The Gospel is good news. The Bible uses numerous words to describe all its benefits; many of these words, however, are not a part of one's everyday vocabulary. Also, there are other words important to a proper understand of the Gospel. Below you will find these words defined with key Bible passages. We hope this list is of great help to you.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Adoption

The word adoption is used to describe how God places into His family anyone who believes in Jesus Christ. This act of God not only removes from the believer the stigma of being a child of the Devil, but also makes him an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ. Only in eternity will we understand the magnitude of this precious truth (especially as it relates to the entitlement a believer has through heirship). The word adoption is used in the following key passages: Rom. 8:15, 23; 9:4; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5. It is highly recommended you read these verses and those around them to better understand their usage within the immediate context. [Back to Top]

Advocate

The word advocate is used to describe just one of the many ways in which Christ relates to those who believe in Him. Once a man turns to God through Christ, there is a sense in which He becomes a lawyer who speaks to God on the behalf of the believer. (This relates very much to a few other terms describing Christ middle position between the believer and God: that of mediator, intercessor and also high priest.) The word advocate means "one who is called to the aid of another." This is exactly what Jesus has done for every believer. He is called to the believers side to represent him before God. There can be no greater one for the job that Christ, and He holds this position eternally! This precious position of the Lord Jesus Christ makes it possible for a believer who sins to ask for forgiveness and Christ will see to it that the forgiveness is granted. There is one key passage for this term: I Jn. 2:1. [Back to Top]

B

Born Again

The words born again are used to describe the awesome change God makes in a man's life once he turns to Jesus Christ from his sin. The change is so thorough that the Bible calls the believer a new creature. This new birth is directly connected to the work of God's Holy Spirit who transforms a man's life from the inside out and specifically grants him with spiritual vision. Jesus Christ said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Notice the word "see" in this passage. There are things a man can see who has been born again. There is one key passage for this term: Jn. 3. Read it carefully and compare the teaching to some of the other terms in this glossary. [Back to Top]

C

Circumcision

The word circumcision is used to describe the mark upon God's people (who lived prior to the time when Jesus Christ died on the cross) which identified them as people with saving faith. It neither guaranteed that someone was going to Heaven nor that they were living as God desired. Sadly, most people began to misunderstand this mark as God's racial favoritism of the Israeli people. Today, since Jesus Christ fulfilled the law through His death and resurrection, circumcision is no longer used as a sign of faith. Rather, men show that they have faith today by water baptism. The baptism, like the circumcision, has no ability to give one salvation from sin; both only represent the faith the participant should have. There are some key passages using this term: Gen. 17:10, 11; Rom. 2:25-29; 3:1, 30; 4:9-12; I Cor. 7:19; Gal. 5:2-3, 6, 11. Read these passages carefully, comparing them to the nearby verses. [Note: The word circumcision is also used to speak of the Israeli people in general.] [Back to Top]

Condemnation

See judgment and Lk. 23:40; Jn. 3:19; 5:24; Rom. 5:16, 18; 8:1; II Cor. 3:9; Jude 4. (The word means to be found guilty and worthy of the appropriate punishment.) [Back to Top]

Conviction

The word conviction is used to describe the work of the Holy Spirit of God upon the heart which reproves a person, showing him where he is wrong. This work of the Holy Spirit painfully shows a sinner how he is wrong in three areas: (1) sin; (2) righteousness; and, (3) judgment. The Holy Spirit communicates the Word of God to the soul through the efforts of believers who proclaim it so as to convict--or, convince--them, that they repent of the error of their ways. (Words related to this are rebuke, convince, reprove, and telling one's fault.) There are several key passages using this term; however, they will often use the related words: Lk. 3:19; Jn. 3:20; 8:9, 46; 16:8; I Cor. 14:24; Eph. 5:11, 13; I Tim. 5:20; II Tim. 4:2; Tit. 1:9, 13; 2:15; Heb. 12:5; Js. 2:9; Rev. 3:19. Carefully read these passages and their surrounding verses to understand the context. [Back to Top]

D

Damnation

The word damnation is used to describe the final and eternal destruction by fire of Satan, his fellow fallen angels, and all men and women who die in their sin apart from the blood of Christ and forgiveness of God. It is a most terrible word, not be taken lightly, for it speaks of the awful punishment upon both soul and body which is described as the second death, where the worm never dies, the mind never loses consciousness, the body never loses pain, and the memories of the past are not erased. Its seriousness is only rivaled by the seriousness of Christ's substitutionary death on the cross for all mankind, whereby He took man's eternal damnation upon Himself. Damnation and the death and resurrection of Christ are the reasons for Gospel preaching and the unending passionate efforts of Christians to warn people of their sin and encourage them to trust the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. This term speaks primarily of the finality of the judgment upon the sinner, that the sinner will never have another chance to correct the error of his way, but must forever be banished from all peace and hope of being set free. (Other words are used in the Bible which relate to this one such as perdition, condemnation and judgment.) There are several instances where this term is used: Matt. 23:14; Mk. 12:40; Lk. 20:47; Rom. 3:8. You will want to read the verses nearest these to understand there context. Remember, too, that you must also read passages not using the word damnation to get the fullest understand of the term. [Back to Top]

Death

The word death is used to describe the separation of the body of man from the immaterial (invisible) part of man, his soul and spirit. Death is the enemy of mankind functioning as the final doorway of life through which a person passes but one time. All decisions become final and eternity comes into being. Sin is the painful cause of death. Since all men sin, all men are appointed a day to die. After this, comes the time of judgment, when the secrets of men's hearts are revealed. Death, in a sense, becomes the great clarifier, because once one passes through its door, his faith or lack of faith in Jesus Christ will plainly be revealed. Those who are found without faith go to the Lake of Fire, which is the Second Death; the rest go to Heaven. There is no intermediate time after death where men can work for their salvation; death is final. There are several key passages that use this term: Rom. 1:32; 5:10, 12, 14, 17, 21; 6:3, 5, 9, 16, 21, 23; 7:5, 10, 13; 8:2, 6, 38; I Cor. 15:21, 26, 54-56; II Cor. 2:16; Phil. 2:8; II Tim. 1:10; Heb. 2:9, 14-15; 9:15; Js. 1:15; 5:20; I Jn. 3:4; 5:16-17; Rev. 1:8; 2:11. Carefully read these verses and their surrounding verses. [Back to Top]

E

Election

The word election is used to describe the choice God made long before anyone was created to conform every man who believes in Jesus Christ into the image of Jesus Christ. (Two terms connected to election are predestination and foreknowledge.) Election is a precious condition for every believer, because it tells the believer that he cannot lose his salvation; God determined things about him before he was even born! Jesus spoke to people cast into Hell these words, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Notice the words "I never knew you." These words help us to see that people in Hell were never foreknown to have believed in Christ, so they never could have been elected. Every believer should rejoice that what he has in Christ he will never lose, because his future was already settled in the past! The key passage that uses this term: I Pet. 1:2. Another key passage that uses the term "predestinated" is Eph. 1:5. Be very careful when reading these passages to read the nearby verses to get the proper context. [Note: You will find the term used also for Israel, but this is in other passages and has a somewhat different meaning. It should also be understood that the Bible uses the word "foreknowledge" and not "foreordination." God bases his past choices for the believer's future based on what he foreknew of the believer's present faith.] [Back to Top]

F

Faith

The word faith is used to describe the trust one has in Jesus Christ to save his soul from sin. Specifically, faith is the heart agreeing with God about sin, righteousness and judgment. When a man truly has faith of this sort then he will be saved. The believer has agreed that he is a sinner against God without the ability to change himself, that his only hope is found in the righteousness he can receive from the sinless Son of God, and that if he does not have that righteousness, then he is doomed to eternal judgment--the just punishment for his sin. This type of faith most certainly brings with it a change of heart and mind and a true turning from sin to Christ. It does not mean the believer will never sin again but it does mean he has recognized that his sin is his own problem, which he would gladly be rid of, if Christ would save him from it. (Faith is connected to the words belief, trust, confidence, and hope.) There are many key passages with the word faith: Lk. 7:50; 18:42; Eph. 2:8; Heb. 11:7; Js. 2:14. Be sure to read the surrounding verses to get the context and it would also be good to read verses that use the word belief. [Note: The word faith is also used to describe the body of teachings believed on by Christians, but that is not the exact sense here.] [Back to Top]

Forgiveness

The word forgiveness is used to describe the pardon a believer in Christ has from God whereby God no longer holds sin against him. Many other words relate to forgiveness, but forgiveness points out one important aspect of how God views our sin. Notice the requirement for God to forgive believers in Ephesians 4:32, "God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you." Contrast "for Christ's sake" with today's common attitude of forgiveness. God's forgiveness of our sin is not a mere forgetting of our wrong but a settling the matter once and for all by inflicting the punishment on His Son. God's forgiveness is totally just and does not downplay man's sin even slightly because God still punishes it; albeit, that punishment was fulfilled on His own willing Son. There are many important passages for this term: Matt. 18:35; Mk. 3:28, 29; Acts 13:38; 26:18; Rom. 4:7; Eph. 1:7; 4:32; Col. 1:4; 2:13; Js. 5:15; I Jn. 1:9; 2:12. [Back to Top]

