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Iglesia Ni Cristo

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The Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) is an independent Christian religion whose primary purpose is to worship the Almighty god based on His teachings as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ and as recorded in the Bible. It is not a denomination or sect. It is neither affiliated to any federation of religious bodies nor itself an assembly of smaller religious organizations.

To date, the Iglesia ni Cristo membership comprises 108 nationalities. It maintains about 5,400 congregations and missions grouped into 107 ecclesiastical districts in the Philippines and in 92 other countries and territories in the six inhabited continents of the world.

Everyone who will heed the call of God and embrace its faith is welcome to the join the Iglesia ni Cristo regardless of his or her nationality, cultural background, social standing, economic status, and educational attainment.

Iglesia ni Cristo Vision

A “radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:27, New International Version) and whose members are bound by perfect unity of faith and practice, devoted to a life of holiness and service founded on true Christian teaching.

Iglesia ni Cristo Mission

1.) To share the gospel of salvation to all people, by heeding Christ’s call to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:15-16 New King James Version).

To carry this out, the members gladly share their faith to everyone at all opportune time. They invite people to attend Bible study sessions and worship services. The Church (Iglesia Ni Cristo) also uses mass media in spreading its message of hope to a brader audience.

The Pasugo: God’s Message, the monthly official magazine of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, carries mainly religious articles and church news and features.

DZEM (954 kHz) broadcasts programs that discuss Bible teachignsl. These programs are aired by about 60 other radio stations all over the Philippines and several more in the US and Australia.

It produces television programs featuring biblical teachings that are aired over GEM TV-49, as well as major cable stations in the Philippines and some channels in the US. Video clips of these are also accessible in the Internet through GEMTV’s website, www.gemnet.tv.

2.) To edify the faith of its members through constant and effective religious instructions, “admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom … [to] present everyone perfect in Christ” (Colossians 1:28, NIV)

For the spiritual welfare of the members, worship services are held in Wednesdays and/or Thursdays and Saturdays and/or Sundays by every local congregation inside the house of worship. This solemn gathering of the faithful consists of hymn singing, prayers, and study of God’s words for proper applications in daily living.

Prayer meetings are also held weekly by each group of neighboring households for further instructions in the faith and announcements about the Iglesia Ni Cristo undertakings.

Pastoral visitations to the brethren are conducted regularly by the Church officers for prayer and spiritual counseling.

Through its Christian family organizations (Buklod, KADIWA, and Binhi) the Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) undertakes programs to strengthen the family, to guide the single members in right living and in proper conduct, and to assist the youth in their studies. The Buklod (bond) is the organization of married members. The KADIWA (acronum of a Filipino phrase meaning “Youth with a Noble Intent”) is for the single members 18 years and older, and the Binhi (seed) is composed of 13 to 17-year old members.

What the Iglesia ni Cristo believe in?

Bible as the Basis of Faith.

The Iglesia ni Cristo regards the Holy Scriptures as the sole basis of its faith and practice. Some of its fundamental scriptural teachings are as follows:

  1. Absolute oneness of God the Father. The Church believes in the teaching of Christ and the apostles that the Father, the Creator, alone is the true God. (John 17:1,3; I Cor. 8:6)
  2. Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The Iglesia ni Cristo believes in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. God made Him Lord and Savior. He is the only Mediator of man to God. Jesus Christ is holy and a very special man but not God. (Matt 3:17; Acts 2:36; 5:31; I Tim. 2:5; John 10:36; 8:40; Acts 2:22, Easy-to-Read Version)
  3. The Church of Christ. The faithful firmly believe that the Church of Christ is the one Christ established for the salvation of mankind. It is for the Church that Christ gave His life and thus, it is this Church that He will save on Judgment Day. (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation; Eph. 5:23, 25)
  4. Judgment Day. The Church of Christ believes that God appointed a day when He will judge all people through Christ. This is the day of the Second Advent of Christ, which is also the end of the world. (Acts 17:31; Jude: 1:14-15; II Pet. 3:7, 10)
  5. Baptism. The Iglesia ni Cristo observes the biblical way of baptism, which is immersion in water. Receiving baptism in the Church of Christ is necessary for one to become a disciple of Christ, to be forgiven of sin, and to have hope for salvation. (Acts 8:38; John 3:23; Rom. 6:3-5; Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15-16)
  6. Resurrection. The resurrection of Christ is the main proof that the dead will rise. Those in Christ will rise first to be with Him forever in the Holy City. Those who are not of Christ will rise a thousand years after the first resurrection to be cast into the lake of fire. (I Cor. 15:12-13; I Thess. 4:16-17; Rev. 20:5-10; 21:1-4)

Unity

The Church of Christ is one in faith and practice. Its unity remains intact through a centralized form of administration that ensures the adherence of all members and congregations to the same Bible teachings and Church rules.

Morality and Holiness

The Iglesia ni Cristo strives to maintain a high moral standard. It regards the teaching of the bible as a way of life. It promotes purity of life among its members by means of instructions, reminders, and, when necessary, corrective or disciplinary measures.

Peace and Order

The Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) helps maintain peace and order by teaching its members to respect and observe rules and regulations governing such. They are dissuaded from joining unions and organizations that resort to violence or extra-legal means to advance their causes.

Lawfulness and Discipline

The Church puts a premium on lawfulness and discipline. It complies with the apostolic teaching to submit to human authority, that is, the duly constituted government, and abide by its laws (Titus 3:1; I Pet. 2:13). But over and above any law, its members obey the laws of God for christens in our time as written in the Bible.

Brotherhood and Equality of Members

The Iglesia ni Cristo promotes Christian brotherly love. All members are deemed equal in the sight of God (Gal. 3:26, 28). Gender, racial, social, educational, and economic discriminations are strongly discouraged.

