by Jamie Pantastico | Jul 9, 2024 | Daily Devotional, Daily Encouragement |
Key Verse:
Hebrews 10:14: “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”
In Hebrews 10:11-13, we see the futility of the old sacrificial system; the law was perfect but could only condemn and it was impossible to keep. The priests stood daily, offering the same sacrifices repeatedly, which could never take away sins. However, Christ, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, signifying the completion and perfection of His work.
Supporting Verses: Hebrews 10:11-13: “And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.”
Sacrifices made by the priests under the Old Covenant were insufficient to remove sins. They were a shadow pointing to the ultimate sacrifice—Jesus Christ. Only Christ Jesus, the sinless Son of God, could be the perfect offering capable of taking away the sins of the world.
2 Corinthians 5:21: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
This truth makes clear that Jesus’ sacrifice was complete and final. Through His offering, we are perfected forever, not by our own works, but by His finished work on the cross; His shed blood, death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). This assures us of our salvation and sanctification, encouraging us to rest in His perfect sacrifice (not anything our filthy works can do) and live in the freedom and victory it provides.
Take time to meditate on this amazing grace and live with gratitude, knowing that Jesus’ sacrifice has perfected us forever. Share this truth and walk confidently in the freedom He has given us.
Conclusion: Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient and complete. No other sacrifice is needed, salvation is a free gift to all mankind but must be appropriated by faith alone in the gospel alone. Those who believe are perfected forever by the finished work of the cross. Let’s rest in this truth and live out our faith with joy and confidence, proclaiming His victory and grace to the world.
by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 16, 2024 | Daily Encouragement |
In 1 Timothy 4:13, Paul offers Timothy a timeless imperative that resonates with us today: “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” This simple instruction is packed with wisdom for every believer.
Reading: The Scriptures aren’t just words on a page; they’re living and active, breathing life into our souls and guiding our steps in this dark and wicked world. By immersing ourselves in God’s Word daily, we strengthen our faith, fill our heart and soul with joy no matter the circumstances.
Exhortation: This refers to encouragement or uplifting others. As we grow in our understanding of God’s Word, we’re equipped to encourage fellow believers in their faith, offering hope and strength through the promises of Scripture.
Doctrine: Sound doctrine is foundational for our faith. It shapes our beliefs, guides our decisions, and protects us from deception. As we study and embrace the doctrines of grace, we build a strong and unwavering faith.
Paul’s words remind us of the transformative power of God’s Word. We must commit ourselves to studying, exhorting, and embracing sound doctrine, allowing the Scriptures to enrich our lives and in turn enriching the lives of fellow believers.
What doctrine?
What Doctrine? The Doctrine Revealed to Paul
by Jamie Pantastico | Feb 27, 2024 | Daily Encouragement |
The gospel of the kingdom was prophesied since the world began. All of the Old Testament speaks of the King of the kingdom which proclaims salvation for the house of David – the Jewish people, the nation of Israel (Luke 1:69).
‘“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began,’
Luke 1:68-70
Contrastingly, the ‘mysteries’ or secrets exclusively revealed to Paul (around 37 AD) by the ascended and glorified Lord Jesus unveil a distinct message: that God would extend salvation to the Gentiles independently of the nation of Israel and the Mosaic law. These revelations emphasize that the concept of salvation by grace through faith alone in the death, burial, and resurrection, apart from the nation of Israel, was not prophesied anywhere in scripture but hidden in the mind of God since the beginning of time (Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:26; Romans 16:25), until revealed to the apostle Paul.
‘and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;’’
Ephesians 3:9
‘Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began ‘
Romans 16:25
The Bible is clear on the fact that God hid the mystery of the gospel of grace until revealed to the apostle Paul around 37 AD.
God can keep secrets because He is sovereign and He can do whatever He wants (Deuteronomy 29:29).
by Jamie Pantastico | Jan 14, 2024 | Daily Encouragement |
Foreknowledge is an attribute of God. It is one of the aspects of God’s omniscience, which means God’s all-encompassing and perfect knowledge. Foreknowledge specifically refers to God’s knowledge of events, choices, and outcomes before they occur in the course of human history.
This attribute underscores the fact that God, being outside the constraints of time, possesses a complete understanding of the past, present, and future. It is not limited to mere awareness but includes an intimate knowledge that allows God to see and comprehend the intricate details of every moment in time.
As an attribute, foreknowledge showcases the depth and perfection of God’s understanding, emphasizing His control and authority over the unfolding of human history.
Here are 10 Bible verses that delineate the sovereignty of God as exemplified in His foreknowledge.
1. Romans 8:29
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
2. 1 Peter 1:2
“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”
3. Acts 2:23
“Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death.”
4. Isaiah 46:10
“Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.'”
5. Psalm 139:16
“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book, they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”
6. Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
7. Ephesians 1:4-5
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”
8. 2 Timothy 1:9
“who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”
9. Amos 3:7
“Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”
10. Matthew 10:30
“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”
by Jamie Pantastico | Jan 8, 2024 | Daily Encouragement |
The Abrahamic Covenant illuminated a profound truth—Gentile blessings would find their channel through Israel (Isaiah 42.1, 60.1-3; Zechariah 8.22–23). Contingent upon national Israel’s obedience, this blessing was intricately linked to the obedience of the chosen people. The Messiah, the conduit of blessings for Israel and, subsequently, for the Gentiles through Israel, framed the covenant’s narrative. However, a critical question arose (or at least it should, and it did for the so-called church fathers): How could Gentiles partake in these blessings amidst Israel’s disobedience, especially in their rejection and crucifixion of their own Messiah? They couldn’t.
In all of the Old Testament, the four gospels, and the early chapters of the book of Acts, there is no scripture record of God having a plan to bless the Gentiles apart from and through the nation of Israel.
The answer lay in the divine foreknowledge of God. Sovereign and omniscient, God knew Israel would reject their Messiah and devised a plan (Romans 11:32; Romans 11:25) before time began (Acts 2:23; 1 Peter 1:20), before He created the heavens and the earth, to bless Gentiles despite Israel’s disobedience. Putting a pause on the prophesied Day of the Lord, God does what is mind-boggling: He temporarily blinds Israel, commits them all to disobedience (read Romans chapter 11; highlighted in Romans 11:32), and pours out His love and grace in the unexpected call and conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Through Paul, God established the Church—the body of Christ—not based on a covenant (Ephesians 2.11–14), but on grace alone (Ephesians 2.5, 8–9), apart from the Mosaic law and temple worship.
This new revelation, the “secret” (μυστήριον) (Romans 16:25; Colossians 1:26; Ephesians 3:1-11; Romans 11:25), remained veiled until the ascended Lord revealed it to Paul alone many years after Pentecost. God’s preordained plans manifested as He blessed Gentiles (Romans 11; Romans 11:32) through the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and established the Church, which is His body, the body of Christ, despite Israel’s fall (Romans 11.25). A future awaits national Israel, poised to fulfill its role as a blessing to the nations during the tribulation and beyond, beginning with 144,000 young Jewish men preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 24:14) during 7 years of tribulation.
In all, God’s sovereignty prevails!