G

Glorification

The word glorification is used to describe the final change a believer will experience after life on earth. The change will make the believer's body just like Jesus Christ's glorified body, in that he will have neither sin, nor have disease nor deformity. Sin and the consequences of sin, which is death, are not in Heaven. God will, therefore, glorify every believer so that they can enter Heaven without imperfection on both the inside and outside. (Remember, the believer immediately receives the spotless record of Christ, but he will then receive a spotless body, heart and mind as well.) There is one key chapter that uses this term in this manner: Rom. 8:17, 30. As you read these verses be sure to read the surrounding verses. You also should read: I Cor. 15:49; Phil. 3:21; I Jn. 3:2. [Back to Top]

Grace

The word grace is used to describe the attribute of God that grants mankind salvation. It is the goodness God gives to anyone who puts their faith in His Son for his salvation. Grace cannot be earned because it is that benevolent part of God which is expressed in the giving of free gifts. The primary gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Once a man has God's grace through faith, then grace begins to reign over his eternity. Whereas sin previously reigned, decreeing that the sinner was doomed to die, grace now wears the crown decreeing that no matter what sin once said or what Satan accused the sinner of, that believer has forever been joined to God and will never fall from that peaceful and loving relationship. There are several key passages that use the word: Jn. 1:14, 16-17; Acts 11:23; 15:11; 20:24; Rom. 3:24; 4:4, 16; 5:2, 15, 17, 20-21; 6:1, 14-15; 11:5, 6; 12:6. Carefully study the surrounding verses to get a good understanding of the context. [Note: You will also find the word grace used in reference to the watchcare of God on the life of the believer.] [Back to Top]

H

Heart

The word heart is used to describe the control center of man. It is the most important part of man. The mind may understand what choices one should make in life, but the heart actually makes the choice. A man's life issues out of thsee choices. In fact, where one goes when he dies is based on the condition of his heart. God wants men to not merely believe that He exists, but with the heart God wants man to turn from sin to His Son, Jesus Christ, for cleansing from that sin. Sadly, the heart of man, due to sin, is so desperately wicked that it will even lie to man. The heart often races after what it wants even if it leads the mind to believe things that are not true. Unless a man's heart is humbled by the Gospel enough to receive the Gospel, then that man cannot be saved from his sin. When God looks at people, he is not so much looking at their deeds, but he is observing their hearts. Your heart is essential to your salvation. There are several key passages in the Bible which use this term: Gen. 6:5; I Sam. 16:7; Prov. 3:5; 4:23; Jer. 17:9-10; Matt. 5:8; 6:21; 12:34-35; 13:15, 19; 15:8, 18-19; Mk. 11:23; 12:30, 33; Lk. 6:45; 8:15; 24:25, 32; 12:40; Rom. 1:21; 2:5, 29; 6:17; 10:8-10; I Cor. 14:25; Eph. 4:18; Heb. 3:10, 12; 4:12; 13:9; I Jn. 3:20-21. Please read these verses in their context to properly interpret them. [Back to Top]

Heaven

The word Heaven is used to describe where God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are now. Not everyone goes to Heaven; only those who turn from sin to Jesus Christ go immediately to this place upon death. Jesus called it "Paradise" (Lk. 23:43). The Bible actually speaks of three heavens: (1) the atmospheric heaven; (2) outer space; and, (3) the dwelling place of God. Some even believe it is located to the north, basing this idea on certain passages in the Bible. Eventually, Jesus Christ will return to earth. He will reign on earth for 1,000 years. After which the entire Heaven (atmospheric) and earth will be scorched with fire. God will then replace it all with a new Heaven and earth. Believers will live on the new earth in the city of God, the New Jerusalem. This city will be 1,500 miles high, wide and long. Some imagine it to be in the shape of a pyramid with God's throne seated on top and all the mansions of the believers beautifully built below it. Heaven is the place of eternal life and a continual education into the infinite mind and ways of God. It is understood that believers will have various tasks, but the labor will not be strenuous; rather, it will be pleasurable, peaceful and full of purpose. There are several key passages that use this term: Gen. 1:1, 8, 15; Deut. 10:14; Neh. 9:6; Isa. 45:18; 50:3; 51:6; II Cor. 12:2; I Pet. 1:4; 3:22; II Pet. 3:5, 7, 10, 12, 13; I Jn. 5:7; Rev. 11:13; 12:7. You should read the surrounding verses to know the context of these. There are of course many other passages talking about Heaven but that do not necessarily use the word. [Back to Top]

