by Jamie Pantastico | Nov 30, 2025 | Pauline Theology |
The gospel — simple, final, complete. 1 Cor. 15:1–4.
The Foundation of Salvation — the Only Message That Saves
There are passages in Scripture that rise like mountains — immovable, unshakable, untouchable by the doctrines or traditions of men.
1 Corinthians 15:1–4 is one of them.
Paul writes:
“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…”
(1 Corinthians 15:1–2)
Before we go further, notice something essential:
⚠ The gospel is not everything in the Bible.
⚠ Not every passage in Scripture is the gospel.
⚠ The gospel is a specific message — the message that saves.
It is defined.
It is singular.
It is final.
And Paul gives it plainly — without symbolism, without parable, without theological gymnastics.
The bottom-line is all mankind will be judged by Paul’s gospel.
‘in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.’ Romans 2:16
📍 The Gospel Defined
“…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 15:3–4
This is the gospel.
Not your works.
Not your righteousness.
Not repentance plus performance.
Not law-keeping, sacrament-keeping, or commandment-keeping.
Just Christ.
Christ died for our sins.
Because we could not remove them.
He was buried.
Because sin was dealt with completely.
He rose again.
Because God accepted the payment in full.
This is not part of the gospel —
This is the gospel.
📍 The Gospel Saves — Nothing Else Can
Paul says:
“By which you are saved…” (1 Corinthians 15:2)
Not helped. Not improved. Saved.
Once for all. Fully. Eternally.
And then God nails the point down in Romans 1:16:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,
for it is the power of God unto salvation
to everyone who believes…”*
— Romans 1:16
🔥 The power of God unto salvation — not religion, not reform, not effort.
🔥 To everyone — no category excluded.
🔥 Who believes — not believes and works, and obeys, and endures. Just believes.
Anything added to faith is unbelief.
Anything added to grace destroys grace.
Anything added to the gospel corrupts the gospel.
Ephesians 2:8–9 echoes like thunder:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith…
not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Salvation is not what we do for God. It is what God has done for us through Christ.
📍 Why This Matters
Many things are preached today.
Many messages stir emotions, inspire morality, or demand religious effort.
But only one message saves.
A lifetime of church attendance saves no one.
Generosity, devotion, repentance, passion — none take away sin.
The gospel is not about the believer’s ability — it is about the Savior’s accomplishment.
💥 Only the gospel saves.
💥 Only the cross saves.
💥 Only Christ saves.
This is the message the world hates.
This is the message religion complicates.
This is the message God elevates.
Simple. Final. Complete.
📍 Stand in the Gospel
Paul says this is the gospel “in which you stand.”
Not wobble.
Not hope.
Not work toward.
Stand.
Because salvation is settled.
Peace with God is finished.
The wrath is gone, paid in full by the blood of the Lamb.
You do not stand on your performance —
You stand on His resurrection.
**This is the gospel.
This is our foundation.
This is our hope, peace, and life.**
Believe it — and you are saved.
Not later.
Not gradually.
Now. Forever. Completely.
Stand in this truth:
Christ died.
Christ was buried.
Christ rose again.
And that is enough.
by Jamie Pantastico | Nov 23, 2025 | Pauline Theology |
📖 Passage Breakdown — Hebrews 6:13
“For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself…”
📜 Background, Setting & Purpose
✍️ Author:
I believe the author of Hebrews is Paul.
Although the epistle does not explicitly name its writer, both early church history and the internal content strongly reflect Pauline theology and a direct address to a Jewish audience.
Furthermore, 2 Peter 3:15–16 provides a compelling clue.
Peter, writing to Jewish believers, tells them to pay attention to an epistle written to them by Paul — an epistle containing some doctrines that are “hard to understand” and often twisted.
No other letter of Paul fits that description more clearly than Hebrews.
For these reasons, I hold that Hebrews is Paul’s Spirit-inspired letter to the Hebrews, written to ground them in the superiority of Christ and to pull them away from returning to the Law, temple rituals, and the old covenant system.
👥 Written To:
Hebrew (Jewish) believers — those who had embraced Jesus as the Messiah but were being tempted to return to the Law, sacrifices, and temple rituals.
⏲️ When:
Likely AD 64–68.
🌍 Setting & Purpose of Hebrews:
Jewish believers were suffering persecution and social pressure. Some were wavering.
The apostle Paul exhorts them to hold fast to what is better! The superior Person, Priesthood, and Promises of Christ.
