Got questions about definitions of Bible or Christian words or terms?
Defining Biblical terms is important because their truths are the underlying basis for the doctrine or teachings of Christianity. Many times different people & religions use the same words, but they have entirely different meanings. So to communicate clearly, below is a growing list of Christian words (Christian-ese) that you might hear people using. It's critical that we get the proper meaning from the Bible itself, so please note the verse references. Use your mouse to hover over the Bible references to see them or click on them to see them in their context which is important. Click on the letters after the * to see related pages. Feel free to ask about terms not seen here. I will add to these as time permits. Thank you for your patience!
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Atonement: Having been made 'at one' with God due to His act of reconciling people to Himself. This is necessary because our sin against Him (violation of His holy standard) has caused us to be estranged from Him & forced His just judgment, resulting in immanent wrath in the future. God prescribed a sacrificial system in the Old Testament (before Christ) that foreshadowed the ultimate & only means of atonement through the work of Christ being crucified on the cross, resulting in the diversion of wrath from those who fully trust Christ was punished for all their personal sins & that His righteous merit totally qualifies them for heaven.
(Jn 3.36, Isa 53.5, Rom 3.25, 5.9-10, 8.3-4, 2 Cor 5.18-19, Gal 3.13, Eph 2.4-5, Col 1.21-22, Heb 2.17, 9.27, Rev 19.11-16 - * A, B)
(Jn 3.36, Isa 53.5, Rom 3.25, 5.9-10, 8.3-4, 2 Cor 5.18-19, Gal 3.13, Eph 2.4-5, Col 1.21-22, Heb 2.17, 9.27, Rev 19.11-16 - * A, B)
Bible, Word of God, Holy Scripture: A collection of 66 books written to all people by some specific men chosen by God, but authored (dictated) by God Himself. The Old Testament (Genesis to Malachi) was written before Jesus Christ's human birth & points forward to Him, while the New Testament (Matthew to Revelation) was written after Christ's birth. The Bible is perfect, truthful, unchanging, harmonious, powerful, alive, eternal & absolutely vital.
(Prov 30.5, Isa 55.11, 2 Tim 3.16-17, Heb 4.12, 2 Pet 1.20 - *A, B)
(Prov 30.5, Isa 55.11, 2 Tim 3.16-17, Heb 4.12, 2 Pet 1.20 - *A, B)
Born-Again: Everyone has a 1st birth that is physical, but a 2nd birth is spiritual & occurs at the point of salvation from which spiritual growth is needed. Apart from salvation (being born again), no one is spiritually alive.
(John 3.5-7, Col 1.10, 2.13, 1 Pet 1.3, 23, 2.2, Eph 2.1 - *A)
(John 3.5-7, Col 1.10, 2.13, 1 Pet 1.3, 23, 2.2, Eph 2.1 - *A)
Disciple, Follower of Christ: A Christian who continually seeks to learn from Christ, grow spiritually, share what they've learned & obey, often making sacrifices to do so.
(Mk 16.20, Lk 14.26, 33, Jn 8.31-32, 14.23-24, 15.8 - *A)
(Mk 16.20, Lk 14.26, 33, Jn 8.31-32, 14.23-24, 15.8 - *A)
Grace: An unmerited gift given that is not deserved or earned, sometimes given instead of a deserved negative consequence.
(Rom 4.4-5, 5.15-17, Eph 1.6, 2.8)
(Rom 4.4-5, 5.15-17, Eph 1.6, 2.8)
Faith: Trusting God to be who He says He is & to do what He says He will do, especially when it challenges human possibility, human convention or human wisdom. It is evidenced by action, attitude &/or lifestyle.
(Isa 55.8-9, Jn 14.12, Rom 4.4-5, 20-21, 1 Cor 1.21, 25, Heb 11.6, Jas 2.18 - *A)
(Isa 55.8-9, Jn 14.12, Rom 4.4-5, 20-21, 1 Cor 1.21, 25, Heb 11.6, Jas 2.18 - *A)
Heaven, Paradise: Heaven is God's dwelling & is characterized by God's holiness, majesty, glory & beauty. It is completely void of all sin & evil & their consequences. It is a place of eternal peace, rest, joy, service & worship. Only those who have been saved by the Gospel will enter.
