by Jamie Pantastico | Sep 6, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
Bitterness robs peace. Christ calls us to freedom.
đ âPursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.â â Hebrews 12:14â15
đż The Poison of Bitterness
Bitterness is like a rootâit starts small but grows deep, unseen by others until it begins to bear its destructive fruit. Many believers carry wounds from betrayal, disappointment, regret, or injustice. Left unchecked, those wounds fester into bitterness. And bitterness never stays put. It leads to anger, anger to hate, and hate to despair.
Bitterness robs you of peace. It clouds your joy, poisons your relationships, and makes it nearly impossible to walk in the Spirit. Instead of living in the freedom Christ purchased for you, bitterness chains you down to the past.
âď¸ The Admonishment
Godâs Word is direct: believers are not called to live in bitterness. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:31â32:
âLet 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.â
To cling to bitterness is to live in open opposition to the life God has called you to. It is spiritual quicksand, keeping you stuck and dragging others down with you. To refuse forgiveness is to forget how much you yourself have been forgiven.
â The Encouragement
Here is the good news: you donât have to stay bitter. Christ bore your sin, your shame, your hurtâall of itâon the cross. He offers peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7) and joy unspeakable (1 Peter 1:8).
When you surrender bitterness to God, you are not making excusesâyou are entrusting it to the righteous Judge and the One who can bear your burdens. 1 Peter 5:7 reminds us to, âcast all all your burdens upon Him., for He cares for you.â
Forgiveness is not weaknessâit is strength. It is choosing to live free in Christ rather than chained by resentment.
đ The Path Forward
- Acknowledge it: Admit to God that bitterness has taken root in your heart. He already knows.
- Replace it: Fill the space bitterness once occupied with Godâs Word, prayer, and thanksgiving.
As you take these steps, youâll find peace rushing in where bitterness once lived.
đ Closing Word
Dear believer, bitterness is a thief. It steals your joy, your peace, and your testimony. But Christ has called you to freedom. Let today be the day you dig up that root and surrender it to Him.
Remember, âHe Himself is our peaceâ (Ephesians 2:14). Donât let bitterness rob you of what Christ has already secured for you. Walk in forgiveness, and live in the fullness of His peace.
How to Break Free From Bitterness and Anger?
by Jamie Pantastico | Sep 4, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
Jesus is Jewish
From the very beginning, God promised a Deliverer. In Genesis 3:15, the Lord declared that the Seed of the woman would crush the serpentâs head. That Seed was carried through Israelâthrough Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the royal line of David. Not Gentiles!Â
The angel Gabriel told Mary:
âHe will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.â âLuke 1:32â33
Jesus of Nazareth, God the Son, was born a Jew. He is the promised King of Israel. To forget this is to deny the very foundation of our faith.
And yetâtoday much of Christendom has turned its back on Israel and the Jewish people. Antisemitism and anti-Zionism are preached from pulpits that should instead proclaim grace, love, and truth. This hatred does not merely dishonor Israelâit grieves the heart of God. Israel is the apple of God’s eye â Zechariah 2:8.
Scripture reminds Gentile believers:
ââŚsalvation is of the Jews.â (John 4:22)
ââŚthey are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling   of God are irrevocable.â (Romans 11:28â29)
We worship a Jewish Savior. If that bothers you, you may want to examine your salvation. To despise Israel is to despise the very nation God chose to bring forth the Messiah.
Christ the Jewish Kinsman-Redeemer
The Book of Ruth foreshadowed the ultimate Redeemer. Boaz could redeem the mortgage on the property belonging to Ruth because he was a kinsman, he was willing, and he had the ability to pay the price. These same Jewish requirements apply to the redemption of the Earth itself.Â
In Revelation 5, John wept when no one was found worthy to open the scrollâthe title deed to the Earth. Why? Because redemption required a true Kinsman, one who met all the qualifications.
âBut one of the elders said to me, âDo not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.ââ â Revelation 5:5
Christ alone fulfills the role. He is Jewishâof the tribe of Judah, the royal line of David. He is our Kinsman by birth. He was willingâoffering Himself in obedience to the Father. And He was ableâpaying the ultimate âblood priceâ at the cross.
Because He shed His blood, Christ has the legal right to redeem Godâs forfeited inheritance of the Earth. The scroll in Revelation 5 represents that inheritance, and only Jesus, who is Jewish remember, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, could take the scroll from the Father and open its seals.
This means the very hope of creationâs redemption rests on Christ being a Jewâthe promised Seed, the Son of David, the Root of Jesse, the Lion of Judah.
A Call to Believers
- Stand against antisemitism and the lies of replacement theology.
- Stand with Israel, because God has not abandoned His people.
- Stand with the Word of God, which testifies that Christ will one day reign from Jerusalem as Israelâs King and the worldâs Lord.
