by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 19, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
Paul’s gospel doesn’t just declare that Jesus was raised from the dead—it explains why He was raised.
“Who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.”
(Romans 4:25)
This short verse is packed with gospel power. Christ was delivered up—handed over to death—because of our offenses. That is, He bore the penalty for our sins, taking the full weight of our guilt upon Himself at the Cross.
But why does Paul say He was raised because of our justification?
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the divine proof that the penalty for sin has been paid in full. The empty tomb is heaven’s declaration that God has accepted the sacrifice of His Son. Without the resurrection, we would have no assurance that the sin debt was satisfied. But because Jesus rose (bodily), our justification is secure. His resurrection is the receipt that the full price has been paid.
Justification is more than forgiveness—it’s the act of God declaring a sinner righteous in His sight. And that righteous standing is grounded in a risen Savior.
This is a truth uniquely revealed to Paul. The other apostles witnessed the resurrection and proclaimed it as evidence that Jesus was the promised Messiah of Israel. But Paul goes deeper. He reveals that Jesus was raised for our justification—for the justification of those who would trust Him by faith alone, apart from works (Romans 3:28).
This is why Paul can say in the very first verse of the next chapter, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). The resurrection guarantees our peace with God—not someday, but now.
Paul’s gospel is not merely about being forgiven—it’s about being declared righteous, sealed by a risen Christ who now intercedes for us at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34).
by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 17, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
As Resurrection Day draws near, our hearts and minds naturally turn to the finished work of Christ—His death, burial, and triumphant resurrection. But have you ever noticed how the apostle Paul speaks of the resurrection? He doesn’t just affirm it—he ties it uniquely to his gospel.
“Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel.” (2 Timothy 2:8)
Why does Paul say my gospel?
Because the gospel revealed to Paul was unlike anything previously known or preached. It was given to him by direct revelation from the risen, glorified Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11–12). Central to this gospel is not only the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but the divine truth that His resurrection secures the believer’s justification, union with Christ, heavenly identity, and eternal glorification. No one before Paul preached these truths—they were part of the mystery kept hidden in God (Ephesians 3:8–9).
Peter and the eleven believed in the resurrection, yes—but not according to Paul’s gospel. They believed in the resurrection in the same way Job did:
“For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God.”
(Job 19:25–27)
And like Martha, who said to Jesus:
“I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
(John 11:24)
This was the hope of Israel—the resurrection at the last day when Messiah would establish His kingdom. Even after Jesus rose from the dead, the apostles asked, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Their understanding of the resurrection was still rooted in prophecy and Israel’s earthly hope.
But Paul reveals something new: that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead according to my gospel—a gospel that unveils the heavenly calling and glorification of the Body of Christ. This gospel wasn’t known before. It’s the message that the risen Christ is now seated at the right hand of God and that believers are united with Him, raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4–5, Ephesians 2:5–6).
And here’s something staggering: every person who has ever lived—starting with Cain—will be judged by this gospel.
“…in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”
(Romans 2:16)
Paul’s gospel is not a side note in God’s plan—it’s the standard by which all men will be judged. Why? Because it is the full and final revelation of God’s redemptive purpose, centered in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
So as we celebrate the resurrection, let us remember it as Paul instructed: not only as a historical fact, not only as a promise to Israel, but as the divine cornerstone of the gospel given specifically to him—for us.
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by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 13, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
Palm Sunday: The King Who Came to Fulfill the Promises to Israel
“Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers.”
—Romans 15:8
Palm Sunday is a powerful moment in Scripture—a day that marks our Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem and the unfolding of events leading to the cross. But to truly understand the significance of Palm Sunday, we must first understand what it meant for Israel.
Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry was not a generic display of humility—it was the arrival of Israel’s promised King, fulfilling the very covenants He Himself made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. As Paul writes in Romans 15:8, Christ came “as a servant to the circumcision,” to confirm the promises made to the fathers.
A King Long Awaited
The angel Gabriel announced this truth clearly to Mary:
“The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever.” (Luke 1:32–33)
Zacharias, John the Baptist’s father, echoed the same hope when he prophesied:
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people…to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham.” (Luke 1:68–73)
For 1,500 years, Israel waited for this King. Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey wasn’t a spontaneous act—it was a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9. The people cried out, “Hosanna!” because they saw Him as the One who would restore the kingdom to Israel. And indeed, that kingdom will be restored—but not until His second coming.
Rightly Dividing God’s Word
It’s essential to understand that Scripture is a progressive revelation. God didn’t reveal everything at once—He unveiled His plans step by step, in perfect timing.
Palm Sunday took place in 29 AD, and at that point, the gospel of the grace of God was still hidden. The Church—the Body of Christ—had not yet begun. It wasn’t until over a decade later, around 40 AD, that the glorified Christ revealed this new and previously hidden message to the Apostle Paul (Galatians 1:11–12; Ephesians 3:1–9).
