S – And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one. We are in the true one—that is, in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life

1 John 5:20 CSB

O – Commentary:

The NLT interprets the phrase the true God (literally the one who is true) as referring to God, since the next phrase refers to his Son, Jesus Christ. John is also saying that Jesus Christ is the only true God (see John 1:1, 18; 20:28; Rom 9:5; Titus 2:13; 2 Pet 1:1). • To have fellowship with Jesus Christ is to have eternal life, because he is eternal life

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), 1 Jn 5:20.

A – When we know the truth, it gives us something that is “opposed to falsehood.”  God is true (truth) gives us great confidence and faith that He is the source and standard for our lives.  It also allows us to identify false imposters that would tempt us or act like something good.  We are grateful to have relationship with God because of the truth we know in Him. And, we must use that same truth to confess or remove sin and other lies from our lives.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Truth.  Thank you for revealing your character to us in our relationship with you.  Empower our thoughts, words and actions to reveal your truth through us today.  Also, help us to identify things that are not aligned in your truth so we can remove them.

S – This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world. 

1 John 4:2–3 CSB

O – Commentary:

 John outlines a doctrinal test for prophets and teachers. Those who have the Spirit of God confess that Jesus Christ came in a real body. In other words, they must affirm the full reality that Jesus is both fully man and fully God. Prophets and teachers who deny these basic teachings are antichrists 

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), 1 Jn 4:2.

A – You have to make a decision about what you believe about Jesus.  Either he is God who came in the form of a man named Jesus or he isn’t.  The most foundational belief in God comes back to your belief in who Jesus is and what do you do with him.  My hope is that he is recognized, accepted and honored as the Son of God.

R – Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us Jesus.  We recognize he is God in human flesh.  He is fully God and fully man.  We confess this with full confidence in the promise of relationship with you as our God, Savior and Lord.

S – Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is.

1 John 3:2 CSB

O – We are adopted into “God’s family” by accepting Christ as the son of God and establishing relationship with God.  What his will for us has not been established yet.  When Jesus returns, he will see him in his true reality as God and man.

A – This brings me hope that there is a bigger picture working even as my life’s “picture” is playing out.  Whatever is so big or challenging in our lives today falls short of the plan that God has in store for us.  We need to keep our eyes on God and grow in our faith to believe that there is more coming.

R – Heavenly Father, you are holy, just and true.  We can put our faith in a big God who knows us and loves just as we are.  You are working at a level beyond our comprehension.  We can trust in your character and will for us today.

S – My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one. ² He himself is the atoning sacrifice^, for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world

1 John 2:1–2 CSB

O – Commentary:

But if anybody does sin, we have One who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ the Righteous One. John did not want his readers to sin, but he knew that none of them was perfect and that all would need the help available from their Advocate.

The words “One who speaks … in our defense” translate a single term (paraklēton). Its essential meaning is captured by the KJV‘s familiar “Advocate.” John is the only New Testament writer to use it of the Holy Spirit (four times in his Gospel: John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). In these four verses the NIV renders it “Counselor” each time (cf. kjv‘s “Comforter”). The thought here in 1 John 2:1 is of a defense attorney who takes up the case of his client before a tribunal. The way in which the advocacy of the Lord Jesus works for His sinning people is admirably illustrated in His prayer for Peter (Luke 22:31–32). In anticipation of Peter’s approaching denial, Jesus asked the Father to prevent Peter’s faith from collapsing. He also had in mind Peter’s future helpfulness to his Christian brethren. 

 Zane C. Hodges, “1 John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 887.

A – How powerful it is to know that when we sin, Christ not only paid the price for it but defends us as well.  He speaks on our behalf when we guilty of sin and confess it to him.  The freedom we experience is not to go sin more.  Instead, it is to recognize the debt we cannot pay is paid in full.

R – Heavenly Father, you are our Advocate.  Thank you for paying the price for our sin.  When it judged, you stand before us and speak on our behalf.  Give us the courage to truly examine ourselves with full transparency and honesty.  We are humbled by your love for us.

S – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

1 John 1:9 CSB

O – Commentary – 

confess our sins Confession of sin opens a person to the work of God within them, relinquishing the power of sin over their life through the power of Jesus (2:1; compare 3:8). John is not suggesting that the act of confession is required for salvation. God does the saving work; people cannot save themselves (2:12; John 3:16–17). Instead, confession opens a person to the work of the Holy Spirit, leading to the removal of sinful behaviors and desires (1 John 3:24).

he Refers to God, who will forgive us through the atoning death of Jesus (1 John 1:7).

faithful Meaning that God is true to the agreement He made with His people, which established the true cost of sin (Deut 7:9; Jer 31:31–34; compare Lev 4–5).

just God demonstrates this attribute by carrying out His promise of bringing people into relationship with Him through Christ’s sacrificial death (compare Isa 53:10–12).

forgive When people admit that they are sinful, God honors His word by both forgiving them and giving them the power to overcome sin

 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), 1 Jn 1:9.

A – There is freedom in acknowledging and confessing our sins to God.  He knows we sin and our recognition of it shows our dependence on him in forgiveness.  It is another reflection of his love – so much, that he would send Jesus to cover our sins with his blood on the cross.

