible alone as the basis of faith, but also in Traditions (2 Thess. 2:15) and “Magisterium” which is also known as “teaching authorities” (Mat 16:18;Matt 18:18). The doctrinal terms may not found in the Bible but its definition is found there, therefore it is Biblical, Catholic means “universal, all nations” it is the idea of Christ about the Church. “make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19) ” The belief of Bible alone is not biblical and ironically, the term “Bible Alone” is nowhere found in the Bible. If they are consistent with their belief that they reject everything that is not written in the Bible, they should reject the doctrine about “Last Messenger”, such term is not found in the Bible.

“A personal interpretation”

INC ministers will appear in Americana suit while holding the Bible. This is a powerful way for you to believe that what they preach to you is the WORD OF GOD. But keep in mind that the Word of God was already preached by the Catholic Church long before the Bible was finished. When the author of the book of Revelations was still writing in 100AD, the Catholic Church is already on its 5th pope, St Evaristus. The Bible was collected, recognized, canonized and preached by the Catholic Church long before Felix Manalo was born. So whenever you hear an INC preach, what he preached is nothing but a personal and absurd interpretation of Felix Manalo of the Bible yet it is very convincing if you don’t read the Bible or you did not study about the Catholic Faith and its history. Like, protestant preachers, they believed that they only preach what is written in the Bible and they don’t use their own words but that is not true. Every preacher must have always an interpretation whether it’s from him or from the others.

‘’The Image Worship”

INC ministers accuse the Catholics for worshiping idols, and they want you to accuse the Catholics too and they do it through using Catholic Book. Two things are needed to know here:

a. Religious images of the Catholic Church are not idols. Idols means false gods and the INC ministers are aware that Catholic Church teaches only one God, the Holy Trinity and calling the images of the Catholic Church as idols is already an intellectual dishonesty, which means INC ministers are aware that they are lying.

b. Kneeling does not always mean worshiping; kneeling is also a sign to show honor, respect and sincerity. In fact, during ordination, ministers are kneeling in front of Manalo yet they deny they are not worshipping Manalo. With that, we can conclude that INC ministers are contradicting themselves from what they say with what they do.

There are a lot of Catholic book to know the teachings about the Catholics Church and it is unwise to study the truth about Catholicism from an anti-Catholic.

These are only few things to learn for before you visit an INC chapel. You may appreciate their financial management, you may appreciate their unity brother hood and discipline which they are so proud of but do not accept their Bible interpretation.

 “We should respect other people as persons made in the image of God, but this does not mean that we allow their false teachings to propagate. Charity demands that we correct errors and proclaim the truth. The salvation of souls is at stake. If a sheep falls in a ditch, we must lift it out. If a man falls into error, we must help him recognize his folly.. For a man is more valuable than a sheep”. 

–Dr. Quirino M. Sugon Jr.

If you are searching for more info about the Catholic Faith, just kindly visit the following site:

http://www.catholic.com/ 
http://www.thecatholictreasurechest.com/
http://www.apologete.com/
http://www.splendorofthechurch.com.ph/

Equip yourself with enough knowledge about Catholicism before you visit INC so that you might know that the church needs you. You need to learn about your Catholic Faith not only for yourself or to challenge debates, but for your Catholic Brothers and sisters so that they too may understand behind the mystery of the Catholic Faith. If you find it hard to understand the Catholic Teachings, keep on going and have faith because even the apostles too were having difficult times understanding Christ yet they still follow him. God bless.

Biblical Pasages that Show Christ as the Last Messenger not Felix Manalo | Winnie Ibe

Felix Manalo is a fraud and a false prophet, not the "last messenger". Jesus is the definitive and final messenger of God.

Here is why:

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Final or last messenger of God according to the Bible.

Let me quote;

Matthew 21:34-39 NKJV
[34] Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. [35] And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. [36] Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. [37] Then LAST OF ALL HE SENT HIS SON to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' [38] But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' [39] So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him."

We knew that Jesus was referring to the prophets of God were sent to his people before him yet they were by killed them. Christ ALSO KNEW THAT HE is THE FINAL or LAST MESSENGER as he clearly said," then LAST OF ALL" referring to HIMSELF.

Why we are so certain that Jesus Christ is the FINAL or Last messenger ? BECAUSE Jesus declared it so. Why it made sense that Christ is the last messenger? Lets find more about this truth.

