by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 20, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
Romans 6:4–5
“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.”
When Paul speaks of the resurrection, he doesn’t just describe it as something Jesus did—he shows us how it fundamentally changes who we are.
In Romans 6, Paul teaches that believers are spiritually united with Christ—in His death and His resurrection. We died with Him. We were buried with Him. And we were raised with Him. We have a new identity in Christ.
“Just as Christ was raised from the dead… even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
This newness of life isn’t symbolic or emotional—it’s real. When we believed the gospel, something supernatural happened: we were placed into Christ, the resurrected Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 12:13). And because He lives, we live.
This is one of the most staggering revelations Paul received from the resurrected Lord Jesus. No prophet, no apostle before him taught this. Peter didn’t preach this on Pentecost. This is Paul’s gospel “good news”—that we are no longer “in Adam,” but now “in Christ” (Romans 5:12–19). This new identity was forged in resurrection.
“For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.”
(Romans 6:5)
This isn’t a future promise only—it’s a present reality. We’ve been raised to live now as those who are alive from the dead (Romans 6:11). That’s resurrection power. That’s newness of life.
The Christian life isn’t a moral improvement plan—it’s the outworking of a brand-new creation, birthed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We live, not by striving to be better, but by walking in the reality of who we are in Him.
This truth is central to Paul’s gospel, and it’s why he said:
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…”
(Galatians 2:20)
Bible Study:
- Romans 6:4-5
- 1 Corinthians 12:13
- Romans 5:12–19
- Romans 6:11
- Galatians 2:20
by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 19, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
Paul’s gospel doesn’t just declare that Jesus was raised from the dead—it explains why He was raised.
“Who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.”
(Romans 4:25)
This short verse is packed with gospel power. Christ was delivered up—handed over to death—because of our offenses. That is, He bore the penalty for our sins, taking the full weight of our guilt upon Himself at the Cross.
But why does Paul say He was raised because of our justification?
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the divine proof that the penalty for sin has been paid in full. The empty tomb is heaven’s declaration that God has accepted the sacrifice of His Son. Without the resurrection, we would have no assurance that the sin debt was satisfied. But because Jesus rose (bodily), our justification is secure. His resurrection is the receipt that the full price has been paid.
Justification is more than forgiveness—it’s the act of God declaring a sinner righteous in His sight. And that righteous standing is grounded in a risen Savior.
This is a truth uniquely revealed to Paul. The other apostles witnessed the resurrection and proclaimed it as evidence that Jesus was the promised Messiah of Israel. But Paul goes deeper. He reveals that Jesus was raised for our justification—for the justification of those who would trust Him by faith alone, apart from works (Romans 3:28).
This is why Paul can say in the very first verse of the next chapter, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). The resurrection guarantees our peace with God—not someday, but now.
Paul’s gospel is not merely about being forgiven—it’s about being declared righteous, sealed by a risen Christ who now intercedes for us at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34).
by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 17, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
As Resurrection Day draws near, our hearts and minds naturally turn to the finished work of Christ—His death, burial, and triumphant resurrection. But have you ever noticed how the apostle Paul speaks of the resurrection? He doesn’t just affirm it—he ties it uniquely to his gospel.
“Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel.” (2 Timothy 2:8)
Why does Paul say my gospel?
Because the gospel revealed to Paul was unlike anything previously known or preached. It was given to him by direct revelation from the risen, glorified Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11–12). Central to this gospel is not only the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but the divine truth that His resurrection secures the believer’s justification, union with Christ, heavenly identity, and eternal glorification. No one before Paul preached these truths—they were part of the mystery kept hidden in God (Ephesians 3:8–9).
Peter and the eleven believed in the resurrection, yes—but not according to Paul’s gospel. They believed in the resurrection in the same way Job did:
“For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God.”
(Job 19:25–27)
And like Martha, who said to Jesus:
“I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
(John 11:24)
This was the hope of Israel—the resurrection at the last day when Messiah would establish His kingdom. Even after Jesus rose from the dead, the apostles asked, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Their understanding of the resurrection was still rooted in prophecy and Israel’s earthly hope.
But Paul reveals something new: that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead according to my gospel—a gospel that unveils the heavenly calling and glorification of the Body of Christ. This gospel wasn’t known before. It’s the message that the risen Christ is now seated at the right hand of God and that believers are united with Him, raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4–5, Ephesians 2:5–6).
And here’s something staggering: every person who has ever lived—starting with Cain—will be judged by this gospel.
“…in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”
(Romans 2:16)
Paul’s gospel is not a side note in God’s plan—it’s the standard by which all men will be judged. Why? Because it is the full and final revelation of God’s redemptive purpose, centered in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
So as we celebrate the resurrection, let us remember it as Paul instructed: not only as a historical fact, not only as a promise to Israel, but as the divine cornerstone of the gospel given specifically to him—for us.
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by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 13, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
Palm Sunday: The King Who Came to Fulfill the Promises to Israel
“Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers.”
—Romans 15:8
Palm Sunday is a powerful moment in Scripture—a day that marks our Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem and the unfolding of events leading to the cross. But to truly understand the significance of Palm Sunday, we must first understand what it meant for Israel.
Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry was not a generic display of humility—it was the arrival of Israel’s promised King, fulfilling the very covenants He Himself made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. As Paul writes in Romans 15:8, Christ came “as a servant to the circumcision,” to confirm the promises made to the fathers.
A King Long Awaited
The angel Gabriel announced this truth clearly to Mary:
“The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever.” (Luke 1:32–33)
Zacharias, John the Baptist’s father, echoed the same hope when he prophesied:
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people…to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham.” (Luke 1:68–73)
For 1,500 years, Israel waited for this King. Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey wasn’t a spontaneous act—it was a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9. The people cried out, “Hosanna!” because they saw Him as the One who would restore the kingdom to Israel. And indeed, that kingdom will be restored—but not until His second coming.
Rightly Dividing God’s Word
It’s essential to understand that Scripture is a progressive revelation. God didn’t reveal everything at once—He unveiled His plans step by step, in perfect timing.
Palm Sunday took place in 29 AD, and at that point, the gospel of the grace of God was still hidden. The Church—the Body of Christ—had not yet begun. It wasn’t until over a decade later, around 40 AD, that the glorified Christ revealed this new and previously hidden message to the Apostle Paul (Galatians 1:11–12; Ephesians 3:1–9).
One of the great errors today is lumping everything together—reading Paul’s epistles into the four Gospels, or assuming Jesus’ earthly ministry was to the Body of Christ. But that’s not rightly dividing the Word of truth.
Jesus’ earthly ministry was to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:5–6; 15:24). He came to confirm the covenants and promises made to their fathers—not to begin the Church, which was still a mystery hidden in God.
We must read Scripture in time—understanding where we are in the unfolding of God’s plan.
As Paul says:
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
—Romans 15:4
The Old Testament and the four Gospels were written for our learning—they are the foundational building blocks of all God has revealed. We absolutely must study them. They show us God’s faithfulness, character, and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. And through them, we gain comfort and hope.
But if we read the Gospels as though they were written to us, or if we mix Israel’s earthly kingdom promises with the Church’s heavenly calling, we end up in confusion and error. We rob both programs of their distinct glory and purpose.
What About the Church?
So where do we stand today?
Christ is not reigning as King over the Church. He is our risen Lord and Savior the Head of Body, the body of Christ which is His Church. Saved by grace through faith alone in His finished work. Our relationship with Him is heavenly and spiritual—distinct from Israel’s earthly kingdom hope.
Yet Palm Sunday still speaks to us—because it reveals the faithfulness of our God. Everything He promised, He will fulfill. Just as He came the first time in humility, He will come again in glory—not on a donkey, but on a white horse (Revelation 19). And when He does, He will establish His kingdom and reign as Israel’s Messiah and the world’s righteous King.
Be Encouraged Today
Palm Sunday is a beautiful reminder that God keeps His promises—every single one. He was faithful to Israel, and He is faithful to us. As members of the Body of Christ, we rejoice in His grace, knowing that the same Jesus who entered Jerusalem as King will one day return as Judge and Deliverer.
Until then, we rest in the peace He gives, we live in the hope of His coming, and we praise Him—not just with palms, but with hearts full of gratitude.
Blessed is He who came for Israel and was later revealed as the Savior of the world—our risen Head, Jesus Christ!
by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 12, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
Passover is more than a historical feast—it is a picture of salvation by grace through faith. From the first Passover in Egypt to the cross of Christ, God has been revealing the necessity of blood for redemption. The story is one of deliverance, judgment passed over, and the perfect provision of a substitute.
“When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” — Exodus 12:13
The night the LORD delivered Israel from Egypt, He gave specific instructions. A spotless lamb was to be sacrificed, and its blood applied to the doorposts of every Israelite home. Death would visit every house in Egypt, but God made a promise: where He saw the blood, judgment would pass over.
This moment wasn’t about the worthiness of the people inside. It was about faith in what God had said. Hebrews 11:28 recounts the faith of the Israelites during the Passover, applying the blood to their doorposts. In that moment, their faith, trust, believing in God’s instructions (His word) saved them from a certain death. Similarly, in this age of grace, our faith determines our salvation. When God sees our faith alone in the gospel—when we believe that Christ’s shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection saves us—”For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” — 1 Corinthians 5:7
The blood of Christ is not a religious symbol; it is the very means by which God’s judgment passes over us. The first Passover was a shadow of the true and final deliverance found in Jesus Christ. Just as the Israelites trusted in the blood of a lamb, we are called to trust in the blood of The Lamb—Jesus Christ.
‘Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. ‘
I Corinthians 5:7
Faith Then and Now
In both covenants, salvation came by believing God’s word. In Exodus, it was faith in God’s provision and protection through the blood of a lamb. In our day, it is faith in the finished work of Christ, the true Passover Lamb.
“The faith of those Israelites in Exodus 12 wasn’t just a feeling or hope—it was action based on God’s promise. They applied the blood. Today, we ‘apply’ the blood by believing the gospel of grace. That belief alone saves.”
Let us never forget: the Lamb was slain, the blood was shed, and the promise still stands.
When God sees the blood—faith in the blood of His Son—He passes over. Judgment has already fallen on Christ. The work is finished-He is Risen!
‘being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ‘
Romans 3:24-25
and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.’
Colossians 1:20