Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



through His human nature He has put a stop to the hostility between us, namely, the law with its commands and decrees, in order to create one new humanity out of the two parties and so make peace through union with Himself, and in one body Verse ConceptsNew ThingsLaws, AbolishedLaw, And GospelRitual LawRitualSalvation, Nature OfLaw, TemporaryAbolish, Evil ThingsAnnulmentTwo GroupsNew LifeChurch Distinct From IsraelMaking Peace With God


These men who are trying to force you to let yourselves be circumcised simply want to make a fine outward show, only to keep you from being persecuted for the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Verse ConceptsExclusivenessOutward AppearanceLiving For The MaterialNecessity Of CircumcisionOutward CompulsionSignificance Of Christ's CrucifixionPersecutionThe Crosstrying

But some members of the Pharisaic party, who had become believers, arose and said that such converts must be circumcised and told to keep the law of Moses. Now the apostles and elders met to consider this matter. After a lengthy discussion Peter got up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God chose among you that through me the heathen should hear the message of the good news and believe it. read more.
And God who knows men's hearts testifies for them by giving them the Holy Spirit, as He did us, and in this way He put no difference between us and them, because He cleansed their hearts by faith. Then why do you now try to test God by putting on these disciples' necks a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we could bear? In fact, we believe that it is through the favor of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." By this he quieted the whole congregation, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul tell of the signs and wonders which God had done through them among the heathen. When they finished, James responded as follows: "Brothers, listen to me. Symeon has told how God at first graciously visited the heathen to take from among them a people to bear His name. The words of the prophets are in accord with this, as it is written: 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen dwelling; I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again, So that the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord, Yes, all the heathen who are called by my name, says the Lord, who has been making this known from ages past.' So I give it as my opinion, we ought not to put difficulties in the way of the heathen who turn to God, but we should write them to abstain from everything that is contaminated by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from tasting blood. For Moses from the ancient generations has had his preachers in every town, and on every sabbath has been read aloud in the synagogues." Then the apostles and elders in cooperation with the whole church passed a resolution to select and send some men of their number with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. These were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers. They sent this letter by them: "The apostles and elders as brothers send greeting to the brothers from among the heathen in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. As we have heard that some of our number have disturbed you by their teaching, by continuing to unsettle your minds, we have passed a unanimous resolution to select and send messengers to you with our beloved brothers Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we send Judas and Silas to you, to bring you the same message by word of mouth. For the Holy Spirit and we have decided not to lay upon you any burden but these essential requirements, that you abstain from everything that is offered to idols, from tasting blood, from the meat of animals that have been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves free from these things, you will prosper. Good-by."

since there is but one God, who will consider the Jews in right standing with Himself, only on condition of their faith, and the heathen peoples on the same condition. Verse ConceptsCircumcision, spiritualMonotheismJustification Under The GospelGod Is OneNecessity Of CircumcisionRighteous By FaithThe Gospel To Jew And Gentile

Now does this happiness come to the Jews alone, or to the heathen peoples too? For we say, "Abraham's faith was credited to him as right standing." Under what circumstances was it credited to him as right standing? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? Not after but before he was circumcised. Afterward he received the mark of circumcision as God's seal of his right standing with Him on condition of faith which he had before he was circumcised, that he might be the forefather of all who have faith while still uncircumcised, that they might have their faith credited to them as right standing with God;

Has a man been called after he was circumcised? He must not try to change it. Has a man been called without being circumcised? He must not be circumcised. Being circumcised or not being circumcised has no value, but keeping God's commands is important.

But they did not even try to compel my companion, Titus, although he was a Greek, to be circumcised -- they did not try it even for the sake of the false brothers who had been smuggled in, who stole in to spy out the freedom we enjoy in Christ Jesus, so as to make us slaves again.

Here is what I am saying to you: If you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ can do you no good. I again insist that if any man lets himself be circumcised, he is under obligation to obey the whole law. You people, whoever you are among you, who try to get into right standing with God, through law have cut yourselves off from Christ, you have missed the way of God's favor. read more.
For we, by the Spirit, are awaiting the hoped-for blessing which our right standing with God will bring us. For in union with Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor lack of it counts for anything; but only faith that is spurred on to action by love. You were running beautifully! Who was it that cut into your way and kept you from obeying the truth? Such persuasion never came from Him who called you. A little yeast will transform the whole dough. By our union with the Lord I have confidence in you that you will take no other view of the matter. The man who is unsettling you will certainly pay the penalty for it, no matter who it turns out to be. As for me, myself, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In such a case the hindrance done by the cross has presumably ceased!

