Textual Criticism Formal Equivalence “Word for word” or “literal” translation of Scripture is termed the principle of formal equivalence as it develops and reveals as nearly as possible the structural usage of the original languages. It seeks to represent each word of the original text with an exact equivalent word in our modern English that most closely represents the original…
Syntax The method in which linguistic elements (as words) are put together to form constituents (as phrases or clauses), the part of grammatical usage dealing with this.
“World” and “The Devil’s World” World in the New Testament is frequently the word “cosmos,” which generally refers to the system that grew out of the fallen nature of Satan and man. “The devil’s world” is an expression of rulership apart from God, and comes from “cosmos diabolicus,” which means the world system headed by Satan—his behind-the-scenes rulership through human leaders…
Time Time is the very process by which God’s plan unfolds and rolls out. God created angels, then time, and then man to resolve the Angelic Revolution Conflict, and to restore eternity, in time, through Jesus Christ. The consummation of time will occur when all creation is restored to its original status-purpose by God and to the praise and glory…
Yahweh/Yeshua Yahweh: The proper name for Israel’s God in the Old Testament. Yeshua: THE name for Messiah, Jesus Christ, in the Old and New Testament.
THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY is unique to Christianity. No other faith, no religion, no sect or philosophy advocating one God also proclaims that there are three who are God. This apparent paradox does not mean that there are “three gods in one,” but that one God exists as three distinct persons who are coequal, co-infinite, and co-eternal, all three…
Transience A state of being, limited by time; impermanence. We are transitory—fleeting, temporary; temporal in time.
Scapegoat A scapegoat is an animal that carries away sin, as in Leviticus 16:7-10. In ancient times, the Israelite ritual used two goats. One was designated for the Lord and offered as a sin offering (Leviticus 16:9), the other goat, the scapegoat, bore the people’s iniquities (Leviticus 16:11). In this ritual, Israel released a live animal to carry away impurities….
Secularism “Secularism is human viewpoint.” Secularism is “The rejection of the Bible as the Word of God—life apart from and without God!” Secularism is the system of thinking that excludes the authority of God… rejection of God as Absolute. Christianity is not a religion. Organized religion is man attempting to please God enough to be accepted by his own efforts….
Secularism (Agnostic) Agnostic Secularism says that it is not possible to interpret the Bible with certainty.
Secularism (Deliberate) Secularism spins off of humanism in a more deliberate way, stating that Biblical consideration should be abandoned from human thinking. God and God’s Word are kicked aside with scorn. So, we should call it “deliberate secularism.”
Theology Theology comes from two words: theos which means God, and logos meaning word, or rational expression. Therefore theology is the study of God’s Word. Theology has many definitions. Theology pursues God-knowledge. Theology is the process of categorical instruction, illustration, exploration, extraction, and presentation of the revelations of/from God found in Scripture. Theology is the rational expression of God’s Truths….
The Doctrine of Sanctification The Doctrine of Sanctification teaches that God’s purpose is to make each Church Age believer like the humanity of Christ. Each is “conformed to the image of His Son,” the glorified Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). God accomplishes the Church Age believer’s sanctification in three stages: Positional Experiential Ultimate Positional sanctification is the believer’s union with…
Witnessing Witnessing is personal evangelism by believers to unsaved mankind—the communication of the Gospel of Christ on the cross to the lost. The believer has a responsibility to be accurate in presenting the Gospel message. Then, the one who hears is responsible to respond or reject. Their choice (volition) determines their eternal destiny. Witnessing is serious because eternity with or…
Volition Volition means a personal freedom to choose. God does not and cannot violate free will. Volitional responsibility is the reason for so much suffering and shame in the world. Man knows right from wrong—“The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil” (Genesis 2:17).
Virgin Birth/Conception The sin nature (Adam’s nature) is passed down in each generation through the male (father) in copulation (seed of man). The “seed” for the humanity of Jesus Christ was implanted by the Holy Spirit. God is the Father, Mary is the mother (Matthew 1:18, 22-25). Luke calls it the miracle conception (Luke 1:26-38).
Veracity God is absolute truth. Veracity (truthfulness) is the absolute integrity of God, which consists of His righteousness and justice which comprises His holiness. His holiness is the totality of divine perfection (Exodus 34:6; Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 31:15; 33:4; John 1:14; 14:6; 16:13; 17:17-19).
Unpardonable Sin The only unpardonable sin is the rejection of Christ’s work on the cross (John 1:29; 3:18,36). This sin is related to the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit, and if this truth is rejected, it is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Genesis 6:3; John 16:7-11; Hebrews 10:29). This is the only unpardonable sin in existence today.
Unlimited Atonement/Efficacy Unlimited Atonement/Efficacy is the saving work of Christ on the cross for the sins of humanity, which was efficacious. Efficacious means the perfectly innocent Christ in His humanity, sacrificed Himself and was totally acceptable to God. Christ died in our place. He paid, in full, our insurmountable debt. Christ redeemed us. Please reference Romans 3:24-26; 1 Corinthians 1:30;…
Triumphal Entrance Triumphal entrance refers to the triumphal entry of our Savior into the third heaven, which is beyond the stellar universe, with all believers—from Adam to the point in time where He led the procession—following behind Him. His procession from earth in bodily form was the first entry by any human being into Heaven. He is the first-fruits of…