Chapter 6 emphasizes assurance, maturity, and the absolute reliability of God’s promises — grounding that assurance in God’s covenant with Abraham.
🔍 Hebrews 6:13
“For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself…”
✨ Phrase-by-Phrase Breakdown
“For when God made a promise to Abraham…”
This reaches back to Genesis 12, 15, and 22 when God gave Abraham unconditional promises:
- A land
- A nation
- A blessing to all families of the earth through his Seed (Messiah)
These promises are the entire backbone of Israel’s prophetic program.
Every Jewish believer knew them — this is the author’s starting point.
“…because He could swear by no one greater…”
Among men, an oath is taken on something greater (Hebrews 6:16).
But God has no one greater above Him.
He is the highest authority in existence — eternal, perfect, unchanging.
This shows:
- God binds Himself to His own word.
- His character is the guarantee.
- His promise is as immutable as His nature.
“…He swore by Himself”
This is one of the most astonishing statements in Scripture.
God literally says:
“I Myself guarantee this promise.” (Genesis 22:16)
He put His own name, integrity, character, and nature on the line.
This is not hyperbole — it is the absolute, final affirmation that:
✔ God’s promises to Abraham cannot fail
✔ God’s covenant with Israel cannot be revoked
✔ God Himself upholds His word
This also destroys Replacement Theology.
If God swore by Himself, then His covenant with Abraham cannot be transferred, replaced, or spiritualized.
🔑 Doctrinal Insight
1. God’s Faithfulness to Israel Grounds the Argument
Hebrews reminds Jewish believers that God cannot and will not abandon His promises — including His promises to Abraham.
If God’s covenant with Abraham is secure, then so is:
- their salvation
- their hope
- the new covenant blessings
- their future restoration
2. Deuteronomy 29:29 — God Can Keep Secrets
“The secret things belong to the LORD our God…”
Just as God sovereignly withheld the mystery of the gospel of grace until Paul (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:1–9),
He sovereignly revealed the Abrahamic covenant — and swore by Himself to secure it.
3. God’s Promise to Abraham Proves God Never Changes
If God could break a promise sworn on His own name, He would cease to be God.
He cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13).
His oath is as eternal as He is.
🙏 Devotional Summary
When God made a promise to Abraham, He didn’t simply speak it…
He swore by Himself — the highest possible guarantee in existence.
This means:
✔ God’s promises never fail
✔ God’s covenants never break
✔ God’s character is the anchor of our faith
✔ God’s word is as sure as God Himself
If His oath to Abraham stands forever, then every promise we have in Christ — forgiveness, redemption, salvation by grace through faith — stands just as firm.
Your hope is anchored in the God who swore by His own name.
The God who keeps His covenant with Abraham is the God who keeps you.
by Jamie Pantastico | Nov 17, 2025 | Pauline Theology |
Galatians 5:11 – The Offense of the Cross
Before Paul makes his thunderous statement in Galatians 5:11, he walks the Galatians through a series of spiritual diagnostics in verses 7–10. Each verse builds toward one unavoidable conclusion:
Someone has pulled them away from the truth—and it was not God.
Let’s follow Paul’s inspired reasoning.
Galatians 5:7 — “You Did Run Well…”
“Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?”
Paul begins with a reminder:
“You started well. You believed the gospel. What in the world happened?”
Paul knew exactly what happened, but he asks the question the same way Jesus often did—not because He needed information, but because questions force the listener to face what they already know.
Paul’s question exposes the problem:
Somebody had stepped in and cut them off from the truth of grace.
These believers had been running the race of faith with joy and freedom (Galatians 5:1)—and now they were bogged down in law-keeping, rituals, and performance-based salvation.
Galatians 5:8 — This Didn’t Come From God
“This persuasion cometh not of Him that calleth you.”
Paul says bluntly:
“This message didn’t come from the Holy Spirit.”
If the Spirit of God didn’t persuade them to abandon grace, then what spirit did?
There are only two spiritual influences in the world:
- The Holy Spirit, who leads us into truth
- The evil spirit, Satan, who leads into deception
Legalism never comes from God.
Works-based salvation never comes from God.
The pressure to earn what Christ already accomplished never comes from God.
The same evil spirit who once held them in paganism was now trying to pull them into legalism.
Satan doesn’t care which ditch you fall into—just so long as you leave the gospel of grace.
And he never, ever gives up.
Galatians 5:9 — Leaven Always Spreads
“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”
Leaven is yeast—and yeast does not partially spread.
It permeates everything.
Legalism works the same way. So does false teaching. So does moral compromise.
