Thematic Bible: Withdrawal of the means of grace

But since the Jews kept resisting and opposing him, and blaspheming [God], he shook out his robe and said to them, “Your blood (damnation) be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

Verse Concepts

Gentiles, In NtConfrontationBlood, as symbol of guiltInsultsSpiritual Warfare, Causes OfAbuse, To God's PeopleRejection Of God's Call

ShakingName CallingThe Gentiles ConversionPreaching Gospel To ForeignersResponsibility For Blood ShedPeople Abandoning PeopleBlasphemy

And [at the same time] Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and confidently, saying, “It was necessary that God’s message [of salvation through faith in Christ] be spoken to you [Jews] first. Since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, now we turn to the Gentiles.

Verse Concepts

Gentiles, In NtCourage, In Facing EnemiesBoldness, Proclaiming Gospeldenial of Jesus ChristNecessityRejection Of GodRejection Of God's Call

UnworthinessAdvice, Rejecting God's AdvicePreaching Gospel To ForeignersNot Maintaining LifeTo The Jew Firstholy Boldness

And you will say to them, Thus says the Lord: If you will not listen to and obey Me, to walk in My law, which I have set before you, And to hear and obey the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you urgently and persistently -- "though you have not listened and obeyed -- " Then will I make this house [the temple] like Shiloh [the home of the Tent of Meeting, abandoned and later destroyed after the ark was captured by the Philistines], and I will make this city subject to the curses of all nations of the earth [so vile in their sight will it be].

So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lampstand (the church, its impact) from its place—unless you repent.

Verse Concepts

BeginningHeightImpenitence, Results OfPoverty, SpiritualReformationRememberingRepentance, Importance OfRevival, CorporateRejection Of God's Call

Beginning Of SalvationPeople Falling From A HeightRepentanceOne's DeedsTaking God's ThingsThe Fact Of His ComingLuciferrevelation