Home  >  Christianity Basics  >  Christian Terminology

Christians are charged with sharing the truth about God's plan of salvation to everyone. This is known as the Great Commission, Jesus's last recorded instruction to the wholesale church that was given just before His ascension to heaven. For 2,000 years many have worked to fulfill the Great Commission, but ironically one of the things that can make sharing the message of salvation difficult is the very language used to explain it.

To some extent every institution or subculture has its own unique terminology that has developed over time and the Christian church is no different. We assign unique meanings to words like grace, salvation, sanctification, and phrases like "saved by grace through faith," "born again," "washed in the blood," "in Christ," and others in our attempts to execute the Great Commission. These serve as abbreviations for very detailed truths that often require lengthy explanation, but also comprise a kind of jargon that can make an outsider's comprehension of God's truth more challenging. As evangelizing Christians, we should always present that truth in an understandable and meaningful way.

To that end, an attempt is made here to provide short and simple definitions of terms and phrases commonly used by Christians that seekers and new believers may not be familiar with, in accordance with this statement of faith. This list is by no means comprehensive, but it is hoped that it will provide some clarity to basic and important concepts.

Though Christians have a responsibility to deliver the message of salvation, it must never be forgotten that the act of salvation is God's work alone. It is He who compels an unregenerate person to listen to His truth—ultimately leading them to accept it, or leaving them to reject it. As Jesus explained in His parable of the growing seed, the farmer can do little more than sow the seed. It is God who determines its viability and allows it to grow and produce grain or not. Such is the nature of Christian evangelism, but the seed of His word should always be sown with care that it may be best positioned to achieve its purpose.

Atonement
An act that compensates or makes amends for something. In Christianity it is associated with the reparation for sin. In the eyes of a perfectly just and holy God, sin must be accounted for and punished. An atonement must be made. Scripture explains that due to his inherent sinfulness, man cannot fully atone for sin by anything he can do in and of himself, and for that reason he requires a substitutionary atonement in order to be redeemed, a Savior as it were. Jesus Christ is that Savior, God the Son incarnate. Jesus entered human history in order to atone, or pay the penalty for our sin debt in full, by way of his sacrificial death. His resurrection affirms that the sacrifice was acceptable to God and demonstrates that those who believe in Him will be reconciled to God and will partake in His abundant, eternal life. (See also Substitutionary Atonement; Related, Redemption)

Baptism, of the Holy Spirit
Simultaneous with, but separate from, God’s works of salvation and regeneration, baptism of the Holy Spirit is the act of God in the life of all believers whereby they are brought into union with Jesus Christ and all other members of His true church (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).

Baptism, of water
One of two ordinances established by Jesus Christ, taught by the original apostles and instituted by the early Christian church. Water baptism, in which a believer is fully immersed in water and raised to symbolize their fellowship with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, serves as a demonstration of their faith in Jesus as their personal Savior and obedience to Him as Lord of their life. In and of itself, water baptism does nothing to produce or contribute to an individual’s salvation, functioning instead as an act of biblical obedience and a public testimony to the believer’s saving faith. (See also Believer's baptism)

Belief (see Faith)

Believer (see Christian)

Believer's baptism
The term underscores baptism being an ordinance to be undertaken by an existing believer in Christ. Baptism in and of itself does not impart belief or divine justification. (See Baptism, of water)

Blessing/blessed
In scripture the term blessing or blessed carries multiple meanings, but all are related to an extension or offering of good will, prosperity, or protection. Examples include: God’s act of bestowing favor or gifts upon His people, whether spiritual or material (Gen 1:22, Job 42:12); God's consecration of something (Gen 2:3); the deferential praise that man offers to God (Gen 24:48, Ps 145:1); the giving of thanks (Ps 103:2, Mt 14:19 cf. 1 Cor 11:24); the good wishes or favor extended from one person to another
(Gen 27:27); and intercessory prayer to God on behalf of another (Gen 31:55, 1 Sam 2:20).

Body of Christ (see Church)

Born again/Born of the Spirit
This means to have received spiritual life and salvation through faith and trust in Jesus Christ (ref. Jn 3:3, 1 Pet 1:3). It is synonymous with "saved," "in Christ," "born from above," "born of the Spirit" and other terms that describe the state of redemption before God and the salvation from His judgment that are possessed by true believers. The birth analogy underscores the lack of contribution a person makes to their own salvation. Just as a person cannot contribute to or produce their own physical birth, they also cannot produce their own spiritual birth. It is the work of God alone that provides life, physical as well as spiritual. God alone opens a person’s eyes to the truth of the gospel and grants them the new nature, repentance and faith that is necessary to fulfill their responsibility to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives. (see also Christian, Regeneration)

Buried with Christ (see Crucified in/with Christ)

