Aug 17, 2022
JEREMIAH 51:
Today the Lord continues the long prophecy
against Babylon. This chapter foreshadows what will happen to the
figurative Babylon in Revelation 18.
PROVERBS 11a:
An
important thing I didn’t mention before is that these proverbs
represent principles, not promises. This particularly needs to be
remembered for verses that talk about prosperity. There will be
times, such as what Jeremiah experienced, when no amount of Godly
living will bring us wealth. However, the principles hold
true.
1JOHN 4.15—5:
John
has been giving us important keys that will unlock assurance and
victory in our spiritual lives. This also will provide confidence
and power in our prayers.
NLT Translation notes:
1Jn.
5:4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve
this victory through our [fully believing/faith]. 5And
who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe
that Jesus is the Son of God.
[Note
that keeping the word as ‘believing’ allows us to understand the
cohesion here.]
6
And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son [through//by his
baptism in] water and [through//by shedding] his blood on the cross
—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is
truth, confirms it with his testimony.
[I
believe that NLT takes the weaker interpretation here that John is
speaking of Jesus’ baptism in water. I think it more likely that
John is speaking of the blood and water that came from Jesus’ side
when He was pierced with a Roman spear. I think this because of the
way John highlights this in John 19:35. I believe that John saw a
symbolic meaning in that event.]
12
Whoever [is joined together with the//has the] Son has life;
whoever [is not joined together with//does not have] God’s Son does
not have life.
13I
have written this to you who believe in [Jesus,//the name of]
the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal
life.
‘Name’ is used as a metonymy here, indicating
the whole person of Christ. We don’t actually just believe in a
magic name. That is not the intent here.]
20
And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us
understanding so that we can know the true God.e And now we live in fellowship with the true God
because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He
[(Jesus)] is the [0/only] true God, and he is eternal
life.
21 Dear children, keep away from [idols, that
is] anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.