Question: "What does it mean that Jesus rose ‘again’?"

Question: "What does it mean that Jesus rose
‘again’?"
Answer: In a few Bible verses, such as 2
Corinthians 5:15 and 1 Thessalonians 4:14
(depending on the translation), and many of the
popular and ancient creeds, such as the
Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed , the
phrase rose again is used in reference to Jesus’
resurrection. As a result, rose again has become
commonly used terminology when referring to
the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This can be
confusing, since again often means “an
additional time” or “once more.” Jesus “rising
again” sounds like Jesus rose from the dead
more than once.
While again can mean “an additional time” or
refer to a further instance of an event, it can
also mean “anew” or “afresh.” Again can also be
defined as “in return” or “to a previous place or
condition.” For example, in The Merchant of
Venice , Portia speaks of one who “swore he
would pay him again when he was able” (I:ii). In
describing a business transaction, Portia uses
the word again to mean “in return.” Similarly,
when used in reference to the resurrection of
Jesus, rose again does not mean “arose a
second time.” Rather, it means Jesus rose
anew. He returned to life. He came back to His
previous condition. Jesus was alive before; then
for a while He was dead; now He is back.
Similarly, the English word resurrect comes from
the Latin word resurrexit . Notice the prefix re- in
both the English and Latin words. Normally,
when the prefix re- is attached to a word, it
means the action is occurring an additional
time, i.e., repeated. But, just like the word again ,
the prefix re- can also mean “anew” or “back.”
When we say that Jesus was “resurrected,” we
do not mean that Jesus was “surrected” a
second time. We mean that Jesus returned to
life. He has life anew. What is being repeated is
not the act of coming back to life but the state
of being alive.
Saying, “Jesus rose again,” is simply a way of
referring to the resurrection of Jesus. Any
confusion over the word again should be
dispelled by the knowledge that words often
have multiple definitions. The key point is this:
“Jesus rose again” does not mean Jesus rose
from the dead more than once. Rather, it means
Jesus returned to life. Jesus was, for a time,
dead but now is alive again.

Question: "What is the purpose of the Bible?

Question: "What is the purpose of the Bible?"
Answer: The Bible is great literature and the all-
time number-one best-seller. It contains history,
entertaining stories, poetry, philosophy, and
personal letters. But, more than that, the Bible
is God’s Word. If we have to speak of a single
purpose of the Bible, it would be to reveal God
to us. There are many things that we could
never know about God unless He told them to
us. The Bible is God’s self-revelation to
humanity. The Bible also tells us who we are. It
tells us of our sin and of God’s plan of salvation
in Jesus Christ.
Second Timothy 3:15–17 may be one of the
most comprehensive purpose statements found
in the Bible. The apostle Paul writes to his
young assistant Timothy, “From infancy you
have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able
to make you wise for salvation through faith in
Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and
is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, so that the servant of
God may be thoroughly equipped for every good
work.” Some of the Bible is spoken directly by
God Himself, and other parts are spoken by men
that He guided—but all of it is His Word, and all
of it is beneficial and authoritative. Scripture
shows us the way of salvation. Furthermore, it
will teach us, rebuke us when we are wrong,
and train us how to do right so that we may be
ready to do God’s work.
Here are a few other verses from the Bible that
speak of its own purpose in our lives:
Following it will keep us from sin: “How can a
young person stay on the path of purity? By
living according to your word” ( Psalm 119:9 ).
It gives us spiritual guidance: “Your word is a
lamp for my feet, a light on my path” ( Psalm
119:105 ).
Some of the Bible was written specifically to
give us an accurate account of Jesus so that
we might believe on Him and have eternal life:
“Jesus performed many other signs in the
presence of his disciples, which are not
recorded in this book. But these are written that
you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the
Son of God, and that by believing you may have
life in his name” ( John 20:30–31 ).
It assures the believer of his salvation: “I write
these things to you who believe in the name of
the Son of God so that you may know that you
have eternal life” ( 1 John 5:13 )
David delights in the Word of God and its
purpose in his life:
“The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward” ( Psalm
19:7–11 ).
When Jesus was tempted by Satan to turn
stones into bread, He responded, “It is written:
‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every
word that comes from the mouth of
God’” ( Matthew 4:4 ). Not only does Jesus
profess that the Word of God is more important
than physical food, but He also refutes Satan’s
temptation by quoting from God’s Word. One of
the Bible’s purposes, then, is to provide all-
important spiritual sustenance and help us
defeat temptation.
The Bible can help us see ourselves in
perspective and cut through the distractions of
pop culture that would lead us away from God.
“The word of God is alive and active. Sharper
than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even
to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it
judges the thoughts and attitudes of the
heart” ( Hebrews 4:12 ).
It is not human cleverness or will-power that
will change lives. God accomplishes His
purposes when His Word (the Bible) is faithfully
proclaimed. He will take care of the result:
“As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread
for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent
it” ( Isaiah 55:10–11 ).
The Bible is not just a list of wise sayings that
can be pulled out as if from a fortune cookie.
Although we can benefit from all of the Bible,
not all of it is written directly to us. The Bible is
a unified work and must be carefully read and
studied in context .
Christians who want to please God in their lives
need to have a regular spiritual diet of God’s
Word. Those who are not believers but who may
be interested or even skeptical should read the
Bible for themselves and see what it is all
about.