Call/Called
In scripture the term is used to describe the general appeal to humanity to receive the gospel message and respond in faith, as well as God’s effectual call to salvation. The general call to faith is the universal, external appeal made to humanity to receive the truth of God’s plan of salvation and to respond in faith that they may be saved (Jn 3:16,
Mt 11:28, Mt 22:14, Lk 14:23, Acts 17:30, Rev 22:17). This is the goal of Christian ministry, exemplified in the invitation period at the end of a New Testament church service, where the unconverted are invited to receive the gospel message and proclaim their faith in Christ. (Related, Great Commission)

A work of the Holy Spirit, the effectual call to salvation is God’s sovereign, irresistible act of special grace that internally convicts a person of their sin, produces repentance and establishes true, saving faith within them (Jn 6:37, Jn 6:44, Rom 1:6, Rom 8:30, 2 Thes 2:14, 1 Pet 2:9). Every true believer has received this call out from sin and death and into grace and salvation; the provision of it and the person's compliance to it is the sovereign act of God. (Related, Grace)

Christ
Literally, the anointed or chosen one (Greek, Christos), equivalent in meaning to Messiah (Hebrew, Mashiach). It is the primary title given to Jesus, indicating that He was specifically consecrated and sent by God to redeem His people and reign over His kingdom. (see also God the Son)

Christian
One who has been called by God to receive His gifts of repentance from sin, faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, and obedience to Him as Lord of their lives. Through their sincere, true faith, made possible by way of the grace of God alone, these individuals have been redeemed from their sin, reconciled to God, and granted everlasting spiritual life with Him in heaven. They are justified before God because of their faith in Christ, progressively sanctified to a state of holiness over the course of their natural life, and ultimately glorified for eternity as God’s own. (See also Saved)

Christian walk/journey/life
A metaphor for the developing faith and discipleship of true believers in Christ. The Christian walk, journey, or life is characterized by a conscious and continuous striving for holiness and obedience to God. It is a walk that is also characterized by self-deprivation and sacrifice, as Christians are instructed to deny their natural, corrupted nature and stand apart from the world and its sinful influences. While believers are justified and saved upon receiving Christ, they still retain the old nature and will continue to progress toward a state of holiness for the remainder of their earthly lives. Through the God-given gifts of faith and the indwelling Holy Spirit which informs and guides their conscience, Christians are encouraged and empowered to stay on the narrow path of discipleship that Jesus asks them to follow, the path leading to salvation, redemption, and life. (See also Sanctification, Discipleship)

Christianity
The solitary sufficient human belief system instituted by God which, among other universal objective truths declares the following: 1) man is estranged from God because of sin; 2) man cannot atone for his sin and therefore stands unredeemed and condemned before God; 3) God, through an act of mercy and grace, has provided a Savior for mankind in the Person of His eternal Son Jesus Christ; 4) Jesus, through His perfect obedience to God, sacrificial death and resurrection, has made sufficient atonement for man’s sin, and 5) those who receive and believe in Jesus for their salvation will be redeemed, reconciled to God and share in His eternal life. Christianity is unique among world religions in its assertion that man can never appease God on moral or legal grounds, and thereby unable to attain heaven without the act of a Savior.

Church, the
Also described as the “body of Christ,” the term describes the whole of Christianity; the full cohort of those who have earnestly received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

Cross
The central symbol of the Christian faith, representing God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ’s redeeming act of sacrifice on behalf of humanity. In His atoning work on the cross that required that He die as our substitute, Jesus symbolically hung between heaven and earth, indicating that He is the only bridge by which humanity may access God’s eternal kingdom, the sole linkage of reconciliation between God and man. In His crucifixion Jesus was lifted up as a symbol of salvation, reminiscent of an episode in Numbers 21 when Moses lifted up a bronze serpent on a pole so that any of the punished, afflicted Israelites who looked upon it would be healed. Likewise, any condemned sinners who will look upon Jesus in true faith will be healed of their sin and redeemed before God.

Cross, come to the
A exhortation reflecting the church’s general call for people to heed the message of the gospel, repent of their sin and receive Christ as Lord and Savior.

Cross, message of the
The phrase is synonymous with the term gospel, but emphasizes the harsh penalty paid by Jesus in His humiliation and sacrificial death to produce man’s salvation. The direct reference is from 1 Corinthians 1:17-18, corresponding to 1 Corinthians 2:2 (see also Gospel).

Cross, take up one’s
The phrase references Jesus’s command for His followers to “take up your cross” and points up the biblical requirement for disciples to have absolute commitment to Jesus Christ—a willingness to take one’s faith to the furthest limits of self-sacrifice and loss, up to and including death. (see also Die to self)

Crucified with Christ
The phrase from Galatians 2:20 directly links the Christian believer with Jesus’s atoning work on the cross, associating His sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection with the believer by way of their faith. To be crucified with Christ is for one to claim fellowship with Him in His death and atonement for sin, to trust in Him alone to raise them in new life, and to surrender their will to God's perfect will.