Lets read;
Hebrews 7:15-16 CEV 

[15] All of this becomes clearer, when someone who is like Melchizedek is appointed to be a priest. [16] That person wasn’t appointed because of his ancestors, but BECAUSE HIS LIFE CAN NEVER END. ["

If Christ lives forever and his body/church exists to carry out his very mission on earth then there is NO NEED TO SEND a new messenger (like Felix Manalo). The Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ was already GIVEN ONCE and For ALL. This means that there IS NO MORE NEW MESSAGE and NO OTHER NEW COVENANT, hence a NEW messenger or another last messenger is not needed. Manalo need not too apply as there is "NO VACANCY".

Please read;

Jude 1:3 CEV
[3] My dear friends, I really wanted to write you about God’s saving power at work in our lives. But instead, I must write and ask you to DEFEND the FAITH that God has ONCE FOR ALL GIVEN to his people."

The Gospel of Christ was given to the Church to teach all NATIONS and this is TRUE until the end of time. Hence,the Church which is his OWN BODY PREACHES Christ's gospel or message.

Here are the verses;

Matthew 28:18-20 CEV
[18] Jesus came to them and said: I have been given ALL AUTHORITY in heaven and on earth! [19] Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, [20] and teach them to do EVERYTHING I have told you. I WILL BE WITH YOU ALWAYS, even until the END of the world."

The authority of Christ is WITH THE CHURCH IN WHICH he REMAINS " until the end of time". THE CHURCH truly speaks for Christ.

Please read;

Luke 10:16 NKJV
[16] He who hears YOU hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." 

1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV
[13] For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the WORD OF GOD which YOU HEARD FROM US, you welcomed it NOT AS THE WORD OF MEN, but as it is in truth, THE WORD OF GOD, which also effectively works in you who believe."

Remember that WITH CHRIST's authority the Church was commissioned by Christ himself to preach the GOSPEL ( message of Christ's salvation). Christ and his Church is so united that St. Paul likened to husband and wife, he then added that they are ONE.

Please read;

Ephesians 5:29-32 NKJV
[29] For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. [30] For we are members of His BODY, of His flesh and of His bones. [31] "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become ONE FLESH." [32] This is a GREAT MYSTERY, but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

Christ Being the last messenger spreads the gospel through the Church WHICH IS HIS BODY. Since the Church which is also likened to a wife and Christ to a husband (who nourishes and cherish )was promised to remain forever. Again, Manalo's supposed job is NOT REQUIRED as there is NO VACANCY!!!

Christ is the Final messenger of God as declared by the inspired writer of Hebrews. Furthermore Christ is superior than any prophets before him and even to the angels. For anybody who claims that they are " the Last messenger" MUST HAVE " "another message",and would claim superiority over Jesus himself. To as claim to be the last messenger usurps and diminishes Christ authority.

Hebrews 1:1-4 NKJV
[1] … God, who at various times and in various ways spoke IN TIME IN THE PAST to the fathers by the prophets, [2] has in these LAST DAYS spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; [3] who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, [4] having become SO MUCH BETTER than the ANGELS, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. …"

The inspired writer of Hebrews presented the idea of time when God sent messengers to the fathers and prophets. He then specified Christ who speak to us in "these last days." Implying that we are COVERED in a time which is " the last days".

How certain are we that the message of Christ is by His Church and NOT FROM SELF-APPOINTED messenger?

This is what St. Paul said;

Ephesians 3:10-11 NKJV
[10] to the intent that NOW the manifold WISDOM of God might be made known by the CHURCH to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, [11] according to the ETERNAL purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, …" 

Therefore, ANYONE WHO PREACHES or giving ANY MESSAGE CONTRARY to what the Church teaches ,then we CAN BE SURE that person's message is NOT OF GOD. St. Paul had warned us:

Galatians 1:6-9 NKJV
[6] … marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a DIFFERENT GOSPEL, [7] which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to PERVERT the gospel of Christ. [8] But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. [9] As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. …"

We were already warned against those who claimed to be an " angel" or "apostles" WHO PREACHES PERVERTED GOSPEL. Felix Manalo perfectly fits the bill.

15 Quick Replies to Common Allegations and Claims of Iglesia ni Cristo

Some unfortunate non-members of Igleisa ni Cristo especially Catholics has no words to respond on some of the claims of INC regarding the Bible and and allegations against the Catholic faith. As a result, they end up believing wrong things about the Catholic Faith as well as the history. Here are some 15 quick reply on their common claims.

1. INC ministers use not their own words but the words of the Bible?

 This is also a common claim for those who become a member of INC. But the truth is, it is only for the sake of attraction. INC ministers are only preaching the interpretation of Felix Manalo of the Bible because they believe that only Manalo can interpret the Bible. And do not be deceived, INC teachingssuch as “Last Messenger of God in these Last Days” is not found in the Bible. The reason why an INC member says that the INC teachings are written in the Bible is because INC ministers are carrying a Bible all the time. No one can really preach the Bible using “Bible Alone”, every preacher must have always an interpretation whether it’s from him or from the others.

