Glossary

Abrahamic covenant. The covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 12.

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adoption. That part of salvation in which God receives the estranged sinner back into the relationship and benefits of being his child. The term connotes positive favor, as contrasted with mere forgiveness and remission of sins.

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analogia scriptura. The belief that, Scripture being a unity, the meaning of one passage is illuminated by a study of other portions.

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angels, fallen. Messengers of God who disobeyed their creator, fell from their place of service to God, and now serve Satan, the chief of such fallen angels, that is, demons.

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angels, holy. Messengers of God who have not fallen from their position of obedience.

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annihilationism. The belief that some humans will permanently cease to exist at death or some point thereafter instead of passing on to eternal heaven or eternal hell.

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Antichrist. An opponent and impersonator of Christ, appears to be a spirit or principle of rebellion present throughout the church-age that will come to completion in personal form in the last days.

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apostasy. A "falling away," usually a deliberate and total abandonment of the faith previously held.

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assurance (of salvation). The divinely given confidence of the believer that he or she is truly saved.

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atonement. The guilt-removing work through the death of Christ that restores fellowship between believers and God.

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Christ. Literally, "the anointed one," the title designating Jesus as the Messiah.

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church, the. Those who are true believers in Christ. Used in the New Testament both in a universal sense (all such believers) and in a local sense (a particular group of believers gathered in one place).

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common grace. Kindness extended to all persons through God's general providence; e.g. his provision of sunshine and rain for everyone.

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conscience. The sense of being obligated to do obvious right and avoid obvious wrong.

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Davidic covenant. The covenant in which God granted the kingdom to David and his descendants forever (2 Samuel 7).

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depravity, total. The idea that sinfulness affects the whole of one's nature and colors all that one does; it does not necessarily mean the one is as sinful as one can possibly be.

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edification. Literally "building up"; the strengthening of the spiritual life of Christians and congregations.

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efficacious grace. The fact that those whom God has chosen for eternal life will unfailingly come to belief and salvation.

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elect. Those specifically chosen by God. The term can refer either to the nation Israel or to individuals designated for salvation or for special positions of service.

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endurance. The ability of the Christian, by God's gracious enabling, to persevere through trials, temptations, and afflictions.

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eternal death. The finalization of spiritual death; the permanent separation of the sinner from God.

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eternal life. The spiritual life given to the believer; it surpasses natural life in quality and also extends beyond this life to eternity.

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fall, the. Adam and Eve's initial sin of disobedience as a result of which they lost their standing of favor with God (Genesis 3).

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filling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's increasing control over the life of the Christian. A believer's ongoing growth in Christlikeness is the result of his/her repeated, incremental surrender to the Spirit's control.

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glorification. The final step in the process of salvation; it involves the completion of sanctification and the removal of all spiritual defects.

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gospel. The message of salvation offered by God to all who believe. When capitalized, one of the first four books of the New Testament, which recount the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

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heaven. The future home of believers. A place of complete happiness and joy; it is distinguished especially by the presence of God.

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hell. The place of future punishment of wicked or unbelieving persons; it is a place of great anguish from which God is absent to bless and present only to bring judgment.

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imputation. The judicial reckoning or forensic transfer of one's sin or righteousness to another; e.g. God's credits the righteousness of Christ to sinners who trust in Him.

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inspiration. The act of the Holy Spirit upon the biblical writers that ensured what they wrote was the Word of God.

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Jesus Christ. Compound name of the incarnate second person of the Trinity: Jesus refers to the man from Nazareth, and Christ is Greek for "Messiah," which means "anointed."

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justification by faith. Declaration that the person has been moved to a state of righteousness through belief and trust in the work of Christ, rather than on the basis of one's own accomplishment.

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mediator. One who works between two parties to reconcile them. Jesus Christ is the only saving Mediator between God and the human race.

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Mosaic covenant. The body of laws given by God through Moses.

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new creation. A reference to the regeneration (being born again) that takes place in the believer and also to the future remaking and restoring of the entire creation.

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predestination. Generally, God's eternal, uninfluenced determination of all things; specifically, God's eternal choice of those who will be saved and those who will be passed over and therefore condemned for their sin.

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prophecy. Generally, the authoritative declaration or speaking forth on behalf of God, akin to preaching; more specifically, the infallible declaration of divine revelation, often but not restricted to predicting what will come to pass.

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providence, divine. God's care for the creation, involving his preserving its existence and meticulously guiding it to his intended ends.

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salvation. The divine act of delivering a believer from the power and curse of sin and then restoring that individual to the fellowship with God for which humans were originally intended.

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sanctification. Generally, the act of making holy. Specifically, the act of God's grace by which our affections are purified and alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to a supreme love for God.

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Satan. The devil, a high angelic creature who rebelled against God and therefore was cast out of heaven. He became the leader of the opposition to God and the heavenly forces.

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sovereign will. A reference to the fact that God's choices and decisions are in no way constrained by factors outside Himself; also, God's right to choose without being answerable to anyone or anything outside Himself.

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transcendence of God. God's otherness or separateness from the creation and the human race.

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Trinity. A reference to the doctrine that God is one in nature and yet exists eternally in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

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type. An actual historical event or person that in some ways symbolizes or anticipates a later occurrence; particularly, an Old Testament foreshadowing of a New Testament event.

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union with Christ. A basic dimension of the doctrine of salvation: by being identified with Christ in His atoning death as well as His resurrection power, believers are credited with His righteousness and share in His holiness.

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worship. Offering of homage, honor, and praise to God.

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wrath of God. God's opposition to and hatred of evil, together with His intention to punish it.

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Yahweh. Transliteration of the major Hebrew name for God.

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