by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 14, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
What if the thing the world calls foolish is actually the key to everything? In 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, the Apostle Paul lays out a truth that flips human wisdom on its head. The message of the Cross—Jesus crucified and risen—stands as God’s power to save, even as the world scoffs. Let’s dive into what Paul was saying to the church in Corinth and why it still hits hard today.
A Church Divided
The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, drops the unapologetic truth in 1 Corinthians 1 that still rattles the world today. Writing to a church in Corinth divided by sectarianism—folks bickering over “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas” (1:12)—he doesn’t mince words. The problem wasn’t just their cliques; it was their mindset. Corinth was a city drunk on Greek culture: eloquence, philosophy, and status were everything. The believers were dragging that baggage into the church, turning the Gospel into a display of human credentials. Paul shuts it down fast in verse 17: “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” The Gospel doesn’t need a fancy TED Talk—it’s the simple, unpolished message of the Cross that carries God’s power.
The Cross: Foolishness or Power?
Then, in verses 18-31, Paul lets it rip with crystal-clear force. He draws a line in the sand: the “word of the cross” versus the “wisdom of the world.” To those who are perishing, the cross is foolishness—absurd, even. Imagine the scoffing: “You’re telling me some Jew crucified 2,000 years ago can save me? Save me from what?” To a culture obsessed with strength, smarts, and self-reliance, a Messiah dying on a Roman torture device was laughable. Greeks chased wisdom, Jews demanded signs (v. 22), but the cross? It didn’t fit their boxes. It still doesn’t.
But here’s the kicker—Paul asks, “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (v. 20). God didn’t just outsmart human intellect; He has His own ways. He chose the cross—something weak, despised, ridiculous in the world’s eyes—to reveal His power and save those who believe. Look at verses 26-29: “Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things… the weak things… the despised things… to shame the wise.” The Corinthians themselves were Exhibit A—ex-slaves, nobodies, the bottom of the social barrel. God didn’t need the elite; He used the overlooked to prove His point.
The Gospel in a Scoffing World
Fast forward to today, and nothing’s changed. The world still rolls its eyes at the Gospel. “Save me from what?” they sneer. Sin? Judgment? Those sound like relics to a society that’s traded accountability for feel-good, self-made truth. Evolution, secular humanism, whatever you want to call it—these are the “wisdom” of our age, explaining life without a Creator or a cross. But Paul’s words stand tall: “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (v. 18). It’s not about out-arguing the world or dressing up the Gospel in slick phrases. It’s about trusting what God did through that “Jew 2,000 years ago”—Jesus Christ, crucified and risen.
The Cross isn’t a debate club topic or a power play. It’s God’s upside-down solution to the sin problem, that has reconciled the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). The world can keep its wisdom. I’ll take the “foolishness” of preaching any day—because that’s where the real power is (Romans 1:16).
Final Thoughts
So, where does that leave us? The same place it left the Corinthians: with a choice. We can chase the world’s wisdom—its credentials, its systems, its explanations—or we can cling to the Cross. Too often, we see a Church that looks like the world, appealing to the culture with watered-down messages to fit in. But that’s not what Paul preached. The Cross is exclusive but it’s the truth and the world needs to hear because it’s the only means of salvation.
I’d love to hear your thoughts—leave a comment below!
by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 11, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,”
— Ephesians 2:4-6
God Owes No One—Christ Paid It All
The power is in His Word, and these three verses are mind-boggling! But let’s be clear—this new life in Christ begins for those who have first heard and believed the gospel of their salvation (Ephesians 1:13). And these verses make one thing absolutely clear: God is the One who saves us—even in our trespasses!
We didn’t have to clean up our act before God would save us. No, no, no! We were DEAD in sin—completely helpless—but based solely on our faith in the gospel, He saved us. It is all His work!
“Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.” — Romans 4:4-5
So, What is the Gospel That Saves?
The gospel is not about what we do for God—it’s about what He has already done for us!
