Adoption: This is when God takes us into His family and we can properly call Him, “Abba, Father.”
Anthropomorphism: Assigning human attributes to non-human things. Exodus 24:9-11 uses anthropomorphic terms in talking about God’s hands and feet. God is spirit (John 4:24). When the Bible speaks of God’s “wings,” this is also anthropomorphic speech.
Apologetics: From the Greek “apologia,” (απολογια) meaning to make a defense. This refers to making a defense of the faith. “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15).
Apostasy/Apostate: An apostate is one who has fallen away from the faith, revolting against the truth of God’s Word. At one point they claimed to have held to the faith and believed in it, but then denounce and reject it. These people were never genuine believers to begin with; they were never saved. Apostasy is the general falling away of many.
Atonement: To make amends or repair a wrong done. This is God acting in human history to re-establish a relationship between God and man by dealing with sin and removing the guilt of man. Jesus atoned for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2), but this atonement is received by faith (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9).
Backslider/Backsliding: This is merely another term for apostate/apostasy. It appears 17 times in the Old Testament of the KJV, never in the New Testament. The 5 Hebrew words used all denote faithlessness, rebellion, and apostasy.
Eisegesis: Interpretation of a text of scripture by reading information or personal opinion into the text that is not there.
Elect/Election: The elect are those specially called by God to salvation (John 6:37, 44, 65). Election occurred before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4) and is according to God's will—not man's (Rom. 8:29-30; 9:6-23)—because God is sovereign (Rom. 9:11-16). There are two callings of God toward men: the general call of salvation that extends to all men, but will not be listened to because they are rebellious and hate God; and the special call of salvation that extends only to those God has chosen to save for His glory (Rom. 9:22-23; Eph. 2:5, 8: “For by grace you have been saved.”).
Exegesis: Interpretation of a text of scripture by reading a text based solely on what it says.
Expiation: The cancellation of our sin debt by removing sin from us. The Old Testament type or foreshadow was the goat led out into the wilderness.
Glorification: The ultimate perfection of the believer (1 John 3:2; 1 Cor. 15:50-54).
Hermeneutics: The art and science of biblical interpretation.
Homiletics: Deals with the preaching of the Word and the correct manner in which to prepare a sermon.
Hypostatic Union: The union of two natures, divine and human, in Christ. He was 100% God and 100% man. They existed together perfectly and harmoniously. Right now in heaven there is a man, Jesus, who is our mediator between us and God the Father (1 Tim. 2:5).
Immutability: This refers to the unchanging character of God. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Impeccability: The inability to sin, which refers to God alone. Jesus was impeccable in that He never sinned.
Imputation: To reckon to someone the blessing, curse, debt, etc. of another person. For example, all humanity was imputed with Adam’s sin because he was our representative head. For the believer, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to our account by faith.
Incarnation: The addition of human nature to the nature of God in the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ. This typically refers to the birth of Christ.
Justification: To be declared legally righteous. It is a divine act where God declares the sinner to be innocent of his sins. It does not mean “just as if I had never sinned,” because the fact is you did sin! It is not that the sinner is now sinless, but that he is declared sinless. Justification is based on the shed blood of Jesus: “…having now been justified by His blood…” (Rom. 5:9). This declaration of innocence is not without cost for it required the satisfaction of God’s Law: “…without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22).
Omnipotent: This attribute of God refers to the quality of being “all-powerful” (Ps. 115:3) He can do all things that do not conflict with His holy nature. He has the power to do anything He wants.
Omnipresent: This attribute of God refers to the quality of being “present in all places at all times” (Jer. 23:23-24). He is not bound by time and space. This does not mean that nature is a part of God and should therefore be worshiped. Creation is separate from God, but not independent of Him.
Omniscient: This attribute of God refers to the quality of being “all-knowing” (Is. 40:14). He knows all things possible as well as all things actual. He does not need to experience something to know about it completely.
