In the recent emails of Mr. Rico Morales to me, he’s telling me that his interpretation of the scriptures is the correct one because according to him his church is the true church of Christ and has the authority over the Holy Scriptures.

For several weeks already, Mr. Morales and I were discussing about the interpretation regarding the rock foundation of the church of Christ, as recorded in Matthew 16:18. Since he’s claiming the authority to interpret the scriptures, Mr. Morales seems telling me that his interpretation that Peter is the rock foundation of the church of Christ is the correct one.

Well, I will accept what ever interpretation he has as long as it is in accordance to the teachings of the real Apostles. But I will simply reject his interpretation if it goes against the teachings of the Apostles. His interpretation should be in accordance with the teachings of the Apostles recorded on the Holy scriptures because there’s no question regarding the authority of the Apostles for they directly received the teachings from Christ and the church where the Apostles were members was (no question) the true church of Christ.

Actually, I really want to believe that Mr. Morales’ interpretation is correct based on the truth recorded on the scriptures. But I still need to compare his interpretation to the teachings of Apostle Peter and Apostle Paul who were the true Apostles of Christ, to make sure that the interpretation that I have to accept is the correct one based on the truth.

Back to the Matthew 16:18, the verse has these texts:

18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (NIV)

And as I already mentioned on my previous posts, the correct interpretation of the words “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church…” according to Mr. Rico Morales is that Peter is the rock foundation of the church of Christ because his name “Peter” means rock or stone.

In order to verify this interpretation if it is really the truth taught by Apostle Peter and Apostle Paul. We need to ask them about it.

First, let’s ask Apostle Peter: Is it really true that the rock foundation of the church of Christ is you (Peter)?

Well, Apostle Peter is already dead many centuries ago, however his writings which is preserved up to this days will give us answer on that question. And this is what his answer is:

“6For in Scripture it says:
1See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.’ 7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone,’” (I Peter 2:6-7, NIV)

Apostle Peter on this part of his writings was referring Christ as the cornerstone not Peter himself. However, Mr. Morales argued that he’s not denying the truth that Christ is the cornerstone of His church, but he’s telling me that Peter is the foundation of it.

Now, let us ask Apostle Paul if Mr. Rico Morales’ claims that Christ is the cornerstone of the church while Peter is the foundation of the church, is correct based on the truth. Is it really true that Peter is the foundation of the church of Christ while Christ is the cornerstone of it?

Okay. Apostle Paul like Apostle Peter is already dead for many centuries already. However, part of his writings can answer our question. This is what we can read in Ephesians 2:19-21:

19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:19-21, NIV)

Apostle Paul was talking here about those who became members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and it was also mentioned that Christ as the chief cornerstone. From this, it is already clear that the church of Christ is really built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets who is Christ the chief cornerstone.

However, Mr. Rico Morales who is very intelligent in earthly wisdom might argue (I am not saying that he will really use this argument but who knows) by saying that on that part of the writing of the Apostle Paul, it’s clear that the foundation of the church are the apostles and prophets while Christ is the chief cornerstone.

Actually, Mr. Rico Morales argued to me already that cornerstone is different to foundation. For him, Christ is the cornerstone, while Peter is the foundation of the church.

So, to clarify this, let’s ask again the Apostle Paul: is it the apostles and the prophets who are the foundation of the church while Christ is the chief cornerstone? And this is what we can find in Apostle Paul writings, I Corinthians 3:11:

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (NIV)

Here, Apostle Paul clarified the truth about the foundation of the church. The only foundation is Jesus Christ who is the cornerstone. So, there’s no place for Peter to be the foundation of the church of Christ because there’s no other foundation that can be laid except the one already laid who is Christ.

Mr. Rico Morales against the Apostles

Now, my doubts about the authority of Mr. Rico Morales (and his church) just like what he’s claiming about has been clarified already. The contradiction of his interpretation to the teachings of Apostle Peter and Apostle Paul proves that he has no authority to interpret the scriptures.

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