One of the great errors today is lumping everything together—reading Paul’s epistles into the four Gospels, or assuming Jesus’ earthly ministry was to the Body of Christ. But that’s not rightly dividing the Word of truth.
Jesus’ earthly ministry was to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:5–6; 15:24). He came to confirm the covenants and promises made to their fathers—not to begin the Church, which was still a mystery hidden in God.
We must read Scripture in time—understanding where we are in the unfolding of God’s plan.
As Paul says:
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
—Romans 15:4
The Old Testament and the four Gospels were written for our learning—they are the foundational building blocks of all God has revealed. We absolutely must study them. They show us God’s faithfulness, character, and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. And through them, we gain comfort and hope.
But if we read the Gospels as though they were written to us, or if we mix Israel’s earthly kingdom promises with the Church’s heavenly calling, we end up in confusion and error. We rob both programs of their distinct glory and purpose.
What About the Church?
So where do we stand today?
Christ is not reigning as King over the Church. He is our risen Lord and Savior the Head of Body, the body of Christ which is His Church. Saved by grace through faith alone in His finished work. Our relationship with Him is heavenly and spiritual—distinct from Israel’s earthly kingdom hope.
Yet Palm Sunday still speaks to us—because it reveals the faithfulness of our God. Everything He promised, He will fulfill. Just as He came the first time in humility, He will come again in glory—not on a donkey, but on a white horse (Revelation 19). And when He does, He will establish His kingdom and reign as Israel’s Messiah and the world’s righteous King.
Be Encouraged Today
Palm Sunday is a beautiful reminder that God keeps His promises—every single one. He was faithful to Israel, and He is faithful to us. As members of the Body of Christ, we rejoice in His grace, knowing that the same Jesus who entered Jerusalem as King will one day return as Judge and Deliverer.
Until then, we rest in the peace He gives, we live in the hope of His coming, and we praise Him—not just with palms, but with hearts full of gratitude.
Blessed is He who came for Israel and was later revealed as the Savior of the world—our risen Head, Jesus Christ!
by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 12, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
Passover is more than a historical feast—it is a picture of salvation by grace through faith. From the first Passover in Egypt to the cross of Christ, God has been revealing the necessity of blood for redemption. The story is one of deliverance, judgment passed over, and the perfect provision of a substitute.
“When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” — Exodus 12:13
The night the LORD delivered Israel from Egypt, He gave specific instructions. A spotless lamb was to be sacrificed, and its blood applied to the doorposts of every Israelite home. Death would visit every house in Egypt, but God made a promise: where He saw the blood, judgment would pass over.
This moment wasn’t about the worthiness of the people inside. It was about faith in what God had said. Hebrews 11:28 recounts the faith of the Israelites during the Passover, applying the blood to their doorposts. In that moment, their faith, trust, believing in God’s instructions (His word) saved them from a certain death. Similarly, in this age of grace, our faith determines our salvation. When God sees our faith alone in the gospel—when we believe that Christ’s shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection saves us—”For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” — 1 Corinthians 5:7
The blood of Christ is not a religious symbol; it is the very means by which God’s judgment passes over us. The first Passover was a shadow of the true and final deliverance found in Jesus Christ. Just as the Israelites trusted in the blood of a lamb, we are called to trust in the blood of The Lamb—Jesus Christ.
‘Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. ‘
I Corinthians 5:7
Faith Then and Now
In both covenants, salvation came by believing God’s word. In Exodus, it was faith in God’s provision and protection through the blood of a lamb. In our day, it is faith in the finished work of Christ, the true Passover Lamb.
“The faith of those Israelites in Exodus 12 wasn’t just a feeling or hope—it was action based on God’s promise. They applied the blood. Today, we ‘apply’ the blood by believing the gospel of grace. That belief alone saves.”
Let us never forget: the Lamb was slain, the blood was shed, and the promise still stands.
When God sees the blood—faith in the blood of His Son—He passes over. Judgment has already fallen on Christ. The work is finished-He is Risen!
‘being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ‘
Romans 3:24-25
and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.’
Colossians 1:20
by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 8, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
One of the most misunderstood truths in all of Scripture is the relationship between Gentile believers and the promises made to Abraham and his descendants. In today’s theological climate, there is a dangerous notion—widely taught and accepted—that the Church has replaced Israel, that God is somehow finished with His chosen people, and that Gentiles have inherited all that was promised to Abraham. But Scripture never says that.
In fact, the opposite is true.
Gentiles are partakers, not takers. The blessings and promises given to Abraham and his seed—the Jewish people—have not been transferred to the Church wholesale. Rather, by God’s incredible mercy and grace,
Gentiles are invited in, to share in what God is doing through His covenant people. Let’s look at what Scripture says.
