by Jamie Pantastico | Oct 27, 2023 | Daily Encouragement |
TODAY YOU COULD BE STANDING NEXT TO SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING THEIR BEST NOT TO FALL APART.
SO WHATEVER YOU DO TODAY, DO IT WITH KINDNESS IN YOUR HEART…
In a world filled with pain, heartbreak, and never-ending trials, we often encounter people who are quietly battling their own struggles. As the Bible reminds us, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
Today, you may stand beside someone who is fighting to hold it all together, putting on a brave face while wrestling with their inner turmoil. This is when kindness can become a powerful instrument of God’s love. “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart” (Proverbs 3:3).
As believers, we are called to be tenderhearted, compassionate, and supportive. Extend kindness, for it is the fruit of the Spirit and a testament to your faith. “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love” (Romans 12:10).
Today, let your heart overflow with kindness, and in your every action, demonstrate the love of Christ to those who need it most.
Bible reading:
I Peter 3:8
‘Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; ‘
Ephesians 4:32:
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Colossians 3:12:
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.”
Galatians 5:22:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith.”
Proverbs 3:3:
“Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”
Romans 12:10:
“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”
Yes! Even Believer’s Struggle with Depression
by Jamie Pantastico | Oct 25, 2023 | Daily Encouragement |
In Romans 11:25, a chapter that reassures us of God’s continued plan for Israel, the Apostle Paul reveals a remarkable mystery. This mystery, hidden in the mind of God until revealed to the apostle Paul, carries profound significance for the body of Christ and must be taught and understood.
The term “mystery” has its root in the Greek word “musterion,” which essentially means “secret.” It’s vital to understand this word, as it captures the essence of what Paul is unveiling.
Romans 11:25 says: “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery (or secret, a secret that has been hid in the mind of God until the apostle Paul) lest you should be wise in your own opinion, (but isn’t that the case today, when was the last time you were taught this?) that blindness in part (not forever, but Israel has been blinded for the past 1900 plus years) has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”
The Old Testament foresaw the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s plan, yet it also expected Israel to be the means of their salvation. Verses like Isaiah 42:6, Isaiah 49:6, Isaiah 60:1-3, and Zechariah 8:22–23 spoke of Israel as a “Kingdom of Priests” who would bring the Gentiles to God. However, what was never mentioned in the Old Testament—the four gospels or early chapters of Acts—was a secret hidden in the mind of God: that God would extend His salvation directly to the Gentiles apart from Israel’s involvement.
Due to Israel’s rejection of their Messiah, God temporarily set them aside (Romans 11:32). He dispersed them throughout the world after displacing them from Jerusalem (70 AD). In this unique turn of events, God reached out to the Gentiles with the Gospel of the Grace of God, a mystery previously concealed in His divine plan but now unveiled to the apostle Paul (Ephesians 3:1–11).
Romans 11:25 highlights the significant role of the Gentiles (the body of Christ) in God’s plan of salvation and assures us that God’s promises to Israel will still be fulfilled. This mystery reminds us that while Israel was temporarily blinded, it has not been abandoned forever.
Recommended reading:
Mercy for All: Unpacking the Mystery of Romans 11:32
by Jamie Pantastico | Oct 24, 2023 | Daily Encouragement |
📖 The Progressive Revelation in God’s Plan 🕰️
Understanding the Bible requires recognizing God’s sovereign hand in history. His unchanging character is our foundation, but His dealings with mankind have evolved throughout time. This is the essence of the Bible’s progressive revelation, revealing different dispensations of God’s plan at specific points in history.
Time Period: Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 11
The first two thousand years of biblical history (human history) are recorded in the first eleven books of the Bible. It is crucial to study these first eleven chapters, as they set the trajectory for God’s great plan of salvation for all mankind.
For the first 2000 years, all of mankind spoke one language, and God directly interacted with all mankind. There was no written law or prescribed instructions to worship God except that when a person sinned, they were to bring a blood sacrifice to God by faith, and their faith (plus works, bringing a blood sacrifice) would save them just like it saves us today. Basically, everything God instructed Cain and Abel to do was the format for all mankind for that time period (4004 BC–2000 BC).
Scripture is clear as to what mankind did with those instructions; they said thanks, but no thanks, God; we will do our own thing; and all mankind thought of all the time was evil. So God destroyed them with the flood except for Noah and his family (8 people) out of billions. Then, from the time Noah and his family left the Ark, another 200 years went by, and mankind was right back in full rebellion mode, doing their own thing and rebelling against God by refusing to fill the earth and populate the planet. So God forces mankind to scatter by confusing the languages.