2. INC is the most disciplined church? 

The discipline inside INC which is the separation of male and female during worship services is only a form of attraction. This attraction is known in the Bible as “Sheep’s Clothing” and Jesus warned about it (Matt 7:15).Discipline is one of the qualities of the true members of the Church and no wonder why INC is boasting the standards of discipline \

3. Images were prohibited in the Bible? 

It may look like that God prohibited the making of images in Exo. 25:3-4 but no. Even INC made a statue of Manalo without any command from God or from the Bible. With that alone, INC minister are contradicting themselves. The truth is, God allowed the making of images for religious purposes (Ex. 25:18;Ex 37:7-9; 2 Chr 10:13; 1 Kings 7:29; Kings 6:23; Ezek 4:17-18). That is why; Catholics have images inside the church.

 4. Kneeling means worshiping?

 Two things are needed to know here:

a. Religious images of the Catholic Church are not idols. Idols means false gods and the INC ministers are aware that Catholic Church teaches only one God, the Holy Trinity and calling the images of the Catholic Church as idols is already an intellectual dishonesty, which means INC ministers are aware that they are lying.

b. Kneeling does not always mean worshiping; kneeling is also a sign to show honor, respect and sincerity. In fact, during ordination, ministers are kneeling in front of Manalo yet they deny they are not worshipping Manalo. With that, we can conclude that INC ministers are contradicting themselves from what they say with what they do.

 5. Catholics worship Mary and the saints?

 This is a lie from the INC ministers. Catholics worship God alone, saints and Mary are only venerated. Veneration means honor and respect. INC is trying to insist that Catholics worship saints and Mary to make it look like Catholics are going against the Bible and to discourage Catholic members who are not so familiar with the teachings of the Catholic Church about Mary and saints.

 6. Father alone is the true God and the Trinity is against the Bible? 

The doctrine of the Holy Trinity states that there are three persons in one God. Each person is God, but there is only one God not three Gods. This doctrine is found in the Bible. In John 14:26, Jesus is referring to the entire Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And the distinction he makes between them is quite definite. The Father sends. The Son comes to Earth. The Spirit teaches and inspire. The entire theology of the Trinity is present in this single verse.

 7. Jesus is a man and not God? 

The Catholic Church believes also that Jesus is a man. However, INC teaching Jesus is not God is a heresy back in the early church called “Arianism”. In the Bible we can see a lot of verses telling that Jesus is also God.Acts 20:28- Jesus is the one whose blood was shed.Phil. 2:6-7 – He was in the form of God.Jn 1:1-3- Jesus is the Word, who was God.And many other verses: Rev 3:14; Jn 8:58; Acts 7:59; 1 Cor 1:23; 2 Pet 1:1; Jn 10:30-33; Jn 5:18; Lk 10:18; Mt. 11:27; Jn 14:6-10; Jn 17:3; Rev 22:13; Dt. 10:17

8. In the Catholic Church, saints and Mary are also mediator and not Jesus alone?

 In 1 Tim 2:5, states that there is only one mediator Jesus Christ. Catholic Church believes that the saints and Mary and even us can be also mediators that is because we are the members of the body of Christ. And if we are the members of the body of Christ which is his church, then we can share the sole mediatorship of Christ. Mediator means “to go between”, when a friend ask you to pray for him, you become a mediator between God and your friend. Anyone who says that that Mary and the saints cannot be mediator and he accept prayer request, he is contradicting himself.

9. The church was apostatized after the last Apostle died?

 The truth is, there was already an Apostasy during the time of Christ (see Jn 6:66). The teaching of Apostasy in INC is not originally from INC but from Mormonism. And it is also a contrary to the promise of Christ to his church for he promised that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. So believing that Apostasy really happened is an unfaithfulness of Christ for not believing his promises.

10. Christ’s image is also the image of Judas? 

Da Vinci’s version of Christ was created on the 16th century, and no body really cares who is the model of his painting. But what Inc ministers did not tell is, there were already pictures of Christ before Da Vinci painted the Last Supper. The earliest painting of Christ was painted on 6th century and Da Vinci was not yet born to use the same model for Christ and for Judas.

The oldest surviving panel icon ofChrist Pantocrator, encaustic on panel, c. 6th century, showing the appearance of Jesus that is still immediately recognised today.

