by Jamie Pantastico | Sep 2, 2025 | Bible Doctrine |
Predestined or Free to Choose?
Introduction
The Bible declares two truths that, at first glance, may seem difficult to reconcile. On one hand, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). On the other, Paul writes that believers were “chosen in Him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). Some have twisted these verses into a doctrine claiming that God predestines certain people for heaven and others for hell. But that is not what Scripture teaches. Let’s take a closer look.
Key Verses
Romans 8:29
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Ephesians 1:4
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”
Whosoever Will May Come
God’s Word could not be clearer: “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient for all. His death was not limited to a select few but offered for all mankind (Hebrews 9:12). As Peter affirms, God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
All means all. The invitation is open to everyone.
What Predestination Really Means
Romans 8:29 doesn’t say God predestines individuals to heaven or hell. Instead, it says believers are “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” Predestination is about God’s plan for those who believe—our calling, our identity, and our future in Christ.
Take time to read what the text actually says. Notice the order: “Whom He foreknew, He also predestined…” (Romans 8:29). Foreknowledge is not the same as predestination. God, in His omniscience, knows who will respond in faith—but knowing is not the same as forcing.
Predestination concerns the believer’s destiny to be conformed to Christ, not a forced choice of salvation. On the other side, those who reject God in unbelief will stand without excuse at the Great White Throne judgment. God is just.
Likewise, Ephesians 1:4–5 tells us that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. This means He established the believer’s position in Christ before time began. Our adoption, inheritance, and ultimate conformity to Christ were secured—not a predetermined fate of heaven or hell.
If Scripture meant heaven or hell, it would say so plainly. Instead, it speaks of our identity, security, and purpose in Christ.
A Picture to Understand the Mystery
Think of humanity as a mighty river flowing from Adam onward. Along the riverbanks stand countless doors. On every door is written: “Whosoever will, come!” The invitation is open. Anyone may walk through by faith in Christ.
But here is the divine mystery: when a person steps through that door and looks back, they see written on the other side: “Chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.”
From our perspective, we choose to believe. From God’s perspective, He had already chosen us in Christ before time began. Free will and God’s eternal plan are not enemies—they are perfectly woven together in His wisdom.
Conclusion
God does not force anyone into heaven or hell. Scripture is clear: no one will have an excuse at the Great White Throne judgment. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).
The Bible affirms both man’s responsibility to respond and God’s sovereignty in salvation. The invitation remains: “Whosoever will, may come.” And when you come, you discover this unshakable truth—you were chosen in Christ before the world was formed.
by Jamie Pantastico | Aug 31, 2025 | Bible Doctrine |
All Mankind Will be Judged by Paul’s Gospel
📖 “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.” — Galatians 1:6–7
The apostle Paul doesn’t waste any time with pleasantries in his letter to the Galatians. He’s astonished—outraged—that these Gentile believers, who had been gloriously saved by grace through faith alone, were now being pulled away by smooth-talking false teachers. Men had crept in and added conditions to Paul’s gospel—works, rituals, law-keeping—turning the good news into a powerless counterfeit.
Paul calls it exactly what it is: a perverted gospel. Not “good news” at all, but a distortion that strips the cross of its saving power. No wonder he writes with urgency, warning them that those who preach another gospel are under God’s curse (Gal. 1:8–9).
⚠️ And here’s the sobering truth: nothing has changed in 1,900+ years. The names and faces are different, but the false teachers are still here—masquerading as pastors, priests, and teachers of truth. They package their lies in religious language, but the substance is the same: “Jesus is necessary, but not enough.” Add sacraments. Add works. Add law. Add your effort. Live a holy life and persevere to the end. Horrors!
That is not the gospel. That is bondage. That is deception. That is a one-way ticket in the wrong direction—down.
There is only one gospel that saves: the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).
There is only one gospel by which all mankind will be judged (Romans 2:16).
There is only one gospel defined with crystal clarity in 1 Corinthians 15:1–4:
✝️ Christ died for our sins.
🪦 He was buried.
🌅 He rose again the third day.
That’s it. Nothing to add. Nothing to subtract. The finished work of Christ stands alone.
Anything else is not the gospel—it is a perversion. And Paul’s words still thunder across the centuries: “If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:9).
Friend, don’t be deceived. Don’t be moved away from the simplicity of the gospel. Don’t exchange the freedom of Christ for the chains of religion. Stand firm in the truth of God’s grace.
Because in the end, when you stand before the Judge of all the earth, it won’t matter what church you attended, what rituals you performed, or what traditions you clung to. It will come down to one thing: Did you believe the gospel of Christ revealed to Paul, the gospel of grace?
There is only one gospel. Believe it. Stand in it. Proclaim it.
by Jamie Pantastico | Aug 30, 2025 | Bible Doctrine |
Once for All: Not Once You Earn It
📖 “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”
— Hebrews 9:12
✝ The Work of the Cross Is Complete
The writer of Hebrews makes it unmistakably clear—Christ’s sacrifice was not partial, nor was it temporary. Under the Old Covenant, priests repeatedly offered sacrifices for sin, yet those offerings could never remove sin. They only covered it for a time, pointing forward to the greater sacrifice to come.
But when Christ shed His blood, He did so once for all. The penalty for the sin of all mankind was paid in full at the cross. There is nothing left to add, nothing left to finish. Jesus Himself declared, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). The work of salvation is complete.
⚖ God: Just and the Justifier
Romans 3:26 tells us that God is both “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
- He is Just: Sin had to be dealt with. God could not simply overlook it and remain Holy. His justice demanded that sin’s penalty—death—be paid.
