Jamie Pantastico - Free Bible Study Classes - Genesis through Revelation

Christians are Not to be Sandpaper to the World

by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 28, 2021 | Christianity, Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

Contrary to the world and many in Christendom today. True believers are NOT to be sandpaper to the world. But instead, the Lord admonishes us to be kind, gentle and what is probably most difficult… we are to be PATIENT WITH THE LOST & EVIL WORLD AROUND US.

The Lord Himself is the epitome of patience…as the apostle Peter writes in 2 Peter 3:15;

and consider that the longsuffering (or patience) of our Lord is salvation (of who or what? ‘mankind’)—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

II Peter 3:15

Paul writes Holy Spirit inspired of course, in 2 Timothy, that we are to be kind, gentle, and patient with both fellow believers and the lost world around us.

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,

2 Timothy 2:24-25

Why Should God Let You Into His Heaven? ‘Faith Alone’ Ephesians 2:8-9

by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 22, 2021 | Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

The moment you try to do anything to merit favor with God for salvation, it is no longer a gift. When salvation becomes something you did (anything) for your salvation instead of what Christ has already finished on the cross, God’s grace is nullified. Galatians 2:20-21.

‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”’

Galatians 2:20-21

Think about this, if you have added anything other than by faith alone in the finished work of the cross for your salvation… Will God let you into His Heaven?

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith (faith alone. It’s just by our faith in what Christ accomplished, and made possible by the Grace of God),…

and that not of yourselves (because there is nothing you can do anyway); (Why? Because) it (salvation) is the gift of God not of works, lest anyone should boast.

The Book of Ephesians Chapter 3 Verse One “For this Reason”

by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 22, 2021 | Bible Study, Daily Encouragement | 0 comments

The Biblical truth that God revealed to the apostle Paul alone new revelations that had been kept hidden in the mind of God is avoided and ignored by most preachers and teachers.

In Ephesians chapter three, Paul unloads and unpacks the mystery or secret of Christ.

Peter, John, and James didn’t teach this, Isaiah didn’t teach this, Jeremiah didn’t teach this. Why? It was all hidden in the mind of God until revealed to this one man, Paul. Just that simple concept is hard for people to deal with but it is a Biblical fact. Scripture is explicit, the ascended and glorified Lord Himself revealed to Paul and Paul alone these new revelations. Let’s take a look at the first 3 words of Ephesians chapter three verse one.

‘For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— ‘

Ephesians 3:1

For this reason,…

What does Paul mean when he says ‘For this reason…? ” He is referring to what he just expounded on in the previous two chapters. Of which the highlight is that NOW (and not before) we are saved by grace through faith alone. Passages most are familiar with and have seen on Bible tracts…

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith (faith alone), and that not of yourselves (because there is nothing you can do anyway); (Why? Because) it (salvation) is the gift of God (the moment you try to do anything to merit favor with God, it is no longer a gift and becomes something that you did for your salvation in place of what Christ has already completed and you nullify God’s grace Galatians 2:20-21), not of works, lest anyone should boast.

You will not find this language or teaching anywhere in Scripture except from Paul’s epistles.

We will continue and examine the remainder of Ephesians 3:1, in another post.

The apostle Peter’s Last Words are to Read Paul’s Epistles for things Regarding Salvation

by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 12, 2021 | Daily Encouragement, Salvation | 0 comments

The apostle Paul could teach the full counsel of God because he was given the full counsel of God. Unlike Peter and the eleven and all Jewish writers before Paul, it was Paul alone who was given the full counsel of God (Acts 20:27; Ephesians 3:1-11).

Peter wrote, more like pleaded with his readers that they must go to Paul’s epistles for the things regarding salvation. These are Peter’s last Holy Spirit-inspired words he would write before he was martyred.

‘and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things (What things? Salvation!), in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You, therefore, beloved, since you know this (Know what? What he is telling his readers to do and where to go for salvation!) beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; ‘

II Peter 3:15-17

Why not admonish his readers to refer back to the sermon on the mount? Or refer back to the Lord’s earthly ministry? “Regarding Salvation”. Remember, these are the apostle Peter’s very last words he would write before he is martyred and his Holy Spirit admonishment is to read Paul’s letters for salvation.

This is in no way a suggestion just to read Paul’s epistles and forget the rest of the Bible. NO WAY! Peter isn’t suggesting that nor does any other author of Scripture. I believe that we should study all Scripture to exhaustion. But what the apostle Peter says in 2 Peter 3:15-17 couldn’t be more clear. If you seek salvation you must read Paul’s letters. And if you don’t understand Paul’s epistles don’t try twisting them to fit your theology or you are doomed.

The Answer to the Question Why Did Peter say Read Paul’s Epistles?

First, the apostle Peter writes his last letter, 2 Peter sometime around 67-68 AD. This is 17 years after the Jerusalem council (51AD), and the Jerusalem council is crucial to why Peter writes what he did in 2 Peter 3:15-17. The Jerusalem council is where God revealed to the apostle Paul to go up to Jerusalem and explain to Peter and the leaders of the Jerusalem church how things would be moving forward. What things specifically? That salvation was for both Jew and Gentile by faith alone in the finished work of the cross apart from practicing the law and temple worship. And it was the apostle Peter who stood up during this council and said this:

‘But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”’

Acts 15:11

Peter didn’t stand up and tell Paul to take a hike. No one at the Jerusalem council told Paul to get out of here with these new revelations. Not one of the Church elders said we’ve been practicing the Mosaic law for 1500 years so thank you Paul but you can leave now. Why? Because they all recognized that Paul had been given new revelations from the ascended and glorified Lord Himself. But it was incredibly hard for Peter and the others of the Jerusalem church to just drop their Judaism (understandably). As we see Peter not long after the Jerusalem council has fallen back under the law and it is the apostle Paul that confronts Peter to his face, upbraided Peter and all that were doing the same.