So remember that you were once heathen in a physical sense, called the uncircumcised by those who call themselves the circumcised -- though only in a physical sense, by human hands. Verse ConceptsCircumcision, physicalBodyLiving For The MaterialNecessity Of Circumcision

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And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature, Verse ConceptsBeing Born AgainParticipation, In ChristRitualTypesNew Birth, Described AsForsaking SinGod Stripping PeopleLiving Not For The MaterialTrue CircumcisionRemoving People From Your Lifeefficiency

Yes, I mean that Christ has become a servant to Israel to prove God's truthfulness, to make valid His promises to our forefathers, Verse ConceptsCertaintyPatriarchsGod's Promise To AbrahamSalvation For Israelvindication



And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature, Verse ConceptsBeing Born AgainParticipation, In ChristRitualTypesNew Birth, Described AsForsaking SinGod Stripping PeopleLiving Not For The MaterialTrue CircumcisionRemoving People From Your Lifeefficiency






For the real Jew is not the man who is a Jew on the outside, and real circumcision is not outward physical circumcision. The real Jew is the man who is a Jew on the inside, and real circumcision is heart-circumcision, a spiritual, not a literal, affair. This man's praise originates, not with men, but with God.

And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature, Verse ConceptsBeing Born AgainParticipation, In ChristRitualTypesNew Birth, Described AsForsaking SinGod Stripping PeopleLiving Not For The MaterialTrue CircumcisionRemoving People From Your Lifeefficiency




The real Jew is the man who is a Jew on the inside, and real circumcision is heart-circumcision, a spiritual, not a literal, affair. This man's praise originates, not with men, but with God. Verse ConceptsChanged HeartHeart, Fallen And RedeemedPaul, Teaching OfTypesWorthinessRenewed HeartNew Birth, Described AsThe Holy Spirit, And RegenerationThe Holy Spirit, And ScriptureThe Inward BeingPeople Commended By GodJews

Yes, I mean that Christ has become a servant to Israel to prove God's truthfulness, to make valid His promises to our forefathers, and for the heathen peoples to praise God for His mercy, as the Scripture says: "For this I will give thanks to you among the heathen, and will sing praises to your name."

Take care that nobody captures you by the idle fancies of his so-called philosophy, following human tradition and the world's crude notions instead of Christ. For it is in Him that all the fullness of Deity continues to live embodied, and through union with Him you too are filled with it. He is the Head of all principalities and dominions. read more.
And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature, for you were buried with Him in baptism and raised to life with Him through your faith in the power of God who raised Him from the dead. Yes, although you were dead through your shortcomings and were physically uncircumcised, God made you live again through fellowship with Christ. He graciously forgave us all our shortcomings, canceled the note that stood against us, with its requirements, and has put it out of our way by nailing it to the cross. He thus stripped the principalities and dominions of power and made a public display of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature, Verse ConceptsBeing Born AgainParticipation, In ChristRitualTypesNew Birth, Described AsForsaking SinGod Stripping PeopleLiving Not For The MaterialTrue CircumcisionRemoving People From Your Lifeefficiency





And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature, Verse ConceptsBeing Born AgainParticipation, In ChristRitualTypesNew Birth, Described AsForsaking SinGod Stripping PeopleLiving Not For The MaterialTrue CircumcisionRemoving People From Your Lifeefficiency













Take care that nobody captures you by the idle fancies of his so-called philosophy, following human tradition and the world's crude notions instead of Christ. For it is in Him that all the fullness of Deity continues to live embodied, and through union with Him you too are filled with it. He is the Head of all principalities and dominions. read more.
And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature, for you were buried with Him in baptism and raised to life with Him through your faith in the power of God who raised Him from the dead. Yes, although you were dead through your shortcomings and were physically uncircumcised, God made you live again through fellowship with Christ. He graciously forgave us all our shortcomings,

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So as God's own chosen people, consecrated and dearly loved, you must once for all clothe yourselves with tenderheartedness, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience; you must keep on forbearing one another and freely forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; just as the Lord has freely forgiven you, so must you also do.

Then Jesus said to them, "I most solemnly say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life in you. Whoever continues to eat my flesh and drink my blood already possesses eternal life, and I will raise him to life on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. read more.
Whoever continues to eat my flesh and drink my blood continues to live in union with me and I in union with him.

