Fireproof Commentaries – Biblical & Theological Glossary
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© James Burke. For personal study, teaching, and church use.
Biblical & Theological Glossary

Clear definitions for words that matter.

Many biblical and theological terms are used often but understood poorly. This glossary exists to define important words clearly, biblically, and usefully.

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Select a letter to jump to available entries.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M O P R S T U W

Adoption

Adoption is God's act of granting those in Christ the recognized standing, inheritance, and full rights of sons within His household.

Adoption emphasizes accepted status and heirship before God. Through Christ, believers are received into God's household as His children and heirs.

Unlike the new birth, which emphasizes new life and nature, adoption emphasizes legal standing, belonging, and inheritance within the family of God.

See: Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:15–17; Galatians 4:4–7

See also: In Christ, Regeneration, Salvation

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Apostle

An apostle is one sent with delegated authority to represent and carry out the mission of the one who sent him. The word apostle means "sent one." Scripture uses the term in more than one sense, though always with the idea of authorized representation and mission.

Expanded Explanation

The highest use of the term apostle is applied uniquely to Jesus Christ, who is called: "The Apostle and High Priest of our profession…" (Hebrews 3:1)

Christ is the One sent from the Father to reveal God perfectly and accomplish redemption. Every other form of apostolic ministry ultimately derives from Him.

Moses also stands as a lesser covenantal counterpart to Christ's apostolic office. As Moses was sent by God to establish and lead the old covenant people, Christ is the greater Apostle sent from the Father to establish the new covenant people of God.

The New Testament then speaks of the apostles of Christ, especially the Twelve together with Paul. These men were personally commissioned by the risen Christ as foundational witnesses of His resurrection.

Their role was unique and foundational. Paul describes the church as: "Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." (Ephesians 2:20)

A foundation is laid once, not repeatedly. For this reason, the apostles of Christ should not be viewed as an endlessly repeatable office possessing ongoing revelatory authority equal to the New Testament apostles.

Common Confusion

Are all apostles equal in Scripture?
No. Scripture uses the term in different senses. Christ uniquely stands as the Apostle sent from the Father, the apostles of Christ served as foundational witnesses of the resurrection, and churches may also send missionaries or representatives in a broader apostolic sense.

Are modern self-proclaimed apostles equal to the apostles of Christ?
No. The apostles of Christ held a unique foundational role as eyewitnesses commissioned directly by the risen Lord. Scripture presents the church as built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Foundations are laid once, not repeatedly.

Does apostolic authority mean unlimited spiritual power?
No. Apostolic authority in Scripture is delegated, representative, and accountable to Christ. Apostles are servants sent to proclaim the gospel, not spiritual monarchs ruling by personal authority.

Scripture Chain

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Application

Christian ministry is fundamentally a stewardship rather than self-created authority. Those sent to serve Christ are called to humility, faithfulness, sacrifice, and obedience to the One who sends them.

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Ascension

The Ascension is the exaltation of the risen Christ to the right hand of the Father, where He intercedes for His people and from where He pours out the Holy Spirit upon the church until all things are placed beneath His feet.

Expanded Explanation

After His resurrection, Jesus remained with His disciples for forty days, teaching them concerning the kingdom of God. He then ascended bodily into heaven before their eyes.

Acts records: "While they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." (Acts 1:9)

The Ascension is not merely Christ's departure from earth. It is His exaltation to the Father's right hand, connected to His heavenly session, intercession, authority, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Peter explains Pentecost in exactly these terms: "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this…" (Acts 2:33)

The Spirit is poured out because the Son has ascended. The Ascension therefore stands as the great hinge between the resurrection and Pentecost.

The New Testament repeatedly connects Christ's Ascension with Psalm 110: "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Christ now sits at the Father's right hand as the exalted Son and heavenly High Priest, interceding for His people while awaiting the final subjection of all things beneath Him.

Common Confusion

Did Jesus stop working after the Ascension?
No. Scripture presents Christ actively interceding for His people, guiding His church, and pouring out the Spirit from the Father's right hand.

Does the Ascension mean Christ's kingdom is already fully consummated?
No. Christ is exalted at the Father's right hand, but Scripture still anticipates the future visible subjection of all enemies beneath Him.

