by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 20, 2020 | Christianity |
God is Sovereign over everything. Yet He permits mankind to exercise free will and we’ve come almost 6000 years and mankind and nations are exactly where they are according to His timetable.
For, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
1 Corinthians 10:26
Mind-boggling how God does it all without making us robots is beyond our understanding. But as believers, we know it’s true because we have His word and we take it by faith. Everything that was prophesied in the Old Testament concerning Christ first coming was fulfilled to the last jot and tittle.
Today, most of what was prophesied about the End Times have fallen into place. All according to His timetable, nothing caught God off guard. He knew it all before it happened because of His foreknowledge and nothing can change His mind because God is Sovereign over everything.
God’s Sovereign Promise for Believers
It’s a good idea to remind ourselves from time to time that God is Sovereign not just over the Universe and everything in it but in every aspect of the believer’s life. Christians can rest in God’s Sovereignty and the assurance that no matter what trouble we may face, God is Sovereign over it, and He will never allow us to take on more than we can handle.
‘No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.’
I Corinthians 10:13
Lastly, knowing that as members of the body of Christ, because we believed the gospel of grace by faith alone, God’s Sovereign promise is that He will complete what He started our lives (Philippians 1:6). And what is that promise? That no matter what happens to us during this temporary earthly sojourn, we will spend eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
‘being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; ‘
Philippians 1:6
‘But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.’
I Thessalonians 4:13-18
by Jamie Pantastico | Mar 22, 2020 | Daily Encouragement |
The CoronaVirus is no doubt deadly and should be taken seriously, but blood bought born again Christians are admonished NOT to panic, worry, complain or fear-monger!
We have No Reason to Fear
Why?
…He is risen…
The Power of the Resurrection
At the very core of Christianity and our faith is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The culmination of God’s plan of redemption is Christ being raised from the dead conquering death. And by His death, burial and resurrection Christ rendered Satan powerless against all who believe by faith alone in the gospel of grace.
So beloved, the reason Christians should have no fear is that death itself has been swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54). The spiritual bondage that Satan held over us which was sin, the law and death, has been broken because our faith in what Christ did on our behalf at the cross.
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 15:56-57
We have victory over sin, the law, Satan and death itself because as believers we identify with Christ death, burial and resurrection.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
Romans 6:5
So have no fear…He is risen…
‘But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid”, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ‘
Matthew 28:5
‘He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. ‘
Matthew 28:6
Prayers for the body of Christ, for lost mankind and that gospel of grace, be proclaimed!
Please consider sharing this post on social media.
Thank you,
Jamie Pantastico
Mesa Bible Study
Faith, Sine Qua Non
by Jamie Pantastico | Jan 28, 2020 | Daily Encouragement |
As Christians, we are to maintain a constant position of forgiveness and grace toward ALL mankind, saved and the unsaved. We don’t get to pick and choose who we forgive because Christ didn’t pick and choose who He died for.
‘who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ‘
Hebrews 1:3
‘By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.’
Hebrews 10:10
Christians are Admonished to Forgive Others
The content and context of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and the doctrines of grace clearly demonstrate that all who believe the gospel are forgiven of all their sins; past, present, and future. The fact that a believer has been forgiven of all their sins is the bases for Christians to do likewise and forgive others.
For example, in Colossians 3:13, Paul writes that we should be, ‘bearing with one another, and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.’
Also in Ephesians 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Not Forgiving is the Antithesis of God’s Grace
When a believer is incapable of forgiving another they are not only in opposition to God’s grace. They are ignoring that it was the Creator God Himself that has forgiven them of all their sins when they didn’t deserve it.
They are placing themselves in the position of judge and jury. Taking Christ off the cross. Making the choice on their own not to forgive another for whatever reason they come up with to please their flesh. Because there is no Biblical support for Christians not to forgive people no matter who they are or what they may have done, saved or unsaved.
‘Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Romans 14:4,10
Conclusion
God’s Word is definitive on the matter of believers forgiving others.
‘bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ‘
Colossians 3:13
by Jamie Pantastico | Dec 30, 2019 | Daily Encouragement |
‘For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, ‘
I Timothy 2:5
There is only one way to heaven not multiple ways, THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY FOR ANYONE TO GET TO HEAVEN.
The one and the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ by believing by faith alone in the finished work of the cross that He alone accomplished on our behalf.
‘who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,’
Hebrews 1:3
In other words believe ‘the gospel’, the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose from the dead three days later and anyone that believes by faith in that good news will have eternal life spent with the Lord in heaven. That’s It. There is no other way to glory but by believing the gospel.
The Church today is being deluged with unprecedented deception of all sorts and it’s coming from within the Church. The apostle Paul warned about this to the point of tears that men would come in from within the Church to destroy it (Acts 20:27-31).
‘For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.’
Acts 20:27-31
The list of ‘destructive heresies’ is long and corrupting every facet of Christendom but the Word of God is clear these sinister men and women (Satan’s ministers of light 2 Corinthians 11:13-15) will go to their doom proclaiming anything but “the gospel of the grace of God” alone by faith alone for salvation (Acts 20:24;1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
The Lord warns twice not to be deceived by a false gospel which will have elements of the true gospel that the He revealed to Paul (Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4) but it will be perverted by man adding something, anything to perfect work of the cross.
To those that preach any other gospel but “the gospel” that ascended Lord revealed to the apostle Paul (Galatians 1:11,12) they will be accursed (Galatians 1:8,9). There is no other path to salvation for lost mankind today but to believe in the finished work of the cross alone by faith alone apart from works (Romans 3:21-22).
The greatest and most sinister of deceptions is to preach the gospel of grace but to add just enough so that the person is taught that they must do something whatever it is in order to be saved. BELOVED THAT’S ANATHEMA TO GOD. HE WON’T HAVE IT. CHRIST DID ALL.
Believers are warned twice by the Lord NOT TO BE DECEIVED AND TURN AWAY FROM THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD BY LISTENING TO PREACHERS THAT ADD TO THE FINISHED WORK OF THE CROSS.
First Warning.
‘I 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. 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 1:6-8
Second Warning.
‘I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.’
Galatians 1:6,9
There is no way around the gospel of the grace of God and all mankind will be judged by the gospel the risen Lord revealed to the apostle Paul.
‘in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.’
Romans 2:16
by Jamie Pantastico | Aug 14, 2019 | Daily Encouragement |
1 Corinthians 10:31
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 serves as a powerful reminder for Christians to evaluate their actions and attitudes, ensuring they bring glory to God in everything. This verse challenges believers to move beyond a “comfortable Christian” lifestyle and live out their faith actively and consistently.
Self-Reflection Questions:
1. Is the activity I’m engaging in bringing glory to God?
2. Is my attitude in all I do a genuine desire to glorify God?
These questions can help us identify areas needing change. Christianity is practical and focuses on heart transformation rather than just modifying behavior. If we find any activity or attitude that fails to glorify God, we should change it.
Living for God’s Glory:
God keeps believers in this world to glorify Him continually, even when no one is watching. Paul expands on this theme in Colossians 3:22-23, urging believers to work sincerely as if serving the Lord, not men:
Colossians 3:22-23
“Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”
These passages emphasize living godly lives consistently because the Lord is always watching. Whether eating, drinking, or doing any other activity, we must strive to glorify God in all things.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
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