“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”
— 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. This is the finished work of the cross, and this is the gospel that saves!
All mankind will be judged by the gospel revealed to Paul by the ascended Lord Jesus.
‘in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.’
Romans 2:16
How Can You Be Saved?
1️⃣ We Are All Sinners
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” — Romans 3:23
No one is good enough to earn heaven. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s perfect standard.
2️⃣ The Penalty for Sin is Death
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 6:23
Sin brings death—not just physical death, but eternal separation from God. But praise God, eternal life is a free gift through Jesus Christ!
3️⃣ Christ Died for Us
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8
Jesus took our punishment! He died in our place, so we could receive forgiveness and eternal life.
4️⃣ We Are Saved by Faith Alone
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Romans 5:1
It is faith alone in Christ that makes us right with God—not works, not religion, not church attendance.
5️⃣ Call Upon the Lord and Be Saved!
“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”—- Romans 10:9
It’s that simple! Believe that Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and rose again. Trust in Him alone for salvation, and call upon Him—He will save you!
🙌 Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone!
If you’ve never placed your faith in Christ, today is the day of salvation! Trust in Him now—He is waiting with open arms.
Glory to God!
by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 9, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 1:6
A Promise We Can Trust
The Apostle Paul didn’t waver when he penned these words (Holy Spirit inspired). He wasn’t guessing or hoping—he was certain. When God begins a good work in a believer, He will finish it. This isn’t wishful thinking; it’s a divine guarantee tied to a specific moment: “the day of Jesus Christ.” So, what does that mean for us today?
The Day of Christ: Our Blessed Hope
Paul uses a unique phrase here—“the day of Christ”—found only in his letters (e.g., Philippians 1:6, 1 Corinthians 1:8). Unlike the “day of the Lord,” a time of judgment described in verses like Joel 2:31 (“The sun shall be turned into darkness… before the great and awesome day of the Lord”), the “day of Christ” is different. It’s the moment of joy and resurrection for the Church: the Rapture. Paul paints this picture in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17—when Christ returns in the air, the dead in Christ rise will rise first, and then the living believers are caught up to meet Him. In an instant, when that trump sounds we will be changed in the twinkling of the eye 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. It’s the fulfillment of the Church Age “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25), when His work of gathering Gentiles into the body of Christ is complete.
This isn’t about wrath—God spares us from that (1 Thessalonians 5:9)—but about our resurrection and reunion with our Savior.
God’s Faithfulness at Work
Paul wrote this promise to the Philippians (and to us), commending their “fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:5). Imagine that “first day”—Paul arriving in Philippi, sharing the gospel of grace with pagan Gentiles who’d never heard it before. Their faith took root not by their own power, but because God started something in them. And He wasn’t about to abandon it. The same is true for you. The moment you trusted in Christ’s finished work—His death, burial, and resurrection that paid for your sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)—God transformed you (2 Corinthians 5:17). Maybe you’ve doubted along the way, wondering if you’ll make it. Here’s the good news: it’s not up to you, God alone saves. He’s faithful to finish what He started.
A Future Secured
In a world full of uncertainty, we don’t have to wonder about our future. Our salvation is secure, not because of our strength, but because of His promise. The “day of Christ” is coming—a day when every believer will see God’s work in them completed. So, take heart. If you’re feeling weary, trust that He’s still at work. If you’re strong, praise Him for carrying you this far. Either way, keep looking up—He’s coming soon!
Living in Confidence Today
Are you resting in this promise? Thank God today for His faithfulness. Let it sink in: the One who began a good work in you isn’t done yet. He’s shaping you, step by step, for that glorious day—“the day of Jesus Christ”.
Be confident, be encouraged—and keep your eyes on Christ!
by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 6, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
‘For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ‘
II Corinthians 5:1
Do you feel like your tent (your physical body*) is collapsing under constant trials? You’re not alone—many have shared that weight with me. But here’s the good news: as believers, we’re never without hope. Paul, who knew suffering like few others, assures us our pain is temporary, our home in Christ eternal (2 Corinthians 5:1).
