by Jamie Pantastico | Jun 3, 2024 | Forgetting the Past |
Philippians 3:13-14
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
As believers, we often struggle with our past—mistakes, failures, and sins that weigh us down. Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, reminds us of a crucial spiritual discipline: forgetting what lies behind and pressing forward. This act of moving forward isn’t about ignoring our past but about choosing to live in the present power of the gospel.
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are forgiven—past, present, and future. The gospel gives us the power to move forward, leaving behind the chains that once bound us. Our identity in Christ means we are new creations, no longer defined by past failures but by the hope and future we have in Him.
As believers we are a new creation our ambassadors for Christ, we have a purpose in this dark world. Let us embrace this truth, knowing that our past does not determine our future. Instead, we press on, empowered by His grace and love, towards the upward calling He has set before us.
Prayer: Lord, help me to forget, to not dwell on my past, forgetting those things which are behind me and reach forward to the future You have for me. Thank You for the power of the gospel that forgives and transforms. Empower me to live as Your ambassador as a light in this dark world. Amen.
Forget, do not dwell on your past failures, mistakes or sins because God has forgiven you of it all. Rejoice, rejoice in this truth, and move forward with joy.
by Jamie Pantastico | May 20, 2024 | Daily Encouragement |
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus provides a powerful message about the importance of trusting God and not worrying about our daily needs. He says:
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Jesus reassures us that God is fully aware of our needs and will provide for us. Just as He cares for the birds and the flowers, He will certainly care for us, His beloved children. The key is to trust (have faith) Him and seek His kingdom and righteousness above all else.
The instruction is simple: “Do not worry.” Worrying cannot add a single hour to our lives or solve any of our problems. Instead, it only distracts us from living in faith and experiencing God’s peace. Jesus encourages us to focus on today, trusting that God will take care of our needs each day as it comes.
When we put our faith in God and seek His kingdom first, we can rest assured that He will provide for us. This doesn’t mean we should be careless or lazy, but it means living with the confidence that God is our provider and sustainer.
Remember, Jesus said it – so take Him at His word and have faith. Let go of worry and embrace the peace that comes from trusting in God’s provision.
by Jamie Pantastico | May 19, 2024 | Daily Encouragement |
and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
Ephesians 1:19
The power of the gospel is heart transformative and unparalleled. Ephesians 1:19 speaks of “the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe (the gospel alone by faith alone), according to the working of His mighty power.” This power, available to all who believe, is not just an abstract concept but a dynamic force that was mightily displayed in Christ’s resurrection.
The Mighty Power of Resurrection
Ephesians 1:20 states, “Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.” This same power that brought Jesus back to life is at work in believers. The resurrection of Christ is the cornerstone of our faith, demonstrating the ultimate power of God over sin, the law, Satan and death.
Christ’s Exalted Position
Ephesians 1:21 declares, “Far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come.” Christ’s name is above all names, now and forever. No power or authority can compare to Him, underscoring His supreme position and the completion of His redemptive work.
The Finished Work of Redemption
The completion of Christ’s work is highlighted in Hebrews. After achieving redemption (2 Corinthians 5:20-21), He sat at the right hand of the Father, signaling that nothing more is needed for our salvation. Hebrews 1:3 says, “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” This profound truth assures believers that salvation is secure and complete in Christ.
Superior to All
Hebrews constantly compares the old covenant with the new, showing how Christ’s sacrifice is far superior to the law. Hebrews 1:4 states, “Having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” This comparison emphasizes the superiority of Christ’s redemptive work, providing believers with a firm foundation and unshakable hope.
Encouragement for Believers
The power of the gospel is the foundational sole source of encouragement for believers. It (the gospel) reminds us that our faith is grounded in the mighty power of God, evidenced by the resurrection and exaltation of Christ. This power is available to all who believe, assuring us of our secure and complete salvation.