- He is the Justifier: In His infinite love, He sent His Son to take our place. By pouring out His wrath on Christ, He satisfied justice while making a way for sinners to be declared righteous.
This is the heart of the gospel: God remains holy and just, and yet through the cross He is also the merciful justifier of all who believe.
🙌 Eternal Redemption
Notice the words in Hebrews 9:12—“eternal redemption.” This is not a temporary fix. It’s not a salvation we can lose or forfeit based on our performance. It is eternal. Christ entered the heavenly sanctuary with His own blood and secured redemption that cannot be undone.
Because of this truth, believers can rest. We don’t need to strive to “earn” what has already been purchased. Our hope isn’t in ourselves—it is in Christ alone.
🌟 Encouragement for Today
- If you are weighed down by guilt, remember: the blood of Jesus has already paid for that sin.
- If you feel weak in faith, stand on this unshakable truth: your redemption is eternal, not fragile.
- If the enemy whispers lies of condemnation, remind him of this—“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1).
The cross is enough. The blood of Christ is enough. Your salvation is secure because Jesus paid it all—once for all.
🕊 Closing Thought
Hebrews 9:12 pulls back the curtain on heaven itself and shows us Christ, not with the blood of goats or calves, but with His own precious blood—entering the very presence of God and securing eternal redemption.
What a Savior! What assurance! What peace to know that the work is done. Trust Him, rest in Him, and rejoice in Him today—because in Christ, you are eternally redeemed.
by Jamie Pantastico | Aug 26, 2025 | Bible Doctrine |
⚓ Doctrine is our Anchor
In today’s world, many treat doctrine as optional, even divisive. But Paul makes it abundantly clear: without sound doctrine, we have no foundation for faith, no anchor for truth, and no strength for daily living. Doctrine is not cold theology—it is the very lifeblood of the believer’s walk.
1. Doctrine Equips Us for Life
2 Timothy 3:16–17
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Without doctrine, we are incomplete and unequipped. Doctrine is the framework God has given us to be thoroughly prepared for every circumstance.
2. Doctrine Delivers Us from Sin
Romans 6:17
“But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.”
It was doctrine—truth revealed by God—that freed us from Satan’s slave market to the kingdom of God. No human wisdom or effort could ever accomplish this.
3. Doctrine Nourishes Our Faith
1 Timothy 4:6
“…nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.”
Doctrine is spiritual food. Without it, we starve. With it, we grow strong and remain grounded in Christ.
4. Doctrine Anchors Our Teaching
Titus 2:1
“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.”
Ministry without doctrine is empty words. Paul charges us to speak only what aligns with sound doctrine, because truth—not opinion—transforms lives.
5. Doctrine Guards Us from Deception
2 Timothy 4:3–4
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine… and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
When doctrine is abandoned, deception rushes in. Without it, people are left with myths and lies instead of truth.
6. Doctrine Gives Us Hope
Romans 15:4
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
Doctrine is not dry—it is deeply personal. It teaches us patience, brings comfort, and secures our hope in God’s promises.
7. Doctrine Requires Diligence
2 Timothy 2:15
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Paul reminds us that doctrine must be studied, handled carefully, and rightly divided. It is our responsibility to labor in God’s Word with diligence and faithfulness.
✨ Conclusion
Without doctrine, we have no truth, no nourishment, no freedom, and no hope to win the daily battle. Doctrine is not optional—it is essential. It is the very means by which God equips, strengthens, and comforts His people.
Let us cling to sound doctrine, rightly divide the Word, and let our faith rest not on feelings or traditions, but on the unshakable truth of God’s Word.
by Jamie Pantastico | Aug 25, 2025 | Bible Doctrine |
Love Is Kind
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.” — 1 Corinthians 13:4
When Paul wrote that “love is kind,” he wasn’t describing a sentimental feeling but a Spirit-produced reality. Kindness is love in action. It is patience and gentleness expressed toward others—especially when it is undeserved.
The World in the Last Days
Paul warned us in 2 Timothy 3:1–4 that in the last days men would be “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers… unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving… brutal… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” We don’t have to look far to see that we are living in these very days. The world is growing darker, more deceitful, and increasingly hostile toward Christ and His Church. Love and kindness are vanishing virtues in a culture consumed with self.
And yet, it is here—right now—that the body of Christ is called to stand out.
Ambassadors of Christ
Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 5:20 that we are “ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” Imagine that—the Creator of heaven and earth is pleading with the world through us! His message is simple: I sent My Son to die in your place and pay for your sins. Believe the gospel and be saved.
That message is urgent, and the way we deliver it matters. Our words must be spoken in truth, but they must also be wrapped in kindness. Why? Because “love is kind.”
Kindness in a Brutal World
Kindness may seem like a small thing, but in a world dominated by anger, hatred, and division, kindness shines like a blazing light in the darkness. Every act of kindness—a gentle word, a patient response, a helping hand, a listening ear—becomes a testimony. It may be the very thing God uses to open the heart of someone drowning in bitterness and despair.
Not all of us can preach to the multitudes like Billy Graham, but every one of us can show kindness to the people around us. In doing so, we are not only reflecting Christ’s love, we are actively resisting the spirit of this age.
Staying the Course
The Lord Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–14). If there has ever been a time when believers must live that out, it is now. The darker the world becomes, the brighter even the smallest light will shine.
So, as the days grow more perilous, let us not be swept up in the hatred and harshness of the age. Instead, let us walk in the Spirit, remembering that true love is always kind.