My dear children, I am writing you this so that you may not sin; yet if anyone ever sins, we have One who pleads our case with the Father, Jesus Christ, One who is righteous. And He is Himself the atoning sacrifice for our sins; and not for ours alone, but also for the whole world. By this we can be sure that we know Him -- if we practice obedience to His commands. read more.
Whoever says, "I know Him," but does not practice obedience to His commands is a liar, and there is no truth in his heart; but whoever practices obedience to His message really has a perfect love of God in his heart. By this we can be sure that we are in union with Him: Whoever claims, "I am always in union with Him," ought to live as He lived.

Philip said to Him, "Lord, let us see the Father, and that will satisfy us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you disciples so long, and yet you, Philip, have not recognized me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Let us see the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in union with the Father and that the Father is in union with me? I am not saying these things on my own authority, but the Father who always remains in union with me is doing these things Himself. read more.
You must believe me, that I am in union with the Father and that the Father is in union with me, or else you must do so because of the very things that I am doing. I most solemnly say to you, whoever perseveres in believing in me can himself do the things that I am doing; yes, he can do even greater things than I am doing, because I am going to the Father. And anything you ask for as bearers of my name I will do for you, so that the Father may be glorified through the Son. Yes, I repeat it, anything you ask for as bearers of my name I will do it for you. "If you really love me, you will keep my commands. And I will ask I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, to remain with you to the end of the age; even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see Him or recognize Him, because He is going to remain with you, and will be within you. I will not leave you helpless orphans. I am coming back to you. In just a little while the world will not see me any more, but you will be seeing me. Because I am to live on, you too will live on. At that time you will know that I am in union with my Father and you are in union with me and I am in union with you.

For consider, brothers, the way God called you; that not many of you, in accordance with human standards, were wise, not many influential, not many of high birth. Just the opposite: God chose what the world calls foolish to put the wise to shame, what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame, what the world calls of low degree, yea, what it counts as nothing and what it thinks does not exist, God chose to put a stop to what it thinks exists, read more.
so that no mortal man might ever boast in the presence of God. So you owe it all to Him through union with Christ Jesus, whom God has made our wisdom, our means of right standing, our consecration, and our redemption,

Take care that nobody captures you by the idle fancies of his so-called philosophy, following human tradition and the world's crude notions instead of Christ. For it is in Him that all the fullness of Deity continues to live embodied, and through union with Him you too are filled with it. He is the Head of all principalities and dominions. read more.
And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature, for you were buried with Him in baptism and raised to life with Him through your faith in the power of God who raised Him from the dead.

Dearly beloved, if our consciences do not condemn us, we come with perfect confidence to God, and we obtain from Him whatever we ask for, because we practice obedience to His commands and do what pleases Him. His command is this, that we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and practice loving one another, just as He commanded us to do. read more.
Whoever practices obedience to His commands remains in union with Him and He in union with him; and in this way we know that He remains in union with us, by the Spirit that He has given us.

We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us insight to recognize the True One; and we are in union with the True One through His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Take care that nobody captures you by the idle fancies of his so-called philosophy, following human tradition and the world's crude notions instead of Christ. For it is in Him that all the fullness of Deity continues to live embodied, and through union with Him you too are filled with it. He is the Head of all principalities and dominions. read more.
And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature, for you were buried with Him in baptism and raised to life with Him through your faith in the power of God who raised Him from the dead. Yes, although you were dead through your shortcomings and were physically uncircumcised, God made you live again through fellowship with Christ. He graciously forgave us all our shortcomings, canceled the note that stood against us, with its requirements, and has put it out of our way by nailing it to the cross. He thus stripped the principalities and dominions of power and made a public display of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

For this reason I am bearing anything for the sake of His chosen people, so that they too may obtain the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. Verse Conceptseternal life, nature ofEndurance, Results Ofelection, to salvationChristiansGlorySalvation, Described AsEternal BlessingEnduringThe Gospel Of SalvationTemporary Affliction Of SaintsSelflessness


nor evil forces above or beneath, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God as shown in Christ Jesus our Lord. Verse ConceptsdepthLove, Nature OfChrist, Names ForAgape LoveSpiritual DepthsNothing MissingGod's Love For UsGod's Creation

And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature, Verse ConceptsBeing Born AgainParticipation, In ChristRitualTypesNew Birth, Described AsForsaking SinGod Stripping PeopleLiving Not For The MaterialTrue CircumcisionRemoving People From Your Lifeefficiency


The real Jew is the man who is a Jew on the inside, and real circumcision is heart-circumcision, a spiritual, not a literal, affair. This man's praise originates, not with men, but with God. Verse ConceptsChanged HeartHeart, Fallen And RedeemedPaul, Teaching OfTypesWorthinessRenewed HeartNew Birth, Described AsThe Holy Spirit, And RegenerationThe Holy Spirit, And ScriptureThe Inward BeingPeople Commended By GodJews




