HOW TO FIND THE TRUE CHURCH By Winnie Ibe

Let start by the definition of terms we can derived from the Bible. What is the meaning of ” church”? It is group of people called by God into covenant with him. ( EKKLESIA) God started to call and made covenant in the OT with Noah, to Abraham, and to Jacob and with the nation of Israel. It started with a family, to a clan, then it became a tribe and it became a nation. ( guess how big will it be next? It will be to all nations or Catholic)

Here is the start:

Genesis 6:18 NASB ( with Noah)
[18] But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark-you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

Please read:

Genesis 17:7 NASB ( with Abraham )
[7] I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.

Exodus 2:24-25 NASB ( With Moses)
[24] So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. [25] God saw the sons of Israel, and God took x notice of them.”

God made an everlasting promise to the Patriarchs and to his chosen people that He will BE WITH THEM FOR EVER.

Please read :

1 Chronicles 17:23-24 KJV
[23] Therefore now, Lord, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his HOUSE be ESTABLISHED FOR EVER, and do as thou hast said. [24] Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the HOUSE of DAVID thy servant be established before thee.

Ezekiel 43:7 KJV
[7] And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.

These constitute the OLD COVENANT WITH GOD. This covenant OLD COVENANT was not made to lasts. However, there is A PROMISE OF GOD for ISRAEL that he will be with Israel FOREVER. This IS FULFILLED WITH THE NEW TESTAMENT which is far better and MORE GLORIOUS than the Old. The Old Israel and it’s people were unfaithful to their covenant with God.

Please read:

Amos 9:7-8 NASB
[7] “Are you not as the sons of Ethiopia to Me, O sons of Israel?” declares the Lord. “Have I not brought up Israel from the land of Egypt, And the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir? [8] “Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom, And I will destroy it from the face of the earth; “

God however IS FAITHFUL He PROMISED that He REMAINS WITH His people as He will rebuild David’s kingdom which is the New ISRAEL.

Please read:

Amos 9:11-12 NASB
[11] “In that day I will raise up the fallen booth d of David, And wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins And rebuild it as in the days of old; [12] That they may possess the remnant of Edom And all the nations e who are called by My name,” Declares the Lord who does this.”

Jesus told the Jews that he will soon rebuild David’s kingdom and this will be the Church wherein he is the King.

Let us read:

Matthew 21:43 NASB
[43] Therefore I say to you, the KINGDOM of God will be TAKEN AWAY from YOU and given to a people, producing the fruit of it.”

WHEN DID THIS KINGDOM was established and with whom?

Please read:

John 15:8-9 NASB
[8] 8 My Father is glorified by this, that YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT, and so prove d to be My disciples. [9] 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.”

Matthew 16:18-19 NASB
[18] 18 I also say to you that you are Peter, l and upon this rock m I will build My CHURCH; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. [19] 19 I will give you the keys of the KINDOM of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall n have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall o have been loosed in heaven.”

The same writer tells us that this KINGDOM/Church will BEAR FRUITS, in fact it will bear fruits IN ALL NATIONS. This started since the apostolic time and it is TRUE UNTIL Christ return.

Please read:

Matthew 28:18-20 NASB
[18] And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying,“ All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, [20] 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, f even to the end of the age.”

Note what Jesus said, HE CLAIMED ALL AUTHORITY, in turn he GAVE THIS AUTHORITY for the Church to:

1.Make disciples ( preaching the Gospel through missions until Christ coming)

2.Baptise ( the true church then is baptising from the apostles time and up to now till the coming of Christ.

3.Teach ( the Church continues to teach until Christ coming)

This tells us that this Church will be IN ALL GENERATIONS the Church WHICH IS visible, and available to do the mission that God gave her to do.

The Church is therefore NOT IMAGINARY NOR ONLY EXIST IN THE LETTER OF A TEXT OR VERSE. People can go to it and consult the Church in times of disputes.

Please read:

Matthew 18:17-18 KJV
[17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the CHURCH: but if he neglect to HEAR the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. [18] Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. …”

How do we know for sure that it is the NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH?

The apostle quoted the exact same verse in Amos 9:11-12 to prove and state that the prophecy is fulfilled.

Please read:

Acts 15:15-17 NASB
[15] With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, [16] ‘After THESE THINGS I will return, AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT, [17] So that the rest of mankind g may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles who h are called by My name ,’

Another case to consider is that the New Testament Church was established before the New Testament scriptures were written, in fact the Church already preached the gospel 15-20 years before they started to write. Thus, the Church basis is not the Bible itself but from a person -Christ Jesus.

Now, if this Church is given authority to teach all nations with no exemptions, ( Matthew 28:19-20) which is of course about the Gospel of Christ, the faith and morals. This Church then with her authority, witnessing and having the power to settle and define for us
. First, WHICH BOOKS BELONG TO THE NEW TESTAMENT Bible is the one true Church which teaches true doctrines from God.

Note that all Protestant and cults accept ALL 27 books ( MATTHEW to Revelation) WITHOUT any QUESTION ASKED.

The TRUE CHURCH OF GOD then as we can attest from scriptural analysis, MUST EXIST BEFORE THE NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE IN ORDER FOR US TO KNOW WHICH BOOKS TO BELIEVE AS SACRED WRITINGS in the first place. And any Christian groups that it existed before but exist no more are neither of them are the true Church. The ONLY CHURCH THAT QUALIFIES IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Why we are not discussing about doctrines on this topic?

Well, ONCE You and I FOUND THE TRUE CHURCH OF GOD, that Church CANNOT TEACH ERROR you can have the assurance of truth. Why ? It’s because it is guided by the Holy Spirit.

John 16:12-14 KJV
[12] I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. [13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

When you are on the FOUNDATION OF TRUTH WHICH IS THE CHURCH, then you are no longer tossed to and fro for every wind of doctrine coming from crafty men.

1 Timothy 3:15 KJV
[15] But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the PILLAR and GROUND ( FOUNDATION )of the truth.

Ephesians 4:14;
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

The Church speaks for Christ as Christ is with the Church until the end of time. This Church is VISIBLE and People could go and ask the Church
For guidance.

Please read:

Matthew 18:16-17 KJV
[16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. [17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, TELL it unto the CHURCH: but if he neglect to hear the CHURCH, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”

Thus, the Church IS NOT INVISIBLE group of people which comprises of different christian religions professing DIFFERENT FAITHS. For you cannot go to them, and there would BE NO WAY OF KNOWING who are these people. In fact that WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE. The Church SPEAKS FOR CHRIST as ONE with ONE FAITH as it IS ONE BODY. Christ could not be like a freak with 33,000+ mouths with different voices and opinions contradicting each other.

When the Catholic Church speaks through the pope and its bishops.
We need to take heed and obey. It is A HISTORICAL and Biblical FACT that this is the ONLY Church which received AUTHORITY to teach all nations, hence all men and all time.

Please read:
Luke 10:16 KJV
[16] He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

ST. Paul asks us to TEST EVERY SPIRIT but HOW CAN WE DO THAT?
The Bible states that ONLY THE CHURCH RECEIVED AUTHORITY TO TEACH, it’s the FOUNDATION AND PILLAR OF TRUTH, headed by Christ and its cornerstone, also she is guided by the Holy Spirit into all truth.

The answer then is to FOR US TO COMPARE WHAT ARE THESE TEACHERS ARE TEACHINGS IN COMPARISON to what the Church teaches. If their teachings are NOT in accordance to the Church teachings then they are NOT FROM THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH.

There is NO SCAPE, there is ONLY ONE CHURCH that qualify-the Catholic Church.