Curse/Cursed
Delivered by either God or man depending on scriptural context, a curse indicates an emphatic condemnation. It is the opposite of blessing. Forms of curses appearing in scripture include: denunciations, judgments, or the deliberate withdrawal of God’s blessing (Gen 3:14, Mal 2:2, Mt 25:41); pronouncements of condemnation by prophets (Deut 27:15, Jos 6:26, Jer 48:10); particular afflictions, calamities and hardships brought by God (Deut 28:15); and ill wishes or supplications for harm that are brought by man (Num 23:27, Lk 6:28, Rom 12:14).

Die to self
An aspect of true discipleship in which sinful self-interest is supplanted by godly obedience and the highest commitment to Christ; to set aside one’s own personal will in deference to God’s will regarding control and direction of their life. (see also Christian walk, Discipleship, Take up one’s cross)

Died for our sins
This refers to Jesus’s substitutionary death to atone for the sins of mankind. Innocent, sinless life must be forfeited to counter sin’s transgression against a holy God, but because man is sin-afflicted and guilty by birth, nature, and choice, his physical death alone is insufficient to atone—he therefore has to do it by way of conscious, everlasting punishment in hell. Because Jesus was without sin however, His sacrificial death on the cross pays that penalty in full for those who believe in Him. This act satisfies God’s perfect justice and saves man from spiritual death—the eternal condemnation and punishment that he would otherwise suffer. Jesus effectively died in our place to pay for our sins.

Disciple/Discipleship
A disciple is an obedient follower of Jesus Christ, characterized by a conscious commitment to place Him at the center of their lives, obey His commandments, deny their own will in favor of His, separate themselves from worldly influences and pursuits, bear fruit in their life that glorifies God, love one another, and work to bring others into Christian discipleship (Mk 8:34-38, Jn 8:31-32, Lk 14:25-33, Jn 15:5-8, Jn 13:34-35, Mt 28:18-20). A disciple is not a special type of Christian; all Christians are to be disciples, submitting to Jesus’s lordship and adhering to His teachings as the standard for how they live their lives. The extraordinary personal commitment and perseverance that reflects true discipleship is made possible only through the ongoing influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life. (see also Take up one’s cross, Christian walk)

Eternal life/everlasting life
The unending and abundant life of God, in which Christian believers may participate as a result of their receiving of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus defined eternal life as knowing the only true God and the Christ whom he sent. This is an important distinction because scripture explains that every person has an eternal soul. There is an everlasting, conscious state of existence for every person after their physical death. For some this will be a never-ending existence of torment and punishment, and for others—those who know God through their faith in Christ—an eternity of blessedness, peace, and fellowship with God.

Faith
The God-given ability for a person to believe in the truth that Jesus Christ, God incarnate, has redeemed and saved them from the penalty of sin by way of His sacrificial death and resurrection, and completely trust in Him for deliverance to eternal life and fellowship with God. Such “saving faith” is the gift and the work of God, and not an attribute that can be developed or sustained by human effort.

Faith, profession of/statement of
A public declaration of faith by one who claims to have received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. (Related, Baptism)

Fall of man
Refers to the ancient one-time event in which mankind lost its innocence before God and fell under the curse of sin. (see Original Sin)

Filled with the Holy Spirit
Not to be confused with baptism of the Holy Spirit, to be filled with the Spirit describes a believer’s conscious awareness and reception of the presence and influence of the Holy Spirit in their life. This is a passive function, the surrendering of one’s own will in favor of the will of God regarding control of their life, allowing them to fulfill their purpose to glorify God and fully achieve all that which He intends for them.

Free will
A conscious being’s ability to make choices in accordance with their own nature. Man’s free will is understood to have restrictions because of his basic nature - his subjectivity to natural law, his physical limitations, and his inherent sinfulness. Regarding the latter, scripture explains that our sin nature binds our will and prevents us from choosing what is good and holy on our own. Therefore it is only through God’s sovereign act of grace that we are able to overcome our own nature, choose holiness, seek God, and receive His gift of salvation.

Glorification/Glorified
The sovereign, future act of God by which sin is truly, finally and completely removed from the Christian believer, making them fully holy and immortal (1 Thes 5:23, Eph 5:27, 1 Cor 15:53). Occurring simultaneously with the second coming of Christ, glorification represents the completion of the believer's sanctification, both those who are alive at the time and those who have already died as true believers in Christ. Where God's act of justification proclaims a new believer righteous and holy, His act of glorification finally makes them so. (see also Holy, Justification, Sanctification)

Glory of God
While it is impossible to precisely define the glory of God, the term suggests the display or self-testimony of His holiness and infinitude. It speaks to the unsurpassed magnificence that eternally emanates from Him and reflects the sum of His attributes.