Romans 11:17 – “…and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree.”
Paul uses the imagery of an olive tree to make a vital point. Gentiles, represented by a wild olive branch, are grafted into something that already existed—Israel, the cultivated olive tree. They are not the root. They are not the trunk. They are supported by it.
The word partaker here is crucial. It implies sharing, not replacing. Gentiles have not taken over the promises; we are grafted in to enjoy the richness of God’s covenant plan, rooted in Israel.
But Paul doesn’t stop there. He gives a sobering warning:
“Do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.” — Romans 11:18
In other words, don’t get prideful. Don’t become arrogant or presumptuous. Gentile believers should remain humble, knowing that our inclusion is an act of mercy, not entitlement.
Ephesians 3:6 – “…that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel.”
Again, the word partakers. Gentiles are included in God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. But Paul is careful to say this inclusion comes “through the gospel”—not through the Law, not through the Abrahamic Covenant directly, but by faith in Christ alone.
We are fellow heirs, yes—but not of everything promised to Israel. We are partakers of His promise in Christ, which centers on salvation by grace through faith.
Romans 15:27 – “For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.”
Here Paul reminds Gentile believers of their spiritual debt to the Jewish people. The gospel, the Scriptures, the covenants—all came through Israel. Gentiles have received immeasurable spiritual riches from the Jewish people. And Paul says our response should be one of gratitude, humility, and generosity.
The Mercy of God on All
Paul culminates his argument in Romans 11:32:
“For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.”
God’s plan was always to bring both Jew and Gentile under the mercy of the cross. He did not cast away His people (Romans 11:1)—He temporarily blinded them so that salvation could come to the Gentiles, to provoke Israel to jealousy and ultimately bring about their restoration.
Conclusion: Stand in Awe, Not Arrogance
To be a partaker is to receive something you didn’t earn, to share in something that began before you were ever in the picture. As Gentiles, we must never forget that we stand on the shoulders of God’s promises to Israel. We are grafted in by grace. And just as God has shown us mercy, He will show mercy again to His covenant people.
God is not finished with Israel. His promises are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). And one day, “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:26).
Let us, as partakers, be grateful, humble, and full of awe at the mercy of our God who is faithful to His Word.
by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 7, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
When we look at the cross of Christ, we see the perfect love and justice of God fully satisfied. What the Law could not do—because it was weakened by our sinful flesh—God did by sending His Son (Romans 8:3). This is the heart of the Gospel, and it is truly good news.
The Law was holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12), but it could never make a sinner righteous. Why? Because the Law demanded perfection, and fallen mankind could never keep it. The Law revealed sin; it exposed our inability to meet God’s standard. But it couldn’t redeem. It couldn’t save.
“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh.” —Romans 8:3 (NKJV)
Jesus Christ came “in the likeness of sinful flesh”—not as a sinner, but as a man, fully human yet without sin. He became the perfect sacrifice, willingly bearing the full weight and penalty of sin for all mankind. At the cross, sin was judged and condemned. Justice was served, and grace was unleashed.
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” —2 Corinthians 5:21
Think about that exchange: the sinless Savior became sin for us, so that we, who were full of sin, could become the righteousness of God. Not by trying harder. Not by keeping the Law. But by believing what He accomplished.
This righteousness is not earned—it’s received by faith.
“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.” —Romans 3:21
This means the Old Testament pointed forward to this grace-filled righteousness all along. Christ didn’t come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). And He did—once for all.
“By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” —Hebrews 10:10
The Apostle Paul, by the Holy Spirit, ties it all together in Romans 5. He compares the first Adam and the last Adam—Christ.
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Through Adam’s disobedience, sin and death entered the world.
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Through Christ’s obedience, grace and life now reign.
“For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” —Romans 5:17
“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” —Romans 5:18
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” —Romans 5:19
“That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” —Romans 5:21
What an incredible truth: God accomplished what we never could. Christ fulfilled the Law, satisfied God’s justice, and offered us His righteousness as a free gift. He did it all.
So now, what does God require?
Simply this: believe it.
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” —Romans 3:28
There is nothing left to earn. Christ’s finished work is enough. The moment we trust Him—His death for our sins and His resurrection for our justification—we are made righteous in God’s sight forever.
Final Thought
You don’t have to strive to be good enough. You never could be. But the good news is: Jesus already was, and He gave you His righteousness.
Do you believe it?
Let His grace reign in your life today.
Dive deeper into the life-giving truths of Scripture with my free Romans 8 Devotional Series—a daily-verse-by-verse study through one of the most powerful and inspiring chapters in the Bible. Each devotional is short, encouraging, and rooted in grace.