Paul’s Trials
Paul endured unimaginable hardship for the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:16)—beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, brutally whipped three times by the Romans. Yet he never wavered. He writes of being afflicted and struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:7-11). Even as his body frayed like a storm-battered tent, he clung to God’s promise of an eternal home. Like the psalmists crying for rescue, Paul trusted his story didn’t end in affliction.
Our Eternal Hope
Tents wear out—trials tear at them, time wears them down. But God’s building is unshakable, eternal, beyond pain’s reach (1 Corinthians 2:9). Why did Paul press on through hunger and persecution? Because this life’s sufferings pale next to the glory ahead (Romans 8:18). Christ’s resurrection sealed it—just as He rose, we’ll rise to an everlasting home.
Your Strength Today
Take heart! Your struggles—whether crushing like Paul’s or quiet sacrifices—aren’t in vain. They’re real but fleeting. Paul’s trials were extreme, yet every believer’s journey, big or small, rests on God’s sufficient grace (2 Corinthians 12:9). When this tent falls, a glorious home awaits, secured by Christ’s blood. What’s battering your tent today? Trust His promise—it’s tearing down for a reason, leading you to eternity.
Dive Into God’s Word
The power is in the Word of God! Open your Bible, read, study, and meditate on these passages. Let them strengthen you:
– 2 Corinthians 5:1 – “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
– 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 – Afflicted but not crushed, sustained through trials.
– 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
– 1 Corinthians 2:9 – “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard… the things which God has prepared…”
– 1 Corinthians 9:16 – Paul’s compulsion to preach the gospel.
– Romans 8:18 – “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory…”
Let God’s Word be your anchor today!
*“Paul used ‘tent’ as a metaphor for our physical body (2 Peter 1:13-14)—familiar to his readers at that time, many who lived in tents.
by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 3, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
Feeling overwhelmed by wars, deception, and a world gone mad? Scripture saw it coming—and for believers, it’s not chaos; it’s God’s plan unfolding. “I am God… declaring the end from the beginning,” says Isaiah 46:9-10. His counsel stands.
Paul warned Timothy, “In the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Sound familiar? We’re there! Yet Jesus said of “wars and rumors of wars,” “See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass” (Matthew 24:6). It’s the beginning of sorrows, not the end of hope.
“The falling away comes first” (2 Thessalonians 2:3), but “all things work together for good” for those who love God (Romans 8:28). Why stand firm? “He changes the times and seasons” (Daniel 2:21), and “though it tarries, wait for it; it will surely come” (Habakkuk 2:3). Jesus promises, “In Me you may have peace… I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Lift your heads—redemption draws near (Luke 21:28).
Don’t be anxious over evil (Psalm 37:7-8). Watch and be sober (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6). Look for “the blessed hope”—Christ’s return (Titus 2:13). The world’s descent is our ascent: God’s Word is true, and He’s coming soon. Proclaim the Gospel boldly—sin is the problem, Christ’s cross the cure. Everything’s falling into place. Are you ready?
Here are fifteen powerful verses that affirm God’s sovereignty and the certainty of His promises:
Old Testament Verses
Isaiah 46:9-10 – “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’”
Daniel 2:21 – And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”*ng.”
Habakkuk 2:3 – “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
Psalm 37:7-8 – “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm.”
Proverbs 19:21 – “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.”
Jesus’ Words in the Gospels
Matthew 24:4-5 – “And Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many.’”
Matthew 24:6-8 – “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
Luke 21:28 – “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Mark 13:7-8 – “But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.”
Paul’s Epistles
2 Thessalonians 2:3 – “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5 – (Paul describes the last days but reminds us that this is all part of God’s prophetic timeline.)
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 – “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Titus 2:13 – “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