Sanctity of Marriage

Marriage in the Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) is regarded as sacred and inviolable. It is God Himself who instituted marriage and He does not allow the separation of the husband and the wife whom He joined together (Matt. 19:4-6). Thus, the Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) does not subscribe to divorce, annulment, or legal separation as a solution to marital problems in the same way that it opposes live-in relationships and same-sex marriage.

Stability of the Family

The Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) acknowledges the importance of family as the basic unit of its organization and of society as a whole. The stability of every family contributes to the stability of the entire Church. The home is where religious education begins so Christian parenting and proper love of children are taught and reinforced at every opportune time.

Separation of Church and State

The Church of Christ (Iglesia Ni Cristo) upholds the democratic ideal of separation of Church and State. It advances through peaceful and legal means the right and freedom of its members and congregations to conduct worship and other religious activities as provided for and protected by the fundamental law of the land.

The Beginnings

Established in the Philippines on July 27, 1914, the Iglesia ni Cristo started with the late Brother Felix Y. Manalo who first preached its biblical message of salvation in the corners of Manila. The Church easily gained a following that, in the next couple of years, spread from within the nation’s capital to its neighboring provinces and regions.

By 1939, the Church had already expanded to as far as Ilocos Norte province in Northern Luzon and to the Cebu province in the Visayas with the addition of 14 districts. It reached farther south in Mindanao in 1946 with the establishment of a district in Cotabato. When its first Executive Minister, Brother Felix Manalo, passed away in April 1963, the Church had established districts in more than half of all the provinces in this Far Eastern archipelago.

The Expansion

On its 54th anniversary, the Iglesia Ni Cristo, then led by its second Executive minister, the late Brother Eraño G. Manalo, successively established the first two congregations outside the Philippines – Honolulu, Hawaii and San Francisco, California in the USA. Thus began the Church’s expansion in the West and around the world.

From the late 1960’s through out the ‘70s, the Iglesia ni Cristo had begun to permeate the continents of North America (establishing congregations and missions in other American states and territories, such as New York and Guam in 1969, and Canada in 1971); Europe (first in England in 1972 and followed by Germany, Switzerland, and later, Spain); Australia, mid-‘70s; Asia (China by way of Hong Kong, Japan through Tokyo, Thailand); and Africa (Nigeria and South Africa in 1978).

As more congregations arose across the globe, the US Main Office was set up in Daly City, California in June 1987, to assist the Central Administration in supervising the growing presence of the Church in the West. By the end of the ‘80s, congregations and missions have been formed in the Scandinavian countries and their neighbors.

The first congregation in Latin America was established in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 1990. The following year, the Iglesia Ni Cristo reached Mexico and Aruba.

A milestone in the Iglesia ni Cristo’s global expansion was the establishment of its congregations in world cities that are of great relevance to the history of Christianity – Rome, Italy on July 27, 1994; Jerusalem, Israel in March 1996; and Athens, Greece in May 1997. The predecessors (prayer groups) of these full-fledged congregations began two decades earlier.

From 2000 to Present

At the dawn of the new millennium, the Church’s mission penetrated South America, with the establishment of group worship services in Brazil and Peru. Even in minor island nations and territories throughout the Pacific and in the Middle East, Iglesia ni Cristo members abound at present. Ditto in South Asian countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and many others.

Now moving on to its centennial year in 2014, the Iglesia ni Cristo is blessed with sustained growth and progress. As membership keeps on growing, more ministers, evangelical workers, and Church officers are put in place. Through its district offices scattered around the world and its main offices in the US and in Europe, the brethren’s spiritual concerns are properly coordinated and attended to by its central administration led by its present Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo.

The unity of faith is kept. The mission of salvation lives on.

Note: This is copied from the pamphlet published by the Iglesia Ni Cristo.

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Iglesia Ni Cristo, 95th Anniversary

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Laplana Family

My wife Junith, our son CJ and I want to greet all the brethren in the Church of Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo) a…

Happy 95th Anniversary!!! Glory be to God!!!

Did you know the truth about Salvation?

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What is truth?

17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17, NIV)

If the words of God is the truth, then what is the word of God with regards to this world?

31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31, NIV)

What’s the proof that the dayof judgment will really happen?

27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, (Hebrews 9:27, NIV)

Is there anyone who knows about the day and hour of judgment?

36″No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[a] but only the Father. (Matthew 24:36, NIV)

If now one knows about it, then we should be prepared for it. But how we prepare ourselves for the coming of the judgment day?

14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. (2 Peter 3:14, NIV)

Where can we find the peace of God which is important in preparing ourselves for the coming of the judgment day?

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. (Colossians 3:15, NKJV)

If we can find the peace of God in one body where those who are preparing themselves for the judgment day found, what is this body?

And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18, NKJV)

What do you call the members of the body of Christ, the church?

Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you. (Romans 16:16, NKJV)

What is the name of the church of which its members are called “churches of Christ”?

Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood. (Acts 20:28, Lamsa)

The Start of the Existence of the False Prophets


Short Review about the False Prophets and their followers

From our recent studies, we learned that Christ gave us the description of the false prophets so that we can identify them. The false prophets according to Christ wear the clothing similar to his clothing when he was still here on earth, and they teach their followers the teachings of demons. These two descriptions of the false prophets are all found in the Catholic Priests. The Catholic Priests wear the clothing of Christ and they also upheld the teachings of demons which are (1) Forbidding to Marry; and (2) commanding to abstain from eating meat. (see the article, “The False Prophets”)

We also learned that members of the Catholic Church who are called Catholics are the people who are deceived by the false prophets because the description given by the Bible of the people deceived by the false prophets is found in the Catholics. According to the Bible, the people deceived by the false prophets received the mark on their forehead. This is true to Catholics because they received the mark of the cross on their forehead during the baptism, confirmation, anointing of the sick, and every year during the Ash Wednesday. (see the article, “The Followers of the False Prophets”)

And on the recent article, we learned that the description of the Second Beast mentioned in Revelation 13:11 are all found in the Catholic Pope. The Second Beast is said to have two horns which means power or authority, looks like the lamb, and speaks like the dragon. These descriptions are true to the Catholic Pope because he has two power or authority as head of the state and head of the church; he also looks like the lamb or Christ because he is wearing the clothing of Christ and the position of the Pope to the Catholic Church is similar to the position of Christ to the Church of Christ; and then he also speaks like the dragon or devil or demon because he teaches the teachings of demon that the Catholics and Priests upheld. (see the article, “The Second Beast, The False Prophet”)

The Time the False Prophets started to Exist

Now, that we already identified who are the false prophets that are said to be wearing the clothing of Christ but inwardly are ravenous wolves, and they are the Catholic Priests including the Pope, then we already know that they already existed not just these recent centuries but for a long time already. What is the particular time that these false prophets started to exist?