Why is the Ascension important to Pentecost?
Pentecost flows from Christ's exaltation. Peter explicitly teaches that the ascended Christ poured out the Holy Spirit upon the church.

Scripture Chain

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Application

The church does not labor alone in the world. The risen Christ intercedes for His people, sustains His church, and will one day return openly in glory. Christians therefore live not in despair or triumphalism, but in faithful hope beneath the exalted Christ.

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Assurance

Assurance is the settled confidence that one belongs to God through faith in Jesus Christ and the continuing work of the Holy Spirit.

Biblical assurance rests ultimately upon the character and promises of God, not merely upon fluctuating emotions or personal performance. Believers are assured because salvation rests upon the finished work of Christ and the faithfulness of God.

Scripture also teaches that assurance is strengthened through the visible fruit of spiritual life. Love for God, perseverance in faith, obedience, conviction of sin, and the witness of the Holy Spirit all serve as evidences of genuine life in Christ.

Assurance is not the same as presumption. Scripture warns against false profession and empty confidence that lacks enduring faith or transformed life. True assurance grows where faith continues to rest in Christ and the Spirit continues producing spiritual fruit.

Because salvation is rooted in Christ rather than human achievement, believers may approach God with confidence, peace, and hope.

See: Romans 8:14–16; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 5:22–23; Hebrews 10:22; 1 John 5:13

See also: Faith, Salvation, Perseverance, Holy Spirit, Sanctification

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Atonement

Atonement is the saving work of Jesus Christ by which sin is dealt with, justice is satisfied, and reconciliation with God is made possible.

Through His death and resurrection, Christ bore sin, satisfied divine justice, and brought peace between God and man.

Atonement includes sacrifice, propitiation, reconciliation, and redemption fulfilled in Christ.

See: Romans 3:25–26; 2 Corinthians 5:18–21

See also: Propitiation, Reconciliation, Redemption

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Baptism

Baptism is the Gospel sign by which a believer publicly identifies with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Baptism visibly proclaims union with Christ and reception into the visible fellowship of the church.

As a Gospel sign, baptism does not save by itself, but publicly testifies to faith in Christ and participation in the New Covenant community.

See: Matthew 28:19–20; Romans 6:3–5

See also: Gospel Signs, Church, Communion

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Baptism of the Spirit

The baptism of the Spirit is the once-for-all covenantal outpouring of the Holy Spirit by the exalted Christ, through which the people of God were immersed into one Spirit-formed body across Pentecost, Samaria, and the inclusion of the Gentiles.

Expanded Explanation

John the Baptist first announced the coming baptism of the Spirit when he declared concerning Jesus: "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost…" (Mark 1:8)

The baptism of the Spirit is therefore fundamentally Christ's work. The risen and exalted Son pours out the Spirit upon His people.

This promise reaches its visible beginning at Pentecost in Acts 2. The disciples were gathered together when suddenly the sound of a rushing mighty wind filled the house, tongues of fire appeared, and the gathered assembly was filled with the Holy Spirit.

The imagery is immersive. The people are surrounded, filled, and overwhelmed by the presence of the Spirit poured out from the exalted Christ.

Pentecost should therefore be understood not merely as an individual spiritual experience, but as the beginning of a covenantal incorporation event through which Christ forms His church.

This event unfolds progressively through Acts. In Acts 8, the Samaritans publicly receive the Spirit in the presence of Peter and John. In Acts 10, the Spirit falls upon the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius while Peter proclaims Christ.

These events are not best understood as disconnected baptisms or separate churches. Rather, they form the progressive completion of one Spirit-baptism event publicly incorporating Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles into one covenant people.

Peter's presence at all three moments is therefore deeply significant. The kingdom is being opened visibly to all peoples through one gospel, one Spirit, and one church.

Paul later explains the theological meaning of this reality: "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…" (1 Corinthians 12:13). The baptism of the Spirit is therefore ecclesiological before it is individualistic.

Common Confusion

Is the baptism of the Spirit a repeated personal experience?
Scripture presents the baptism of the Spirit as a foundational covenantal event connected to the formation of the church and the incorporation of believers into one body.

