I am on a journey to find a solid church as you have pointed out. At 52, after a lifetime in the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada organization, and a year of Bible college at a Pentecostal Bible college here in Ontario, I have found myself exiting this denomination. It has been challenging. I found a Reformed fairly solid doctrine church but they are still singing music from the Charismatic movement and this past Sunday the pastor told us from the pulpit he stands with Alistair Begg and has counselled many to attend gay "weddings". I just can't do it or be around that kind of compromise. So difficult to find a good, safe church.
The early Church herself, teaches us how to determine the true Church from the heretical ones: "It is incumbent to obey the presbyters who are in the Church-those who, as I have shown, possess the succession from the apostles; those who, together with the succession of the episcopate, have received the infallible charism of truth, according to the good pleasure of the Father. But [it is also incumbent] to hold in suspicion others who depart from the primitive succession, and assemble themselves together in any place whatsoever, either as heretics of perverse minds, or as schismatics puffed up and self-pleasing, or again as hypocrites, acting thus for the sake of lucre and vainglory. For all these have fallen from the truth". - Irenaeus of Lyons (a disciple of Polycarp of Smyrna), Against Heresies, 4:26:2, 180 AD
5:37 That's kind of wild. Many Protestants struggle with accepting this now a days. Most will take the comfortable route and just wave off differences between Churches. Being uncompromising with doctrinal differences is what actually brought me to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Lord have mercy on us all.
Its pretty simple: Christ established an institutional church in matthew 16:18 and he said the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. In 1 timothy 3:15 this church is called the pillar and ground of all truth. In 100 AD St. Ignatius of Antioch (a direct successor to the apostles) says "where there is the bishop, there is the universal church". St. Justin Martyr, in the same time period, tells us to beware of heretics for they abstain from the eucharist since they do not profess that it is truly the flesh and blood of our savior and not mere bread and wine. About 200 years later this one holy catholic and apostolic church compiles and canonized the holy bible and dogmatically defines the faith in the form of the nicene-constanopolitan creed. This one single united church existed until 1054 when the western and eastern churches split because the western church asserted it had universal temporal authority over the entire church and could change the dogmatically and eccumenically created creed at will outside of an eccumenical council of bishops. 500 years later martin luther invents his own laughably stupid theology of sola fide (explicitly refuted in james 2:24) and sola scriptura (explicitly refuted by 1 timothy 3:15), he removes about 10% of the old testament, gets himself thrown out of the western church for heresy, and inspires a revolt. 100 years after that some british moron comes along and says baptism is just a joke like thing that we do because we want to, i guess, (explicitly refuted by acts 2:38, 1 peter 3:21 which tells us baptism forgives sins and saves us), and that the eucharist is actually just some crackers and grape juice and jesus was definitely just joking when he said truly truly i say to you my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink and when hundreds of followers walked away to eternal damnation because they took him seriously because it was blatantly obviously not a metaphor he just let them do that even though he was joking because he hates them i guess.. So where is the true church?? It never left. It was founded by christ in 33 AD, it didn't make a power grab in 1054, and it certainly didn't need reform in 1517. Christ's church can not die. It has always existed, it will always exist, and it is the place of valid sacraments. To be separated from this church is to be separate from christ's body. While you can love him separately, you cant be united to him. Christ says if you eat my flesh and drink my blood you'll be saved, if you don't do this you will be damned. So where do we find the only valid sacrament of the eucharist? the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church founded by christ: The Holy Orthodox Church.
Thank you brother I really got the solution for the problem I m looking for will subscribe your channel and look for more videos about the doctrine, theology and many things
I live in Northern England. I started to attend a nearby church but then left because they focus a lot on tithing and healing and speaking in tongues. They do believe the the spiritual gifts that the apostles had are available to us today. They're also in favor of female pastors. On top of that, the girls who attend their youth ministry and the women who attend the main services dress very inappropriately.
This is great Costi, thank you brother. You and others like you in the ministry helped my family and I come out of the WOF movement 3 years ago. Loved your book God Greed and the Prosperity Gospel! In regards to your video, I would add that we should also look for a church that practices church discipline in a Biblical, healthy manner. We’ve found a true gem in our local PCA church. Expository preaching, strong focus on small groups and discipleship and community, complimentarianism, and practicing church discipline. I praise God for His goodness to us!