God
While God cannot be adequately defined by anyone, Christians know Him as the universal, one, true, living deity. Self-existent, unchanging and eternal, infinite in all perfections, and absolutely sovereign, God is the holy Creator, Sustainer and Ruler of the universe, directing or permitting all events, and sustaining and governing all creatures. In presenting the characteristics and activities of God, scripture confirms the reality of a Holy Trinity, that the unity of God is comprised of three co-equal, co-eternal Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, having distinct personal characteristics but unified in essence and being.

God the Father
The first of three distinct, divine Persons who comprise the one spiritual essence, or being, of God. Often generalized simply as “God,” the Father foreknows, or acts as the first cause of everything. Scripture shows that all three Persons who comprise the triune God are divine, eternal, and co-equal, but the Father is shown to occupy a role of preeminence, as the Son and the Holy Spirit both proceed from the Father. The term speaks also to the Father’s will as the catalyst for creation; God’s relationship to humanity and the universe as a whole is paternal in nature, as He provides for our very existence and everything that is necessary to sustain it.

God the Son
The second of three distinct, divine Persons who comprise the one spiritual essence, or being, of God. Based on scripture’s indications, theologians have speculated that God the Son is God the Father’s perfect idea or expression of Himself—the perfect image and exact representation of God—un-created but eternally “begotten” or proceeding from the Father. In power, glory, and being, the Son is identical to the Father but also obedient to Him, having been sent by the Father to do the Father’s will regarding the act of redemption. The Son accomplished this by assuming human form as Jesus Christ—who through His life served as the ultimate revelation of God to humanity, through His death provided the means of substitutionary atonement for the sin which separates man from God, and through His resurrection demonstrated the sufficiency of that atonement and the promise of eternal life for those who believe in Him.

God the Holy Spirit
The third of three distinct, divine Persons who comprise the one spiritual essence, or being, of God. Associated directly with the will of God, God the Holy Spirit proceeds from both God the Father and God the Son. It is through the work of the Spirit alone that people are able to receive and understand the truth about God because in our natural state, our hearts and minds are closed to spiritual truth. Without the work of the Spirit, no person could be saved. He is essential to God’s act of sanctification, indwelling true believers in order to sustain and increase their faith, and progressively perfecting them over time toward a state of holiness. Described by Jesus as a “Helper,” the Spirit is an active presence, literally abiding in every believer to guide their conscience, illuminate the gospel in their hearts and reinforce their faith in Christ.

Gospel
The term gospel literally means “good news.” Briefly summarized in John 3:16, it is the biblical message that God has freely provided the means for man to be redeemed of his sin and granted everlasting life. Jesus Christ is its subject, with the accounts and impact of His life, ministry, death and resurrection presented in the first four books, or "gospels," of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). The gospel is the solution to the "bad news" of man's guilt and eternal condemnation before a holy God, explaining that salvation is possible through faith in Christ. This is the critical message from God to humanity, to which all Old and New Testament scripture points.

Grace
An attribute and act of God by which He freely extends favor and mercy. Grace is not a reward that man can earn or bring about by his own effort; it is entirely the product of God’s sovereign will, understood to exist in two forms—common grace, God’s general benevolence and providential care that is extended to the whole of humanity, and special, or saving grace, through which He redeems and regenerates His elect. Embodied in the person of Jesus Christ, special grace is the conduit through which a spiritual connection to God is possible, and the only means through which man can be justified and reconciled to Him. It is through this form of God’s grace that He reaches out to humanity to provide the faith—or ability to believe—in Jesus that brings salvation and eternal life for the Christian.

Grace through faith, by
The common phrase “by grace through faith” from Ephesians 2:8 outlines the only path by which salvation is possible. Saving faith does not originate within us, but is the gift of God, sovereignly administered to people according to His will alone. The granting of such faith is a product of God's special grace, which is the unmerited favor He extends to those He chooses. (see also Grace, Faith)

Great Commission, the
As documented in Matthew 28:16-20 and Mark 16:15, the directive of Jesus for disciples to spread His teachings and the good news of salvation throughout the earth.

Holiness/Holy
The attribute of God that speaks to His "otherness" in perfection. Typically associated with moral purity, holiness describes an absolute separateness from anything that is imperfect or evil. Throughout scripture, God makes very clear that He is holy, natural man is not, and that is the fundamental reason for our separation from Him. However, in His redemptive plan for humanity, God will ultimately deliver those who believe in Jesus Christ to a state of true holiness and eternal fellowship with Him in heaven.

Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost (see God the Holy Spirit)

Imputed/Imputation
The term refers to the act of crediting to, charging to, or placing onto someone. In Christian theology the term usually refers either to the crediting of Jesus’s righteousness to the believer in the act of salvation, or the charging of Adam’s sin to the whole of humanity. For instance, the righteousness that one receives from Christ is imputed righteousness, and the sin that one is culpable for as a descendent of Adam is imputed sin. Though imputed, the act still attributes the full effect—by the imputation of sin all have total condemnation in Adam, and by the imputation of righteousness Christians have total redemption in Christ.

In Christ
A saved person is said to be “in Christ.” The phrase emphasizes that because of their faith, believers are included in Christ’s atonement, having been justified in His righteousness before God. In other words, when a Christian dies and God looks upon them, what He sees is Jesus’s righteousness because that believer is being presented in Christ. Scripture explains that Jesus makes intercession for the believer, testifying on their behalf before the Father. Jesus fulfilled God’s holy expectations on behalf of those who believe in Him, so a faithful Christian’s fulfillment of those same expectations comes in and through Jesus. (See also Justified, Saved)

Incarnation
Refers to God the Son assuming human form for the purposes of revealing God’s kingdom on earth, fulfilling prophecy, and redeeming sinful man. This was accomplished in Jesus Christ, by way of His perfect life of obedience to God’s law and His atoning death and resurrection that delivers eternal life for all who believe in Him.

Judgment of God
An act and attribute of God that is in accordance with His perfect justice, often referenced in scripture in the context of His ultimate condemnation and punishment of sin. The judgment of God in this respect is understood to be a terrible and sobering thing, absolute in its righteousness, final in its authority, and eternal in its consequences. It is from this judgment of sin that true believers are spared as a result of their saving faith in Jesus Christ, in whom man’s otherwise insurmountable sin debt and penalty has been paid. God’s judgment is referred to often in other contexts within scripture, from His regular judgments on individuals, nations, etc. that carry earthly consequences, to major historical judgments (Adam, the flood, Babel, Egypt, Jesus for believers’ sins) to major future judgments (Bema, the nations, Satan, White Throne). 

Justification/Justified
Occuring simultaneously with the act of salvation, justification is the divine action in which a believer is proclaimed righteous by God, based on the righteousness of Jesus that has been imputed to that believer because of their faith (Rom 3:21-26). To be justified does not mean to be miraculously made righteous, but to be declared righteous by God. Because people are hopelessly unrighteous by nature and in practice, God graciously allows a person’s faith in Jesus to be credited to them as righteousness, therefore that person is said to be justified by faith, or in Christ.(see also In Christ)

Justified by faith
A phrase summarizing the Christian doctrine that believers are justified, or declared righteous by God, by faith in Jesus alone, made possible by God’s grace alone. A person cannot be justified by merit of their own works; it is entirely the act of God. (Rom 5:1, Gal 3:24) (see Justification)

Lamb of God
This is a particular description of Jesus Christ that reflects His role of perfect sacrifice. In Old Testament times, believers were directed by God to offer unblemished, innocent animals in sacrifice continuously to cover their sins. In Jesus, the past, present and future sins of all believers have been erased because He served as the perfect sacrifice, a spotless “lamb” whose offering is sufficient to atone for sin once for all time.

Live for Christ/God (see Discipleship)

Living water
Depending on scriptural context, the term is used to describe saving faith or the presence of the Holy Spirit, and by extension, salvation and life eternal. (Jer 17:13;
Zec 14:8-9; Jn 4:14, Jn 7:38-39; Rev 21:6-8) The illustration is of a perpetual spring flowing through one's life that provides spiritual sustenance.

Lord
The term lord, having several Greek and Hebrew associations, is generally used to describe a master or person having controlling authority and is most often used in scripture as references to God. With regard to Jesus, the title identifies Him as one to whom His followers are to submit. This principle of Jesus’s lordship is biblical, central to the Christian faith and a requirement of discipleship, as believers are called to be obedient and live in accordance with His teachings (Lk 14:27, Jn 10:27, Jn 15:14, Jn 17:6,
1 Jn 2:3-4). It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that obedience is produced (Ezek 36:26) and a person is enabled to sincerely proclaim that Jesus is Lord (1 Cor 12:3).

Lord's Supper
One of two ordinances established by Jesus Christ, taught by the original apostles and instituted by the early Christian church. Its purpose is to commemorate the sacrifice of Christ, allowing believers to recall His sacrifice and affirm their faith in the salvation and spiritual sustenance that it provides. Just as it originally was in the upper room episode of Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25 and Luke 22:14-20, no "transubstantiation" of the elements of the supper takes place, whereby they supposedly become the literal body and blood of Christ.