In book of Acts of the Apostles, this is what has been written:

29 “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. (Acts 20:29, NKJV)

Apostle Paul said that after his departure savage wolves will come in to the flock. But what does Apostle Paul mean when he mentioned “his departure”? To understand this, let us consider these verses:

25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of god, will see my face no more.

37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,

38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship. (Acts 20:25, 37-38, NKJV)

When Apostle Paul bid farewell to his brethren in the Church of Christ, the brethren wept and became sorrow. The mentioned departure that Apostle Paul was talking about is a kind of departure that his brethren will see his face no more. In his letter to Timothy, Apostle Paul clarified it:

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. (II Timothy 4:6-8, NKJV)

The said departure is Apostle Paul’s death, because he mentioned the race which had finished already and that he was expecting of the crown of righteousness that the Lord will give him on the day of Salvation.

Since, Apostle Paul revealed that the ravenous wolves will come in to the Church of Christ after his departure, and then the said departure is his own death, therefore, the ravenous wolves will come in to the Church of Christ after the death of Apostle Paul.

Who are the ravenous wolves that Apostle Paul was referring to in Acts 20:29? Apostle Paul was Christ’s Apostle. In other words, the teachings of Apostle Paul were the teachings of Christ. So according to Christ, who are the ravenous wolves? This is what Christ said about the ravenous wolves:

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 “Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew 7:15-20, NKJV)

According to Christ, the ravenous wolves are the false prophets who are wearing the sheep’s clothing. And we already know from our previous studies that the false prophets referred to are the Catholic Priests; therefore, the Catholic Priests started to exist after the death of the Apostles.

So, no wonder why the Catholic Church, the church of the Catholic Priests is already old and it seems that it is the oldest church that exists. Now it is clear that the Catholic Church started to exist just after the death of the Apostles.

The Catholic Church’ existence

Lots of people are deceived by the Catholic Priests and they are made to believe that the Catholic Church is the church built by Christ. The Catholic Priests used the age of the Catholic Church as proof in deceiving the people to believe about the said doctrine. These people are lazy enough to examine the Bible if the Catholic Church is really the church built by Christ.

Why should we examine the Bible to verify the genuineness of the Catholic Church? It is because, the Bible contains the writings of the true members of the first century Church of Christ which talked about the true first century church built by Christ.

Since the Catholic Priests claim that the Catholic Church is the first century church built by Christ, then we should ask this: is the Bible testifying about it? No! If we will examine the Bible, Christ built his own church not the Roman Catholic Church. And we couldn’t read any verse of the Bible that would point us to the Catholic Church as the first century Church of Christ. And the Catholic Church couldn’t give us any proof that it is indeed the church built by Christ. The only thing that the Catholic Church can give us to back up his claim is its age.

But now that we already know why the Catholic Church seems the oldest church that exists today then we can’t be deceived by the Catholic Priests just like what happened to the Catholics.

And it is clear to us that the time when the Catholic Priests (the False Prophets) started to exist seems to be the time the Catholic Church started to exist. That time was just after the death of the Apostles.

Our next topic

On our next article, we will examine the Bible about the truth on who would become the first members of the Catholic Church.

Mr. Morales is not Part of the Body of Christ


On my previous article, I presented to you how Mr. Morales rejected the teaching of the Apostle Paul because for him Apostle Paul was not the witness when Christ had spoken the words in Matthew 16:18, and also for him Apostle Paul’s teaching is not reliable.

Mr. Morales failed to realize that the teachings of the Apostle Paul are the teachings of Christ, because it’s Christ himself who called Saul (Paul) to become one of the apostles.

1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5″Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6″Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:1-6, NIV)

Mr. Morales chooses to believe his own interpretation of Matthew 16:18 even if it contradicted the teaching of the Apostle Paul. For Mr. Morales, the rock foundation of the church of Christ mentioned in Matthew 16:18 is Peter, but Apostle Paul clearly taught that there is no other foundation other than Christ as stated in I Corinthians 3:11.

Head of the Church

Whom should we believe, Mr. Morales’ own interpretation of the Matthew 16:18, or the teachings of the Apostle Paul about the rock foundation?

Well, as member of the church of Christ, I should believe in the teachings of the Apostle Paul because Apostle Paul is part of the church of Christ.

27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. (I Corinthians 12:27-28, NIV)

The church where Apostle Paul had been appointed is the body of Christ and Christ is the head of it.

18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Colossians 1:18, NIV)

Now, since Christ is the head of the church, and then Apostle Paul is part of the church of which Christ is the head, therefore, Apostle Paul’s teachings are the teachings of Christ. There’s nothing to doubt in Apostle Paul’s teachings. That’s the reason why Apostle Peter defended the writings of the Apostle Paul and warned the members of the church of Christ about the ignorant and unstable people who distorted the writings of the Apostle Paul, even to the other scriptures.

16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. (II Peter 3:16, NIV)

Now, why is it that Mr. Morales’ belief about the rock foundation of the church is different from the teachings of the Apostle Paul?

Well, if you’ll reflect on the position of Christ to his own church, wherein Christ is the head and the church is Christ’s body, you’ll realize that what the church of Christ upheld is actually the things taught by the head who is Christ. Remember that the body always follows the will of the head.