What begins as “just a small doctrinal adjustment” becomes a complete takeover.
Paul’s warning is prophetic.
Look at Christendom today:
- The world knocked on the door of the Church.
- The Church cracked the door open.
- A little more world came in.
- The door opened wider.
- Now you can hardly tell the Church and the world apart.
A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
And legalism is the most destructive leaven of all.
Galatians 5:10 — Paul’s Confidence (and His Warning)
“I have confidence in you through the Lord…”
Paul hasn’t given up on them.
He refuses to throw these believers to the wolves.
He trusts that the Lord will bring them back to the truth of the gospel of grace.
But then comes one of the most severe warnings in all of Paul’s letters:
“…but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.”
Paul doesn’t care who the false teacher is:
- A scholar
- A philosopher
- A trained theologian
- A respected rabbi
- A man from Jerusalem
- An apostle’s acquaintance
It doesn’t matter.
They will bear judgment.
And we’re not talking about earthly consequences. Paul is referring to the future judgment of the lost:
The Great White Throne.
🔥 BOLD. EMPHATIC. NON-NEGOTIABLE.
“…he that troubleth you—
with his false teaching—
SHALL BEAR HIS JUDGMENT, whosoever he be.”
There is nothing more serious than corrupting the gospel.
Teachers who mislead people—pastors, influencers, theologians, seminary-trained wolves—
will occupy the hottest place in the lake of fire.
Handling Scripture is a fearful responsibility.
Now the Explosion: Galatians 5:11 — “The Offense of the Cross”
After examining the spiritual sabotage in verses 7–10, Paul asks the decisive question:
“And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.”
Here’s Paul’s point:
If I preached what the Judaizers preach, I would not be persecuted.
- Nobody would hate me.
- Nobody would beat me.
- Nobody would try to kill me.
- Nobody would slander me.
If Paul preached:
- Law-keeping
- Circumcision
- Works
- Performance
- Effort
- Human righteousness
Then the offense of the cross would disappear.
Because the cross is offensive for one reason:
It tells every human being that they bring NOTHING to the table.
The cross is offensive because it strips away:
- Boasting
- Merit
- Ritual
- Pride
- Personal contribution
The cross says:
“You are helpless.
Christ did everything.
You add nothing.”
The self-righteous despise that message. Their in opposition to God’s grace.
The Parallel Today—Nothing Has Changed
The Galatians faced false teachers from Jerusalem.
Today’s believers face false teachers from pulpits.
Then it was circumcision and law-keeping.
Today it is:
- “Faith plus repentance.”
- “Faith plus baptism.”
- “Faith plus holiness.”
- “Faith plus fruit.”
- “Faith plus endurance.”
- “Faith plus obedience.”
- “Faith plus doing your part.”
Different vocabulary.
Same leaven.
Same deception.
Same bondage.
Paul faced it 2,000 years ago. Believers face it today.
And the same gospel Paul defended is the same gospel the world hates:
Grace without works.
Christ without additives.
Salvation without human contribution.
Paul Never Compromised—And Neither Can We
Paul could have ended all persecution by compromising.
By saying, “You guys are right—faith alone is too simple.”
But he didn’t. Not once. Not ever. Why?
His gospel came directly from the risen, glorified Christ.
—Galatians 1:11–12
He refused to surrender to Judaizers then.
‘to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.’ Galatians 2:5
We refuse to surrender to modern Judaizers now.
The offense of the cross has not ceased. And it will not cease—because grace will always offend works.
This is why Paul warned the Church for three years with tears that wolves would come (Acts 20:29–30).
And they did. They always do.
Most of Paul’s congregations eventually abandoned Paul’s message, not Paul himself.
And today, 95% of Christendom has done the same.
But the truth stands:
‘In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation;
in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ‘
Ephesians 1:13
Salvation is by grace through faith alone in the finished work of Christ.
Not of works.
Lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
by Jamie Pantastico | Jun 6, 2025 | Pauline Theology |
Series: Not of Works – A Series on the Gospel of Grace
Anchor Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
When everything is so confusing—when “faith plus fruit”—being good, and doing good is preached as grace and obedience is elevated as the evidence of salvation—we must return to the source:
What is the gospel that saves?
Not what tradition says.
Not what any preacher says.
What does the Bible say?
📜 The Gospel According to Paul
“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…”
—1 Corinthians 15:1–2
Paul says this is the gospel by which we are saved:
“…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 15:3–4
No steps. No striving.
Just believe that this is true—and that it was done for you.
