Bible Dictionary and Concordance


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refugeA place of shelter and safety from danger or trouble. DTP In the Old Testament there were cities of refuge in Israel and Judah where perpetrators of manslaughter could find asylum for as long as they stayed in that city. Christ has become our city of refuge; He has become our refuge in the times of storms. He is our anchor, holding us fast; He is the One who keeps us in the palm of His hand. We need not fear but we just have to keep faith in Jesus Christ who is our sure place of refuge.
regenerationTo be made alive again, to be brought back from extinction and death. DTP To bring the disciple back into a newness of life, to recreate us into the fullness of Christ, to take on His nature and life. In all areas of our life from the inside out we have been reborn and remade as children of God.
reign / reignethThis often describes the period of time that a ruler or monarch rules as leader (for example, as a king or queen). DTP Christ is our Righteous King and He will soon reign again over all His creation for ever and ever. Sin and rebellion will be put down and His enemies will be taken captive. He will return again to set up His everlasting Kingdom here on earth.
reincarnationThe belief that a soul can be reborn into a new body of a person or animal. This is a belief that is held mostly by those who practice Buddhism and Hinduism; almost all religions, other than Christianity and Islam, believe in some form of reincarnation. Reincarnation is often thought of as being an endless circle of death and rebirth; sometimes coming back as a lower being or, if one did enough righteous things, one could be elevated to a higher position in the next life. This circle of death and rebirth continues until one day the person reaches utopia, a state of complete nothingness. This is the level to which the Buddha himself was able to arrive; that assumption now gives hope that others who follow his teachings and ways, that they, too, will one day enjoy this final destination of utopia.
reject / rejectedTurn away from, not to take, turn one's back to; refuse to consider or to agree with. DTP Many people who do not get what they want or what they feel they should get from God, turn their backs toward Him and His word. Thousands of people each day reject the leading of the Holy Spirit just like many disciples in the time of Christ; many went back to the ways of the world. Many to this day also reject Christ's love, grace and mercy. They condemn their own selves to destruction and, potentially, even eternal death.
rejoice / rejoiced / rejoicingA giving of thanks and praise. To feel or show great joy or delight. DTP The disciple is to have a heart full of rejoicing because he knows that Christ Jesus has redeemed him from the penalty for all his sin and wickedness. The result may be a voice lifted up to Him who has set us free ... a song from the depths of our heart that lifts up praise to our God. We are to rejoice and be glad in our God.
relationshipA connection between people, concepts, or objects. This word is closely linked to the word fellowship; ideally, a coming together, a connecting of one or more people in unity and harmony, a relationship that is focused on the betterment of another. DTP We are called to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Christ is the vine and we are the branches; He holds us up and nourishes us so that we can produce fruit for His glory (John 15:1-12). Through our relationship with Christ, we are a part of His body, the Church. We have come together to lift up and encourage each other in the faith, and to minister one another by using the fruit and gifts of the Spirit.
religionA faith, belief, creed or conviction. Certain doctrines or dogmas in which one believes and, by which, seeks to govern one's lifestyle. DTP The disciple of Christ is to build his life on faith in Jesus Christ, trusting in His grace and mercy; because of what He did for us on the cross, we can be clothed in His righteousness. We do not serve a religion of works and laws but one of faith and confession of sin. We become new creatures in Christ Jesus for all eternity.
remain / remaineth / remainingTo tarry, to be left behind, to stay back, to abide, to dwell. DTP The disciple needs to remain firm in Christ Jesus; the storms and challenges of life should not move us because we have built our eternal lives upon the sure foundation which lasts forever, the solid rock of Jesus Christ.
remember / remembered / remembranceTo bring back to our thinking that which has happened in the past. DTP Often we forget and run the risk of doing something wrong all over again. We need to remember and learn from our mistakes. In the Old Testament times rocks would be piled in strategic places so that the people of Israel would remember what God had done for them. For His disciples, Christ has instituted the communion celebration so that as we partake of it, we will remember the good news of His death and resurrection for us, so that we could have eternal life. When we remember and reflect back, our attitude and our outward actions should begin to change, and people will look at us and see Christ Jesus in us. It is also important that the disciple remembers to pray for other people and for the ministries that further Christ's purpose of bringing redemption to mankind.
remissionTo forgive or pardon. This often means a cancellation of a debt or a penalty. Forgiveness of sins. DTP From the Scripture, this word speaks of forgiveness of sins. We are unable to do accomplish remission of sins by ourselves; it takes One in authority to cancel that which we owe. Christ has made it possible for us to have remission of our sins. His action paid the whole price so that we could be set free. The price has been paid by His shed blood once and for all.