 11. “Christ is God” Doctrine was only invented in the Council of Nicea? 

When controversy arises in the church, it should be settled in a council just like what the Apostles did in the whole chapter of Acts 15. What the bishops in the Catholic Church did was only following what the Apostles did when there are controversies. The controversy during the Council of Jerusalem in 70 A.D was about circumcision and the issue was settled. The controversy during 325 A.D in the council of Nicea was about the divinity of Christ, and the issue was settled. INC do not have a council, INC only follow the interpretation of Manalo.

12. The Catholic Church has the two doctrines of the demon (forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meat)?

 a. The Catholic Church does not forbid marriage because it is a sacrament of Matrimony. Celibacy for the priest is not a doctrine but a discipline for the priest who follows Latin-Rite. Celibacy is a teaching of Christ, Matt. 19:12, “renounce marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven”

 b. Abstaining meat during lent is a form of fasting. It is only a small part of following Jesus when he fasted for forty days and forty nights. Do INC fast like what Jesus did? No? They won’t even at least ignore their appetites.

13. Call no man Father?

 If simply using the word “Father” to human being were wrong, we would not find the word used that way throughout the scriptures. But of course we do again and again.1 Cor 4:14-15 “I became your Father” Paul himself refers to himself with this word. An inspire author of the scriptures could not have done so if the word were to offense God.

 14. Catholic Church was founded by St. Ignatius?

 St. Ignatius was a disciple of John the Apostle. He is the Bishop of Antioch the place where the term “Christian” was first used. He was the one who first mentioned the term “Catholic Church” but he is not the founder. INC ministers did not tell INC members about this.

15. Catholics pray in repetition (Rosary)?

 Rosary is a Scripture- based, and in praying it, we are not emulating pagan but the heavenly host:Rev. 4:8- “Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was and who is and who is to come”” St. John’s vision of heaven revealed that the angels and saints pray in repetitively. So obviously Jesus was objecting not to repetition but to the insincerity and emptiness of pagan words. These are only few things to learn for those who left the Catholic Church and joined the INC. A lot of them did not know so much about the Catholic Church and the Bible and because of that, INC successfully inserted some wrong information about the Catholic Church in the minds of the INC members. As a result, INC members today hate what they wrongly believe what the Catholic Teaches.

A response on the question concerning bloods and eating bloods

Good morning bro.. Hows everything?
Hope all is well.. Anyway..

Patulong naman po sa pagsagot sa verse na to tungkol po sa aral daw na nagbabawal sa pagkain ng dugo at ng halal na karne..

Please take note po ung sinasabi nila na "NO MORE BURDEN TO LAY UPON YOU, EXCEPT THESE NECESSARY THINGS:"

ACTS 15

28 ‘For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, no more burden to lay upon you, except these necessary things:

29 to abstain from things offered to idols, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom; from which keeping yourselves, ye shall do well; be strong!’

Thank you po ng marami!

============•============

Thanks for the question brother. This one requires a lengthy explanation.

Here is my reply:

The prohibition of consuming bloods in Acts 15 must be considered in its proper context. To understand the New Testament we need to look back what the Old Testament says about it.

Why is blood prohibited?

Leviticus 17:11,14 KJV
[11] For the LIFE of the flesh is in the BLOOD: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the BLOOD that maketh an atonement for the soul. [14] For it is the LIFE OF ALL FLESH; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off."

My comment:

We can see that BLOOD was NOT CONSUMED by the people of God BECAUSE it is said that LIFE IS IN THE BLOOD and is for ATONEMENT of sins.

Let's read some more:

Leviticus 8:15 NASB
[15] Next Moses slaughtered it and took the BLOOD and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar, and PURIFIED the altar. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it, to make ATONEMENT for it." 

Leviticus 5:9 NASB
[9] He shall also sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar: IT IS A SIN OFFERING."

My comment:

Again, Animal Blood is USED as SIN OFFERINGS. Blood then is GIVEN AND OFFERED TO GOD.

What about in the New Testament? Is the prohibition of BLOOD still applies LIKE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT? In light of the CONTEXT of the New Testament ANIMAL BLOODS ARE NO LONGER for sacrifice or has ANY VALUE, nor able to purify us from our sins. Consequently , it follows that these regulations are NO LONGER BINDING or applicable FROM THE TIME when New Covenant instituted.

Jesus said:

International Standard Version
"The Law and the Prophets remained until John. Since then, the good news about the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone entering it is under attack."

Other translation:

NET Bible
"The law and the prophets WERE IN FORCE UNTIL John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it."