Apostle Paul upheld the teaching that there is no other foundation of the church other than Christ. Apostle Paul is part of the church of Christ or the body of Christ. In other words, the teaching that there is no other foundation of the church other than Christ is the teaching of Christ who is the head of the church.

Since Mr. Morales’ belief about the foundation of the church is too different from the teaching that there is no other foundation of the church other than Christ, then it is clear that Mr. Morales’ is not part of the body of Christ.

And we are sure about it because he is part of the body of which its head is not Christ but the Pope.

Teachings of Demons

Another proof that Mr. Morales is not really part of the body of Christ is the teachings that he is upholding. These teachings are: (1) forbidding to marry; (2) abstaining from eating meat.

What is the truth about these teachings? Apostle Paul clearly taught that these teachings are the teachings of demons:

1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. (I Timothy 4:1-3, NIV)

Now, if Mr. Morales is really part of the body of Christ then why is he upholding the teachings that are not of Christ but of the enemy of Christ, the demons?

Come Out from her and Enter Christ

Is there anything that Mr. Morales can do so that he can reject the teachings of demons?

Well, of course there is and this is what is written:

4Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
“Come out of her, my people,
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any of her plagues; (Revelation 18, 4, NIV)

Mr. Morales should come out from the church of the Pope that upheld the teachings of demons. Then what should he do next? Christ said:

9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:9, NIV)

Christ told everyone who wants to be saved to enter himself. And those who enter Christ really became part of the body of Christ, and therefore, they are now following the teachings of Christ.

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The Wisdom of God on the Rock Foundation


Mr. Morales didn’t react on my presentations on how he slapped his own face by calling other people idiot when in fact he wrote erroneous English statements, and erroneously understands English statements. However, his erroneous English statements are still present on his recent email sent to me.

Although he’s not calling anymore other people idiot, but then he again tried to call the Apostle Paul liar by telling me not to believe Apostle Paul’s teachings about the foundation of the church of Christ just because Apostle Paul didn’t witness the incident when Christ spoke the words in Matthew 16:18.

Do not pick up St. Paul’s letter as he was not present during the proclamation of St. Peter, Mat. 16:18-19. (excerpt from Mr. Morales email dated August 24, 2008)

Apostle Paul’s Authority

Is it really true that what Apostle Paul wrote on his letters were not reliable just because he became member of the church of Christ after Christ ascended to heaven and that he didn’t witness the incident when Christ has spoken the words recorded in Matthew 16:18?

The answer is written by Apostle Paul himself in I Corinthians 2:12:

12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. (I Corinthians 2:12-13, NIV)

According to Apostle Paul, what he was teaching is the words taught by the Spirit, or it is based on the wisdom from God, and not based on the human wisdom.

While Mr. Morales discredit Apostle Paul, Apostle Peter on the other hand respected, honored and defended the teachings of Apostle Paul by telling the members of the church of Christ that there were people who distorted the teachings of Apostle Paul. Apostle Peter called those people ignorant and unstable:

16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. (II Peter 3:16, NIV)

It seems that Mr. Morales is one of those people whom Apostle Peter talked about. So, let’s not wonder if he’s thinking that Apostle Paul’�s teaching is not that reliable, because in the first place, he’s not aware that the teaching of Apostle Paul about the rock foundation (Romans 9:32-33) is in harmony to the teachings of Christ (Matthew 21:42) and of the Apostle Peter (I Peter 2:4-8).

Proof that Peter couldn’t be the foundation

I already presented on my old posts that Peter is not the rock of which the church of Christ would be built as it was written in Matthew 16:18. He objected on this truth and insisted that Peter is the rock foundation of the church even if his claim contradicted the teachings of the Apostle Paul about the rock foundation of the church of Christ

So now, he challenged me to quote a verse that tells us that Christ did not lay Peter as the foundation of the church of Christ.

Well, I already presented lots of verses that proved that Peter had not been laid as the foundation of the church of Christ. Since Mr. Morales couldn’t get those verses, so we’ll let him compile the verses included on this article.

Here’re the facts why Apostle Peter was not really laid as the foundation of the church of Christ.

(1) There is no other foundation other than Christ.

Apostle Paul, taught that no one can lay any foundation other than Christ who was laid already.

11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 11:3, NIV)

I wonder if Mr. Morales understand this verse, when in fact it is clear and simple to understand.

Now, if there can be no other foundation except Christ, then it is clear that Peter could not be the foundation of the church of Christ because he was not Christ.

And Mr. Morales couldn’t lay any other foundation because it was said that there will be no foundation other than Christ.

(2) Apostles are placed inside the church of Christ not with in the Foundation

Apostle Paul taught that inside the church of Christ, God appointed the apostles.

28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. (I Corinthians 12:28, NIV, emphasis mine)

We should take note that the apostles are inside the church of Christ not outside the church. And then the church of Christ is likened to a building or house.

19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, (Ephesians 2:19, NIV)

Now, if the apostles are parts of and inside the church of Christ, then they are components of the building. But we should not forget that the building and the foundations are two different things. Since the apostles are component or parts of the building, in other words they are not the foundation.

That’s why in Ephesians 2:20, Apostle Paul clarified that the house is built on Christ who is also the foundation of the apostles and prophets.

3. Christ is the cornerstone or foundation, members of the church are stones built into a house or building.

Apostle Peter’s own teachings specified two kinds of stones. The first stone is Christ which served as the cornerstone or foundation. The second kind of stones is the members of the church of Christ. These stones are built into a house or building.

4As you come to him, the living Stone rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For in Scripture it says:
“See, 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,” 8and,
“A stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message which is also what they were destined for. (I Peter 2:4-8, NIV)

It is clear from this teaching of Apostle Peter that there are only two kinds of stones: First is a stone used as foundation; Second is the stones used to build up the house. Since Peter was appointed inside the church of Christ, then he’s one of the stones built into a house. The foundation of it is Christ.