Lost (see Unsaved)

Messiah (see Christ)

New birth/life (see Born Again, Regeneration)

Original Sin
The term refers to the original act of disobedience that introduced sin into the world and the imputed guilt that all of mankind possesses as a result. God originally created humanity as upright and good, with a single requirement to remain obedient to His law, which at that time was simply to refrain from eating a forbidden fruit. Through the temptation of Satan, the first humans Adam and Eve deliberately transgressed that law, resulting in God’s judgment upon them and all subsequent generations, and sentencing the human race to physical death and eternal separation from His mercy and favor. Because Adam represented all of mankind, all of mankind has likewise been made guilty and spiritually dead by association. All instances of sin stem from this initial corruption, which sets man at enmity toward God, opposed to goodness, and inclined toward evil. However, God has voluntarily condescended to reconcile with mankind through a covenant of grace in which He grants salvation and eternal life to repentant sinners through Jesus Christ.

Personal Lord and Savior
The term “personal” underscores the reality that the curse of sin and blessing of salvation is relevant to the life and eternal destiny of each and every person. Jesus’s act of sacrifice applies to us on an intensely personal level, and His absolute sovereignty as God makes us all individually subservient to Him. Every single one of us is condemned to hell because of sin, and every single one of us who receives Christ as our Lord and Savior will be spared that judgment. Every true believer makes a personal commitment to Christ and places a great deal of personal trust in Him for their salvation.

Personal relationship with Jesus (see Personal Lord and Savior)

Prayer
A means of directly communing with God and consciously expressing oneself to Him in faith. Prayer is not a meditative exercise, but an active, direct communication to God which enables the believer to offer praise and thankfulness, ask forgiveness, and petition Him for blessing in accordance with His will. The Lord’s Prayer, appearing in
Matthew 6:9-13, outlines the pattern for proper prayer, which is always directed to the Father, in the name of the Son, and enabled by the Holy Spirit.

Propitiation
To satisfy a demand or meet a requirement. The term is typically associated with Jesus’s sacrificial death on the cross being sufficient to atone for the sin of mankind and satisfy God’s justice.

Providence
The regular means by which God manages His creation. Divine providence is God’s sovereign governance of the universe through secondary or indirect sources, such as acts of nature and human endeavor. While it is a difficult truth for us to reconcile, scripture explains that God directs all events and is in absolute control of all things, yet His providence harmonizes perfectly with the free will of humanity (Pro 16:9).

Redemption
Often used synonymously with salvation, the term redemption underscores the fact that God has purchased the salvation of sinners at a price. Man has incurred a sin debt that is insurmountable by anything he can do in and of himself, short of suffering in hell for all eternity. Payment has however been made in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. By offering the perfectly obedient life He lived as a man Jesus redeemed, or bought the deliverance of, all those who believe in Him. His death on the cross served as recompense for the offense of humanity’s sin and satisfied God’s justice. (see also Salvation)

Regeneration
Synonymous with “born again” and literally defined as rebirth, regeneration refers to the act of God that bestows spiritual life on a believer. Scripture explains that we are spiritually dead as a result of sin (Eph 2:1), and therefore unable to perceive or comprehend the things of God (1 Cor 2:14). Regeneration is a component of salvation by which we are made spiritually alive by our faith in Christ (Eph 2:4-5), and granted a new disposition inclined to holiness and obedience to God's teachings. The term emphasizes that a fundamental change has been made in the individual, that they have been made a new creature (2 Cor 5:17) capable of resisting the old sin nature and equipped to share in God's divine, holy nature. (see also Born Again)

Repentance
A gift of the Holy Spirit consisting of a person’s own conviction of his guilt before God and the inward, conscious decision to turn away from sin and obey Christ as Lord of his life. A requirement for redemption (Acts 2:38, 2 Pet 3:9), true repentance necessarily results in changed behavior and an inclination and receptiveness to the things of God. Repentance is not something a person comes to naturally; it is the work of God alone, granted to those who He calls to salvation (2 Tim 2:25, Acts 5:31, Acts 11:18).

Righteousness
An attribute of God related to His faultlessness and moral perfection, and the standard by which He judges mankind. His expectation of holy perfection in our personal conduct, motivations, and relationships with others (Mt 5:48, 1 Pet 1:15-16) is a requirement that none of us can meet. Scripture explains that all have sinned, and nothing unclean can enter heaven—it is for this reason that a person has to be born again. Without God's gift of grace that grants us the ability to receive His truth, repent of our sins, and believe in Jesus Christ as our only redeemer, we will all perish and never see the kingdom of God. Though we are unrighteous by nature, a Christian believer's God-given faith in Jesus will be credited to them as righteousness and therefore will redeem them before God and save them from His judgment.

Salvation
The act of God through which mankind is redeemed and absolved of sin, and subsequently delivered from His judgment and eternal punishment. Accomplished through the atoning sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone, salvation is assured, everlasting, and wholly of God’s grace, freely granted to those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. A person has no ability within themselves to produce their own salvation; it is only through a God-given faith in Christ that they can be redeemed. The act of salvation effectively credits Christ’s righteousness to the believer, thereby justifying them before God and sanctifying them to Him.

