by Jamie Pantastico | May 25, 2023 | Daily Encouragement |
In a chaotic, unloving world covered with darkness and deception, there is a desperate need for the Truth. It is the very essence of Christ’s sacrificial love—His crucifixion, shed blood, burial, and glorious resurrection. This is the gospel, the epitome of God’s extraordinary love for mankind.
Let us not shy away from sharing this heart-transforming message. The world around us thirsts for the hope, redemption, and eternal life found in this Truth. Amidst the darkness of this world ruled by Satan, we are called to be beacons of light, heralding the gospel with boldness and compassion.
As we boldly proclaim the Truth, hearts will be transformed, lives will be restored, and the world will witness the power of God’s love in action. Share the truth, for it has the power to break chains, heal wounds, and bring eternal salvation to those in need.
This is the gospel (Truth):
‘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
All mankind will be judged by this Truth (the gospel):
At the Great White Throne judgment, all the lost will be judged according to the gospel revealed to the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
‘in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. ‘
Romans 2:16
by Jamie Pantastico | May 22, 2023 | Daily Encouragement |
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:31-32
In the light of God’s incredible love and mercy towards us, demonstrated through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, we are called to a higher standard of living. Let go of ALL (not just what suits you) bitterness, anger, and judgment. Instead, embrace kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. Just as Christ forgave us completely, let us extend that same grace to others. We are to live a life marked by love, understanding, and reconciliation. Remember, as believers, we are all recipients of God’s boundless mercy and amazing grace (unmerited favor), and it is through our actions that His love shines brightly in this dark world around us.
Bible Reading
The Power of Bible Study: Understanding God’s Word
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
Don’t just skim through these passages; take out your Bible, open its pages, and dive deep into the Word of God. It’s not enough to read; we must study and meditate on the verses. The truth is, understanding Scripture requires repeated readings, prayerful reflection, and dedicated study. You don’t need advanced degrees to comprehend God’s message; all you need is a humble heart, a hunger for knowledge, and a willingness to invest time in studying His Word.
As you dig into the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit will illuminate your understanding. With each repetition, new insights will unfold, deeper meanings will surface, and the message of God’s love and truth will penetrate your soul, strengthening your faith which is your shield against the evil one; ‘above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one’ Ephesians 6:16. Embrace the transformative power of studying the Word, for it equips you as a faithful servant, approved by God, who rightly divides the truth.
Galatians 2:20
‘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.’
Colossians 3:1-11
‘If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.’
II Corinthians 5:14-15,17
‘For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.’
by Jamie Pantastico | May 16, 2023 | Daily Encouragement |
Here are three of many verses in the Bible that admonish believers to be thankful for everything in and all situations.
Ultimately, our heart of gratitude and thankfulness comes from the fact that God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to die on our behalf.
‘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.’
Galatians 2:16
- Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
- Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
These verses from the apostle Paul remind believers of the importance of maintaining a heart of gratitude. They encourage us to hold to an attitude of thanksgiving in all circumstances, recognizing that thankfulness is God’s will for us. By allowing the peace of God to rule in our hearts and offering continuous thanks to Him, we display a heart filled with gratitude, acknowledging His goodness and provision in our lives.
by Jamie Pantastico | May 16, 2023 | Daily Encouragement |
In the progression of God’s plan of salvation, we find the essence of God’s amazing grace — that we are saved not by our own works but by placing our faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. Our salvation rests on the truth of the gospel found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, that Christ died (shed His blood) for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day.
“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.”
Galatians 2:16
“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”
Romans 4:5
Grace Beyond Works
No amount of good deeds or adherence to the law can earn us salvation. It is by faith in Jesus Christ and the finished work of the cross alone that we are justified before God. Our faith, a gift from God, secures our righteousness and reconciliation with Him (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Trusting the Finished Work
When we recognize our own sinfulness and acknowledge our inability to save ourselves, we humbly place our trust in Jesus. His sacrifice on the cross, His shed blood paid the price for our sins, and through faith alone (in the gospel), we receive the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).
A Free Gift of Grace
Salvation is not a result of our own efforts but a free gift of God’s grace (Romans 5:15; Romans 3:24). It is freely offered to all who believe (not work), regardless of their past or present circumstances. God justifies the ungodly (Romans 5:8), declaring them righteous through faith.
Walking in Freedom
By knowing the truth that we are saved by faith and not by works, we are set free from the burden of striving to earn our salvation. We can confidently trust in God’s grace, knowing that His love and mercy are more than sufficient to cover our sins past, present, and future.
‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. ‘
Galatians 5:1
Living in Gratitude
Our response to this incredible gift of salvation is one of deep gratitude. We strive to live lives that honor God, not out of obligation or to earn His favor, but out of love and gratitude for what He has done for us (Ephesians 2:10).
‘that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ‘
Colossians 1:10
by Jamie Pantastico | May 15, 2023 | Daily Encouragement |
Revelation 20:1-10
View Timeline #24
‘Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.’
Revelation 20:1-6
The Millennial Kingdom is a 1000-year period in which Jesus will reign on earth as King of kings from Jerusalem on David’s throne. Israel will be the top nation among all nations. Fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant, Jesus made Himself with Abraham in Genesis 12. During the thousand-year reign of Christ, Satan will be bound and unable to deceive the nations. But at the end of the 1000 years, Satan will be set free and will lead one last rebellion against God. This rebellion will end in the Battle of Armageddon, where the Lord Jesus, the King of kings, will destroy and crush Satan’s armies. Satan will be tossed into the lake of fire where the antichrist and the false prophet have been for 1000 years.
The One Thousand Year Reign of Jesus Christ Mentioned in the Old and New Testament
The prophet Isaiah provides us some insight into this period in Isaiah 65:20-25. Here, he mentions that during God’s reign, human lifespans will be notably lengthened, reminiscent of the ages before the Great Flood. It’s a time when people will bear children, construct houses, and cultivate crops. Interestingly, physical death will still be present, suggesting that this kingdom endures a considerable period in human terms. However, the Old Testament doesn’t specify its exact duration.
The book of Revelation 20:2-7 sheds light on this mystery, revealing that this kingdom will prevail for a thousand years. To emphasize the thousand-year reign of Christ, the book of Revelation mentions one thousand years six times. Following this epoch, the existing heaven and earth will face destruction, the last judgments will transpire, and a new heaven and earth will be created.
Amillennialists, those who believe the millennium is a symbolic period, often cite 2 Peter 3:10 to argue that the earth will be annihilated immediately after the rapture within a single day. The verse reads, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” However, this interpretation seems to overlook the context of the passage.
Just two verses earlier, Peter clarifies: “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). This statement suggests that what we perceive as a ‘day’ could actually signify a thousand years. Therefore, Peter’s writing doesn’t contradict the depictions of the millennial kingdom in Revelation or the prophecies in Isaiah.