But Mr. Morales couldn’t accept this truth because he wanted to pull out Apostle Peter from the church of Christ and replace Christ on his position as the foundation of the church.

And we all know that a house built in a wrong foundation will end up into a mess:

49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:49, NIV)

There’s no wonder why until now, Mr. Morales is upholding the teachings of demons:

1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (I Timothy 4:1, NIV)

These teachings of demons are (1) forbidding to marry; (2) abstaining from eating meat:

2Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. (I Timothy 4:2-3, NIV)

And we are not wondering if Mr. Morales is worshiping and serving the created ones, instead of the creator:

20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised. Amen. (Romans 1:20-25, NIV)

These are all because he’s part of the church built on a wrong foundation.

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Ignorant Distort the Scriptures


The content of this articles:

  1. The Ignorant
  2. Ephesians 2:20
  3. Apostle Paul, the Foundation?

The Ignorant

When Apostle Peter was still alive, he reminded the members of the church of Christ about the ignorant people who distort not only the writings of Apostle Paul but also the other scriptures.

15Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. (II Peter 3:15-16, NIV)

Actually, I meet two kinds of ignorant people who love to distort what has been written on the Holy Scriptures: These are the (1) Smart in earthly wisdom but ignorant of the truth; and the (2) plain ignorant of the earthly wisdom.

Those people who are smart in earthly wisdom but are ignorant of the truth can read what has been written on the Holy Scriptures but they try to interpret the things they read using only their own wisdom without thinking that the scriptures are not for man’s own interpretation:

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. (II Peter 1:20, NIV)

On the other hand, people who are plain ignorant of the earthly wisdom maybe can read on what has been written on the scriptures but they couldn’t understand what they are reading. These people simply have poor knowledge in grammatical structures in a particular language. Otherwise, they are simply poor in reading comprehension.

I am not telling you that the man (Mr. Morales), who continuously emails me, boasting about him as smart, but calling me idiot, is one of the people we talked above. It’s up to you to think if he is one of those people or not, by considering the statements below which are part of his email to me. This is what he wrote on his recent email:

  • Why is Mr. Laplana always deny Christ’s work?
  • Apostle Paul put himself as laid the foundation of the church
  • St. Paul emphazises that no man can be lay than is laid other than Jesus.
  • I’m not twisted the Bible.

Well, I know that you already noticed the grammatical constructions of these statements. They are erroneous.

Now, if Mr. Morales couldn’t construct English sentences well then how could he understand what he’s reading which are written in English?

There might be lots of factors that affect our understanding on what we read. But one of the most important things that we should have acquired is the knowledge on the grammatical construction of the sentence. Once you have erroneous understanding on the grammatical structure of the sentence, your understanding on the thought of the sentence is erroneous as well.

So, my advice to Mr. Morales is to stop calling other people idiot. Or if he wants to call other people idiot, then he should try to show that he really is a smart guy and stop writing grammatically erroneous sentences.

Ephesians 2:20

Mr. Morales on his recent email stayed hiding on the twisted translation of the Ephesians 2:20. However, I couldn’t blame him for using the twisted translation of the Ephesians 2:20 because he failed to understand the thought of the righteous translation of the Ephesians 2:20.

To let you know, almost all English translation of the Ephesians 2:20 is in parallel to this translation:

19…You are the house 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:20, NIV)

The thoughts of this verse are the following:

  • The church of Christ is likened to the house.
  • The house is built on the foundation.
  • The foundation is the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
  • Christ is the chief cornerstone.

Mr. Morales is actually confused in understanding phrases: “on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.” That is why he searches for other translation which he thinks is easy to understand. The only problem is the translation he found is too different on the righteous translations.

Just like what I presented on my previous posts, almost all English translations of Ephesians 2:20 have these texts, “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets…” while the translation used by Mr. Morales rendered it, “whose foundations are the apostles and prophets.”

Now, why are we sure that the translation used by Mr. Morales is already the product of distortion? Apostle Paul, who wrote the letter to the Ephesians, gave us hint how to understand his teaching and it is by “comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual”:

13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (I Corinthians 2:13, NKJV)

Now, if we will compare the twisted translation of the Ephesians 2:20 which says, “whose foundations are the apostles and prophets,” it clearly contradicts the teaching of the Apostle Paul who is the author of that verse that only Christ is the foundation of the church and no other foundations that can be laid except Christ.

11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 3:11, NIV)

Now, to help him understand that part, “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets”, let us consider similar sentences:

  • Mr. Morales is sitting on the chair of his father. (Analysis: Mr. Morales is sitting on the chair. Mr. Morales’ father is not the chair where he sits. But it’s the chair owned by his father.)
  • Mr. Morales is a pencil placed on the bag of his sister. (Analysis: Mr. Morales is likened to a pencil. The pencil is placed on the bag. Mr. Morales’ sister is not the bag where the pencil is placed. The bag is simply owned by his sister.)

In other words, when a sentence is written like this: “You are the house built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,” it should be analyzed like this:

  • The church of Christ is likened to a house.
  • The house is built on the foundation.
  • The foundation is the foundation where the apostles and prophets were rooted and built up.

Why are we sure that this is the right thought of the verse when it says, “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets”? It’s because if we will compare it to the teaching of the Apostle Paul who is the author of that verse, it goes in parallel or in harmony on the teachings that the apostles and prophets are parts of the church. They are placed on the church not as foundation of the church but as components of the church.

28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. (I Corinthians 12:28, NIV)

Since they (apostles and prophets) are inside the church, and the church is likened to a building, then it is clear that the apostles and prophets are components of the building. Remember that the building and the foundation are two different things. The foundation is where the building stands while the building is the one built on top of the foundation.

If the thought is still vague to Mr. Morales’ mind, so we need to present it in a way that we are teaching kids just like what my wife is doing as she teaches the preschoolers.

