Glossary

Bb

Bema judgement

The Bema judgement, or the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is not about determining whether a believer goes to heaven or hell, as that question is settled at the moment of salvation. Instead, it is about evaluating a believer's life and distributing rewards based on their actions for God.

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Cc

Compatibilism

Compatibilism is a philosophical stance that asserts that free will and determinism are mutually compatible. It posits that it is possible to believe in both concepts without logical inconsistency, suggesting that human decision-making can be both determined and free .In reality it is no different than trying to posit that truth can be both false and true - somethings are simply in incompatible of one another

Counterfactuals

A counterfactual is essentially a consideration of an alternative reality—what might have happened under different conditions..Counterfactuals are expressed as conditional statements, often using subjunctive forms: for example, "If I had left earlier, I would have caught the train" or "If the match had been struck, it would have lit" These statements describe scenarios contrary to fact, exploring outcomes that did not happen.

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Dd

Depravity

Depravity in the biblical sense refers to the inherent corruption and moral failure of humanity due to sin. The concept originates from the Fall of Man, as narrated in Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve’s disobedience resulted in a fractured relationship with God and the introduction of sin into the world.

Double Predestination

Double Predestination theology refers to the belief that certain individuals are not merely excluded from responding to God's grace and condemned to eternal punishment, but have been - predetermined - chosen before creation, by God to suffer wrath (eternal punishment).

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Ee

Etymology

The study of the origin of words and their historical development of their meaning

ex hylis

ex hylis, is a Latin term meaning to have created from pre-existing formless matter and or elements. It typically asserts that God created using material or elements that have eternally coexisted with God and therefore God did not create ex nihilo (from nothingness).

ex nihilo

Latin meaning "from or out of nothing". In reference to creation it means that God created out of nothing.

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Gg

Glorification

The short answer is that “glorification” is God’s final removal of sin from the life of the saints (i.e., everyone who is saved) in the eternal state. At Christ’s coming, the glory of God —His honor, praise, majesty, and holiness—will be realized in us; instead of being mortals burdened with sin nature, we will be changed into holy immortals with direct and unhindered access to God’s presence, and we will enjoy holy communion with Him throughout eternity

Grace

Grace is an essential part of God’s character. Grace is closely related to God’s benevolence, love, and mercy. Grace can be variously defined as “God’s favor toward the unworthy” or “God’s benevolence on the undeserving.” In His grace, God is willing to forgive us and bless us abundantly, in spite of the fact that we don’t deserve to be treated so well or dealt with so generously.

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Hh

Hades

The Greek word Hades refers to the temporary abode of the dead, equivalent to the Hebrew Sheol, where souls await resurrection or judgment

hermeneutics

Biblical hermeneutics is the study of the principles and methods used to interpret, understand, and apply the Bible accurately

Holy

Holy or holiness is to be set apart. God’s holiness means He is completely set apart from sin and moral corruption. Being holy does not imply being saved, many people were made holy apart from salvation such as Aaron’s sons, the Levites including Korah and the nation of Israel

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Ii

Immutability

God Is Unchangeable. Unlike everything in creation, God does not change in His essence, character, or promises.

Irresistible Grace

Irresistible grace is a Calvinist doctrine or theology, that emphasizes the sovereign grace of God in saving individuals. It teaches that when God extends His saving grace, it cannot be resisted, as it effectively overcomes a person's resistance to faith in Christ.

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Jj

Justification

Justification is a theological term that refers to the act of God declaring a sinner to be righteous on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ. It is a legal declaration where God pardons the sinner of all unrighteousness and imputes the righteousness of Christ to the believer. This doctrine is central to Christian soteriology and is foundational to the understanding of salvation.

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Ll

Limited Atonement

Limited atonement is a Calvinist theological doctrine that asserts that Christ's death on the cross was intended to secure salvation only for the elect, those whom God has chosen and predestined.

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Mm

Metaphysics

the branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of things, including abstract concepts such as being, knowing, identity, time, and space:

Moral attributes

God's Moral attributes are qualities that reflect God’s character and are - in limited ways - reflected in humanity as His image-bearers. God's Natural attributes on the other hand are qualities that belong uniquely to God and distinguish Him from all created beings.

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Nn

Natural attributes

God's Natural attributes are qualities that belong uniquely to God and distinguish Him from all created beings. God's Moral attributes on the other hand are qualities that reflect God’s character and are - in limited ways - reflected in humanity as His image-bearers.

Necessitarian Theory

Necessitarian Theory, also known as necessitarianism, is a metaphysical principle that asserts that all actual events and states of affairs are strictly necessary, denying the existence of contingency and asserting that the actual world is the only possible world. It posits that human actions and the will are predetermined by external or internal causes, thereby denying free will.

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Oo

Omnibenevolence

The word omnibenevolent comes from the Latin word omni, meaning “all,” and the word benevolent, meaning “good” or “charitable.” When we say that God is omnibenevolent, we are saying that God is absolutely good and that no action or motive or thought or feeling or anything else about Him is not purely good. He is “all-good.”

Omnipotence

God Is All-Powerful. However, God’s omnipotence does not mean He can act contrary to His nature. God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19), deny Himself, or tolerate sin. His power is always exercised in perfect harmony with all of His natural and Moral attributes..

Omnipresence

God is spirit (John 4:24), He is not limited by physical boundaries. God is not confined by or subject to space or time. God is present everywhere in all time. God is ALL present.