Believers can rest in the knowledge that no more priestly work is needed; Christ’s sacrifice was once and for all (Hebrews 10:10-18). His position at the right hand of the Father assures us of His continued intercession (on the believers behalf) and supreme authority over all things. These truths provide unending encouragement and steadfast hope for all who believe the gospel.
In summary, the gospel’s power is a testament to God’s mighty works, especially in the resurrection and exaltation of Christ. Believers are encouraged to hold firm to this truth, knowing that our salvation is secure and complete in Him.
by Jamie Pantastico | May 18, 2024 | Daily Encouragement |
‘Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.’
Philippians 3:13-14
In Philippians 3:13-14, the apostle Paul delivers a powerful message that resonates deeply with those seeking encouragement to forget the past and move forward to better days. Amidst a backdrop of trials and tribulations, Paul declares, “This one thing I do.” These words, simple yet profound, and which are most often overlooked by the rest of the verse, serve as a call to action, urging believers to focus on a singular, transformative purpose: forgetting what lies behind and pressing forward toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Too often, we find ourselves burdened by the weight of past mistakes, death of loved ones, toxic relationships, failures, and regrets. We allow the shadows of yesterday to cast doubt and fear over our present circumstances, hindering our progress and stifling our growth. But Paul, through his own experience and wisdom, reminds us that dwelling on the past serves no purpose in our pursuit of God’s calling for our lives. Instead, he exhorts us to forget those things which are behind us and embrace the boundless possibilities of tomorrow.
“This one thing I do,” Paul declares. In these words, he encapsulates the essence of wholehearted devotion and unwavering determination. He sets aside distractions and diversions, focusing his energy and attention on the singular task before him: moving forward in faith. Likewise, we are called to adopt this mindset, casting off the chains of the past and fixing our eyes on the path ahead with the word of God as our guide.
As we heed Paul’s exhortation to forget what lies behind and press forward, we discover a newfound sense of freedom and joy. We no longer allow past failures to define, we no longer allow toxic people or situations to dictate and control our future. Instead, we step forward boldly, confident in the knowledge that God is leading us onward toward a future that brings honor and glory to Him.
So let us embrace Paul’s Holy Spirit inspired instructions with unwavering conviction: “This one thing I do.” Let us break the grip of the past (because God has already forgotten and forgiven you), and move forward, knowing that God’s grace is sufficient for all that is ahead of us.
by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 21, 2024 | Daily Encouragement |
As believers we are to know what we believe, we are not to believe in vain. It’s not about rituals, traditions, or even our own works—it’s about believing, faith, and trust. Believing the gospel message is what brings us into a right relationship with God. The Apostle Paul, through his letters, consistently emphasizes this central truth: salvation is appropriated by believing the gospel alone, by faith alone.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
“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,”
Here, Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. This is the foundation of our faith and the means by which we are saved.
Romans 3:21-26
“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
Paul underscores that righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. It’s not about our deeds or the law but about faith in finished work of the cross.
Romans 4:5
“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,”
Paul emphasizes that righteousness is not earned through works but is credited to us when we believe in Him who justifies the ungodly.
Galatians 2:16
“knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”
Paul makes it clear that justification comes through faith in Christ, when we believe the gospel (the death, burial and resurrection) not by adhering to the law or our works.
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Our salvation is a gift from God, received through faith alone in the finished work of the cross not by our own efforts or merits.
Beware of false teachers who pervert the simplicity of the gospel by adding conditions. Whether they say you must repent and be baptized to be saved, or they emphasize faith in the gospel but add steps like baptism or other works, they are misleading. This is akin to the Judaizers of Paul’s congregation in Galatia, who were add circumcision and law-keeping to Paul’s message salvation by faith alone in the finished work of the cross. Such teachings corrupt (ever so subtly) the gospel’s core message. Salvation is a free gift from God, received solely through believing by faith alone in the gospel alone. Let’s remain steadfast in this truth and rest in the simple and yet powerful gospel that saves souls.
There is Only One Way to Heaven ‘Jesus Christ’