📜 “Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.” (Genesis 11:1, NKJV)
God commanded mankind to scatter, and of course, mankind rebelled and said, No thank you, God, we will stay right here. So God came down and confused their languages, forcing them to scatter (Genesis 11:7-9).
by Jamie Pantastico | Oct 24, 2023 | Daily Encouragement |
Introduction
The Bible is a progressive revelation, unveiling God’s plan for humanity. In this progression, there is a moment that dramatically alters the course of human history. It’s a moment marked by two words: “But now.” These two words encapsulate a distinct progression in God’s redemptive plan, a shift that took place around 37 AD–40 AD. It’s crucial to understand the historical context and theological significance of this “But Now” moment.
The apostle Paul’s use of “But Now” in passages like Romans 16:25, Romans 3:21, Ephesians 2:13, and Colossians 1:25-27 serves as a pivotal time marker to signify a profound shift in God’s redemptive plan. It highlights a moment when God’s grace poured out upon all mankind, previously concealed, is now fully revealed, indicating a transition from what was known or practiced in the past to a new era of understanding and God’s plan for salvation. It signifies a move from the Law and Israel (temporarily) to grace and the body of Christ, emphasizing the significance of God’s grace, faith, and the finished work of Christ as the means of salvation for all mankind, both Jews and Gentiles.
The Historical Context
Before this pivotal moment, between 2000 BC and 40 AD, salvation was primarily reserved for the nation of Israel. The Old Testament and the Gospels reveal God’s dealings with the Jews only, His chosen people, with few exceptions for Gentiles (only nine Gentiles were saved). From the time of Abraham, God’s plan was to create a people for His name, the Jews, promising the coming of a Messiah who would rule from Jerusalem as Israel’s King. Meanwhile, the Gentile world had no such revelation.
The covenants with Abraham, Moses, and David laid the groundwork for God’s promises to Israel. The Gospels saw Jesus fulfilling Old Testament prophecies (Romans 15:8), but His rejection led to the crucifixion and a pivotal moment.
The “But Now” Moment
The “But Now” of Romans 16:25–26, Romans 3:21, Colossians 1:25-27, and Ephesians 2:13 began to unfold with Jesus’ crucifixion (as explained so beautifully in John 12:20–24). This moment marked the crescendo of Israel’s unbelief. After the rejection of Jesus, the nation faced Stephen’s stoning in Acts 7. God, in His sovereign plan, blinded Israel (Romans 11:25; Romans 11:32–33) to open the floodgates to all mankind, regardless of nationality or religious rituals. Salvation became a free gift (Romans 5:18) by grace through faith alone in Christ’s finished work.
The Revelation of the Mystery
The mystery of the gospel of grace revealed to the apostle Paul brought a major progression in God’s redemptive plan. This mystery, hidden in God, made salvation available to all, Jews and Gentiles, through faith alone. This clashed with the traditional orthodox Jews and their leadership (Pharisees and Sadducees) and the Jews of the Jerusalem Church like Peter, James, and John, who believed the gospel of the kingdom that Jesus was indeed the Christ (the promised Messiah) and the Son of God. Both groups fiercely clashed with Paul and the gospel of grace that now (“But Now”), Gentiles had access to Israel’s God without keeping the Mosaic law and temple worship. It was anathema to both groups!
The Judaizers tried to stamp out the apostle Paul’s grace message, and those from the Jerusalem church tried to undermine Paul’s gospel of grace by sending spies into Paul’s congregations, telling them they could not be saved unless they kept the law and were circumcised.
Implications and Conclusion
The “But Now” of Romans 16:25–26, Romans 3:21, Colossians 1:25-27, and Ephesians 2:13 represent a shift from a covenant-based, law-centric religious system to grace-centered faith-alone salvation. This moment still reverberates today, teaching us that we are not under the yoke of the law but under grace. Salvation is available to all, inviting people to come as they are (hell-bound sinners) and receive the free gift of salvation by faith in Christ’s finished work. The gospel message is clear: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, and we are saved by grace through faith alone (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
In understanding this “But Now” moment, we gain insight into God’s incredible grace and wisdom, which offers salvation freely to all.
Recommended reading:
Peter vs. Paul: Conclusion: Paul tells Peter How Mankind will Be Saved Going Forward
by Jamie Pantastico | Oct 21, 2023 | Daily Encouragement |
Psalm 90:2 says, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”
In a world of constant change and uncertainty, there’s tremendous comfort in worshipping a God who never changes. Our Lord is not bound by time or limited by our human understanding. He exists from everlasting to everlasting, and His sovereignty reigns over all.
No matter the challenges we face, take refuge in knowing that God is with us, guiding our steps, and holding us in His unwavering love. Let’s rest in the truth that the One who created the mountains is the same God who walks beside us daily.
“God’s power resides in His Word. We must read, meditate on, and study it daily. Open your Bible and explore these passages.”
Bible Reading:
‘“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”’
Revelation 1:8
‘Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the Lord , am the first; And with the last I am He.’ ”’
Isaiah 41:4
Malachi 3:6: “For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.”
James 1:17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Numbers 23:19: “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
Psalm 102:27: “But You are the same, and Your years will have no end.”