Hell

The word Hell is used to describe the place made for the destruction and eternal punishment of the Devil and all those angels that fell from Heaven with him. God will send to Hell anyone who does not turn from sin to Jesus Christ. Hell is a place of torment and fire, darkness and painful memory. It is the place of the guilty. All sinful beings will be in Hell except for those people who are made clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. Eventually Hell will itself be cast into the eternal Lake of Fire. No one escapes this horrid place. Those who are banished to Hell are finally brought to justice, though some may suffer a more severe degree of it than others. The sentence for anyone in Hell, however, is eternal, because their guilt never goes away. God's name will finally be vindicated when the last unjustified sinner is put in this place. The word Hell should never be used loosely since it speaks of the most awful place ever created. It should also be cautiously discussed. If one tries to understand Hell, and spends much time considering it, he we either conclude that he does not believe in it or that he does not understand it. The believer will conclude that he does not understand it, but accepts that God made it and it will last forever. There are several key passages that use this word: Deut. 32:22; Ps. 9:17; 16:10; 55:15; 86:13; Prov. 7:27; 15:11; 23:14; 27:20; Isa. 5:14; 14:9; Ezek. 31:16; Matt. 5:22, 29-30; 10:28; 11:23; 16:18; 18:9; 23:33; Mk. 9:43, 45, 47; Lk. 10:15; 12:5; 16:23; Acts 2:27, 31; Js. 3:6; Rev. 1:8; 6:8; 20:13-14. You should read the verses nearest these to know the subject in its context. Hell is also described in many other passages without the word actually being used. [Back to Top]

Hope

The word hope is used to describe a believer's bold expectancy. Hope is faith that comes through the experience of past faith. In connection with a believer's future outlook it is called the "blessed hope." The word is a lot stronger in the Bible's use of it than today's common use of it. It is not a mere wish but a steadfast confidence that just as God has already kept His past promises, so will He fulfill His promises for the future. There are several key passages using this word: Rom. 4:18; 5:2, 4-5; 8:20, 24; 12:12; I Cor. 9:10; 13:13; 15:19; Gal. 5:5; Eph. 1:18; 4:4; Col. 1:5, 23; I Thess. 1:3; 5:8; II Thess. 2:16; I Tim. 1:1; Tit. 3:7; Heb. 3:6; 6:11, 18-19; 7:19; I Pet. 1:3, 13, 21; 3:15; I Jn. 3:3. This large list clearly demonstrates that biblical hope is a sure and steadfast confidence in the heart of God's people about future things. [Back to Top]

I

Imputation

The word imputation is used to describe how God makes a man pleasing to Him. God actually changes a man's sinful record to a righteous one by switching it with Christ's sinless record. This was only possible because Christ was willing to suffer man's punishment for him. Now that God's justice has been satisfied through Christ, He is just to impute Christ's righteousness to sinners. (To impute is the same as to count or to reckon and all three terms are used synonymously in the Bible.) With imputation the sinner's record is not removed but replaced; likewise, Christ's righteous record was replaced with man's sinful record. This is the very reason He died on the cross. He actually became man's sin and died for it. The new record gives God a new perspective on the believer. He sees the one with the new righteousness as if He were looking at His own Son! There are a few key passages using this term: Rom. 4:6, 8, 11, 22-24; 5:13; II Cor. 5:19; Js. 2:23. [Back to Top]

Iniquity

See Transgression and Isa. 59:2; Matt. 7:23; 23:28; Rom. 6:19; II Tim. 2:19; Heb. 1:9; II Pet. 2:16. (The word means to fall short of God's glory.) [Back to Top]

J

Judgment

The word judgment is used to describe the final decision God makes about the results of a man's life. Typically the word is used in the negative sense, meaning that a man will be judged as having living a life disobedient to God. He will be judged guilty of breaking God's Law and worthy of punishment. Men can be set free from this judgment if they have a substitute who is judged on their behalf. This is why Jesus Christ died on the cross. He was judged as a sinner though He was not a sinner. After death there are actually two final judgments, one for the saved and one for the unsaved. These judgments will not determine the place to which a person will go, but the blessedness or severity of that place. (The word condemnation is closely associated with this term.) There are several passages that use this term: Rom. 1:32; 2:2-3, 5; 5:16, 18; II Cor. 5:10; I Tim. 5:24; Heb. 6:2; 9:27; 10:27; I Pet. 4:17; II Pet. 2:3-4, 9; 3:7; I Jn. 4:17; Jude 6, 15. You should read carefully the verses nearest these to understand them in their context. [Back to Top]

Justification

The word justification is used to describe the result of God making a man pleasing in His sight. When a man believes in Jesus Christ, God replaces the man's record with the righteous record of Christ. The man becomes clean of all his guilt before the eyes of God. God does not merely make the believer as if he never sinned but as if he were never a sinner--just like Christ. There are a several key passages for this word: Acts 13:39; Rom. 2:13; 3:20, 24, 26, 28, 30; 4:2, 5, 25; 5:1, 9, 16, 18; 8:30, 33; I Cor. 6:11; Gal. 2:16-17; 3:8, 11; 5:4; Tit. 3:7. [Note: The word justification is also used elsewhere in the Bible for when a man who claims to have faith proves it (justifies it) by good works.] [Back to Top]

K

Kingdom, The

The word kingdom is used to describe the rulership of Jesus Christ. There is coming a day when the Lord Jesus will return to the earth as king. His kingdom will be over all other kingdoms. He will rule with a rod of iron. Satan will be bound in chains in the bottomless pit for the duration of Satan's chains--1,000 years. When Jesus was in His earthly ministry (during the first century AD), He preached the kingdom and man's need of repentance if he hoped to enter that kingdom. The apostles preached the kingdom not only while Jesus Christ was on earth but also many years afterward. (For instance, the word kindgom is found twenty-nine times after Jesus had returned to Heaven.) The kingdom of Jesus Christ will not end with the 1,000 years (though Satan will be allowed to go free for a time), but will actually continue for all eternity. Mankind should understand that as he is a sinful lawbreaker he cannot possibly look forward to the kingdom because he will never be able to handle the rulership to which he will be subjected. If a man cannot now live sinlessly, then how much more will he fail to obey the perfect unbending law of Jesus Christ in the eternal kingdom? This is another reason why mankind must be changed before the kingdom comes. Sinners need to be transformed to saints and given the power of God to obey that they might naturally fit into the kingdom. Jesus Christ's kingdom will be a pure and holy kingdom which will not allow sin and wickedness at all. Those who fail to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation now, will never enter the kingdom, but rather will be banished apart from Jesus Christ in the eternal Lake of Fire. Praise the Lord, however, that anyone who has the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour will be allowed to live in the kingdom eternally. There are several passages which use this term: Dan. 2:44; 4:3; Matt. 3:2; 4:17, 23; 5:10, 19-20; 6:10; 7:21; 8:11-12; 11:11-12; 12:28; 13:11, 19, 24, 31, 33, 38, 41, 43-45, 52; 18:3-4, 23; 19:14, 23; Acts 1:3, 6; 8:12; 14:22; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 31; Rom. 14:17; I Cor. 4:20; 6:9-10; 15:24, 50; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5; Col. 1:13; 4:11; I Thess. 2:12; II Thess. 1:5; II Tim. 4:1, 18; Heb. 1:8; 12:28; Js. 2:5; II Pet. 1:11; Rev. 1:9; 12:10. These verses must be very carefully studied. Be sure to slowly readed those verses nearest them. There are many other verses that use this term and also verses that speak of the kingdom without actually saying the word. The subject of the kingdom is one that is highly important but easily misunderstood. Prayerfully approach the matter and seek counsel as you do.[Back to Top]

L

Law, The

The words the Law are used to describe the whole body of rules (or, commandments) God gave to His people, Israel. The Law was given around 4,000 years ago to the man Moses. He was to present the Law to the people, and they were to choose whether they would live under it. They entered under it but could not obey it perfectly. The purpose of the Law was first, to show Israel that they were unable keep it--(not to prevent sin). Since they were not keeping the Law, this declared that they were sinners. Secondly, it showed that all people are guilty before God. Thirdly, the Law, was given to show the greatness of man's sin: man is not only contrary to God, but he is agravated by the Law when it is put over him. Fourthly, the Law shows the severity of punishment God requires for breaking the Law; the breaker of the Law is worthy of death. Fifthly, and most importantly, the Law brings men unto Christ, for it shows how much man desperately needs Him. For man to be saved from death and justice to be served, God sent the Lord Jesus, who perfectly lived under the Law, to die for the sake of mankind. His death substitutes for all mankind's punishment. Men are justified and forgiven from their sin not by lawkeeping but by accept Jesus Christ as their just substitute. As by one man sin entered into the world, so by one man, Jesus Christ, can all men be brought forgiveness from sin. There are several key passages using this term: Deut. 4:44; 33:4; Jn. 1:17; Acts 28:23; Rom. 3:19-20; 5:20-21; Gal. 3:10-13, 17. Be sure to read the verses nearest these to understand the context. [Back to Top]

N

New Creature

The words new creature are used to describe the complete change that God makes in one's life upon salvation. "Creature" comes from the word "creation." Creation is the work of God, and only of God, to make something out of nothing. God makes a new and living believer out of an old and dead sinner. One great change that occurs in this transformation is the perspective of the believer. He is given a new hope that God will always care for him and Heaven is his eternal home. He also can see life in light of the sufferin of Jesus Christ for his sin, which gives him great endurance under the suffering which comes for following the Lord. These are the main emphases of the Apostle Paul as he taught on the new creature. Related to this term are other terms such as born again, regeneration, new man and new birth. There are two key verses for this term: II Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15. Be sure to read these verses in their context, by carefully reading the chapters in which they are found. [Back to Top]

New Man

The words new man are used to describe the new creation that a man becomes when God saves him. He was a sinner, without righteousness or true holiness. Salvation allows God to transform him into a righteous and holy man. The new man now lives in the new life by choice; he is to "put on the new man" like a coat. This will result in him telling the truth, not sinning in anger, never giving place to the devil, working hard for the benefit of others, speaking so as to build up the faith of others, avoiding grieving the Holy Spirit, and being kind, tenderhearted and forgiving. He will walk in love and avoid sinful people, not even ttalking about their sinful activities. This change in behavior does not give the man salvation; rather, it comes because of his salvation. There are two key passages with this term: Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10. You should read the verses nearest these to understand their context. [Note, Ephesians 2:15 uses this term in a different context.] [Back to Top]

New Birth

See Born Again. [Back to Top]

P

Perdition

See Damnation and Phil. 1:8; I Tim. 6:9: Heb. 10:39; II Pet. 3:7; Rev. 17:8, 11. (The word means destruction or ruin.) [Back to Top]

Propitiation

The word propitiation is used to describe how Jesus Christ satisfied God's demand for a righteous substitute for sinful mankind. Man's best efforts to repair the damage made by sin cannot satisfy God. Jesus Christ, on the other hand, never sinned and still died for sin; therefore, since man owed a debt he could not pay and Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, God allowed Jesus Christ to be the propitiation for the sins of mankind. It was a just exchange, and it also made God the justifier (since He provided Jesus Christ as the propitiation.) There are three key passages with this term: Rom. 3:25; I Jn. 2:2; 4:10. These verses should be read along with those verses nearest them. [Back to Top]

Q

Quicken

The word quicken is used to describe how God makes dead men live. It is used in two ways relating to salvation. First, God makes men life who were dead in sin. A man is dead in his sin before getting saved. He is dead to God and the truth of God. He is blind to God like a dead man, uninfluenced by God like a dead man, and so on. He needs to be quickened, or made alive to God. When a man is brought to Christ by a sense of his own guilt and need of Christ, Christ puts His Holy Spirit in that man. The Holy Spirit gives life to the heart of that man. As a seed put in the ground is dead, so the Word of God (the Bible) is put in the heart of a dead man, but ineffective. God's Holy Spirit makes it effective and the man is made alive to God. The second way one is quickened is after his actual body dies. He is then resurrected. The same Holy Spirit that gave the man, dead in sin, new life, gives him a new life after physical death. In the last day, God will resurrect all those who have believed in Him. There are a several key passages that use this term: Jn. 5:21; 6:63; Rom. 4:17; 8:11; I Cor. 15:36, 45; Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13; I Tim. 6:13. These should be read in their context. [Back to Top]

R

Reconciliation

The word reconciliation is used to describe how God brings believing men back to Himself by the death of His Son. Man was made the enemy of God by sin. God switched the record of man's sin with the record of Christ's righteousness. The bad things man has done were removed from Him in the eyes of God. Not only that, but God even put the record of Christ's righteousness on man. Now, all those who turn to Jesus Christ from sin, are brought into a relationship with God as close as God has always had with His eternal Son! There are a few key passages using this term: Rom. 5:10-11; II Cor. 5:18-20; Col. 1:20-21; Heb. 2:17. Carefully read these verses and those nearest them for a fuller understanding. [Back to Top]

Redemption

The word redemption is used to describe how God purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ believers from the dominion of the Law. Under the Law, men were cursed because they could not keep it flawlessly. Redemption eternally frees believing men from this curse. The curse was placed on Jesus Christ when He died on the cross. There are several passages that use this term: Rom. 3:24; I Cor. 1:30; Gal. 3:13; 4:5; Eph. 1:7; Co. 1:14; Tit. 2:14; Heb. 9:12, 15; I Pet. 1:18; Rev. 5:9; 14:3-4. These verses should be read in their context. [Note: This word is also used in other senses; care should be taken to not confuse them.] [Back to Top]

Regeneration

See Born Again and Titus 3:5. (This word means new birth.) [Back to Top]

Repentance

The word repentance is used to describe how a man upon faith in Christ also turns from sin and self to Christ. Jesus Christ and John the Baptist preached that if men truly are wanting to come clean with God they should have "fruit meet for repentance." This means there should be changes in one's life that are fitting for someone who is repentant. A man who is truly turning from Christ to sin is not able to identify all his sin and then confess it, never to do it again (that would be impossible); however, he is acknowledging that he is a sinner and does not want sin in his life; instead, he wants the cleansing of Christ's blood for that sin. Repentance includes ceasing to attempt to do good deeds in order to make God accept him into Heaven. When one does this, his good deeds do not erase his bad deeds, but instead show that he has not truly turned to Christ. A great many men profess they are believers in Christ, but secretly in their heart they have no intention of turning from sin. Some even falsely teach that to continue in sin after they believe in Christ will make God's grace look even better, because it will show just how gracious He is! The Apostle Paul said that such people are just to be damned. Essentially, repentance is a change of mind which begins to show a change in one's actions. It is definitely a necessity for salvation, but one cannot think he must, in his own strength, attempt to be sinless; this would make repentance against faith instead of a product of faith. Repentance is a reliance upon Christ that He will cleanse the sin because the sinner does not want the sin. There are key passages using this word: Matt. 3:2, 8, 11; 9:13; 11:20-21; Mk. 1:4, 15; 6:12; Lk. 3:3; 13:3, 5; 15:7, 10; Acts 2:38; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20; Rom. 2:4; II Cor. 7:10; II Cor. 12:21; II Tim. 2:25; Heb. 6:6; 12:17; II Pet. 3:9; Rev. 9:20-21; 16:9, 11. These verses should be read in their context. [Back to Top]

Righteousness

The word righteousness is used to describe what a person needs to be accepted by God. The word means deeds that are good both outwardly and inwardly--in the heart. Mankind is so terribly sinful, however, no one has ever lived righteously. The Bible even says that "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" (Isa. 64:6). Even our best efforts have become ugly to God and are unacceptable to Him. Many have thought their own deeds were good enough, but this not only contradicts the Bible but also ignores the true reason that Jesus Christ came. Jesus Christ, who has no sin, came "to fulfil all righteousness" (Matt. 3:15), so that He could take man's punishment on Himself as man's perfect substitute. The record of our lives was unrighteous; the record of Christ's life was completely righteous. Since Jesus willingly died in man's place God allowed His righteous record to be switched with man's sinful record. Christ was, therefore, punished as unrighteous, and all those who believe in Him for salvation are rewarded with eternal life based on the righteousness of Christ. This act of God is called imputation. Now, when God looks at a believer, He does not see an unrighteous person, but He actually sees Jesus Christ! There are several key verses which use this term: Gen. 15:6; Ps. 45:7; 119:142; Isa. 64:6; Jer. 23:6; 33:16; Ezek. 18:24, 26; Mal. 4:2; Matt. 3:15; 5:6, 20; 6:33; Jn. 16:8, 10; Acts 17:31; 24:25; Rom. 1:17; Rom. 3:5, 21-22, 25-26; 4:3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 13, 22; 5:17-18, 21; 6:13, 16, 18, 20; 8:4; 9:30-31; 10:3-6, 10; 14:17; II Cor. 5:21; Gal. 2:21; 3:6, 21; Phil. 3:9; Tit. 3:5; Heb. 11:7; Js. 2:23. Carefully read these passages comparing them with the verses closest to them. [Back to Top]

S

Salvation

The word salvation is used to describe the deliverance from sin given by God to any man who, in faith, turns from sin to Jesus Christ. This is the Gospel, or good news, that Christians have preached for centuries. Salvation through Jesus Christ is at the center of Christianity. Everything else in life begins to be understandable when in the light of salvation; that is, when a man knows he is a sinner whose only hope is Jesus Christ and He chooses to accept Jesus Christ, then he will begin to understand life, God, good and evil, and the teachings of the Bible. Salvation is so wonderful and life-changing that Christians for centuries have tried to tell others about Jesus, that they might be delivered from sin too. Also, in praise to God, Christians have written many songs that speak of this salvation. There are several places in the Bible where this word is found: Lk. 1:77; Acts 4:12; 13:26, 47; 28:28; Rom. 1:16; 10:10; 11:11; II Cor. 6:2; 7:10; Eph. 1:13; Phil. 1:28; I Thess. 5:9; II Thess. 2:13; II Tim. 2:10; 3:15; Tit. 2:11; Heb. 1:14; 2:3, 10; 5:9; 6:9; 9:28; I Pet. 1:5, 9-10; 3:15; Jude 3; Rev. 7:10; 12:10; 19:1. Carefully read these passages with the verses nearest them. [Back to Top]

