Christian Terms
The following list of definitions are not
intended as a complete theological exposition on each subject. These definitions
are insights drawn from the text of the Course as a quick reference. Other theological
sources should be used to obtain a more complete understanding of the subjects covered.
Authority
The final rule of faith and practice for the Christian is God's
written word, the Bible.
Angels
Spiritual beings who are God's agents and messengers for the
conducting of His affairs. They are ministering spirits sent to serve those who are to
inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). On certain specific occasions they are visible and
recognisable, at other times they are not (e.g. Luke 2:8-15).
Apostle
There are two kinds of apostles in the New Testament:
Apostles of Christ - that original and unique
group who were all eye witnesses of Jesus' resurrection and were chosen by Him as the
foundation of the church. Their teaching is now found in the New Testament. When we say we
are apostolic, we mean we submit to the apostolic teaching in the New Testament.
Apostles of the Church - messengers sent out
by a church with authority to proclaim the Gospel, to plant churches and/or to encourage
and build up other local churches (Ephesians 4:11-12).
Atonement
The means of making us at one with God. God accepts Jesus' sacrifice
as the complete satisfaction for the just requirements and judgment of His law upon our
sin. The act of atonement was the substitution of Jesus' death for ours - God paying the
penalty for our sin so that we may go free. The triumph of love without compromising
justice. (Romans 3:21-26).
Baptism
Baptism in water - in the name of Christ involves a person in
complete identification with him. Going down into the water represents death to the old
life. Coming up out of the water represents resurrection and spiritual rebirth to the new
life in Christ (Romans 6). Baptism is commanded by Jesus in Matthew 28:19. Becoming a
Christian involves - faith in Christ; repentance, baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit.
Baptism is an outward sign of God's grace changing our hearts.
Baptism and the Holy Spirit -
Mark 1:8 and Matthew 3:11 speak of "Baptism with the Holy
Spirit". This is referring to the giving of the Holy Spirit to the individual when
they put their faith in Christ. It is Christ who baptises us with the Holy Spirit.
Some Christians use the phrase "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" to refer to those
further experiences of empowering for ministry that the Holy Spirit gives to Christians
from time to time. The New Testament encourages us to "go on being filled with the
Spirit" throughout our Christian life. We are encouraged to ask for the Spirit's
empowering, filling and gifting - and not to grieve or quench the Spirit's work in our
lives (Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Luke 11:13. See 'Holy Spirit' following).
Belief
In the Christian sense - is when the truth of God takes permanent
residence in our heart and mind. It must always be consistent with the Bible. Belief in
Jesus is to be our first priority (John 6:29). Faith is acting out our life on the basis
of our belief. The sin of unbelief is very serious because it undermines God's purpose and
activity in our lives (Romans 4:20, 11:20-23).
Calvary
The Latin word for the geographic location where Christ was
crucified in Jerusalem. In Hebrew the word is Golgotha - the place of a skull.
Christ
The title of Jesus. From the Greek word 'Messiah' meaning 'anointed
one'.
Confession
To agree with God about ourselves, to admit the truth about our sin
to God and our need of him. Sometimes this may need to be shared in confidence with
another Christian who can stand with us (James 5:16).
Covenant
A binding agreement between two parties. God's perpetual promise.
Disciple
A person who has come to trust in and follow Jesus - enjoying a
personal relationship with him. A disciple desires and allows Jesus to lead him/her
through the school of life, learning to put into practice the things of God.
Death
Our physical death brings us before God in His eternal kingdom. At
this point there will be a judgment of our lives - all we have thought, said or done.
"The second death" is a punishment for the unrepentant - a sentence of eternal
separation from God (Revelation 20:11-15 and 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Faith in Christ in
this life is our guarantee of our acquittal before God and the gift of eternal life. Our
actions will still be judged, but our inheritance in Christ is secure forever, based on
the faith we die with. (Colossians 1:21-23).
Eternity
A condition of existence outside our time frame - where the
measuring of time and events by the revolution of the earth around the sun is not
relevant. God Himself is the source and power of life in eternity.
Fear
There is a positive and negative fear:
Positive fear. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom"
(Proverbs 9:10). This kind of fear starts with a revelation of the awesomeness of God and
the smallness of humankind. It leads us to a right relationship with God, based on
reverence and deep loyalty - because we have gained new insight into something of what God
is like. Godly fear generates love, respect and humility. To come into God's holy presence
is a fearful thing because of our unworthiness. Only in Christ and His cross can we have
confidence to approach God (Hebrews 10:19-25). His holiness and majesty and power are like
a refining fire (Hebrews 12:29).
Negative fear.
This is a debilitating descent into darkness, losing hope and courage, imagining the
worst, losing perspective and out of proportion. This is the kind of fear Satan puts on
people. It may be based on doubts, unbelief and disobedience, or it could be a result of
deception. This kind of destructiveness is not of God. Faith in the Cross is God's remedy.
Faith
To trust, to believe. A gift of God to those who respond to him. An
ability to believe God and to trust Him in the circumstances of life. This is possible by
the power of the Holy Spirit, working in unison with our will and desires orientated to
God.
Free will
The ability to make choices. When it comes to faith, God's grace and
our free will interact. Our coming to faith is a result of God's initiative in extending
His love to us in Christ. We have the capacity to accept or reject, because God has made
us in His image.
Grace
God's free, undeserved and unmerited mercy towards us. The N.T.
concept of grace is a beautiful expression describing the heart of God reaching out to
bless us when we are totally undeserving of His love and provision. How very sad when this
grace is met by rejection or rebellion by people. How beautiful when grace is received
with faith and appreciation.
Guidance
Discovering God's direction for our lives. Knowing the will of God
as to how we should live and act, as presented in the Scriptures, is generally quite
clear. Seeking the specific will of God in situations can be very difficult. In many cases
knowing God's will may not be as important as making sure our desires are submitted to
God! Relationship with God is a higher priority than activity. Are we living to the light
we already have - before we go on to the next thing? Are we in tune with the Scriptures?
Genesis
Beginnings. The first book of the Bible.
Healing
Divine: God's healing power mediated through the Holy Spirit to
minister to our physical, emotional or psychological need. This may be immediately
effective or through a process of faith over time. The Lord may work by direct
intervention, by enhancing the bodies natural healing processes, by using the medical
profession, or by a combination of any of these three. We cannot be presumptuous about
healing and we may not understand hindrances to healing, or why after much faithful prayer
some people are not healed. What we do know is Jesus heals today and that our faith needs
to work in co-operation with the Holy Spirit. We must continue to trust him, whether our
prayers seem to be effective or not.
Holiness
Holiness is a reflection of the nature of God. In this life it
represents people or objects set apart for God's purposes. Holiness could be described as
a love affair with God. This love creates in us a desire to please God, to want to draw
near to Him and to grow to be like him. Holiness encompasses purity and a deep desire to
honour God. We grow in holiness through the process of sanctification.
Under the New Covenant, God undertakes to place His
laws in our hearts - that is in our deepest spiritual motivation. In response we do not
strive after unattainable human perfection, but allow His holiness to permeate our lives
as a result of our relationship with him. We acknowledge the completeness of the work of
the cross and desire to allow it to work in our lives without restriction. Our attitude
should be to focus on the magnificence of God - and in response to seek to live out a
commitment of no compromise with sin. Holiness is not attained in our own strength
- but by allowing His strength to work in us as we open up all aspects of our lives
to him. (2 Corinthians 7:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, 1 John 3:3, Hebrews
12:10-14).
Holy Spirit
The third person of the Trinity. His main task is to reveal
Jesus and the work of the Cross to us. He is known as the comforter, teacher, and guide.
He was the source of creativity and life (Genesis_2:7). The Holy Spirit presided over the
creation of the world and over our new birth. The Holy Spirit is a person (not a force),
in perfect union with Jesus and God - the third person of the Trinity. He is our link with
God and Jesus. He is God's presence with us and within us - our guide, our teacher, our
comforter - our source of spiritual life. Christian maturity is the progressive submission
of every part of our life to the Holy Spirit's direction. (See Baptism and the Holy Spirit
above)
Inspiration
God's working through our thoughts, imagination and/or
dreams, bringing to us Godly insight, knowledge or understanding beyond our natural
resources. For example the Scriptures were written under the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit (2 Peter 1:19-21). Because of the possibility of error or wrong interpretation,
these kind of thoughts need to be tested. (See the notes on Revelation).
Hope
The vision which motivates our desires and actions. The
attitude that springs from the knowledge that God has the future in His hands, and that we
have a joyful future with him.
Humility
A part of the character of God (Philippians 2:1-11). Being at
peace with God through resting in a place where we know that He is everything and we are
nothing without him. This takes the heat off us, as we realise we no longer have "to
perform" to earn recognition. God's acceptance of us is based on His love, not our
achievements or worldly importance! Humility was supremely demonstrated by Jesus - in that
though He was from God and is God, He humbled Himself to be a servant to others. We can't
make ourselves humble (change our own nature), but in obedience to God we can humble
ourselves in specific situations by choosing to put God and others ahead of ourselves.
(Philippians 2:8, Matthew 11:29, 1 Peter 5:6). Being poor in spirit is a disposition where
we are willing to be emptied of self (Matthew 5:3). God's blessings are frequently poured
upon those who possess humility.
Jehovah
Means Lord, from the Hebrew YHWH, one of the Jewish names of
God. This word was considered so holy by the devout Jews that they would not pronounce His
name.
Jesus
The name Jesus is derived from the Hebrew word
"Joshua" meaning saviour.
Justification
Being made right with God, 'just as if' we never
sinned. Being acquitted before the bar of God's justice.
Love
The highest form of love is expressed by the N.T. Greek word Agape.
This means unlimited and unconditional goodwill towards another. Perhaps the most
wonderful aspect of God's love is His acceptance of us as we are. He asks us to likewise
accept others. (1 Corinthians 13).
Meek
Humble and submissive to God.
Natural man
A term used in the N.T. for a person whose intellect, will
and emotions are not operating under the influence of the Holy Spirit. This is sometimes
called the life of the flesh.
Patience
Perseverance in faith over time.
Pride
Two kinds of pride may be considered:
Positive ~ taking a selfless pleasure in something of good report with which we
are identified; enjoying an understanding of what produced something creative or
excellent, e.g. God was pleased with His creation (Genesis 1:31).
Negative ~ Is when "I" become the object and focus of importance. Pride
can be likened to theft, in the sense of stealing from God the credit that is his.
Everything we have, whether it be a gift, a talent or an ability has been given to us by
God (Psalms 24:1). Our protection from false pride is in giving all the glory back
to God, deflecting all praise and thanks to him. (John 15:5, 2 Corinthians
12:9, 1 Corinthians 4:7 and 10:12).
Prophet
A prophet is a person who has received a specific and
personal call from God to be a means of communicating God's word. This word may be dealing
with the future or it may be shedding light on a current or past situation. There are true
and false prophets. A true prophet's words will come true. (2 Peter 1:20-21
and Deuteronomy 13:1-5). Prophecy in the Church today must be consistent with the Scriptures
and tested by the community and its leaders.
Redemption
God paying the price to set us free from sin's penalty of
death. The blood of Christ was the ransom paid on our behalf.
Regeneration
The process of spiritual re-birth. When we are born again our
old nature dies on the Cross with Christ (Romans Ch.6) and is re-born by the power of the
Holy Spirit - making it new (Galatians 2:20, 2 Corinthians 5:17). Our renewed spirit then
grows afresh in relationship with Christ through the Holy Spirit (John
3:1-8).
Repentance
A complete change of heart. A change in direction from sin,
to God and His ways. In some circumstances it may mean restoration of a previous wrong.
Repentance is a decision, a determination of the will to change wrong behaviour or
attitudes; it is not just feeling sorry about things, but involves action. One of the most
wonderful aspects of the Christian faith is that at any point in time we can have a fresh
start. Our repentance and God's forgiveness work together to make this possible.
Restoration
To restore a wrong, to put something right, to renew as
situation or relationship. In relationship it is usually through the asking and giving of
forgiveness and a willingness to put behind the things of the past. In the Christian life
it is essential to keep short accounts (1 Corinthians 13:5). It may in some circumstances
involve practical means of restoring a wrong to another.
Revelation
God's self disclosure. Generally - in and through His
creation (Romans 1:20). Specifically, through His words and actions as recorded in the
Bible. His final revelation is in Jesus Christ, His son. We are encouraged to pray for
wisdom and revelation so that we may know Christ better (Ephesians 1:17 and 3:16-19). This
knowledge will come to us as the Holy Spirit brings the truth about Jesus to our hearts
and minds through God's written Word read and preached, through prayer and Christian
fellowship. All revelation must be consistent with God's written word, the Bible. For this
reason our understanding of Scripture and our inner thoughts and feelings must always be
tested, as our imaginations are prone to error (1 Thessalonians 5:21 and 1
John 4:1). Such
testing can include comparing Scripture with Scripture (in context), by the advice and
wisdom of other Christians (particularly those more mature than ourselves), and by seeking
a common mind and unity in Christian fellowship.
Righteousness
Our right standing before God, achieved for us by Christ.
Christ's own righteousness is imputed to us through our faith in him. Because this is our
status before God, we should be committed to growing in holiness of life.
Sacrifice-OT
The Old Testament sacrifice was a type which operated under
the law, and pointed to the sacrifice of Christ. It came in many forms, from grain to
animal sacrifices. The sin offering was an atonement - where the sins of the people where
transferred onto the animal - and it's death purchased new life for the believer, free
from past sins. This forgiveness foreshadowed the final and complete atonement achieved by
Christ. The most important aspects of the offering were that:
