2020 for JESUS - Day 235: JESUS is GOD...

Romans 2:17-29

The Jews and the Law

^17 “Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in GOD; 

¹⁸ if you know HIS will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 

¹⁹ if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 

²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 

²¹ you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself?

You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 

²² You who say that people should not commit adultery,

do you commit adultery?

You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 

²³ You who boast in the law, do you dishonor GOD by breaking the law? 

²⁴ As it is written:

‘GOD’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.’

²⁵ Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. 

²⁶ So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 

²⁷ The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

²⁸ A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 

²⁹ No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly;

and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by THE SPIRIT, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from GOD.”

2020 for JESUS - Day 234: JESUS is GOD... TRUTH... ETERNAL LIFE... THE TRUTH... JESUS CHRIST... MY GOSPEL...

 

Romans 2:1-16

God’s Righteous Judgment

2 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 

² Now we know that GOD’s judgment against those who do such things is based on TRUTH. 

³ So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape GOD’s judgment? 

⁴ Or do you show contempt for the riches of HIS kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that GOD’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

⁵ But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of GOD’s wrath, when HIS righteous judgment will be revealed. 

⁶ GOD “will repay each person according to what they have done.”

 ⁷ To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, HE will give ETERNAL LIFE. 

⁸ But for those who are self-seeking and who reject THE TRUTH and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 

⁹ There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 

¹⁰ but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 

¹¹ For GOD does not show favoritism.

¹² All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 

¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in GOD’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 

¹⁴ (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 

¹⁵ They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 

¹⁶ This will take place on the day when GOD judges people’s secrets through JESUS CHRIST, as MY GOSPEL declares.”

2020 for JESUS - Day 233: JESUS is GOD... THE TRUTH... ETERNAL POWER... DIVINE NATURE... THE INCORRUPTIBLE GOD... THE TRUTH OF GOD... THE CREATOR...

 

Romans 1:18-32

Unbelief and Its Consequences

^18 “For the wrath of GOD is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of mankind who suppress THE TRUTH in unrighteousness, 

¹⁹ because that which is known about GOD is evident within them; for GOD made it evident to them. 

²⁰ For since the creation of the world HIS invisible attributes, HIS ETERNAL POWER and DIVINE NATURE, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 

²¹ For even though they knew GOD, they did not honor HIM as GOD or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 

²² Professing to be wise, they became fools, 

²³ and exchanged the glory of THE INCORRUPTIBLE GOD for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

²⁴ Therefore GOD gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 

²⁵ For they exchanged THE TRUTH OF GOD for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than THE CREATOR, WHO is blessed forever. Amen.

²⁶ For this reason GOD gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 

²⁷ and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

²⁸ And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge GOD any longer, GOD gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 

²⁹ being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 

³⁰ slanderers, haters of GOD, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 

³¹ without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 

³² and although they know the ordinance of GOD, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”

2020 for JESUS - Day 232: JESUS is CHRIST JESUS... THE GOSPEL OF GOD... HIS SON... DESCENDANT OF DAVID ACCORDING TO THE FLESH... THE SON OF GOD... JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD... JESUS CHRIST.... GOD... THE LORD JESUS CHRIST... THE GOSPEL... THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION... THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD... FAITH...

Romans 1:1-17

The Gospel Exalted

1 "Paul, a bond-servant of CHRIST JESUS, called as an apostle, set apart for THE GOSPEL OF GOD, 

² which HE promised beforehand through HIS prophets in the holy Scriptures, 

³ concerning HIS SON, who was born of a  DESCENDANT OF DAVID ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, 

 ⁴ who was declared THE SON OF GOD with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the SPIRIT of holiness, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, 

⁵ through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for HIS name’s sake, 

⁶ among whom you also are the called of JESUS CHRIST;

⁷ to all who are beloved of GOD in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from GOD OUR FATHER and THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

⁸ First, I thank my GOD through JESUS CHRIST for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. 

⁹ For GOD, WHOM I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of HIS SON, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, 

¹⁰ always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of GOD I may succeed in coming to you. 

¹¹ For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; 

¹² that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. 

¹³ I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. 

¹⁴ I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 

¹⁵ So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of THE GOSPEL, for it is THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 

¹⁷ For in it THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by FAITH.”

2020 for JESUS - Day 231: JESUS is THE LORD... GOD... CHRIST JESUS... FRIEND...

Although this last part of Colossians does not use the name "friend" to describe JESUS, it is definitely about "friends in CHRIST".  There are other scriptures that describe or refer to JESUS as FRIEND:

Matthew 11:19 - 

"...the SON OF MAN... a FRIEND of tax collectors and sinners..."

John 15:13

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."

Colossians 4:7-18

Final Greetings

⁷ Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in THE LORD. 

⁸ I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 

⁹ He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

¹⁰ My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 

¹¹ Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of GOD, and they have proved a comfort to me. 

¹² Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of CHRIST JESUS, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of GOD, mature and fully assured. 

¹³ I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 

¹⁴ Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 

¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

¹⁶ After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

¹⁷ Tell Archippus: ‘See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in THE LORD.’

¹⁸ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”

2020 for JESUS - Day 230: JESUS is MASTER... GOD... CHRIST...

  

Colossians 4:1-6

4 "Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a MASTER in heaven.

Further Instructions

² Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 

³ And pray for us, too, that GOD may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of CHRIST, for which I am in chains. 

⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 

⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 

⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

2020 for JESUS - Day 229: JESUS is THE LORD... THE LORD CHRIST...

Colossians 3:18-25

Family Relations

^“Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in THE LORD. 

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 

²⁰ Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to THE LORD. 

²¹ Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

²² Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing THE LORD. 

²³ Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for THE LORD rather than for men, 

²⁴ knowing that from THE LORD you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is THE LORD CHRIST WHOM you serve. 

²⁵ For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.”