Sanctification

The word sanctification is used to describe how God sets apart a man to Himself. The process of sanctification has four parts. The first occurs before the man actually turns from sin to Jesus Christ. The other three are the result of his faith in Jesus Christ. God by His Holy Spirit will speak to a man's heart through the preaching and teaching of the Bible that he hears. The Holy Spirit will begin the work of showing the man how his view of life is wrong and how the Bible is right. The man's heart, because of sin, is hard and wicked. His heart is broken up and his self-confidence is vigorously attacked until he sees himself as sinful, God as righteous, and that judgment awaits him. As he continues to hear the Bible, he becomes more interested in Jesus Christ, because Jesus Christ can take His sin away. At this point the man is set apart to receive Jesus Christ. Once the man receives Jesus Christ, the last three stages of sanctification can occur. First, the man is immediately set apart from sin's penalty. Second, the man grows up spiritually which daily sets him apart from the power of sin. Thirdly, when the man leaves this world he will be set apart from the presence of sin. There are several verses that use this term: Jn. 17:17, 19; Acts 20:32, 26:18; Rom. 5:16; I Cor. 1:2, 30; 6:11; Eph. 5:26; I Thess. 4:3-4; I Thess. 5:23; II Thess. 2:13; II Tim. 2:21; Heb. 2:11; 10:10, 14, 29; 13:12; I Pet. 1:2; 3:15; Jude 1. You should carefully read the verses nearest these to understand sanctification in its context. [Back to Top]

Saint

The word saint is used to describe a believer because God has set him apart from sin unto holiness. Saint actually means "holy one." Every believer has been made a saint, because God has taken away the record of His sin and replaced it with the record of Jesus Christ. A man cannot become a saint by doing good deeds or by the authority of the church. Jesus Christ alone makes anyone a saint upon their belief in Him. There are several verses that use this term: Rom. 1:7; 8:27; 12:13; 15:25-26, 31; 16:2, 15; I Cor. 1:2; 6:2; 14:33; Eph. 1:1, 15; 3:8, 18; 5:3; 6:18; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:26; Jude 14; Rev. 5:8; 11:18. These verses should be read in their context; make sure to read the verses nearest them also. [Back to Top]

Second Death

See Death and Rev. 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8. (This term brings to light when Jesus Christ speaks of men dying but never being dead, such as when he says they are damned to a place where "the worm dieth not.") [Back to Top]

Sin

The word sin is used to describe disobedience to God's Law. The word actually means "to miss the mark." A person, therefore, might do right in 99% of his deed, but that 1% that was wrong made him miss the mark--he sinned. Sin came by the first man Adam. Sin then entered into the world and death by sin. Now all men are sinners and are in danger of death. Man now falls short of glorifying God and is unfit to live with God. Jesus Christ came to bring man back to God by taking man's sin away. Sin is the great enemy of man and the reason men do so many terrible things. Sin, however, is not more powerful than Jesus Christ. Any man who turns to Jesus Christ will have all his guilt washed away. Sin remains in the believer, but he is strengthened against its temptations; he does not have to sin. Eventually, all those who believe in Jesus Christ will be separated from the presence of sin altogether when they leave this world, but those who never come to Christ will have to be banished from God in the Lake of Fire forever. There are several places where this term is used: Jn. 1:29; 8:7; 8:46; 9:41; 15:22, 24; 16:8-9; Acts 7:60; Rom. 3:9, 20, 23; 4:8; 5:12-13, 20-21; 6:7, 18, 20, 22, 23; 7:7-9, 11, 13-14, 17, 20, 23, 25; Rom. 14:23; I Cor. 6:18; 15:56; II Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:22; Heb. 3:13; 4:15; 10:6; 11:25; 12:1; Js. 1:15; 4:17; I Pet. 2:22; II Pet. 2:14; I Jn. 1:8; 2:1; 3:4, 8-9; 5:16-17. These verses and those nearest them should be read with care to understand their context. [Back to Top]

T

Transgression

The word transgression is used to describe disobedience to God's Law. It actually means when "a man crosses a line that God has drawn." Every transgression is a violation of God's desires and expectations. Man becomes guilty before God for every transgression. He may transgress in a moment, but the guilt never goes away. Man must be punished for his transgression to fulfill the justice of God. God, however, loves man, and gave His Son to die instead of man. Jesus Christ willingly died as if He were a transgressor. The record of our every transgression was against us, but when we turn to Jesus Christ in faith, He allows His death to be the punishment for each transgression and then replaces our record with His! There are several verses which use this term: Matt. 15:2-3, 28; Lk. 22:37; Acts 1:25; Rom. 2:27; 4:15; 5;14; Gal. 3:19; I Tim. 2:14; Heb. 2:2; Heb. 9:15; Js. 2:9; I Jn. 3:4; II Jn. 9. Care should be taken to read these verses by comparing them to the verses nearest them. [Back to Top]