Naturalism is the philosophy that there is no supreme power, no supernatural agency in creation, no spiritual influence, and that all life is pure chance without a God. (Reference Atheism/Skepticism for additional understanding.) What does God’s Word say in Acts 17:28? “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being.”
To be determined beforehand. Predetermination: before anything can be predetermined, there must be foreknowledge – certain knowledge – divine knowledge. That knowledge which only God can know is based on the sovereignty of God – His essence – who and what God IS. (See Foreknowledge.)
Pneumatology is the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit is deity in the same sense as God the Father and God the Son.
The right lobe is the dominant lobe of the mentality of the soul, designated by the Greek word kardia. The right lobe circulates Bible doctrine through the soul’s stream of consciousness – frame of reference, memory center, vocabulary, categorical storage, the conscience, momentum, and wisdom compartments – to support the spiritual life of the believer.
Maturity in Christ means we have become “adult sons,” occupied with Christ. Occupation with Christ is living life in the Grace Place, filled with the Holy Spirit on a consistent basis, by the consistent volitional exercise of 1 John 1:9 (if and when necessary), and the inculcation of Bible doctrine. The ascent to spiritual maturity involves the literal transformation from…
The believer is at peace with God based on the cross-sacrifice of the perfect man – Jesus Christ, who died on the cross as payment for the sins of all humanity. Therefore, to have true and lasting peace with God, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Peace with God (John 14:27) has two…
The Church Age believer in Christ is superior to all angels, including satan (Hebrews 1:4,13-14; 2:9-11). It is in our position in Christ that we are to view ourselves… this is how God sees us. Please note: God accomplishes the Church Age believer’s sanctification in three stages: positional, experiential, and ultimate.
A right thing becomes wrong when done in a wrong way. A wrong thing is still wrong though done in a right way. A wrong thing done wrongly is wrong. Only a right thing done in a right way is right. Protocol defined: “A rigid code prescribing strict adherence to precisely correct procedure.” God’s perfect plan is designed for imperfect…
Resurrection, for the believer, means the believer’s body is raised from the dead, up out of the grave or death place, brought back to life, and is given a supernatural body, incorruptible, one that never dies. The unbeliever is resurrected in a body of corruption at the Last Judgment (Reference our study of the Great White Throne Judgment) before being…
From the Greek apokalupsis, meaning unveiling or disclosure from which we get revelation. Revelation may be defined as God making known to man that which is otherwise unknowable – the future. The Book of Revelation may be described as “A Letter from Jesus” or The Book of Consummation for the world as we know it. This book of prophecy, written…
Scorn, rebuke, or shame (1 Timothy 3:7). On the cross, Christ bore the shame, disgrace, and humiliation of the cross, which was a reproach for our Lord. Believers will also suffer at the hand of scoffers. We must suffer rebuke for our faith. Christ first suffered for us so that we could be made the righteousness of God in Christ…
Repentance is acknowledging and agreeing with God regarding sin, disobedience, and rebellion. It is a turning back to God (Matthew 9:13; Luke 5:32) or turning toward God through a change of mind (Genesis 6:6-7). Experiencing feelings of remorse (regret), conviction, guilt, shame for past conduct or lack of belief leads to repentance – a change of mind regarding God and…
Remission means a release from sin (Acts 2:38; Hebrews 9:22). The active nature of the word for remission in the Greek indicates that forgiveness is more than a passive act on God’s part. God took the initiative to break the grip of sin and set people free from the slavery of our sin-nature by the cross of His Son, and…
Religion is anti-grace and anti-God. Religion is ritual without reality. Religion is human viewpoint. Religion was introduced to the world by satan. Christianity is not a religion. Christianity is divine viewpoint. Christianity is God rescuing mankind from spiritual darkness by the spiritual death of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection. Christianity is the only faith where the object…
Relative righteousness is mankind’s own righteousness compared to man. When compared to God, through Scripture, man should recognize his total depravity. God is perfect righteousness; man is negative-righteousness or “without righteousness.” Reference Relative Righteousness – A Brief Study.
The literal meaning of regeneration is “being born again” (John 3:3,5,7). There is a first birth “of the flesh” and a second birth “of the spirit” (John 3:1-12). The spiritual birth occurs when a person, by faith alone, accepts the “finished” work of Christ on the cross for their personal salvation (John 3:16; 19:30).
Redemption encompasses the saving work of Christ on the cross whereby He purchased us (paid our debt) and set us free from the slave market of sin. Jesus Christ paid the ransom with His blood, which represents His spiritual death (Roman 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19).
Christ is the ultimate Redeemer. He gave His life as a “ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Believers have redemption through His blood (His spiritual death – Ephesians 1:7). He literally bought us back from our slavery to sin. We are free. Our slavery to sin is over. Won’t you slip out of the chains that bind you and walk out…
The doctrine of reconciliation is stated as such in 2 Corinthians 5:18, Ephesians 2:16, and Colossians 1:20-21. It means we have “peace” with God through our Savior Jesus Christ. “Peace” and “reconciliation” are synonymous terms in Ephesians 2:14,15,17; 4:3; 6:15. The actual work of reconciliation was completed on the cross. We become reconciled the split second we believe in Christ….
The word “rapture” is not found in Scripture, but it means to be transported or carried out of one’s self. Rapture refers to the resurrection of the “church,” as a whole, at the end of the “Church Age.”