Thank you, Costi. There are so many areas without good, solid Biblical churches that Christians are struggling to find one. I live in area where most churches rely on pragmatism rather than the gospel. I pray that solid churches will be planted in cities where it is a dry and barren spiritual land.
What about churches who don’t want to see Romans 11 for the difference in Israel and the church. This is important because God is not finished with Israel the nation but most reformed pastors will deny Romans 11 and say that the church has replaced Israel
Awesome word. Thank you Costi 😊 We moved almost 3 years ago to a church similar to what you are describing and it is so amazing. Our twin girls have grown in Jesus and have just graduated grade 12 and are off to Bible college We have grown also. We have an amazing lead pastor and an awesome youth pastor, both on the same goals preach the Jesus of the Bible and share the Gospel. Glory to God 😊 Blessings
My son and I are having a difficult time finding a church, it seems that churches today allow women to teach coed Bible studies . This clearly violates scripture according to 1Timothy 2-11-13. Is anyone else experiencing this issue? We bring it up to the pastor but he doesn’t seem to care, which is well quite discerning. The woman don’t mind teaching the studies either .
I am on a journey to find a solid church as you have pointed out. At 52, after a lifetime in the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada organization, and a year of Bible college at a Pentecostal Bible college here in Ontario, I have found myself exiting this denomination. It has been challenging. I found a Reformed fairly solid doctrine church but they are still singing music from the Charismatic movement and this past Sunday the pastor told us from the pulpit he stands with Alistair Begg and has counselled many to attend gay "weddings". I just can't do it or be around that kind of compromise. So difficult to find a good, safe church.
I'm in a church wilderness season! Please pray for me!
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I have. Question, I just started going to a new church and they don’t offer Bible studies. Is this an issue?
Orthodox is the only true church founded by God himself.
See if they cancel church when it’s on Christmas Day.
The early Church herself, teaches us how to determine the true Church from the heretical ones:
"It is incumbent to obey the presbyters who are in the Church-those who, as I have shown, possess the succession from the apostles; those who, together with the succession of the episcopate, have received the infallible charism of truth, according to the good pleasure of the Father. But [it is also incumbent] to hold in suspicion others who depart from the primitive succession, and assemble themselves together in any place whatsoever, either as heretics of perverse minds, or as schismatics puffed up and self-pleasing, or again as hypocrites, acting thus for the sake of lucre and vainglory. For all these have fallen from the truth".
- Irenaeus of Lyons (a disciple of Polycarp of Smyrna), Against Heresies, 4:26:2, 180 AD
th-cam.com/video/U7JfrKih9d4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=arvYBj96ZUAnjkh3
th-cam.com/video/feHDHYcrxDI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=EeO6lfOGXBu-mMbx
5:37 That's kind of wild. Many Protestants struggle with accepting this now a days. Most will take the comfortable route and just wave off differences between Churches. Being uncompromising with doctrinal differences is what actually brought me to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Lord have mercy on us all.
Wish I could move to Arizona and be apart of Costi’s church
What city/state do you live in
I wish I could see him preach in person only not have to live in Arizona lol. It’s too hot for our liking.
It’s the same as any other church.
That awkward moment when your church doesn't do any of the 6 points...
Its pretty simple:
Christ established an institutional church in matthew 16:18 and he said the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. In 1 timothy 3:15 this church is called the pillar and ground of all truth.
In 100 AD St. Ignatius of Antioch (a direct successor to the apostles) says "where there is the bishop, there is the universal church".
St. Justin Martyr, in the same time period, tells us to beware of heretics for they abstain from the eucharist since they do not profess that it is truly the flesh and blood of our savior and not mere bread and wine.
About 200 years later this one holy catholic and apostolic church compiles and canonized the holy bible and dogmatically defines the faith in the form of the nicene-constanopolitan creed.
This one single united church existed until 1054 when the western and eastern churches split because the western church asserted it had universal temporal authority over the entire church and could change the dogmatically and eccumenically created creed at will outside of an eccumenical council of bishops.
500 years later martin luther invents his own laughably stupid theology of sola fide (explicitly refuted in james 2:24) and sola scriptura (explicitly refuted by 1 timothy 3:15), he removes about 10% of the old testament, gets himself thrown out of the western church for heresy, and inspires a revolt.
100 years after that some british moron comes along and says baptism is just a joke like thing that we do because we want to, i guess, (explicitly refuted by acts 2:38, 1 peter 3:21 which tells us baptism forgives sins and saves us), and that the eucharist is actually just some crackers and grape juice and jesus was definitely just joking when he said truly truly i say to you my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink and when hundreds of followers walked away to eternal damnation because they took him seriously because it was blatantly obviously not a metaphor he just let them do that even though he was joking because he hates them i guess..
So where is the true church?? It never left. It was founded by christ in 33 AD, it didn't make a power grab in 1054, and it certainly didn't need reform in 1517. Christ's church can not die. It has always existed, it will always exist, and it is the place of valid sacraments. To be separated from this church is to be separate from christ's body. While you can love him separately, you cant be united to him. Christ says if you eat my flesh and drink my blood you'll be saved, if you don't do this you will be damned. So where do we find the only valid sacrament of the eucharist? the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church founded by christ: The Holy Orthodox Church.
Thank you brother I really got the solution for the problem I m looking for will subscribe your channel and look for more videos about the doctrine, theology and many things
I live in Northern England. I started to attend a nearby church but then left because they focus a lot on tithing and healing and speaking in tongues. They do believe the the spiritual gifts that the apostles had are available to us today. They're also in favor of female pastors. On top of that, the girls who attend their youth ministry and the women who attend the main services dress very inappropriately.
Equating Roman Catholics to Mormons and Muslims 😂 bro c’mon now
How about Mathew 16? Its all there in a nutshell. The perfect Church of Christ!
How about. Church that speaks in tounges?? Or how often they take communion?
If I found a perfect Church group and joined - it would no longer be perfect!
This is great Costi, thank you brother. You and others like you in the ministry helped my family and I come out of the WOF movement 3 years ago. Loved your book God Greed and the Prosperity Gospel!
In regards to your video, I would add that we should also look for a church that practices church discipline in a Biblical, healthy manner.
We’ve found a true gem in our local PCA church. Expository preaching, strong focus on small groups and discipleship and community, complimentarianism, and practicing church discipline. I praise God for His goodness to us!
Thank you, Costi. There are so many areas without good, solid Biblical churches that Christians are struggling to find one. I live in area where most churches rely on pragmatism rather than the gospel. I pray that solid churches will be planted in cities where it is a dry and barren spiritual land.
SO SO Dry and Barren!!!!😔😔
Try house Churches
th-cam.com/video/U7JfrKih9d4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=arvYBj96ZUAnjkh3
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What about churches who don’t want to see Romans 11 for the difference in Israel and the church. This is important because God is not finished with Israel the nation but most reformed pastors will deny Romans 11 and say that the church has replaced Israel
That's a great point Carly! And I agree 100% God is not finished with Israel and no way does the church replace Israel. God bless you.
venson555 on youtube - the church was resurrected in Matthew 27:52 fulfilling Luke 2:34. They all deny the Redeemer of Israel 2Peter.2:1
This is so helpful. Thank you Pastor Hinn.
Hi Costi, what are your toughts on female deacons?
Moving to Calgary next month , I appreciate any recommendation , I have no idea about what I will find there and I have to find a new church
Should Arminianism vs Reformed Theology be a deviding line?
Amen!!! Thank you Brother!
On the search for a church like this.
I’m. In good church that.
Love it, thank you!
Awesome word.
Thank you Costi 😊
We moved almost 3 years ago to a church similar to what you are describing and it is so amazing.
Our twin girls have grown in Jesus and have just graduated grade 12 and are off to Bible college
We have grown also.
We have an amazing lead pastor and an awesome youth pastor, both on the same goals preach the Jesus of the Bible and share the Gospel.
Glory to God 😊
Blessings
PS.
We drive 1 hr to this church. Great times of fellowship on the way with our girls.
What do you think of a church that rents a room Sunday to worship at a Seventh Day Adventist church?
That’s literally mine too😦
My son and I are having a difficult time finding a church, it seems that churches today allow women to teach coed Bible studies . This clearly violates scripture according to 1Timothy 2-11-13. Is anyone else experiencing this issue? We bring it up to the pastor but he doesn’t seem to care, which is well quite discerning. The woman don’t mind teaching the studies either .
There is neither Jew nor Greek, male or female - all one in Christ.
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This is so true! Amen.