2426 gospel, responses to

The gospel cannot be subscribed to half-heartedly or in part; it must be either accepted or rejected.

The gospel calls for a positive response

Ro 10:5-13 See also Ac 13:38-39; Ac 16:29-32; Ro 3:21-26; Jn 6:41-52; 1Jn 5:1,5,10-12

The command to accept the gospel

Mt 11:28; Ac 17:30 See also Mt 6:19-24 pp Lk 11:34-36; Mt 7:7-12 pp Lk 11:9-13; Mt 7:24-27 pp Lk 6:47-49; Jn 4:13-14; Jn 6:35-40; Jn 8:31-32,36; Jn 10:9-10; Jn 11:25-26; Jn 12:44-46

Examples of people who accepted the gospel

Mk 1:16-18 pp Mt 4:18-22 See also Mk 1:19-20; Mt 9:9 pp Mk 2:14 pp Lk 5:27-28 Matthew was also known as Levi; Ac 2:41; Ac 11:19-21; Ac 13:46-48; Ac 16:13-15

Rejection of the gospel

Through lack of perception Jn 12:37-41 See also Mt 13:13-15 pp Mk 4:10-12 pp Lk 8:9-10; Isa 6:9; Ro 11:8; Eph 4:17-19

Through worldly distractions Mt 13:22 pp Mk 4:18-19 pp Lk 8:14 See also Mt 6:24 pp Lk 16:13; 2Ti 4:10; Jas 4:4; 1Jn 2:15

Through indifference Mt 12:30 pp Lk 11:23

Through hostility to God Ro 8:6-8 See also Jn 7:13-20; Jn 10:24-33; Ac 4:15-18; Ac 5:17-28; Ac 7:51-53; Ac 19:8-9; Ac 21:27-32; 1Th 2:14-16

Warnings against rejecting the gospel

Heb 2:1-4 See also Mk 8:36-38; Lk 12:5,16-21; Lk 13:22-30; Jn 12:47-50; Heb 6:4-6; Heb 10:29-31; Heb 12:25; 2Pe 2:17-22

Examples of people who rejected the gospel

Mt 19:16-22 pp Mk 10:17-22 pp Lk 18:18-23 See also Ac 5:29-33; Ac 7:51-58; Ac 17:32; Ac 13:44-47; Ac 19:23-28; Ac 24:24-25; Ac 26:24-28

The gospel evokes opposition

Jn 17:14; Ac 17:13 See also Ac 13:8; Ac 17:5-9; 1Th 2:14-16

The gospel evokes persecution

Ac 8:1-3; 1Th 3:7 See also Ac 13:49-50; 2Th 1:4

See also