Now, when we say, “the foundation of the apostles and prophets” it means that the apostles and prophets have foundation where they rooted and built up, and that same foundation where the apostles and prophets rooted up, the house or the church is built too. It can be presented by the sketch shown below showing the apostles, prophets and their foundation:

The preschoolers could easily understand the sketch. Now, if Mr. Morales’s mind is still fuzzy then he’s just trying to show himself as lower than the preschoolers.

Apostle Paul, The Foundation?

Actually I was amazed that a man boasting to be a smart guy could not really write English sentences correctly. And not only that, he even couldn’t understand an English statement like: “I have laid the foundation” as it was written in the Gideon International Translation of I Corinthians 3:10.

10 “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buideth thereupon.

I am really wondering if Mr. Morales is really ignorant or just trying to twist the truth because for him, the statement “I have laid the foundation” means Apostle Paul has been laid as foundation. Remember that what is written in that translation is that “I have laid the foundation” not “I have laid my self as the foundation” and not “I am laid as the foundation”.

The meaning of this statement, “I have laid the foundation” is clear that the speaker who is Apostle Paul laid something or someone as the foundation. There is a foundation that Apostle Paul laid. And we already know who this foundation is because Apostle Paul mentioned it on the next verse, which says:

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 3:11, NIV)

Mr. Morales forgot that the “I have laid the foundation” is not similar to “I am (was) laid as the foundation”.

What he did to that verse is simply a distortion or twisting. And we already know that who distorted the scripture is called by Apostle Peter ignorant and unstable.

The False Prophets

There is no wonder why Mr. Morales couldn’t realize that he was in the church managed and headed by the false prophets. Apostle Paul revealed this already:

1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (I Timothy 4:1, NIV)

Those who abandon the faith (teachings of the Apostles and Christ) are led to follow the teachings of demons. Two of these teachings are: (1) forbidding to marry; (2) teaching to abstain from eating meat:

2Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. (I Timothy 4:2-3, NIV)

Of course, Mr. Morales knew that these two teachings of demons are upheld by his church. But I wonder if Mr. Morales know that the false prophets who are teachings the teachings of demons came in sheep’s clothing:

15”Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. (Matthew 7:15, NIV)

The sheep mentioned here is Christ

29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29, NIV)

Which means that the false prophets are wearing the clothes of Christ. They are claiming to be the vicar of Christ. They are claiming to be the head of the Church. They are claiming the functions of Christ as the foundation and head of the church.

And not only that, the false prophet exalt himself over everything, sets himself up in God’s temple, and proclaim himself to be God:

3Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. (II Thesalonians 2:3-4, NIV)

This false prophet proclaims himself to be God by calling himself the Father:

9And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. (Matthew 23:9, NIV)

Not as a plain father of man but as God who is the Father of all souls:

4 For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die. (Ezekiel 18:4, NIV)

I hope Mr. Morales will understand the writings of the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:20-25:

20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. (Romans 1:20-25, NIV)

And will learn to realize that until now he worships and serve the created things rather than the creator. Mr. Morales claimed to be wise but became fool by exchanging the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Mr. Morales Hides on Twisted Translations of Ephesians 2:20

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Contents of this article:

  1. Apostle Peter and Paul’s Teaching
  2. The Ephesians 2:20
  3. In Bisaya, Efeso 2:20
  4. Hiding in the Twisted Translation of the Ephesians 2:20

Apostle Peter and Paul’s Teaching

Mr. Morales wants me to believe him that the Apostle Peter was laid as the foundation of the church of Christ. However, when I checked the teachings of Apostle Peter, I found out that Apostle Peter was not introducing himself as the foundation of the church of Christ. Apostle Peter’s teaching is clear that Christ is the foundation of the church of Christ.

5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For in Scripture it says:
“See, 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, 8and,
“A stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. (I Peter 2:5-8, NIV)

And there’s one thing that I noticed: When Peter was teaching about the foundation of the church of Christ, Christ was already in heaven. Now, if Apostle Peter was really laid as the foundation of the church of Christ, then he should introduce himself to the members of the church of Christ that he was really the foundation of the church. But based on the truth recorded on the Bible, Apostle Peter constantly introduced Christ as the foundation of the church. We couldn’t find any verse that would tell us that Peter taught that he was the foundation of the church of Christ.

The same is true to Apostle Paul. When Apostle Paul started to teach the truth about the church of Christ, Christ was already in heaven. However, Apostle Paul did not mention that Apostle Peter was laid as the foundation of the church of Christ; instead, he (Apostle Paul) clearly taught that there is no other foundation of the church of Christ except Christ.

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 3:11, NIV)

Even in his letter to the Colossians, Apostle Paul introduced Christ as the foundation of the church by telling the Colossian members to be rooted and built up in Christ:

6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6-7, NIV)

If during the time when Christ was already in heaven, Peter was already made the foundation of the church of Christ, then Apostle Paul should tell the members of the church of Christ to be rooted and built up in Peter because Peter was supposed to be the foundation. But that’s not what Apostle Paul had taught. Apostle Paul told the Colossian members of the church of Christ to be rooted and built up in Christ. A building is normally rooted and built up on a foundation. Since Christ is the foundation, so the church of Christ should be rooted and built up in Christ.

But Mr. Morales doesn’t want to accept what Apostle Peter and Apostle Paul had taught. He tried to find ways how to oppose the teachings of the Apostles. So, he used the Ephesians 2:20 to tell me that his belief that Peter was the foundation of the church of Christ is true and that the teaching of Apostle Paul that Christ is the only foundation of the church is false.

The Ephesians 2:20

Almost all English translations of the Ephesians 2:20 are in parallel to the New International Version which says:

20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:20, NIV)

The verse is talking about the foundation where the building (Ephesians 2:19) has been built up. This foundation is the foundation where the apostles and prophets stood. This foundation is Christ.