Question: "How can I take control of my thoughts?"

Answer: Many Christians struggle with this issue, especially in our highly technological world, but taking control of our thoughts is essential. Proverbs 4:23 states, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." The “heart” includes the mind and all that proceeds from it. Someone said that every sin we commit, we commit twice, once in our
thoughts and again when we act upon those thoughts. It is easier to rid our lives of sin if we attack it at this fundamental thought level rather than waiting for it to become rooted in our lives by our actions and then try to pull
it out.
There is also a difference between being tempted (a thought entering into the mind) and sinning (dwelling upon an evil
thought and wallowing in it). It is important to understand that when a thought enters our mind, we examine it based upon God's Word and determine if we should continue down
that path or reject the thought and replace it with another thought. If we have already allowed a habit to form in our thought lives, it becomes more difficult to change the path of
our thoughts, even as it is hard to get a car out of a deep Ruth and onto a new track. Here are some biblical suggestions for
taking control of our thoughts and getting rid of wrong
thoughts:
1. Be in God's Word so that when a sinful thought enters our
mind (a temptation), we will be able to recognize it for what
it is and know what course to take. Jesus in the wilderness
(Matthew 4) responded to each of Satan's temptations with
Scripture that applied to the direction He knew His mind
should take instead of beginning down the path of the sinful
thought. When tempted to meet His physical need (turn
stone into bread), He recited the passage about the
importance of relying upon God. When tempted to serve
Satan in order to obtain the glory of the world, He brought up
the passage that says we are to serve and worship God
alone and speak of the glory that belongs to Him and those
who are His. When tempted to test God (to see if God was
really there and would keep His promises), Jesus responded
with passages that stress the importance of believing God
without having to see Him demonstrate His presence.
Quoting Scripture in a time of temptation is not a talisman,
but rather serves the purpose of getting our minds onto a
biblical track, but we need to know the Word of God AHEAD
of time in order to accomplish this. Thus, a daily habit of
being in the Word in a meaningful way is essential. If we are
aware of a certain area of constant temptation (worry, lust,
anger, etc.), we need to study and memorize key passages
that deal with those issues. Looking for both what we are to
avoid (negative) and how we are to properly respond
(positive) to tempting thoughts and situations—before they
are upon us—will go a long way to giving us victory over
them.
2. Live in dependence upon the Holy Spirit, chiefly through
seeking His strength through prayer (Matthew 26:41). If we
rely upon our own strength, we will fail (Proverbs
28:26;Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 26:33).
3. We are not to feed our minds with that which will promote
sinful thoughts. This is the idea of Proverbs 4:23. We are to
guard our hearts—what we allow into them and what we
allow them to dwell on. Job 31:1 states, "I have made a
covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young
woman" (NKJV). Romans 13:14 states, "But put on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its
lusts." Thus, we are to avoid periodicals, videos, websites,
conversations and situations that will set us up for a fall. We
should also avoid spending time with those who would
encourage us down these wrong paths.
4. We are to pursue hard after God, substituting godly
pursuits and mindsets for sinful thoughts. This is the
principle of replacement. When tempted to hate someone, we
replace those hateful thoughts with godly actions: we do
good to them, speak well of them, and pray for them
(Matthew 5:44). Instead of stealing, we should work hard to
earn money so we can look for opportunities to give to
others in need (Ephesians 4:28). When tempted to lust after
a woman, we turn our gaze, praise God for the way He has
made us—male and female—and pray for the woman (for
example: "Lord, help this young woman to come to know you
if she does not, and to know the joy of walking with you"),
then think of her as a sister (1 Timothy 5:2). The Bible often
speaks of "putting off" wrong actions and thoughts but then
"putting on” godly actions and thoughts (Ephesians 4:22-32).
Merely seeking to put off sinful thoughts without replacing
those thoughts with godly ones leaves an empty field for
Satan to come along and sow his weeds (Matthew 12:43-45).
5. We can use fellowship with other Christians the way God
intended. Hebrews 10:24-25 states, "And let us consider how
we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the
habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the
more as you see the Day approaching." Fellow Christians
who will encourage us in the changes we desire (best if of
the same gender), who will pray for and with us, who will ask
us in love how we are doing, and who will hold us
accountable in avoiding the old ways, are valuable friends
indeed.
Last and most important, these methods will be of no value
unless we have placed our faith in Christ as Savior from our
sin. This is where we absolutely must start! Without this,
there can be no victory over sinful thoughts and temptations,
and God’s promises for His children are not for us, nor is the
Holy Spirit’s power available to us!
God will bless those who seek to honor Him with what
matters most to Him: who we are inside and not just what
we appear to be to others. May God make Jesus’ description
of Nathanael true also of us—a man [or woman] in whom
there is no guile (John 1:47).

The Renewed Mind

30 Day Guide for New Believers by John Beckett

What does it mean to renew my mind?

If it hasn’t happened already, you will find yourself struggling with wrong thoughts and ideas. I know. Though I’ve walked with Christ for many years, there are still times that I find myself wrestling with such attitudes as selfishness, pride and lack of trust.

How fortunate for us that Jesus Christ will help us change our thought life. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, but it is possible. The Apostle Paul describes the change process this way: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” - Romans 12:2.

The Lord doesn’t want you to set your mind aside when you come to Him. Just the opposite. He created your mind and wants it fully productive, but in the right way. He wants it renewed. Don’t stop thinking, but start thinking and viewing things from His perspective.

A great way to begin is to meditate on the Scriptures. Take the verses mentioned so far in these studies, reflect on them, even memorize them. Scripture memorization is perhaps the most powerful way to discipline and renew your mind. Why not begin right now? Today’s Key Verse (below) is a wonderful “mind-renewing” scripture. Repeat it often, making it your companion throughout this day.

Key Verse

“Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things”

Philippians 4:8

PROTECTION AND POWER

PROTECTION AND POWER

The safest place in the world for you is close to God and where He wants you to be. No matter where that is or what’s against you, He will keep you. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

God has promised to protect His own, but has anything bad ever happened to you since you’ve accepted Him into your heart and life? Has the Lord ever let you suffer in some way through an accident, affliction, or other trouble?

Look at what happened to Job! Were all the calamities that befell him and his family his fault? Was God punishing him for his sins? No. All of these things happened because the devil asked God if he could test and tempt Job to see if he could break Job and make him lose his faith. The Lord let the devil take away all Job’s wealth, then his family, and finally his health. It was all a test, perpetrated by the devil but allowed by the Lord in order to show that Job would continue to love and honor Him in spite of it all. And when Job passed the test, God blessed him with twice as much as he had lost.

Don’t worry; God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear. He doesn’t let the devil give us more than we can take, but He does sometimes let the devil test us to see if we’ll depend on Him and His promises in the Word even in difficult circumstances. And once we’ve passed the test, God will deliver us, just like He did Job.

All through the Bible the Lord miraculously empowered and protected those who turned to Him for help. And the same miracles of power and protection that occurred back in Bible times can happen today. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!” If Jesus could do those miracles in His day, then He can still do them today. God is still the God of miracles, and what He’s done before He can do again.

Jesus said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth!” That’s a lot of power! And if you’ve accepted Jesus into your life and heart, you have access to that power as well. God has not only promised all this power and protection, but He’s promised it for right now and for you, if you believe!

—

Proverbs 18:10 (NIV) The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

1. Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Onyedikachi Kingsley Ogbonna (Surv.)

Truth: The Key to Freedom

30 Day Guide for New Believers by John Beckett

Why does truth matter?

Imagine chatting with the Apostle Paul over a good cup of coffee. You ask, “Paul, what drives you to try to reach everyone with the gospel?”

He might say, “To make known the truth that there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

His answer is profound, and basic to our beliefs. There aren’t multiple gods, but one. And there’s only one way to God—through Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” - John 14:6. The essence of truth is the Lord Himself.

Why must we contend for the truth?

Truth frees us. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” - John 8:32.Truth guides us. “When He, the [Holy] Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” - John 16:13.Truth guards us. When we “receive the love of the truth,” we arm ourselves against the insidious power of deception (see 2 Thessalonians 2:10 and Matthew 24:4).

Are you a high school student? You know lying and cheating are art forms. Are you in college? Objective truth is ridiculed on today’s campuses. Are you in business? Too often, truth is abandoned for expediency and financial gain.

Truth matters. God calls on us as believers to know and hold fast to the truth, no matter the cost.

Key Verse

“Buy the truth and do not sell it”

Proverbs 23:23

Temptation

30 Day Guide for New Believers by John Beckett

Why do I keep having these thoughts?

A tenacious and destructive force is at work in the life of every believer. Temptation is the continuing effect and downward pull of our former life, with all its bad habits. Its goal is to hinder our close walk with the Lord. Temptation in itself is not fatal. But yielding to it can have deep and lasting consequences. Our best counterstrategy is early detection and bold corrective action.

Christians are not immune to evil thoughts and behaviors. In fact, because believers are of such value to the Lord, we can become even greater targets than non-believers. Our adversary is cunning and finds all kinds of ways to tempt us. The Apostle John urged that we carefully guard ourselves in three areas: “…the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16).

Lust of the flesh might involve self-indulgence, obsessive focus on one’s body or impure sexual thoughts.Lust of the eyes refers to what we illicitly crave. Be careful what you let your eyes see!Pride of life manifests in self-promotion, selfish ambition and advancement at the expense of others.

Don’t try to battle temptation on your own. The next time you are tempted, call out to the Lord for help, for “He is able to aid those who are tempted” - Hebrews 2:18. With each victory you gain greater strength. God is faithful and will make a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Key Verse

“The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations”

2 Peter 2:9