‘Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I (Paul) withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him (Peter), so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I (this is Paul speaking to Peter) said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 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. “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”’

Galatians 2:11-21

Wow! Today, we would say ‘he really told him off, and Holy Spirit inspired to boot!

From the time of the Jerusalem council and Peter’s last letter (about 17 years), he came to understand (remembering what was revealed to him by Paul at the Jerusalem council) that the law was fulfilled at the cross and there was no need to practice the law or temple worship. So after Peter’s great ministry with the Lord and through the early chapters of the book of Acts, after witnessing and performing countless miracles, witnessing the incarnation, walking with the resurrected Lord, and witnessing His ascension. The apostle Peter’s last epistle and last words admonish his readers to read Paul’s epistles for things regarding salvation.

Please take more than a moment and meditate on this truth.

Sorry Pastor Mary Knew Bible Prophecy Better than We Do

by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 11, 2021 | Daily Encouragement, Timeline | 0 comments

Many in Christendom believe that when you get to Matthew Chapter 1, we have Christianity and the body of Christ. But that couldn’t be further from the Biblical truth!

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are extensions of God dealing with the nation of Israel, based on the Old Testament covenants and promises beginning with Abraham in Genesis 12.

That a Messiah, Jesus Christ, will come to the nation of Israel as their King and bring in an everlasting kingdom with Israel as the preeminent nation above all nations. As the angel Gabriel is about to announce to Mary and Zacharias in Luke chapter one. Not with the message that He (Jesus) is going to the cross to die for the sins of the world. That, of course, is the culmination of God’s plan of redemption. The “mystery” is not yet revealed (Romans 16:25). But Israel’s promised King is coming to His own to fulfill the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David (Romans 15:8).

In Luke chapter 1, we find the angel Gabriel announcing to Mary what is about to happen. Here we have an introduction and clear explanation as to why Jesus is making His appearance to the nation of Israel.

It is crucial to identify the context and time element

At this moment in time, when the angel Gabriel makes his appearance to Mary and Zacharias in Luke chapter 1,. Israel is still under the law, followers of Jesus continue practicing the Mosaic law, the Temple is in full operation and sacrifices are being made. There is no Biblical record of the Lord giving a command to His followers to stop practicing the law during His earthly ministry (actually it’s the complete opposite). Even after the cross and the Lord’s ascension, and into the early chapters of Acts there is NO command to stop practicing the law. That command will not come until much further down the road when God calls out the apostle of the Gentiles, Paul.

In addition, from the moment God called out Abram in Genesis 12, to create a people for His name the Jewish people the Gentile world has hated Israel, wants nothing to do with Jews or wanted them annihilated. A Biblical fact that Zacharias, father of John the Baptist demonstrates so clear in Luke 1:67-75.

To teach that at this moment in Biblical history we have our gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; faith alone in the death, burial, and resurrection apart from the law Romans 3:21) and doctrine for the body of Christ is grossly errant. Because the Biblical record does not support it. One must throw out all discipline, rigor, and consistency when interpreting Scripture to come to the conclusion that Luke 1:30-33, is anything other than God dealing with Israel and fulfilling the covenant promises He made to Israel’s forefathers. Of course, this passage along with ALL Scripture is foundational and must be studied to exhaustion as part of the whole counsel of God. But this particular passage and time is not “Christianity”. It is God dealing with Israel.

Now here we have the angel Gabriel announcing to Mary what is about to happen:

“And the angel said unto her, `Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.’”

Luke 1:30-33

The literal reading of this passage is that God would give Mary a son, Jesus, David’s throne in Jerusalem. He will rule and reign over Jacob or Israel forever. The promise was all in all, totally Jewish. As it is a direct fulfillment of the Abrahamic (Genesis 12:1-3) and Davidic (2 Samuel 7:8-17) covenants which were divinely revealed to and for Jew only.

So how would have Mary reacted to the words of the angel Gabriel?

The answers are in the text. Scripture always interprets Scripture. Mary would have harkened back to the Davidic covenant and the prophetic passages that for the past hundreds of years promised the nation of Israel a Messiah/King and a kingdom that would rule over all other kingdoms and it (the nation of Israel) would be an everlasting kingdom above all other nations.

The context of Luke 1:30-33, clearly indicates Gentiles or the Church, the body of Christ is not in view (it couldn’t have because it wasn’t revealed yet. And would not be revealed until approximately 11 to 14 years in the future). An interpretation that denies this is emphatically erroneous.

Jesus was a Jew from the tribe of Judah from the house of David (2 Samuel 7:13). Herod occupied David’s throne during the Lord’s earthly ministry and he was a Gentile, an Idumean.

Did Jesus occupy David’s throne? Is the Lord ruling and reigning in Jerusalem now? No and no, Jesus is seated at the right hand of his Father’s throne (Psalm 110.1). The King and the kingdom await fulfillment.

Beloved, there is coming a day sooner than mankind expects (Matthew 24:43,44;1 Thessalonians 5:2) in which Jesus will rule from Jerusalem on David’s throne and fulfill all God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David just as the angel Gabriel announced to Mary (Daniel 2:44; 7:14; Zechariah 14:9; Isaiah 9:6-7).

Today, and for almost 2000 years God has opened the flood gates of heaven pouring out His grace upon ALL mankind. With a salvation message based on faith alone of the finished work of the cross, apart from the law and temple worship. What we have on this side of the cross is so much better and that is what the entire book of Hebrews is about. But that is for another post.

‘Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how 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

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