NL-Day229 Jeremiah 51; Proverbs 11:1-16; 1 John 4:15-5:21

Daily Bible Reading Podcast

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.