by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 2, 2022 | Daily Encouragement |
The finished work of the cross has set mankind free from the bondage of the law. So stand firm in His grace and don’t fall into legalism or think for a second that you have to do something for salvation.
‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. ‘
Galatians 5:1
The book of Galatians was written because the Jerusalem Church sent men to the apostle Paul’s gentile congregations to undermine the gospel of grace. By telling Paul’s congregations that they COULD NOT be saved without keeping the law (Acts 15:1,5). What they did not know was that the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ revealed to Paul that salvation was NOW available to both Jew and Gentile apart from keeping the law!
‘But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, ‘
Romans 3:21
Neither Titus nor Paul gave in even for a minute to the tremendous pressure from the apostles and the elders of the Jerusalem church. So that the truth of the gospel of grace would continue even to this day until the body of Christ is taken off the scene.
So stand fast in this amazing gospel of grace! Don’t fall into legalism or think that you have to keep the law in order for you to be saved.
‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. ‘
Galatians 5:1
by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 2, 2022 | Daily Encouragement |
Colossians 1:20
“And having made peace (by defeating sin, Satan, and even death) through the blood of his cross, by Him (the Lord Jesus Christ is the One Who finished the work of the cross) to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven.”
In other words, Christ is preeminent above everything because of the death burial, and resurrection. And in spite of Adam’s fall, sin, and the curse God has poured out His love by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to go the way of the cross paying in full the cost of sin fulfilling the will of God. Reconciling everything back to Himself but mankind does not appropriate God’s free gift of salvation until they believe the gospel by faith alone.
by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 29, 2022 | Daily Encouragement |
For the believer, the Lord Jesus is our only source of strength. And as a believer, we have full access to God through His word and prayer.
Here are 12 passages that delineate that for the people of faith it is God and Him alone that provides our strength.
Take the time to read these passages, meditate on them and pray for strength.
‘My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.’
Psalms 73:26
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
II Corinthians 12:9
Psalms 18:1
I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
Psalms 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Isaiah 40:29
He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
I Chronicles 16:27
Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and gladness are in His place.
Psalms 28:8
The Lord is their strength, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.
Psalms 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Isaiah 26:4
Trust in the Lord forever, For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.
Psalms 71:16
I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.
‘Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ‘
Ephesians 6:10
by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 19, 2022 | Daily Encouragement |
Recently I witnessed a graphic illustration of one person trying to condemn and steal the joy of another person. By scornfully ridiculing the redemptive and heart transforming power of the gospel that so obviously manifested itself in the person being ridiculed.
It was heartbreaking but not surprising.
This brutal and unforgiving rehearsal of the “Adamic Nature” doing what it does best (steal, kill, and destroy) is what those who are in Christ are to expect from the world.
The unsaved world are slaves to the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). Therefore all they can do is produce evil. The Lord Himself made that clear in Luke 6:45.
Luke 6:45
‘A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.’
The Lord’s admonition is clear and we can identify where a person stands by the fruit they bear and by what comes out of their mouth. If a person is always angry, vulgar, and immoral you can be certain that this is what this person is like on the inside (the heart).
Again, as Christians, we are to expect the unsaved world around us (no matter who they are) to hate us. Because they hate God. But as believers, we have NO CONDEMNATION…!
Romans 8:1-2
‘There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death ‘
Moreover, now, because we have “NO CONDEMNATION” from God we have peace with God.
Romans 5:1
‘Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,’
So since we have no condemnation and peace with God. Who is he that condemeth? As the apostle, Paul writes in Romans 8, “if we are God’s elect then who in the world can be against us”. No one! Because it was Christ who died and rose again for us. Read on.
Romans 8:31-35
‘What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?’
Romans 8:36
‘As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”’
More than Conquerors Inspite of Condemnation from the World
Romans 8:37-39
‘Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
In Conclusion
Now that you know NO ONE, not your co-workers, spouse, mom, dad, boss, siblings, family, friends, nor anyone can condemn you. What and how should you deal with condemnation and ridicule from whomever?
- Forgive them (because Christ forgave you)
- Love them (because it was God’s love that put Christ on the Cross).
- Pray for their salvation (pray that God opens their hearts to the Gospel)
- Share the gospel with them (we are ambassadors for Christ)
- Stand firm in your faith and continuously pray and study God’s word.
by Jamie Pantastico | Jul 19, 2021 | Daily Encouragement |
If the twelve apostles didn’t know that Christ was going to shed His blood and die on the cross, be buried, and then raised from the dead three days later never to die again, how could anyone come to the conclusion that the pagan Gentile world knew? Christendom seems to have adopted this idea, but the answer lies in Scripture.
Today, salvation is by faith alone in the finished work of the Cross. However, the finished work of the Cross hadn’t been accomplished yet during the apostles’ time, so they couldn’t have been preaching that gospel. Luke Chapter 9 shows that even after nearly three years with Jesus, the Twelve didn’t understand the concept of the cross. Jesus himself told them about his impending betrayal and death, yet they didn’t grasp it.
Luke 9:44-45 says, “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it.
Furthermore, Luke 18:31-34 records Jesus telling the Twelve about his upcoming death and resurrection, but they didn’t understand. Jesus said, “And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.”
So, it’s evident that the apostles had no idea about the gospel of grace, including Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Therefore, it’s improbable that the Gentile world knew about it either. Even after the Crucifixion, the apostles didn’t fully understand Christ’s resurrection, as shown in John Chapter 20.
In John Chapter 20, after the Crucifixion, Peter and John rush to the tomb on the Resurrection morning following Mary’s report that it was empty. They look in and are in unbelief. That He was the Messiah, the Son of God Israel’s promised King? NO. Scripture says it best; Verse 9 of John 20 says, “For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.”
How could Gentiles have known about Christ’s resurrection if even Peter, James, and John were unaware? The reality is straightforward: they didn’t know. The significance of this fact cannot be overstated. Unfortunately, tradition often obscures this truth, as much of Christendom focuses solely on pre-cross events for salvation and doctrine. However, Scripture unequivocally declares the impossibility of this perspective.
In conclusion, Scripture presents a progressive revelation, and the apostles’ lack of understanding during Jesus’s ministry highlights this fact. While we now have the full counsel of God, it’s essential to diligently study Scripture to properly understand and apply its teachings.
All Scripture was given to us for our learning that we may have comfort and hope… Romans 15:4. But we must understand Scripture is a progressive revelation. We must be diligent and study hard, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
Studying Scripture literally and in time leads to the correct context of a passage. Which then leads to the correct application.
“WHAT IS NOT PROPERLY UNDERSTOOD CANNOT BE PROPERLY APPLIED”