Are Pentecost, Samaria, and Cornelius separate Spirit baptisms?
They are best understood as progressive stages of one covenantal incorporation event opening the church visibly to Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles.

Is speaking in tongues required as proof of Spirit baptism?
No. Tongues appear at key covenantal moments in Acts, but Scripture does not present tongues as the universal measure of spiritual life or maturity.

How is Spirit baptism different from being filled with the Spirit?
The New Testament speaks of believers being filled with the Spirit repeatedly for empowerment and faithfulness. The baptism of the Spirit is tied more specifically to the formation of the church as one body under Christ.

Scripture Chain

See Also

Related Articles

Application

The church is not united merely by shared tradition, ethnicity, personality, or institution. The people of God are one body formed through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit by the exalted Christ.

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Bishop

A bishop is an overseer entrusted with spiritual leadership, protection, and care within the church of Jesus Christ.

The New Testament word translated bishop means overseer. It refers to those entrusted with watching over, guiding, and protecting the church through faithful teaching and spiritual leadership.

Scripture uses bishop, elder, and pastor in closely related ways, emphasizing different aspects of the same office rather than entirely separate ranks of authority. "Bishop" highlights oversight and responsibility, "elder" emphasizes maturity and recognized character, and "pastor" emphasizes shepherding care.

The work of a bishop includes guarding sound doctrine, caring for the spiritual health of the church, correcting error, and leading by example rather than domination. Biblical oversight is not primarily administrative control or hierarchical status, but servant leadership exercised under the authority of Christ, the true Shepherd and Overseer of His people.

See: Acts 20:28; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 2:25

See also: Elder, Pastor, Church, Shepherding, Teaching

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Binding and Loosing

Binding and loosing describe the church's ministerial authority to act in accordance with what heaven has established concerning the kingdom of God.

Expanded Explanation

Jesus uses the language of binding and loosing in Matthew 16 and Matthew 18. In Matthew 16, after Peter's confession of Christ, Jesus declares: "Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

The language appears again in Matthew 18 in connection with the gathered church and discipline.

In Jewish usage, binding and loosing often referred to forbidding and permitting — especially in relation to teaching, judgment, and covenant life. The phrases carried the idea of stewardship and responsible authority rather than magical power.

The Greek grammar in Matthew 16 and 18 is especially important. The construction strongly suggests heaven's prior authority in the action. The sense is not that the church independently creates spiritual reality and heaven responds afterward. Rather, the church acts in accordance with what heaven has already established.

The meaning is therefore closer to: "shall have been bound in heaven" and "shall have been loosed in heaven." This protects the passage from being treated as arbitrary spiritual power or autonomous ecclesiastical authority.

Christ alone possesses absolute authority over His kingdom. The church acts ministerially under His reign.

Common Confusion

Does binding and loosing mean Christians can control spiritual reality?
No. The language reflects ministerial authority exercised under heaven's prior authority, not independent power to create spiritual reality.

Is binding and loosing only about demons?
No. In context, the language primarily concerns kingdom stewardship, teaching, discipline, judgment, and gospel authority.

Can the church bind and loose however it wants?
No. The church acts rightly only when functioning under the authority of Christ and in accordance with Scripture.

Scripture Chain

See Also

Related Articles

Application

The church is called to exercise authority humbly and faithfully under the lordship of Christ. Christian authority is never autonomous or self-serving, but accountable to heaven and grounded in the truth of God's Word.

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Born Again

Born again refers to the new life given by the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ.

The new birth is not merely moral improvement, but the beginning of new spiritual life and origin in Christ.

Those born again begin to grow in righteousness and conformity to Christ through the work of the Spirit.

See: John 3:3–8; 1 Peter 1:23

See also: Regeneration, Salvation, Holy Spirit

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Calling

Calling is God's summons by which He brings people to Himself and appoints them to walk in His purposes.

Scripture speaks of calling both in salvation and in service. Through the Gospel, God calls sinners to repentance, faith, and life in Christ. Those who respond in faith are described as "the called," brought into fellowship with Jesus Christ.

Calling also includes God's purpose for the believer's life. Believers are called to holiness, obedience, service, love, and faithful participation in the work of Christ. God's calling is not merely an external invitation, but a real summons carrying both responsibility and purpose.