remnantA small remaining quantity of something. DTP The Bible teaches that there is always a remnant of people who are faithful to God; even though many may be destroyed or gone, throughout the ages God has those who have remained true to His heart and will. Because of their faithfulness to God they will be saved. God sees them and knows them, each one by name.
rend / rentTo tear or rip apart. DTP One important and powerful event that happened during Christ's crucifixion is often overlooked. The veil in the temple separating the holy place from the holy of holies was rent from top to bottom. Through faith in Christ's shed blood, we can now enter the holy of holies. We are now covered with His blood and righteousness.
renderRecompense, condense, concentrate, purity, extract, solidify, melt or boil down. DTP Everything we do has some type of result to it. Christ desires that we become white as snow and we can become this because of what He reddened on our behalf on the cross of calvary.
renew / renewed / renewingTo bring back to newness, to re-establish a relationship, to become a new creation, to give new life, to replace or restore. DTP The disciple has inherited an old sin nature from Adam, one that has become tarnished; with faith in Christ we can become born again, from death being made alive, a new creation that glorifies God our Father.
repent / repented /repentanceTo feel or express sincere regret, to change one's mind about one's sin and commit to change. Coming to God with regret and remorse, asking forgiveness of Him. DTP Our old sin nature is still prone to fall into sin, both against others and our God. Through prayer we need daily to ask for forgiveness (see the Lord's Prayer). Repentance is humbling our self-will to God and to take on His nature as we walk here on earth. The prayer of repentance is the time of washing away ones sin so that we can be as white as snow.
reportTo give a spoken or written account of something, to make a statement. DTP The disciple should always be ready to give a report of their faith in Jesus Christ; to tell others and testify of what God has been doing in one's life. It is also important to report what God is doing in one's own church fellowship.
reproach / reproachedA disgrace, dishonour, scorn or to express disapproval of something shameful. DTP Sin has made us unclean before a Holy God; we have become a reproach to Him; our actions have made us guilty. We have been found guilty and we are a disgrace, we have become discredited and in danger of losing our eternal lives. The disciple needs to live to a higher standard than that of the world; we are to be an example to the lost, an evidence of Christ's redeeming power and love.
reprobateThis is an unprincipled person who follows his own desires and will, one who is abandoned to sin and headed for damnation. They are people who lose their minds and souls to the destructive sins of this world. They are no longer open to the receptiveness of God, living lives dedicated to sin, and lost for all eternity.
reproof / reproveAn expression of blame or disapproval. Verb reprove is to rebuke or to reprimand someone for their words or actions. To make a person accountable for what they have done, whether against God or others. DTP God is a God of discipline and He will discipline those who He loves. The purpose of reproof is to get someone back on track from going astray to again doing God's will for their lives. The leaders of the church, through much prayer and wisdom, must be willing to reprove those who are teaching false doctrine or are living lives of sin. The purpose of all "reproof type ministry" is to restore the disciple back into full fellowship with God and His church.
rescue / rescuedTo save someone from a dangerous or distressing situation; a gracious act of helping another out of difficulty. The idea is that one is in some type of danger and is not able to help themselves or get free, but then someone comes along and extends help in order to restore the person or situation. DTP Christ came to rescue us from a life of sin and shame. We were in the miry clay, about to die, but Christ extended His love and rescued us and put our feet back on solid ground.
resist / resisted / resistethWithstand the action or effect of something or someone. To prevent somebody from doing something to you, to refrain or to struggle against. DTP The disciple has an enemy who is out to deceive, trick, destroy and kill, if at all possible. We, through faith, have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to resist Satan, both in our lives and as we pray for others. We need to take up the full armour of God and daily fight as a soldier for Jesus Christ and His kingdom.
respectTo esteem, reverence, venerate, to lift up with great respect. DTP It is very important that we show respect one to another. We are all uniquely created by God, each one different from the other. Respect is as showing honour to people and humbling ourselves as servants for the ministry of Christ Jesus. As we show respect to others, we will often be shown respect in return. We will reap what we sow; do all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
rest / restedA period of relaxation or ceasing from work, usually for the purpose of recovering one's strength. DTP For the disciple, this can be a time of hope and trust, a place where confidence in God can be strengthened. To be at peace in one's mind and heart. The place where all the cares of the world are laid at the feet of Christ. It is also important that each week we take one day for rest, as God commanded His people to do.
restitutionAn act of compensation or recompense for the purpose of reimbursing or repaying someone. For example, something lost or stolen is given back to its proper owner. DTP Because of our sinful actions in the Garden of Eden, we were lost to God and banished from His very presence. But Christ came to make restitution, a payment that only He could make. We owed a debt that we could never pay, but through the Father's great love He sent His son to pay the debt, and set us free from the penalty of sinfulness and disobedience.