(Isa 6.3, Rev 21.4, 27 22.3-5 - *A)
(Isa 6.3, Rev 21.4, 27 22.3-5 - *A)
Hell, Lake of Fire: The eternal, permanent place of burning torment & agony for those who do not know God & have not obeyed the Gospel. It is a very real & perpetual place of judgment, punishment & retribution for sins against a Holy God from whom its inhabitants will be forever separated. Hell is avoidable right up until the unknown, yet unavoidable time of your death - Don’t wait!
(Mt 10.28, 25.46, Lk 16.23-24, 25-31, Jn 3.17-18, 2 Thes 1.8-9, Heb 9.27, 10.26-27, 31, 2 Pt 3.7, Rev 20.14-15 - *A, B, C)
(Mt 10.28, 25.46, Lk 16.23-24, 25-31, Jn 3.17-18, 2 Thes 1.8-9, Heb 9.27, 10.26-27, 31, 2 Pt 3.7, Rev 20.14-15 - *A, B, C)
Holy, Holiness: The attribute or characteristic of God which describes His absolute pure moral perfection & complete absence of sin & evil. It is also to be the aim of every Christian, growing in it daily & only possible by the enabling of God. Holiness is what makes Christians most useful to God.
(Ex 15.11, Lev 20.7-8, Isa 1.4, Dan 9.16, John 6.68-69, Heb 12.10, 14, 1 Pet 1.15, Rev 4.8 - *A)
(Ex 15.11, Lev 20.7-8, Isa 1.4, Dan 9.16, John 6.68-69, Heb 12.10, 14, 1 Pet 1.15, Rev 4.8 - *A)
Idol, Idolatry: The projection of one’s deluded desires upon an entity or general ideology which may or may not appear religious or have a physical representation. Given its self-appeal, it often masquerades as benevolent to its follower, but is a subtly demanding, addictive & a blinding fraud. Often is mistaken as the true God, assuming some of His traits, but ultimately leads the worshipper away from Him.
(Ex 20.4-6, Dt 4.15-20, 23-24, Isa 44.6-23, Lk 16.13, Col 3.5 - *A)
(Ex 20.4-6, Dt 4.15-20, 23-24, Isa 44.6-23, Lk 16.13, Col 3.5 - *A)
Justification: The permanent status of having a perfect righteousness in God's sight which is only attainable from a sinless Christ. This is instantly given by God to anyone who exclusively trusts in His total forgiveness & permanent absolution of all sins (past, present & future) purely by means of Christ's sacrificial death. It is never attainable through or supplemented by human effort, works, deeds, sacraments, rites, rituals, religion & the like.
(Rom 3.22-24, 4.4-5, 9.16, 2 Cor 5.21, Col 1.22, 1 Pet 2.24, Gal 2.16, 21, 3.3, 5.4, Gen 15.6 - *A)
Sin, Transgression, Iniquity: Violation of God’s moral law which flows from His holy character. It separates the offender from an all-knowing God, warranting His just judgment & punishment if it is not forgiven. Because all people have a sin nature, sin is inevitable for all who have the mental capacity to know right & wrong. It is deceptive & often in the short term is enjoyable, beneficial or desirable enough to cause temptation. However, it eventually causes physical &/or emotional pain & ultimately physical death. If not dealt with by the Gospel, it leads to eternal damnation.
(Isa 59.2, Eccl 7.20, Ps 51.1-19, Rom 5.12, 8.7, 1 Jn 1.8-9, 3.4, Gal 6.8, Heb 4.13, 9.27-28, Jas 1.14-15 - *A, B, C)
(Isa 59.2, Eccl 7.20, Ps 51.1-19, Rom 5.12, 8.7, 1 Jn 1.8-9, 3.4, Gal 6.8, Heb 4.13, 9.27-28, Jas 1.14-15 - *A, B, C)