R – Heavenly Father, you are our Redeemer.  You forgive and redeem us from our sins.  Thank you for loving us so much that Jesus would go to the cross so we could be forgiven and set free from sin in our lives.  

S – The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

 2 Peter 3:9 CSB

O – Commentary:

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise. The words “is … slow” translate bradynei (“hesitate, linger, delay”), used only here in the New Testament. Again Peter gave a divine-human comparison (cf. v. 8). God’s so-called “tardiness” as viewed by some people (as some understand slowness) is only a delay with respect to their time schedules, not His. In fact God’s time schedule is modified by patience, a major attribute of the heavenly Father (cf. v. 15; Rom. 2:4; 9:22).

The words not wanting (mē boulomenos) anyone to perish do not express a decree, as if God has willed everyone to be saved. Universal salvation is not taught in the Bible. Instead those words describe God’s wishes or desires; He longs that all would be saved (cf. 1 Tim. 2:4) but knows that many reject Him.

 Kenneth O. Gangel, “2 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 876.

A – The Bible says God will come again to judge all of mankind and is delaying his return due his own patience.  It is fascinating that the one who holds time and knows all things is actually attributed with patience.  As he has given us a free will to choose him, he wants to give every opportunity for people to make that choice.  That is a strong love and desire for relationship.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one, True God.  Thank you for providing a way for relationship with you.  We pray for people to repent and come into a relationship with you.  We are grateful you were patient enough to wait for us.

S – Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, ²¹ because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:20–21 CSB

O – Commentary:

The prophecies did not originate with the prophets themselves. The word epilyseōs (“interpretation,” lit., “unloosing”) and the word ginetai (“came about”) favor the fourth view. The Scriptures did not stem merely from the prophets themselves; their writings came from God. Verse 20, then, speaks not of interpretation, but of revelation, the source of the Scriptures.

1:21. This verse also supports the view that Peter wrote in verse 20 about prophecies being born of God, not originating from the prophets themselves. Prophecy came not from the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

As the authors of Scripture wrote their prophecies, they were impelled or borne along by God’s Spirit. What they wrote was thus inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16). “Borne along” or “carried along” translates the word pheromenoi. Luke used this word in referring to a sailing vessel carried along by the wind (Acts 27:15, 17). The Scriptures’ human authors were controlled by the divine Author, the Holy Spirit. Yet they were consciously involved in the process; they were neither taking dictation nor writing in a state of ecstasy. No wonder believers have a word of prophecy which is certain. And no wonder a Christian’s nurture must depend on the Scriptures. They are the very words of God Himself!

 Kenneth O. Gangel, “2 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 869.

A – This gives a foundational explanation of the inspiration and execution of writing the scriptures for all to receive.  The Bible has endured since its inception and will going forward.  We confidently use them as the foundation of our faith and knowledge of the character, will and purposes of God.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Word.  Thank you for giving us the Bible as our foundation for our understanding of you. It also lays out how to enjoy a relationship with you.  We are grateful for the word of God in our lives.

S – Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, ⁷ casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. ⁸ Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour

1 Peter 5:6–8 CSB

O – Peter challenges the believers to lower their view of themselves in relationship with God.  He has a plan and purpose that will be accomplished in His timing.  Humility also leads to an awareness of the enemy’s schemes as he comes against us.

A – In golf, the worst thing you can say is “I have it all figured out.”  You will most likely go out and shoot a bad score the next time.  Such is true in our Christian walk.  It isn’t an equation or puzzle to solve – it is a living relationship with God.  Humility recognizes He is God and we are not.  We have the victory over the devil but we shouldn’t be cocky in ourselves.  God is our source.  Humility, faith, awareness and the presence of the Holy Spirit are key ingredients to a solid walk with God.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Help us maintain a level of humility and confidence that is pleasing to you.  We are your children and rely on your Holy Spirit to be present with today.  

S – The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. ⁸ Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:7–8 CSB

O – Peter is exhorting us to be aware and self controlled in our disciplines so when we pray our lives align with our conversation with God.  Our love for others needs to be consistent and aware so we can accept others sins as forgivable. 

A – Two strong parts of our Christian faith is prayer and love for others.  The intentionality of each is so important if we want to have a vibrant walk with God.  Since God’s word doesn’t put boundaries on us in our behavior to grow in him, the concepts of awareness and self control keep us in His will.  Loving others when they cross their boundaries allows us to see them through the lens of grace and not judgement.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one, true God.  Empower us to walk with awareness and self control today.  We know we are going to sin and make mistakes.  Thank you for your grace and mercy as we see our sin and ask for your forgiveness.  Give us the courage to extend that same forgiveness to others.

S – Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, ⁹ not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing. 

1 Peter 3:8–9 CSB

O – Peter exhorts the believers to be in unity, loving each other with a foundation of humility and grace.  They should bless others instead of trying to hurt those who offended them. 

A – There are many principles in these statements that are foundational.  Peter challenges us to bring them together in a daily expression.  Each can stand on their own but when brought together cohesively, their power is multiplied.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are gracious and merciful.  You gave us Christ as a human expression of your character.  Empower us today to walk in the same way he did.  Help us to see other as you see them.