đĄ Never forget: we as Gentile believers are grafted in. We donât replace Israelâwe partake of the promises of God through Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus warns Gentile believers
‘do not boast against the branches (you Gentiles). But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root (Gentiles played no part in bringing for salvationâ God designated that to Jews), but the root supports you (It is because of what God promised Abraham, It is because God created the Jewish people for Himself, it is because God chose to commit them all (Israel) to disobedience that you Gentiles even have salvation).’
Romans 11:18
by Jamie Pantastico | Sep 2, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
Predestined or Free to Choose?
Introduction
The Bible declares two truths that, at first glance, may seem difficult to reconcile. On one hand, âWhoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be savedâ (Romans 10:13). On the other, Paul writes that believers were âchosen in Him before the foundation of the worldâ (Ephesians 1:4). Some have twisted these verses into a doctrine claiming that God predestines certain people for heaven and others for hell. But that is not what Scripture teaches. Letâs take a closer look.
Key Verses
Romans 8:29
âFor whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.â
Ephesians 1:4
âJust as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.â
Whosoever Will May Come
Godâs Word could not be clearer: âWhoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be savedâ (Romans 10:13). Christâs sacrifice was sufficient for all. His death was not limited to a select few but offered for all mankind (Hebrews 9:12). As Peter affirms, God is ânot willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentanceâ (2 Peter 3:9).
All means all. The invitation is open to everyone.
What Predestination Really Means
Romans 8:29 doesnât say God predestines individuals to heaven or hell. Instead, it says believers are âpredestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.â Predestination is about Godâs plan for those who believeâour calling, our identity, and our future in Christ.
Take time to read what the text actually says. Notice the order: âWhom He foreknew, He also predestinedâŚâ (Romans 8:29). Foreknowledge is not the same as predestination. God, in His omniscience, knows who will respond in faithâbut knowing is not the same as forcing.
Predestination concerns the believerâs destiny to be conformed to Christ, not a forced choice of salvation. On the other side, those who reject God in unbelief will stand without excuse at the Great White Throne judgment. God is just.
Likewise, Ephesians 1:4â5 tells us that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. This means He established the believerâs position in Christ before time began. Our adoption, inheritance, and ultimate conformity to Christ were securedânot a predetermined fate of heaven or hell.
If Scripture meant heaven or hell, it would say so plainly. Instead, it speaks of our identity, security, and purpose in Christ.
A Picture to Understand the Mystery
Think of humanity as a mighty river flowing from Adam onward. Along the riverbanks stand countless doors. On every door is written: âWhosoever will, come!â The invitation is open. Anyone may walk through by faith in Christ.
But here is the divine mystery: when a person steps through that door and looks back, they see written on the other side: âChosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.â
From our perspective, we choose to believe. From Godâs perspective, He had already chosen us in Christ before time began. Free will and Godâs eternal plan are not enemiesâthey are perfectly woven together in His wisdom.
Conclusion
God does not force anyone into heaven or hell. Scripture is clear: no one will have an excuse at the Great White Throne judgment. âFor since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuseâ (Romans 1:20).
The Bible affirms both manâs responsibility to respond and Godâs sovereignty in salvation. The invitation remains: âWhosoever will, may come.â And when you come, you discover this unshakable truthâyou were chosen in Christ before the world was formed.
by Jamie Pantastico | Aug 31, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
All Mankind Will be Judged by Paul’s Gospel
đ âI marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.â â Galatians 1:6â7Â
The apostle Paul doesnât waste any time with pleasantries in his letter to the Galatians. Heâs astonishedâoutragedâthat these Gentile believers, who had been gloriously saved by grace through faith alone, were now being pulled away by smooth-talking false teachers. Men had crept in and added conditions to Paulâs gospelâworks, rituals, law-keepingâturning the good news into a powerless counterfeit.
Paul calls it exactly what it is: a perverted gospel. Not âgood newsâ at all, but a distortion that strips the cross of its saving power. No wonder he writes with urgency, warning them that those who preach another gospel are under Godâs curse (Gal. 1:8â9).
â ď¸ And hereâs the sobering truth: nothing has changed in 1,900+ years. The names and faces are different, but the false teachers are still hereâmasquerading as pastors, priests, and teachers of truth. They package their lies in religious language, but the substance is the same: âJesus is necessary, but not enough.â Add sacraments. Add works. Add law. Add your effort. Live a holy life and persevere to the end. Horrors!
That is not the gospel. That is bondage. That is deception. That is a one-way ticket in the wrong directionâdown.
There is only one gospel that saves: the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).
There is only one gospel by which all mankind will be judged (Romans 2:16).
There is only one gospel defined with crystal clarity in 1 Corinthians 15:1â4:
âď¸ Christ died for our sins.
𪌠He was buried.
đ
He rose again the third day.
Thatâs it. Nothing to add. Nothing to subtract. The finished work of Christ stands alone.
Anything else is not the gospelâit is a perversion. And Paulâs words still thunder across the centuries: âIf anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursedâ (Gal. 1:9).
Friend, donât be deceived. Donât be moved away from the simplicity of the gospel. Donât exchange the freedom of Christ for the chains of religion. Stand firm in the truth of Godâs grace.
Because in the end, when you stand before the Judge of all the earth, it wonât matter what church you attended, what rituals you performed, or what traditions you clung to. It will come down to one thing: Did you believe the gospel of Christ revealed to Paul, the gospel of grace?
There is only one gospel. Believe it. Stand in it. Proclaim it.
by Jamie Pantastico | Aug 30, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
Once for All: Not Once You Earn It
đ âNot with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.â
â Hebrews 9:12
â The Work of the Cross Is Complete
The writer of Hebrews makes it unmistakably clearâChristâs sacrifice was not partial, nor was it temporary. Under the Old Covenant, priests repeatedly offered sacrifices for sin, yet those offerings could never remove sin. They only covered it for a time, pointing forward to the greater sacrifice to come.
But when Christ shed His blood, He did so once for all. The penalty for the sin of all mankind was paid in full at the cross. There is nothing left to add, nothing left to finish. Jesus Himself declared, âIt is finished!â (John 19:30). The work of salvation is complete.
â God: Just and the Justifier
Romans 3:26 tells us that God is both âjust and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.â
- He is Just: Sin had to be dealt with. God could not simply overlook it and remain Holy. His justice demanded that sinâs penaltyâdeathâbe paid.
- He is the Justifier: In His infinite love, He sent His Son to take our place. By pouring out His wrath on Christ, He satisfied justice while making a way for sinners to be declared righteous.
This is the heart of the gospel: God remains holy and just, and yet through the cross He is also the merciful justifier of all who believe.
đ Eternal Redemption
Notice the words in Hebrews 9:12ââeternal redemption.â This is not a temporary fix. Itâs not a salvation we can lose or forfeit based on our performance. It is eternal. Christ entered the heavenly sanctuary with His own blood and secured redemption that cannot be undone.
Because of this truth, believers can rest. We donât need to strive to âearnâ what has already been purchased. Our hope isnât in ourselvesâit is in Christ alone.
đ Encouragement for Today
- If you are weighed down by guilt, remember: the blood of Jesus has already paid for that sin.
- If you feel weak in faith, stand on this unshakable truth: your redemption is eternal, not fragile.
- If the enemy whispers lies of condemnation, remind him of thisââThere is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.â (Romans 8:1).
The cross is enough. The blood of Christ is enough. Your salvation is secure because Jesus paid it allâonce for all.
đ Closing Thought
Hebrews 9:12 pulls back the curtain on heaven itself and shows us Christ, not with the blood of goats or calves, but with His own precious bloodâentering the very presence of God and securing eternal redemption.
What a Savior! What assurance! What peace to know that the work is done. Trust Him, rest in Him, and rejoice in Him todayâbecause in Christ, you are eternally redeemed.
by Jamie Pantastico | Aug 26, 2025 | Daily Encouragement |
â Doctrine is our Anchor
In todayâs world, many treat doctrine as optional, even divisive. But Paul makes it abundantly clear: without sound doctrine, we have no foundation for faith, no anchor for truth, and no strength for daily living. Doctrine is not cold theologyâit is the very lifeblood of the believerâs walk.
1. Doctrine Equips Us for Life
2 Timothy 3:16â17
âAll Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.â
Without doctrine, we are incomplete and unequipped. Doctrine is the framework God has given us to be thoroughly prepared for every circumstance.
2. Doctrine Delivers Us from Sin
Romans 6:17
âBut God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.â
It was doctrineâtruth revealed by Godâthat freed us from Satan’s slave market to the kingdom of God. No human wisdom or effort could ever accomplish this.
3. Doctrine Nourishes Our Faith
1 Timothy 4:6
ââŚnourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.â
Doctrine is spiritual food. Without it, we starve. With it, we grow strong and remain grounded in Christ.
4. Doctrine Anchors Our Teaching
Titus 2:1
âBut as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.â
Ministry without doctrine is empty words. Paul charges us to speak only what aligns with sound doctrine, because truthânot opinionâtransforms lives.
5. Doctrine Guards Us from Deception
2 Timothy 4:3â4
âFor the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine⌠and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.â
When doctrine is abandoned, deception rushes in. Without it, people are left with myths and lies instead of truth.
6. Doctrine Gives Us Hope
Romans 15:4
âFor whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.â
Doctrine is not dryâit is deeply personal. It teaches us patience, brings comfort, and secures our hope in Godâs promises.
7. Doctrine Requires Diligence
2 Timothy 2:15
âBe diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.â
Paul reminds us that doctrine must be studied, handled carefully, and rightly divided. It is our responsibility to labor in Godâs Word with diligence and faithfulness.
⨠Conclusion
Without doctrine, we have no truth, no nourishment, no freedom, and no hope to win the daily battle. Doctrine is not optionalâit is essential. It is the very means by which God equips, strengthens, and comforts His people.
Let us cling to sound doctrine, rightly divide the Word, and let our faith rest not on feelings or traditions, but on the unshakable truth of Godâs Word.