The following verses, verses 21-22, support the truth that the foundation where the building was being built is Christ not the apostle and prophets because according to Apostle Paul, the whole building is joined together and being built together in Christ:

21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:21-22, NIV)

Now, if the foundation referred to in Ephesians 2:20 are the apostles and prophets, so the verses 21 and 22 should support that too. But that’s not the case. Just like what I said above, the verses 21 and 22 support the teaching that Christ is the foundation where the building was being joined together and being built.

You might say that apostles and prophets might be parts of the foundation wherein Christ is the main foundation. Well, we can accept that argument if Apostle Paul will support that too. However, in Apostle Paul’s writings in I Corinthians 12:28, he clarifies that the apostles and prophets are parts not of the foundation but of the church which is referred to by Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:20 as building or a house that is built upon the foundation.

28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. (I Corinthians 12:28, NIV)

In other words, the apostles and prophets couldn’t be the foundations of the building because they are not placed as the foundation but as the components of the building. They are among the living stones that are built into a spiritual house as stated in I Peter 2:5:

5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (I Peter 2:5, NIV)

In Bisaya, Efeso 2:20

When I presented this truth to Mr. Morales, he criticized me and called me idiot and accused me that I couldn’t understand English.

Anyway, to be called idiot is just fine for me. But I wish, if he will call me idiot, he should show me that he really is more knowledgeable than me. He should avoid writing like these in English:

  • Anyway, I’m not wonder of Mr. Laplana to not accept the truth because …
  • … because he is twisted the Bible.

But I wonder why he who is bright and smart in English, grammar and reading comprehension, most of the time, write his emails in Bisaya or Tagalog.

He even told me that instead of writing my responses in English, I should have written them in Bisaya. Okay! For this part of this article, I will use the Bisaya (Visayan) language.

Si Apostol Pablo sa Efeso 2:20-21 nagaingon:

mga tinukod kamo sa ibabaw sa patukoranan sa mga apostoles ug sa mga manalagna, nga si Jesucristo gayud mao ang pangulo nga bato sa pamag-ang. (Efeso 2:20, Cebuano)

Dinhi niining sitas, klaro kayo ang pagtulun-an ni Apostol Pablo nga ang mga apostoles ug manalagna adunay patukuranan. Ang sitas wala magaingon nga ang mga apostoles ug mga manalagna mao ang tukuranan kundi sila adunay patukuranan. Ug dinha nga patukuranan, naa diha gitukod ang balay nga mao ang iglesia ni Cristo.

Karon, nganong sayop ang pagtuo ni Mr. Morales nga ang mga apostol kuno ug mga manalagna mao ang pundasyon o patukuranan sa iglesia ni Cristo? Kini tungod kay matud gihapon ni Apostol Pablo ang mga apostoles ug mga propeta gibutang diha sa iglesia ni Cristo ug dili diha sa pundasyon sa iglesia ni Cristo (I Corinto 12:28). Ang mga propeta ug mga manalagna mga bahin sa balay nga mao ang iglesia. Ug kauban sila sa mga bato nga gitukod aron mahimong balay (I Peter 2:5). Ug diha sa pundasyon, usa ra ang gibutang diha nga mao si Cristo ug wala nay lain pa ang mahimong ibutang diha gawas ni Cristo (I Corinto 3:11).

Hiding on the twisted translation of Ephesians 2:20

Apostle Paul is very much consistent on his teaching about the foundation of the church of Christ. He didn’t introduce another foundation or foundations of the church of Christ, because according to him Christ is the only foundation of the church of Christ (I Corinthians 3:11).

But Mr. Morales is trying to oppose this teaching of the Apostle Paul by using the twisted translations of Ephesians 2:20. Take note, that what has been used by Mr. Morales in opposing the teaching of Apostle Paul is the twisted version of the Apostle’s Paul’s own writing which goes:

19″ Now you are no longer strangers or guests, but fellow citizens of the holy people: you are of the household of God. You are the house 20 whose foundations are the apostles and prophets, and whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 19:20, Christian Community Bible)

The statement: “20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,…” is clearly twisted into: “You are the house 20whose foundations are the apostles and prophets…” On the righteous translation of the verse, the mentioned foundation is just one or singular while on this twisted translation, the foundation mentioned is plural. Secondly, on the righteous translation, the foundation mentioned is the foundation of the apostles and prophets, while on this twisted translation, the foundations are the apostles and prophets.

Anyway, I am not wondering if there are people who tried to twist the writings of the Apostle Paul, because Apostle Peter talked about it already:

15Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. (II Peter 3:15-16, NIV)

It is already expected that there are people like Mr. Morales who would try to twist the writings of the Apostle Paul so that they can use something to back-up their twisted belief.

And did you know what are the identifying marks of those who would not just mistakenly twist the scriptures but would also intentionally twist the scriptures just to deceive people? Apostle Paul mentioned it on his letter to Timothy:

1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. (I Timothy 4:1-3, NIV)

These identifying marks are: (1) The teaching that forbid people to marry; (2) The teaching to abstain from certain foods (meat). These are the teachings of demons. Of course, Mr. Morales knew that the church where he’s in now is the church that teaches these teachings.

Mr. Morales’ Twisted Truth on the Foundation of the Church, Revealed


The teaching of the Apostle Paul regarding the foundation of the church of Christ is clear that there is no other foundation that can be laid except the one that has been laid already who is Christ.

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 3:11, NIV)

Mr. Morales couldn’t accept this teaching. He doesn’t want to believe that only Christ can be the foundation of the church because for him, Peter is foundation too.

Apostle Paul was very consistent in his teaching. When he wrote his letter to the Colossians (members of the church of Christ at Colosse), he advised them to continue to live in Christ, rooted and built up in Christ:

6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6-7, NIV)

That’s another statement of Apostle Paul that clearly referred Christ as the foundation of the church. He didn’t say “rooted and built up in Peter.” He didn’t even say “rooted and built up in us the apostles and prophets.” His statement is clear that the church of Christ should be rooted and built up in Christ. It’s because Christ is the only foundation of the church of Christ (I Corinthians 3:11).

Apostle Paul versus Mr. Morales

Apostle Paul’s authority to teach the truth has no question because he’s an apostle of Christ. I wonder what kind of spirit that Mr. Morales has because he who doesn’t have authority over the truth tried to oppose the teaching of Apostle Paul about the foundation of the church of Christ. While Apostle Paul taught that Christ is the only foundation of the church of Christ, Mr. Morales on the other hand, laid Peter as the foundation of the church of Christ even if he already know through the I Corinthians 3:11 that no other foundation that can be laid except Christ.

Mr. Morales even uses and twists the writings of Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:20 just to back up his claim that the apostles and prophets are foundations of the church of Christ.

This is what has been written by the Apostle Paul:

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)

The righteous readers of this verse can easily notice that this pronouncement of the Apostle Paul is similar to what he wrote in Colossians 2:6-7 and telling us one foundation who is Christ. The snippet above clarifies that Christ who is the foundation of the apostles and prophets is also the foundation of the church of Christ.

However, Mr. Morales twisted it, so that the verse will sound as if Apostle Paul taught that the apostles and prophets are the foundation of the church of Christ. And to make his twisted truth sound like true, he used the twisted translations of the verse which said:

19″ Now you are no longer strangers or guests, but fellow citizens of the holy people: you are of the household of God. You are the house 20 whose foundations are the apostles and prophets, and whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus” (Christian Community Bible, copied from Mr. Morales letter)

19″ Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God
20 And are built upon the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chieft corner stone.” Ephesians 2:19-20 ( THE GIDEONS, copied from Mr. Morales letter)

He also used the translations “The New Revised Standard Version” and “The New American Bible” in backing up his claim without thinking that these translations are different from the translations mentioned above, the “Christian Community Bible” and “The Gideons“. And one thing that Mr. Morales failed to notice is that these translations do not support his twisted belief that the apostles and prophets are the foundations of the church of Christ.

19″So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God,
20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.” Ehpesians 2:19-20 (THE NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION. I copied this snippet from Mr. Morales letter.)

19″ This means that you are strangers and aliens no longer. No, you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God..
20 You form a building which rises on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone”. Ephesians 2:19-20 (THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE. I copied this snippet from Mr. Morales letter.)

If you’ll examine the snippets from the “New Revised Standard Version” and the “New American Bible“, they simply told us that a building, a house, or the church of Christ is built on a foundation. This foundation is the foundation of the apostles and prophets. This foundation is not the apostles and prophets but Christ Himself.

On the other hand, the “Christian Community Bible” and “The Gideons” told us another story. The foundations referred by these two translations are the apostles and prophets.

Mr. Morales is Smart and I am idiot

Mr. Morales accused me again of being idiot in grammar and praising himself as best in grammar.

Well. Mr. Morales is smart, brilliant and intelligent. But, I wonder why he didn’t notice the singular form of the term “foundation” on the “New Revised Standard Version” and “New American Bible” when in fact he used these translations in backing up his claim that apostles and prophets are foundations, thus totally neglecting the fact that apostles and prophets are more than one (plural).

Mr. Morales, I think, forgot his English course while studying in Elementary, High School and College that if the term “foundation” refers to the apostles and prophets, the term “foundation” should be written in plural form “foundations”:

” built upon the foundations”

Then to further refer the apostles and prophets as the foundations, Mr. Morales should not use the preposition “OF” before the words “the apostles and prophets“, instead, he should change the “of” to “who are“, thus changing the phrase “of the apostles and prophets” into a clause “who are the apostles and prophets“.

In other words, using the “New Revised Standard Version” and the “New American Bible” to back up his claim that the apostles and prophets are foundations, exposes his ignorance not only in the truth and the pure teaching of the Apostle Paul but also his carelessness in analyzing the verse by considering the grammatical construction of the verse.

But there’s nothing to be surprised of because Apostle Peter talked about it already:

15Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. (II Peter 3:15-16, NIV)

I suggest to Mr. Morales, to be careful in picking up translations in backing up his twisted truth to avoid exposing his ignorance.

Apostle Paul is Reliable

Just like what I said already, Apostle Paul is consistent on his teaching that Christ is the only foundation of the church of Christ. Christ is also the foundation of the apostles and prophets. And besides him, there is no other foundation.

Mr. Morales’ Contradiction not Mine, The Foundation of the Church

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Mr. Morales accused me on his other letter, that I contradicted my own declaration in my article, “Mr. Morales’ Authority to Interpret the Scriptures.” He quoted a part of that said article:

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.

According to him, this statement contradicts on what I always say that Christ is the only foundation of the church of Christ and no other foundation could be laid except the one that has been laid already who is Christ.

Now, I was wondering here, where is the contradiction. Saying that the church of Christ is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets who is Christ is similar to when I say, the foundation of the church of Christ is Christ himself.

I don’t think that Mr. Morales is poor in English because his education is better than mine. Maybe he only missed to read the term “ON THE” and its position in that statement, as stated on that snippet: “..built ON THE foundation of the apostles…”

Mr. Morales’ interpretation on: “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets” is that the foundations of the church are the apostles and prophets. But it is clear on that statement that the foundation referred to is not the apostles and prophets but Christ who is the foundation of the apostles and prophets.

Now, since you, the readers of this blog, is much better than me in English, then you can review the said contradiction according to Mr. Morales:

1st Statement: 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

2nd Statement: in fact the foundation talked by Apostle Paul on this verse is not the apostles and prophets but Christ.

Because of this, he suggested me not to use the English version of the Bible. However, it is clear that this suggestion should be done by him because he’s not just accusing me of the things that I didn’t do, but he also twisted what I was saying.

But did he really mistakenly twisted what I was saying or he really intentionally twisted it?