Predestination: The doctrine that God has foreordained all things which will come to pass, yet He is not the author of sin. He does, however, use sinful things for His glory and purpose, such as the crucifixion, which was brought about by sinful men who unjustly put Jesus to death (Acts 4:27); yet, in that death, we are reconciled to God (Rom. 5:10). Predestination maintains that God is the one who decides who will be saved (Rom. 9:16) and that it is not up to the desire of the person (John 1:13). God is the one who ordains the Christian into forgiveness, “...and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48). Also, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Rom. 8:29-30). Further verses to examine are Ephesians 1:4 and 11, and Romans 9. (See also Election and Sovereignty.)
Propitiation: The turning away of God’s wrath by offering a sacrifice. In the case of Christ, He was the perfect sacrifice and propitiation was achieved by and through His shed blood, which turned away the wrath of God and allowed Him to “pass over the sins previously committed” (Rom. 3:25).
Providence: From the Latin “providentia,” meaning foresight; making provision beforehand. It is God’s activity in the world, sustaining the existence and natural order of the universe and omnisciently directing and intervening in the affairs of mankind with wise benevolence. Concerns both preservation and government.
Reconciliation: The changing for the better of a relationship between two or more people, which involves forgiveness. We were naturally children of wrath (Eph. 2:3) and are at enmity with God (Eph. 2:11-15), but “…we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son…” (Rom. 5:10). Sin separates us from God, so reconciliation is the change in relationship between God and man.
Redemption: The freeing of someone from bondage. It involves the paying of a ransom, a price that makes redemption possible. We were bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23), being redeemed by His blood (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14).
Regeneration: The act of God where, through the work of the Holy Spirit, He renews the spiritual condition of a sinner by a spiritual change so that he can possess new life, eternal life. It is a change in our moral and spiritual nature, whereas justification is a change in our relationship with God. Regeneration is the beginning of the sanctification process.
Repentance: This means to turn, to have a change of heart and mind about something. It designates making a U-turn, turning from sin and turning toward God, agreeing with God regarding His assessment of who and what you are—a filthy, wretched sinner in need of salvation.
Reprobate/Reprobation: Those who are not specially called by God to salvation (Jude 4). Reprobation, like election, also occurred before the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8; 17:8) and is according to God's will—not man's (Rom. 8:29-30; 9:6-23)—because God is sovereign (Rom. 9:11-16). There are two callings of God toward men: the general call of salvation that extends to all men, but will not be listened to because they are rebellious and hate God; and the special call of salvation that extends only to those God has chosen to save for His glory (Rom. 9:22-23; Eph. 2:5, 8: “For by grace you have been saved.”).
Salvation: The “saving” of a sinner from the righteous judgment of God. When someone appeals to God and seeks forgiveness in Jesus, his sins are forgiven. He is cleansed. His relationship with God is restored and he is made a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17). All of this is the work of God alone—not of man. Salvation is a free gift (Rom. 6:23). We are saved by grace alone (Eph. 2:5, 8). We are saved from the wrath of God, we are saved from damnation, and we are saved from our sins.
Sanctification: To set apart for holy use; to make holy. Sanctification follows justification. It is the process of God, through the work of the Holy Spirit, conforming the sinner to the image of Jesus Christ and making him more holy in all that he does, thinks, and desires. It involves evidence of growth, the fruits of the Spirit. God has set us apart for the purpose of sanctification, not impurity (1 Thess. 4:7), and being such we are called to do good works (Eph. 2:10).
Sovereignty: Sovereignty is the right of God to do as He wishes (Psalm 50:1; Isaiah 40:15; 1 Tim. 6:15) with His creation. This implies that there is no external influence upon Him and that He also has the ability to exercise His power and control according to His will. There is no one above Him; He is the ultimate ruler in ultimate control. His sovereignty over man and man’s will is revealed in the lives of such individuals as Nebuchadnezzar and Jonah.
Tetragrammaton: This is a term that refers to the name of God in the Old Testament, which often appears in our Bibles as either LORD or GOD.
Anthropomorphism: Assigning human attributes to non-human things. Exodus 24:9-11 uses anthropomorphic terms in talking about God’s hands and feet. God is spirit (John 4:24). When the Bible speaks of God’s “wings,” this is also anthropomorphic speech.
