19/08/2026
Don't Divide What Christ Made One
Bishop Emi Domingo
The Gospel was never meant to divide Jews and Gentiles, but to unite all who believe in Christ and His finished work—both Jews and Gentiles.
Totoo na salvation is by grace (Ephesians 2:8–9), sufficient ang finished work of Christ (John 19:30; Hebrews 10:10–14), hindi tayo under the Mosaic Law but under grace (Romans 6:14; Galatians 3:23–25), at totoong si Paul ay tumanggap ng profound revelation concerning the mystery of Christ (Galatians 1:11–12; Ephesians 3:3–6). Take note, “apostles” and “prophets” are both plural, ibig sabihin, hindi lamang si Paul ang pinagkalooban ng revelation na ito. Si Paul ay may special calling at naging pangunahing apostle sa pagpapaliwanag ng mystery, pero ang revelation ay hindi niya exclusive possession; ito ay revelation of Christ na ipinahayag din ng Holy Spirit sa ibang apostles and prophets (Ephesians 3:3–6).
Kaya nagkakaroon ng serious interpretive o exegetical mistake kapag ang magkaibang ministries at audiences nina Peter at Paul ay ginagawang dalawang magkaibang saving gospels, at pagkatapos ay kino-conclude na ang message ni Peter ay para lamang sa Israel, habang kay Paul lamang nanggaling ang Gospel para sa ating mga Hentil ngayon. We must be very careful sa anumang teaching na nagsasabing may two separate saving gospels—one for the Jews and another for the Gentiles. Si Paul mismo ay nagbigay ng matinding warning tungkol sa “a different gospel” (Galatians 1:6–9), at malinaw niyang sinabi na iisa lamang ang Gospel—“the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16).
Malinaw sa Scripture na iisa lamang ang Gospel para sa Jew at Gentile (Romans 1:16), iisa ang Lord at iisa ang way of salvation for all (Romans 10:12–13), at iisa ang Body na binubuo ng believing Jews and Gentiles (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:14–18; 4:4–6). Totoong may different spheres or scopes of ministry sina Peter at Paul (Galatians 2:7–9), pero hindi ibig sabihin nito na mayroon silang magkaibang saving gospels o magkaibang paraan ng kaligtasan. Different commissions do not necessarily mean different gospels; different audiences do not mean different ways of being saved. In fact, si Peter mismo ay nag-preach ng Gospel sa mga Gentiles (Acts 10:34–44; 15:7–11), habang si Paul naman ay paulit-ulit na nag-preach hindi lamang sa Gentiles kundi pati sa mga Jews (Acts 17:1–3; 18:4; 20:21).
Kaya kailangan tayong maging maingat na ang tinatawag nilang “rightly dividing the Word” ay hindi maging wrongly dividing the Gospel. Mahalaga ang tamang biblical distinctions, pero hindi natin dapat paghiwalayin ang mga bagay na pinag-isa na ni Cristo. Through the Cross, Christ made Jew and Gentile “one” (Ephesians 2:14), created “one new man” (Ephesians 2:15), at binigyan silang pareho ng access to the Father “by one Spirit” (Ephesians 2:18).
From a Full Grace reading of Scripture, the better conclusion is that there is one Gospel of Jesus Christ, one Savior, one Cross, one finished work, one way of salvation—by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone—and one Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1–4; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:15–18).
Not Peter’s Gospel versus Paul’s Gospel, but the Gospel of Christ for all who believe—both Jews and Gentiles. Don’t divide what Christ has made one.