And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature, Verse ConceptsBeing Born AgainParticipation, In ChristRitualTypesNew Birth, Described AsForsaking SinGod Stripping PeopleLiving Not For The MaterialTrue CircumcisionRemoving People From Your Lifeefficiency







And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature, Verse ConceptsBeing Born AgainParticipation, In ChristRitualTypesNew Birth, Described AsForsaking SinGod Stripping PeopleLiving Not For The MaterialTrue CircumcisionRemoving People From Your Lifeefficiency


And if your right hand causes you to do wrong, cut it off and put it out of your way, for it is better to have one part of your body suffer loss than to have your whole body go down to the pit. Verse ConceptsBodily LimbsSending Things AwayCausing Others To StumbleCutting Off Hands And FeetEvil For The Right HandThe Entrance Of SinUseful ThingsWorry And StressInfidelityLosing Someonecutting

I almost wish that these men who are upsetting you would go all the way, and have themselves mutilated. Verse ConceptseunuchsMutilationRevenge, Examples OfDisturbanceTroubling Groups Of PeopleDisunityRelationship TroublesNervousness

And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature, Verse ConceptsBeing Born AgainParticipation, In ChristRitualTypesNew Birth, Described AsForsaking SinGod Stripping PeopleLiving Not For The MaterialTrue CircumcisionRemoving People From Your Lifeefficiency




The real Jew is the man who is a Jew on the inside, and real circumcision is heart-circumcision, a spiritual, not a literal, affair. This man's praise originates, not with men, but with God. Verse ConceptsChanged HeartHeart, Fallen And RedeemedPaul, Teaching OfTypesWorthinessRenewed HeartNew Birth, Described AsThe Holy Spirit, And RegenerationThe Holy Spirit, And ScriptureThe Inward BeingPeople Commended By GodJews




And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature, Verse ConceptsBeing Born AgainParticipation, In ChristRitualTypesNew Birth, Described AsForsaking SinGod Stripping PeopleLiving Not For The MaterialTrue CircumcisionRemoving People From Your Lifeefficiency




But one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping! See! The Lion who sprang from the tribe of Judah, who belongs to the line of David, has conquered, so that He can open the book and break its seven seals." Verse ConceptsdefeatLions, Figurative Use OfLionsRootsSealsNames And Titles For ChristJesus As Son Of DavidPromised VictorySeven ThingsThe Act Of OpeningOpening DocumentsChrist OvercomingDo Not MournPeople Of JudahLion Of The Tribe Of Judah

"To the messenger of the church in Laodicea write: 'The Amen, the true and faithful witness, the origin of God's creation, speaks as follows: "I know what you are doing, and that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. As it is, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth. read more.
Because you say, 'I am rich, I have already become rich, I need nothing,' and you do not know that you are the very one that is wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked; I advise you to buy of me gold that has been refined in the fire, so that you may become rich, and white clothes to put on, to hide your shameful nakedness, and salve to put on your eyes, to make you see. The people whom I dearly love, I always reprove and discipline. So keep on being earnest and once for all repent. I am now standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I will be his guest and feast with him, and he with me. I will give to him who conquers the privilege of taking his seat with me on my throne, just as I have conquered and taken my seat with my Father on His throne.

Take care that nobody captures you by the idle fancies of his so-called philosophy, following human tradition and the world's crude notions instead of Christ. For it is in Him that all the fullness of Deity continues to live embodied, and through union with Him you too are filled with it. He is the Head of all principalities and dominions. read more.
And through your union with Him you once received, not a hand-performed circumcision but one performed by Christ, in stripping you of your lower nature, for you were buried with Him in baptism and raised to life with Him through your faith in the power of God who raised Him from the dead. Yes, although you were dead through your shortcomings and were physically uncircumcised, God made you live again through fellowship with Christ. He graciously forgave us all our shortcomings, canceled the note that stood against us, with its requirements, and has put it out of our way by nailing it to the cross. He thus stripped the principalities and dominions of power and made a public display of them, triumphing over them by the cross.



Jesus answered them, "Do you now really believe? Listen! A time is coming, yea, it is right here, when you will all be scattered to your homes and will leave me alone. And yet, I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you these things, that you through union with me may have peace. In the world you have trouble, but be courageous! I have conquered the world."


The ten horns that you saw are ten kings, who have not yet become kings, but for a single hour they accept authority as kings allied with the wild beast. They have one common policy. They give their power and authority to the wild beast. They will make war upon the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, and His chosen, elect, and faithful followers will conquer with Him, too, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings."