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Romans 2:17-3:2
Suppose you call yourself a Jew. You trust in the law. You brag that you know God.You know what God wants. You agree with what is best because the law teaches you.You think you know so much more than the people you teach. You think you’re helping blind people. You think you are a light for those in the dark.You think you can make foolish people wise. You act like you’re teaching little children. You think that the law gives you all knowledge and truth.You claim to teach others, but you don’t even teach yourself! You preach against stealing. But you steal!You say that people should not commit adultery. But you commit adultery! You hate statues of gods. But you rob temples!You brag about the law. But when you break it, you rob God of his honor!It is written,“ The Gentiles say evil things against God’s name because of you.”( Isaiah 52:5; Ezekiel 36:22)Circumcision has value if you obey the law. But if you break the law, it is just as if you hadn’t been circumcised.And sometimes those who aren’t circumcised do what the law requires. Won’t God accept them as if they had been circumcised?Many are not circumcised physically, but they obey the law. They will prove that you are guilty. You are breaking the law, even though you have the written law and are circumcised.A person is not a Jew if they are a Jew only on the outside. And circumcision is more than just something done to the outside of a man’s body.No, a person is a Jew only if they are a Jew on the inside. And true circumcision means that the heart has been circumcised by the Holy Spirit. The person whose heart has been circumcised does more than obey the written law. The praise that matters for that kind of person does not come from other people. It comes from God.Is there any advantage in being a Jew? Is there any value in being circumcised?There is great value in every way! First of all, the Jews have been given the very words of God.
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Psalms 147:19-20
He has made his word known to the people of Jacob. He has made his laws and rules known to Israel.He hasn’t done that for any other nation. They don’t know his laws. Praise the Lord.
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2 Chronicles 2 5-2 Chronicles 2 6
“ The temple I’m going to build will be beautiful. That’s because our God is greater than all other gods.So who is able to build a temple for him? After all, the heavens can’t hold him. In fact, not even the highest heavens can hold him. So who am I to build a temple for him? It will only be a place to burn sacrifices in front of him.
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Deuteronomy 4:34-36
Has any god ever tried to take one nation out of another to be his own? Has any god done it by testing his people? Has any god done it with signs and amazing deeds or with war? Has any god reached out his mighty hand and powerful arm? Or has any god shown his people his great and wonderful acts? The Lord your God did all those things for you in Egypt. With your very own eyes you saw him do them.The Lord showed you those things so that you might know he is God. There is no other God except him.From heaven he made you hear his voice. He wanted to teach you. On earth he showed you his great fire. You heard his words coming out of the fire.
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Psalms 54:1
God, save me by your power. Set me free by your might.
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Psalms 48:1-3
The Lord is great. He is really worthy of praise. Praise him in the city of our God, his holy mountain.Mount Zion is high and beautiful. It brings joy to everyone on earth. Mount Zion is like the highest parts of Mount Zaphon. It is the city of the Great King.God is there to keep it safe. He has shown himself to be like a fort to the city.
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Deuteronomy 4:7-8
The Lord our God is near us every time we pray to him. What other nation is great enough to have its gods that close to them?I’m giving you the laws of the Lord today. What other nation is great enough to have rules and laws as fair as these?
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Daniel 3:29
No other god can save people this way. So I’m giving an order about the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. No one may say anything against him. That’s true no matter what language they speak. If they say anything against him, they’ll be cut to pieces. And their houses will be turned into piles of trash.”
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Psalms 67:1
God, have mercy on us and bless us. May you be pleased with us.
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Acts 17:23
As I walked around, I looked carefully at the things you worship. I even found an altar with to an unknown god written on it. So you don’t know what you are worshiping. Now I am going to tell you about this‘ unknown god.’
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Daniel 4:1-2
I, King Nebuchadnezzar, am writing this letter. I am sending it to people who live all over the world. I’m sending it to people of every nation no matter what language they speak. May you have great success!I am pleased to tell you what has happened. The Most High God has done miraculous signs and wonders for me.
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Psalms 148:13-14
Let them praise the name of the Lord. His name alone is honored. His glory is higher than the earth and the heavens.He has given his people a strong king. All his faithful people praise him for that gift. All the people of Israel are close to his heart. Praise the Lord.
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Psalms 61:1
God, hear my cry for help. Listen to my prayer.
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Psalms 4:1
My faithful God, answer me when I call out to you. Give me rest from my trouble. Have mercy on me. Hear my prayer.
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Psalms 98:2-3
The Lord has made known his power to save. He has shown the nations that he does what is right.He has shown his faithful love to the people of Israel. People from one end of the earth to the other have seen that our God has saved us.
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1 Chronicles 29 10-1 Chronicles 29 12
David praised the Lord in front of the whole community. He said,“ Lord, we give you praise. You are the God of our father Israel. We give you praise for ever and ever.Lord, you are great and powerful. Glory, majesty and beauty belong to you. Everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. Lord, the kingdom belongs to you. You are honored as the one who rules over all.Wealth and honor come from you. You are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power. You can give honor and strength to everyone.