🩸 The Power Is in the Blood
Salvation is not an invitation to behave better.
It is the good news that Jesus Christ paid your sin debt with His own blood.
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins…”
—Ephesians 1:7
He died in your place, satisfying God’s justice.
He was buried.
And He rose again—proving the debt was fully paid.
This is the gospel.
Believe it—and you are saved.
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
—Romans 10:9
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
—Romans 10:10
👑By this Gospel All Mankind will Be Judged
The apostle Paul makes it graphically clear that all mankind will be judged by his gospel. The gospel that was revealed to Paul alone many years after Pentecost.
in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
—Romans 2:16
❌ Do Not Add to It
“If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
—Galatians 1:9
Don’t add fruit.
Don’t add endurance.
Don’t add holiness.
Don’t add anything.
🗝️ Key Takeaway
The gospel is not “Christ + something.”
It is Christ alone.
You are saved by grace through faith—nothing more, nothing less.
Explore the Full Series
by Jamie Pantastico | Jun 6, 2025 | Pauline Theology |
Series: Not of Works – A Series on the Gospel of Grace
Anchor Text: Romans 6:23
Salvation is not a paycheck for good behavior.
It’s not a reward for perseverance, obedience, or fruitfulness.
It’s a gift.
And if it’s a gift, it’s not earned—it’s received.
🎁 What Does the Bible Say?
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
—Romans 6:23
There’s no footnote.
No conditions.
No fine print.
Eternal life isn’t granted at the end of a faithful life. It’s given the moment a sinner believes the gospel.
🛑 The Danger of Treating the Gift Like a Reward
Many preachers often redefine grace like this:
“Salvation is by grace alone… but you must prove it’s real by the way you live, or you won’t receive eternal life.”
That’s not grace.
That’s wages.
“Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.”
—Romans 4:4
If you’re trying to prove, earn, or finish your salvation—you’ve left grace behind.
✅ A True Gift Has No Strings Attached
“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
—Romans 3:24
“It is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
—Ephesians 2:8–9
There is no holiness quota.
No fruitfulness clause.
No secret performance standard.
The gift of eternal life is offered freely—paid for by the blood of Christ.
All God asks is that you believe.
🗝️ Key Takeaway
Eternal life is not the reward of the righteous.
It is the gift to the guilty.
No striving. No proving.
Just believing.
Explore the Full Series
by Jamie Pantastico | Jun 6, 2025 | Pauline Theology |
Series: Not of Works – A Series on the Gospel of Grace
Anchor Text: 2 Corinthians 11:13–15
⚠️Many denominations—especially in America—preach some form of “final salvation.”
Over the years, I’ve met countless people who didn’t even realize they were trusting in a faith plus something gospel.
Whether it’s faith plus fruit, obedience, baptism, law-keeping, or perseverance, the result is the same:
They weren’t resting in faith alone in the finished work of Christ on the cross. But in another gospel!
‘But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. ‘
Galatians 1:8
Satan’s strategy has never been to deny religion—it’s to corrupt it.
He doesn’t just appear in sin and darkness. He shows up in pulpits. In churches. In robes and suits and smiles. And the message he promotes sounds very holy.
“Live right.”
“Pursue holiness.”
“Faith alone isn’t enough—you must finish strong.”
It sounds biblical. But it’s another gospel—a deadly mixture of grace and works.
👔 Not What You’d Expect
Paul warned the Corinthians about false apostles who preached a gospel that sounded good—but was anything but grace.
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness…”
—2 Corinthians 11:13–15
Satan doesn’t show up saying, “Reject Jesus.”
He shows up saying, “Follow Jesus better… or else.”
🔥 A Gospel That Demands Holiness to Be Saved
The modern “gospel” being preached today sounds like this:
“You’re justified by faith alone—but only finally saved if your life proves it. You must bear fruit. You must pursue holiness. You must kill sin—or you won’t get in.”
It sounds like light. But it’s bondage in disguise.
“Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”
—Galatians 3:3
This is Satan’s strategy: distort the gospel, elevate human effort, and make you trust in your performance rather than the finished work of Christ.
❌ These Are Not Minor Errors
Paul doesn’t say “be careful” with these teachers.
He says they are accursed (Galatians 1:9).
Why? Because they turn the good news of free salvation into a system of religious performance.
🗝️ Key Takeaway
Not all who preach righteousness are preaching the gospel.
Some are Satan’s ministers, preaching a message of condemnation dressed up as holiness.
But the true gospel is simple:
Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again. Believe it—and you are saved.
Explore the Full Series