Atonement Christ died (atoned or paid) for our sins on the cross, with the result that mankind has been reconciled to God. Reference the following verses to experience Christ’s sacrifice for yourself: Matthew 26:28; Luke 24-26; Acts 17:2 and 20:28; Romans 3:9-24,26; 4:25; 5:1-21; 1 Corinthians 1:17-24; 15:3; Galatians 1:3-4; 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:7; 2:13-18; 5:2,25; Colossians 1:14, 19-22; 1 Thessalonians…
Atheism/Atheist Derived from the Greek atheos, meaning “godless.” This term is found only once is Scripture in Ephesians 2:12. An atheist is a person who has no invisible means of support.
Alms/Alms Giving Alms comes to us from the Greek word eleemosune—mercy or pity, used in Matthew 6:1-4; Acts 10:2; 24:17. It refers to being charitable—helping the poor. When we give to the less fortunate God says it is the same as giving to God (Proverbs 19:17). Jesus taught that we should give in secret, not to be seen or known…
Assurance of Salvation/Doctrine of Eternal Security The assurance of salvation is to know that you are eternally saved from the wrath of God because God says you are, in Scripture. To lack assurance does not change your eternal position in Christ. The purpose of Bible doctrine is to solidify your faith so that you can be assured (confident) in your…
Ascension/Session/Advocacy The ascension refers to the transfer of our Lord’s true humanity from earth to the third heaven in his resurrection body. His session includes the glorification of His humanity, which is His seat at the right hand of the Father. His advocacy on behalf of believers (1 John 2:1)—this encompasses the time from the ascension to the second coming…
Allegorical/Metaphors Allegorical – a systematic presentation of an idea that expresses theoretical truths not related to, but obvious, in the text. Revealed or substantiated by comparing Scripture with Scripture to arrive at a conclusion. Metaphors – a metaphor compares two unlike objects or ideas and illuminates the similarities between them. A metaphor evokes a mental picture making a picture worth…
Apologue To convey a standard of doctrine or a moral conclusion based on Scripture.
Agnosticism From the Greek agnostikos meaning unknowing or ignorance of. The argument that by reason men can not know God or prove God. Today, existentialism is a manifestation of agnosticism along with empiricism.
Apologetics “Apologetics” comes from the Greek word apologia, meaning “defense,” or “answer,” or “vindication.” Accordingly, Christian apologetics is the practice of giving reasons that support the Christian faith and responding to objections raised against it. (Quoted from a portion of the Preface of “The Apologetics Study Bible,” Copyright 2007 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.) Apologetics is defending the Christian faith…
Age of Accountability The age of accountability is the age at which each individual becomes conscious of God and is able to understand the Gospel (Reference “Gospel”). The age varies with each individual as well as the ability to understand. For those who become God-conscious who have never heard the Gospel of Christ, God knows every single person and where…
Apostasy/Apostate Apostasy or apostate is when one is in a state of apostasy or considered apostate, both terms refer to those who have fallen away from the consistent, daily intake of God’s Word—a legalistic degeneracy of pride, self righteousness, and ego arrogance, which replaces the cross, the Word of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit—a house of cards….
Advent A Latin word which means a coming. The creation awaits the second advent (or second-coming) of Messiah—Jesus Christ—Yeshua Messiah. .
Accommodation Throughout Scripture, God uses language that accommodates mankind. An infinite God does not think or act like His finite creation (Isaiah 55:8,9). The supreme example of God accommodating mankind is the incarnation of His only begotten (uniquely-born) Son, Jesus Christ. God became man (the incarnation) to accommodate man. Accommodation is God’s own presentation of Himself through communication that provides…
Abyss From the Greek abussos which means bottomless. This word is used in Luke 8:31; Revelation 9:1,11; 11:7; 17:8 and 20:1. Satan and his demon followers will be incarcerated in an abyss during the millennial reign of Christ.
Absolute From the Latin absolutus meaning complete, totally free from restriction. God is absolute Truth. To deny absolute truth is to deny God. God is the all-inclusive embodiment of true reality. God is the only necessary being, which means that He depends on nothing, and everything that is anything depends on God. There can be only one absolute in existence.