Apologetics: From the Greek “apologia,” (απολογια) meaning to make a defense. This refers to making a defense of the faith. “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15).
Apostasy/Apostate: An apostate is one who has fallen away from the faith, revolting against the truth of God’s Word. At one point they claimed to have held to the faith and believed in it, but then denounce and reject it. These people were never genuine believers to begin with; they were never saved. Apostasy is the general falling away of many.
Atonement: To make amends or repair a wrong done. This is God acting in human history to re-establish a relationship between God and man by dealing with sin and removing the guilt of man. Jesus atoned for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2), but this atonement is received by faith (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:8-9).
Backslider/Backsliding: This is merely another term for apostate/apostasy. It appears 17 times in the Old Testament of the KJV, never in the New Testament. The 5 Hebrew words used all denote faithlessness, rebellion, and apostasy.
Eisegesis: Interpretation of a text of scripture by reading information or personal opinion into the text that is not there.
Elect/Election: The elect are those specially called by God to salvation (John 6:37, 44, 65). Election occurred before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4) and is according to God's will—not man's (Rom. 8:29-30; 9:6-23)—because God is sovereign (Rom. 9:11-16). There are two callings of God toward men: the general call of salvation that extends to all men, but will not be listened to because they are rebellious and hate God; and the special call of salvation that extends only to those God has chosen to save for His glory (Rom. 9:22-23; Eph. 2:5, 8: “For by grace you have been saved.”).
Exegesis: Interpretation of a text of scripture by reading a text based solely on what it says.
Expiation: The cancellation of our sin debt by removing sin from us. The Old Testament type or foreshadow was the goat led out into the wilderness.
Glorification: The ultimate perfection of the believer (1 John 3:2; 1 Cor. 15:50-54).
Hermeneutics: The art and science of biblical interpretation.
Homiletics: Deals with the preaching of the Word and the correct manner in which to prepare a sermon.
Hypostatic Union: The union of two natures, divine and human, in Christ. He was 100% God and 100% man. They existed together perfectly and harmoniously. Right now in heaven there is a man, Jesus, who is our mediator between us and God the Father (1 Tim. 2:5).
| Jesus as God | Jesus as Man |
| He is worshipped (Matt. 2:2, 11; 14:33). He is prayed to (Acts 7:59). He is sinless (1 Pet. 2:22; Heb. 4:15). He knows all things (John 21:17). He gives eternal life (John 10:28). All the fullness of deity dwells in Him (Col. 2:9). | He worshiped the Father (John 17). He prayed to the Father (John 17). He was tempted (Matt. 4:1). He grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52). He died (Rom. 5:8). He has a body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:39). |
Immutability: This refers to the unchanging character of God. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Impeccability: The inability to sin, which refers to God alone. Jesus was impeccable in that He never sinned.
Imputation: To reckon to someone the blessing, curse, debt, etc. of another person. For example, all humanity was imputed with Adam’s sin because he was our representative head. For the believer, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to our account by faith.
Incarnation: The addition of human nature to the nature of God in the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ. This typically refers to the birth of Christ.
Justification: To be declared legally righteous. It is a divine act where God declares the sinner to be innocent of his sins. It does not mean “just as if I had never sinned,” because the fact is you did sin! It is not that the sinner is now sinless, but that he is declared sinless. Justification is based on the shed blood of Jesus: “…having now been justified by His blood…” (Rom. 5:9). This declaration of innocence is not without cost for it required the satisfaction of God’s Law: “…without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22).
Omnipotent: This attribute of God refers to the quality of being “all-powerful” (Ps. 115:3) He can do all things that do not conflict with His holy nature. He has the power to do anything He wants.
Omnipresent: This attribute of God refers to the quality of being “present in all places at all times” (Jer. 23:23-24). He is not bound by time and space. This does not mean that nature is a part of God and should therefore be worshiped. Creation is separate from God, but not independent of Him.
Omniscient: This attribute of God refers to the quality of being “all-knowing” (Is. 40:14). He knows all things possible as well as all things actual. He does not need to experience something to know about it completely.