Omnisapience

Omnisapience is the theological or philosophical concept of being infinitely or perfectly wise. Derived from the Latin roots omni ("all") and sapientia ("wisdom"), it represents not just knowing everything (omniscience), but also the perfect ability to apply that knowledge for the best possible outcomes

Omniscience

Omniscience means that God possesses complete and perfect knowledge of all things: actual and possible. God does not learn, discover, or forget. All knowledge is eternally present to Him. God knows our past, our present, and our future. He understands our motives, fears, and unspoken prayers. God is ALL knowing

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Pp

paradigms

A paradigm is a typical example, model, or overarching framework of assumptions, beliefs, and values through which a group or individual interprets the world. It acts like a "lens" that shapes how we perceive reality, define problems, and determine acceptable solutions

Perseverance of the Saints

The perseverance of the saints is a theological doctrine that asserts that those who are truly saved by grace through faith in Christ will continue in faith and will not permanently fall away. This concept, rooted in the understanding of God's sovereign grace, emphasizes that true believers will be kept by His power and will persevere until the end of their lives.

Philosophy

Philosophy is the systematic study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, and reason. In one word it is the act of reasoning. Theology is for all intent and purpose a branch of Philosophy dealing with all things pertaining to God and His Word. Just as there is good theology and bad theology, so too is there bad philosophy and good philosophy.

providence

In the Bible, providence refers to God's active, sovereign care over all creation. It means God is continuously preserving the universe, providing for His creatures, and guiding human history toward His ultimate purposes, all while working through both natural events and human choices

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Rr

Redeemed

In the Bible, being redeemed refers to God's gracious act of delivering a person from sin and its consequences through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. It encompasses themes of deliverance, atonement, forgiveness, and restoration, symbolizing God's merciful act of rescuing a person from bondage to sin and death

Redemption

In the Bible, redemption refers to God's gracious act of delivering humanity from sin and its consequences through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. It encompasses themes of deliverance, atonement, forgiveness, and restoration, symbolizing God's merciful act of rescuing people from bondage to sin and death

Regeneration

Another word for regeneration is rebirth, related to the biblical phrase “born again.” Our rebirth is distinguished from our first birth, when we were conceived physically and inherited our sin nature. The new birth is a spiritual, holy, and heavenly birth that results in our being made alive spiritually. Man in his natural state is “dead in trespasses and sins” until he is “made alive” (regenerated) by Christ. This happens when he places his faith in Christ

repentance

The word repentance in the Bible literally means “the act of changing one’s mind.” True biblical repentance goes beyond remorse, regret, or feeling bad about one’s sin. It involves more than merely turning away from sin. Eerdmans Bible Dictionary includes this definition of repentance: “In its fullest sense it is a term for a complete change of orientation involving a judgment upon the past and a deliberate redirection for the future.”

Reprobation

Reprobation theology (Similar to Double Predestination) refers to the belief that certain individuals are excluded from responding to God's grace and condemned to eternal punishment

Resurrection

Resurrection, from the Greek word anastasis, literally means “a standing up” or “rising up” and refers to the act of coming back to life after death. In the Bible, it represents not only a return to physical life but also a profound spiritual transformation, offering hope, redemption, and eternal life to believers

righteousness

In the Bible, righteousness is not just moral perfection or rule-keeping; it fundamentally means being in right relationship with God, others, and all of creation. It involves living justly, honestly, and faithfully according to God's instructions

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Ss

Sheol

The Hebrew word Sheol refers to the temporary abode of the dead, equivalent to the Greek Hades, where souls await resurrection or judgment

synergism

In Christian theology, synergism refers to the cooperative effort between God and humanity in the process of salvation. It emphasizes that human participation is essential for salvation, suggesting that both divine grace and human will work together to achieve redemption.

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Tt

The rapture

The rapture (Greek "rapturo" refers to the event when believers in Christ are caught up to meet Him in the air, symbolizing deliverance and eternal union with God.

The Tribulation

The Tribulation, often referred to as the Great Tribulation, is a significant 7-Year period of intense suffering and divine judgment described in the Bible, particularly in the books of Daniel and Revelation.

Theistic determinism

Theistic determinism, also known as theological determinism, is a theological doctrine that asserts that God, through an unconditional eternal decree, determines every event in the world's history, including all human actions and decisions.

theistic evolution

Theistic evolution is the belief that God created and guides life through the natural process of evolution, harmonizing religious faith with scientific understanding.

Total Depravity

Total Depravity is the theological concept that as a result of the Fall, every part of our nature—mind, will, emotions, and body—is affected by sin, rendering us incapable of achieving righteousness on our own. Calvinism takes this concept further teaching that humans are incapable of responding to the Gospel or choosing God without divine intervention

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Uu

Unconditional Election

Unconditional Election is a doctrine in Calvinism that refers to God's sovereign choice to predestine certain individuals for salvation, independent of their actions or merit. This doctrine asserts that God chooses who will be saved based on His own will, not on any human qualities or responses.

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Ww

White Throne Judgment

God's final judgment where every person is judged according to their deeds. This judgment occurs at the end of time, and those who did not accept Jesus as their Savior will stand before God to be judged. Ultimately, this judgment determines the eternal fate of individuals, leading to either eternal life or the second death, which is separation from God

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