Sanctification/Sanctified
Literally the term means to set something aside for its intended use, and in Christianity it means to be set apart as holy. The term is used in two different contexts within the New Testament, understood as definitive sanctification and progressive sanctification, which are defined in the following entries.

Sanctification, definitive
Occurring simultaneously with the divine acts of salvation and justification, definitive sanctification refers to the immediate state of holiness or consecration a believer gains by way of their union with Christ (Acts 26:18, Rom 15:16, 1 Cor 1:2, 1 Cor 6:11; Heb 2:11). At salvation a believer receives a new nature (2 Cor 5:17), empowered by the Holy Spirit, which frees them from the reign of sin. It is this break with the bondage of sin that the Apostle Paul describes as being "dead to sin" (Rom 6, Gal 5:24, Col 3:3). While a believer is never completely separated from the influence of sin in this life (1 John 1:8), they are no longer dominated by it (Rom 6:18, Rom 8:2). Over time, the Spirit builds on the definitive sanctification of the believer, continuing to transform them to a state of holiness that when culminated, fully reflects the holiness of Christ. (See also Progressive Sanctification, Glorification)

Sanctification, progressive
This is usually what is meant when the general term "sanctification" is used, referring to the gradual process by which a believer is being conformed to the likeness of Christ
(Rom 8:29, 2 Cor 3:18, Col 3:10). At the moment of salvation a believer is regenerated and justified in the eyes of God, being declared righteous and receiving a new godly nature but also retaining the old sinful nature. Through the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit, Christians are progressively changed over time for the remainder of their natural lives as sin is eradicated and holiness is strengthened within them. It is a process that is never fully completed in this life, but because of the continual work of the Spirit, the believer proceeds toward a state of true holiness until the time of their physical death or the second coming of Christ, when they will be fully and eternally glorified in Him. (See also Glorification)

Saved
Having received salvation and eternal life by way of faith in Jesus Christ. The term emphasizes that the believer has been freed from God’s judgment of sin. (See Salvation)

Saving faith
True faith in Christ, which produces salvation. (see Faith)

Saving grace (see Grace)

Savior
In the context of spiritual redemption, a savior would be one who—based on their own merits or actions—is capable of producing for others a salvation from God’s eternal punishment of sin. Because mankind is inherently sinful, it cannot achieve this salvation on its own and therefore requires a savior. Because of His unique sinlessness, divine righteousness, and willful act of sacrificial atonement, only Jesus Christ meets the requirement; the title of Savior applies exclusively to Him. Christianity is unique among world religions in the assertion that man can never appease God on moral or legal grounds, and thereby unable to attain heaven without the act of a Savior. (See also Substitutionary Atonement)

Second coming
Described in Revelation 19:11-16, the second coming is the imminent return of Jesus Christ to the earth to consummate His kingdom. In the first coming Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God, arriving in humility as Servant and Savior, bringing the gospel message to the world and providing the atonement for sin. In the second coming, He will arrive in glory as Judge and Jury, executing God's perfect justice on the world. Accompanying this divine arrival will be the mass resurrection of those who have died as believers in Christ and the "catching up" of every living believer from the earth, all to be united with Jesus "in the air" (1 Thes 4:16-18, 1 Cor 15:51-53) and glorified to holiness and immortality.

Sin
The lack of obedience to, or the falling short of, God’s holy expectations. Characterized in scripture as lawlessness, faithlessness, unrighteousness, and willful disobedience, sin violates both God’s standard and His holy nature. Introduced to the world by Satan through the initial act of disobedience committed by Adam and Eve, sin stands as the obstacle between man and God. Sin is both cause and consequence, as people are born guilty and sinful by nature as a result of their Adamic ancestry and by choice, committing individual personal sins on a constant basis—we sin because we are sinful. Representing all which falls short of God’s perfection, sin is a universal affliction, a kind of illness that has been passed down through each generation and impacts the entirety of creation.

Sin nature
The inherent attribute and natural inclination of man that makes him disobedient and unreceptive to God. Sin entered man’s nature at the time of Adam and Eve’s original act of defiance, and has been part of the makeup of humanity ever since. The sin nature has been passed from generation to generation and condemns each of us from birth, even before we have had the opportunity to commit personal sins against God. Scripture explains that all of mankind is sinful and therefore falls short of the glory of God, which causes us to be separated from His favor. Only one Person did not have the sin nature, and that was Jesus Christ, His virgin birth having circumvented its curse and His sinless life attesting to His perfect, holy nature. His lack of sinfulness enabled His sacrificial death on the cross to be acceptable to God as a sufficient atonement for all those who believe in Him. Though justified in God’s eyes and spared His judgment, Christians do not lose their sin nature once they receive Christ—it remains with them for the remainder of their earthly lives. However, believers are given the indwelling Holy Spirit which works to direct them away from sin and toward holiness, and they are progressively sanctified in this way until the time of their physical death and subsequent glorification, thus completing in full God’s redemptive process.