Predestination: The doctrine that God has foreordained all things which will come to pass, yet He is not the author of sin. He does, however, use sinful things for His glory and purpose, such as the crucifixion, which was brought about by sinful men who unjustly put Jesus to death (Acts 4:27); yet, in that death, we are reconciled to God (Rom. 5:10). Predestination maintains that God is the one who decides who will be saved (Rom. 9:16) and that it is not up to the desire of the person (John 1:13). God is the one who ordains the Christian into forgiveness, “...and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48). Also, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Rom. 8:29-30). Further verses to examine are Ephesians 1:4 and 11, and Romans 9. (See also Election and Sovereignty.)
Propitiation: The turning away of God’s wrath by offering a sacrifice. In the case of Christ, He was the perfect sacrifice and propitiation was achieved by and through His shed blood, which turned away the wrath of God and allowed Him to “pass over the sins previously committed” (Rom. 3:25).
Providence: From the Latin “providentia,” meaning foresight; making provision beforehand. It is God’s activity in the world, sustaining the existence and natural order of the universe and omnisciently directing and intervening in the affairs of mankind with wise benevolence. Concerns both preservation and government.
Reconciliation: The changing for the better of a relationship between two or more people, which involves forgiveness. We were naturally children of wrath (Eph. 2:3) and are at enmity with God (Eph. 2:11-15), but “…we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son…” (Rom. 5:10). Sin separates us from God, so reconciliation is the change in relationship between God and man.
Redemption: The freeing of someone from bondage. It involves the paying of a ransom, a price that makes redemption possible. We were bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23), being redeemed by His blood (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14).
Regeneration: The act of God where, through the work of the Holy Spirit, He renews the spiritual condition of a sinner by a spiritual change so that he can possess new life, eternal life. It is a change in our moral and spiritual nature, whereas justification is a change in our relationship with God. Regeneration is the beginning of the sanctification process.
Repentance: This means to turn, to have a change of heart and mind about something. It designates making a U-turn, turning from sin and turning toward God, agreeing with God regarding His assessment of who and what you are—a filthy, wretched sinner in need of salvation.
Reprobate/Reprobation: Those who are not specially called by God to salvation (Jude 4). Reprobation, like election, also occurred before the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8; 17:8) and is according to God's will—not man's (Rom. 8:29-30; 9:6-23)—because God is sovereign (Rom. 9:11-16). There are two callings of God toward men: the general call of salvation that extends to all men, but will not be listened to because they are rebellious and hate God; and the special call of salvation that extends only to those God has chosen to save for His glory (Rom. 9:22-23; Eph. 2:5, 8: “For by grace you have been saved.”).
Salvation: The “saving” of a sinner from the righteous judgment of God. When someone appeals to God and seeks forgiveness in Jesus, his sins are forgiven. He is cleansed. His relationship with God is restored and he is made a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17). All of this is the work of God alone—not of man. Salvation is a free gift (Rom. 6:23). We are saved by grace alone (Eph. 2:5, 8). We are saved from the wrath of God, we are saved from damnation, and we are saved from our sins.
Sanctification: To set apart for holy use; to make holy. Sanctification follows justification. It is the process of God, through the work of the Holy Spirit, conforming the sinner to the image of Jesus Christ and making him more holy in all that he does, thinks, and desires. It involves evidence of growth, the fruits of the Spirit. God has set us apart for the purpose of sanctification, not impurity (1 Thess. 4:7), and being such we are called to do good works (Eph. 2:10).
Sovereignty: Sovereignty is the right of God to do as He wishes (Psalm 50:1; Isaiah 40:15; 1 Tim. 6:15) with His creation. This implies that there is no external influence upon Him and that He also has the ability to exercise His power and control according to His will. There is no one above Him; He is the ultimate ruler in ultimate control. His sovereignty over man and man’s will is revealed in the lives of such individuals as Nebuchadnezzar and Jonah.
Tetragrammaton: This is a term that refers to the name of God in the Old Testament, which often appears in our Bibles as either LORD or GOD.