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

Romans 10:5-13

The gospel calls for a positive response

See also

Acts 13:38-39; 16:29-32
Romans 3:21-26
John 6:41-52
1 John 5:1,5,10-12
Matthew 11:28

The command to accept the gospel

Acts 17:30

See also

Matthew 6:19-24
Matthew 7:7-12

pp Lk 11:34-36

Matthew 7:24-27

pp Lk 11:9-13

John 4:13-14; 6:35-40; 8:31-32,36; 10:9-10; 11:25-26; 12:44-46

pp Lk 6:47-49

Mark 1:16-18

Examples of people who accepted the gospel

See also

Mark 1:19-20

pp Mt 4:18-22

Matthew 9:9

pp Mk 2:14

Acts 2:41; 11:19-21; 13:46-48; 16:13-15

pp Lk 5:27-28

Matthew was also known as Levi

John 12:37-41

Rejection of the gospel

See also

Through lack of perception

Matthew 13:13-15
Isaiah 6:9

pp Mk 4:10-12

Romans 11:8

pp Lk 8:9-10

Ephesians 4:17-19
Matthew 13:22

Through worldly distractions

See also

pp Mk 4:18-19

Matthew 6:24

pp Lk 8:14

2 Timothy 4:10
James 4:4

pp Lk 16:13

1 John 2:15
Matthew 12:30

Through indifference

Romans 8:6-8

pp Lk 11:23

See also

Through hostility to God

John 7:13-20; 10:24-33
Acts 4:15-18; 5:17-28; 7:51-53; 19:8-9; 21:27-32
1 Thessalonians 2:14-16
Hebrews 2:1-4

Warnings against rejecting the gospel

See also

Mark 8:36-38
Luke 12:5,16-21; 13:22-30
John 12:47-50
Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:29-31; 12:25
2 Peter 2:17-22
Matthew 19:16-22

Examples of people who rejected the gospel

See also

pp Mk 10:17-22

Acts 5:29-33; 7:51-58; 17:32; 13:44-47; 19:23-28; 24:24-25; 26:24-28

pp Lk 18:18-23

John 17:14

The gospel evokes opposition

Acts 17:13

See also

Acts 13:8; 17:5-9
1 Thessalonians 2:14-16
Acts 8:1-3

The gospel evokes persecution

1 Thessalonians 3:7

See also

Acts 13:49-50
2 Thessalonians 1:4

See also

2369 Christ, responses to
6178 hardness of heart
6604 acceptance, human
8030 trust
8778 materialism
8785 opposition
8794 persecution
8837 unbelief & life of faith
8849 worry