Son of God (see God the Son)

Son of Man
Basically meaning “man,” this is the title which Jesus used most when He referred to Himself, emphasizing His human nature in the incarnation. It first appears in a Messianic prophecy in Daniel 7:13-14, and Jesus used it in this context as a way of proclaiming that He in fact was the promised Messiah. Additionally, the title Son of Man was used by God in addressing the prophet Ezekiel.

Spirit of God/Spirit of truth (see God the Holy Spirit)

Substitutionary atonement
Described in Isaiah 53:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24 and elsewhere, the substitutionary atonement refers to Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death in the place of sinners in order to fully satisfy God's justice and pay mankind’s sin penalty. A holy God must enforce His perfect justice that requires reparation for sin, and the only way that sinful man can make such reparation is to suffer in hell for all of eternity. As born sinners, we cannot save ourselves from this fate on our own; a substitute is desperately needed. However, in mercy and grace God has allowed us a substitute. The eternal Son, having assumed human form as the man Jesus of Nazareth, offered Himself as a sinless, perfect sacrifice in our place. This divine death was sufficient to pay the sin debt once for all and for all time, and His resurrection proved that the act satisfied God and that full and final atonement had been made. Scripture explains that those who receive Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior will receive the personal benefit of this substitutionary atonement— resurrection to eternal spiritual life in heaven instead of sentencing to eternal spiritual death in hell.

Testimony
One’s personal story of redemption, often providing a description of where the person was in life before coming to know God and receiving Christ, how they came to be saved, and how God has changed their life since they became a Christian. Testimonies are often publicly given as a means of sharing the gospel message with the unconverted and to encourage fellow believers.

Trinity, Holy
A term used to describe God’s being as that of three distinct, eternal, co-equal Personages comprising a single divine Essence. The term “Trinity,” while itself not appearing in the bible, has been historically utilized by the church to express the triune nature of God’s being as described in scripture. The three Persons of the Trinity are the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, each having distinct personal characteristics but unified in essence and being. (see also God, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit)

Unsaved
(Also lost, unconverted, unredeemed, unregenerate) Refers to those who lack saving faith in Jesus Christ for their eternal salvation. To be unsaved is to be outside of the redemption Christ has produced for mankind through His atoning act of sacrifice. We all naturally exist in this unsaved, or lost state because every person is convicted by sin, through birth, nature, and individual action (see Sin). God’s penalty for sin is death—physical death on earth as well as spiritual death, explained in scripture as everlasting conscious torment and separation from God's grace in hell. Every person has an eternal soul—we will all spend eternity either with God in heaven or with the rest of the unsaved in hell. The sentence of hell is consistent with God’s perfect justice—all are guilty of sin, and He will not look upon sin. Yet it is God’s will that none remain unsaved, and though it is a difficult biblical concept, we all have a responsibility to receive His gift of salvation that is entirely consistent with His sovereignty in calling, or bringing us to it.

Walk with God/walk in the Lord
Walk with God, walk in the Lord, or walk in faith are metaphors for Christian discipleship, drawing the illustration of a journey in which one’s faithfulness and obedience develop over time.  (see Christian walk, Discipleship. Related, Sanctification)

Washed in the blood
To be cleansed of sin, and therefore redeemed in the eyes of God, through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ (1 Jn 1:7, Heb. 9:14, Mt 26:28, Eph 1:7). (see also Justified)

Word became flesh, the
The phrase from John 1:14 refers to God's revelation of Himself by way of the Word (in this context, God the Son) entering history and assuming human form as the man Jesus of Nazareth. (see also Incarnation, Word of God)

Word of God
In scripture the term will refer either to Jesus Christ or the actual written or spoken word of God as presented in the bible. The opening of the gospel of John associates the Greek term Logos (word, speech, statement) directly with Jesus, as the Jewish people had long used the term “Word” to describe the idea, influence, and actions of God. As God’s perfect revelation of Himself in the flesh, Jesus is also the perfect embodiment of God’s word.

Work of the cross
Christ’s act of substitutionary atonement for the sin of mankind. (see Cross)

Works of the flesh
Refers to wicked behavior and disobedience to God’s commandments, consistent with man’s natural inclination toward sin, as outlined in Galatians 5:19-21. According to scripture, works of the flesh include but are not limited to immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, heresies, envying, drunkenness, and carousing, resulting in God's eternal condemnation.

Scripture Alone • Faith Alone • Grace Alone • Christ Alone • To the Glory of God Alone
Most scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB)

The Way Is Narrow  |  About  |