My comment:

Christ CLEARLY said that the Law and the prophets were IN FORCE UNTIL JOHN or REMAINED TILL the time of John the Baptist. It follows that regulations concerning offerings, foods and rituals since then is obsolete.

Here is what the inspired writers tells us:

Hebrews 9:10-14 NASB
[10] since they relate ONLY to FOOD and DRINK and various washings, REGULATIONS for the body imposed UNTIL a TIME of reformation. [11] But WHEN Christ APPEARED as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; "

My COMMENT:

The inspired writer IS EMPHATIC that REGULATIONS is no more impose FROM the time of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let's continue:
[12] and NOT through the BLOOD of GOATS and CALVES, but through His OWN BLOOD He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. [13] For if the BLOOD of goats and BULLS and the ashes of a heifer SPRINKLING those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, [14] how much more will the BLOOD of CHRIST, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

More verses:

Hebrews 10:9-10 NASB
[9] then He said, "Behold, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL." He TAKES AWAY the FIRST in order to establish the SECOND. [10] By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the BODY of Jesus Christ once for all."

Hebrews 10:19 NASB
[19] Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place BY the BLOOD of Jesus

My comment:

We KNOW that eating blood is an OT regulations and is now taken away. The second is the EVERLASTING NEW COVENANT of Christ sealed with his BODY AND BLOOD. The above verses SIMPLY TELLS us that BLOOD OF ANIMALS can no LONGER BE OFFERED as SACRIFICE for our sins. Christ established a NEW COVENANT with HIS OWN BLOOD as THE TRUE SACRIFICE. Therefore the blood of animals ARE ALREADY OBSOLETE and REPLACED with the PERFECT sacrifice of Christ. This in effect release us from REGULATIONS concerning food and drinks which includes eating of animal blood.

How about the directives in Acts 15:29?

Here is the verse:

Acts 15:29 NASB
[29] that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell."

Let's place these so called prohibitions on a list:

1. Abstain from FOOD sacrificed to idols.
2. Abstain from blood.
3. Abstain from strangled animals
4. Abstain from fornication.

We should understand that at this juncture the coming of the Gentiles to the Church is a new thing. The first Christians were Jews and when they come together the. Jews were scandalised seeing the Gentiles eating their food as bloods and meat offered to " idols". Also have concerns that maybe the food they offer were not bled or strangled, or was offered to "idols". These ARE BIG NO TO THE JEWS. Thus the first three on the list were meant as NOT TO OFFEND the Jews

Here is what St. Paul said concerning food:

1 Corinthians 10:23-28 NASB
[23] All things are LAWFUL, but NOT ALL things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. [24] Let no one seek his OWN GOOD, but that of his neighbor. [25] EAT ANYTHING that is sold in the meat market WITHOUT asking questions for conscience' sake; [26] for THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS. [27] If one of the UNBELIEVERS invites you and you want to go, EAT anything that is set before you WITHOUT asking questions for conscience' sake."

My comment:

St. Paul is right, and plain. Blood is also sold at the market place and animals may have been killed without draining its blood.

Here is the next verse 28:

[28] But if anyone says to you, "This is meat sacrificed to idols," do not eat it, FOR THE SAKE of THE ONE WHO INFORMED you, and for conscience' sake;"

My comment:

See, it's not that the food was offered to the idols became "EVIL"
Rather it's because it bring scandals to those who are weak in faith. The food remains from God. The blood of animals are no more for the same purpose of sacrifice offerings. St. Paul CONFIRMED that a Christians CAN EAT ANYTHING as the rules about food in the OT is no more binding. A food offered to gods ITSELF is not affected, "gods" in REALITY they do NOT EXIST.

1 Corinthians 8:4 NASB
[4] "Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is NO SUCH THING AS AN IDOL in the world, and that there is no God BUT ONE"

"There is no such thing as idols"

Here are another clear statements from St. Paul:

Romans 14:17-18,20 NASB
[17] for the kingdom of God is not EATING and DRINKING, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. [18] For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. [20] Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. ALL THINGS ARE INDEED CLEAN, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense."

"All things are indeed clean"

1 Corinthians 8:4 NASB
[4] Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is NO SUCH THING AS AN IDOL in the world, and that there is no God BUT ONE."

My comment:

"There is NO such thing AS AN IDOL"

1 Corinthians 10:31-32 KJVS
[31] Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. [32] Give NONE OFFENCE, neither to the JEWS, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:"

My comment:

"Give no offence neither to the Jews" nor to the Gentiles"

Here is Christ own words:

Mark 7:14-16 NASB
[14] After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, "Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: [15] there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. [16] [If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."]"