The believer's identity is rooted not primarily in personal ambition or self-definition, but in God's purpose and work. Because God is faithful, believers may walk confidently in the calling they have received.

See: Romans 8:28–30; 1 Corinthians 1:9; Ephesians 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Peter 2:9

See also: Election, Salvation, Sanctification, Church, Obedience

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Church

The church is the gathered people of God called through the gospel and ordered under Christ for worship, teaching, fellowship, discipline, and witness. The New Testament word ekklesia means assembly or congregation. The church is not merely all believers abstractly considered, but a visible gathered people living under the authority of Christ.

Expanded Explanation

The New Testament consistently presents the church as a gathered people rather than merely a loose spiritual concept. The Greek word ekklesia refers to an assembly or congregation — a people called together.

For that reason, the church should not be reduced merely to a building, denomination, institution, or abstract collection of individual believers disconnected from one another.

The church is the people Christ gathers through the gospel. Jesus declared: "I will build my church…" (Matthew 16:18)

The church therefore belongs to Christ. He builds it, governs it, preserves it, and sends it into the world.

The church is both local and universal. In one sense, the church consists of all believers united to Christ through faith. Yet the New Testament overwhelmingly presents that reality visibly through gathered congregations living together under the authority of Christ.

The early church devoted itself to: apostolic teaching, fellowship, prayer, worship, discipline, generosity, and witness. Acts describes the church this way: "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42)

The church is therefore not merely a crowd sharing religious interest. It is a covenant people shaped by the gospel and ordered under the reign of Christ.

Common Confusion

Is the church just a building?
No. A church building may house the church, but the church itself is the gathered people of God.

Is the church invisible only?
Scripture recognizes the spiritual unity of all believers in Christ, but the New Testament overwhelmingly describes the church visibly gathering for worship, teaching, fellowship, discipline, and mission.

Does the church replace Israel?
The New Testament presents believing Jews and Gentiles united together in one people through Christ. The church grows out of God's covenant purposes and expands through the gospel into the nations.

Scripture Chain

See Also

Related Articles

Application

The church is not a religious service we attend occasionally, but a people to whom we belong under the lordship of Christ. Christians are called not merely to private belief, but to gathered worship, fellowship, service, discipline, and witness together.

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Church Discipline

Church discipline is the loving and ordered correction exercised by a local church to call the erring to repentance, protect the congregation, and restore fellowship where possible.

Discipline is not punitive but restorative, reflecting the Father's care for His children.

It preserves the holiness of the church and demonstrates the reality of the gospel to the watching world.

See: Matthew 18:15–17; 1 Corinthians 5; Galatians 6:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14–15

See also: Church, Church Membership, Discipline, Holiness

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Church Membership

Church membership is the covenant commitment of a baptized believer to a local church under Christ, involving shared worship, mutual care, faithful service, and loving accountability.

Membership is the practical outworking of belonging to Christ's visible body on earth.

It provides structure for shepherding, service, and mutual edification under biblical authority.

See: Acts 2:41–47; 1 Corinthians 12; Hebrews 13:17; Matthew 18:15–17

See also: Baptism, Fellowship, Church Discipline

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Communion

Communion is the shared participation and fellowship of believers with Christ and with one another through the New Covenant.

Communion refers both to the spiritual fellowship believers share in Christ and to the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, which visibly proclaims that fellowship.

In the Lord's Supper, believers remember the death of Christ, proclaim His sacrifice, and participate together in covenant fellowship. The bread and cup do not merely represent private devotion, but the shared unity of the body of Christ.

Scripture presents communion as something holy and serious. Believers are called to approach the Lord's Table with self-examination, repentance, gratitude, and discernment concerning the body of Christ. Communion therefore reflects both vertical fellowship with God and horizontal fellowship within the church.

See: Luke 22:19–20; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17; 1 Corinthians 11:23–29

See also: Church, Fellowship, Covenant, Baptism, Worship

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Covenant

A covenant is a binding relational order established by God through His promises, authority, and faithfulness.

Biblical covenants define how God relates to His people and how they are to live under Him.

The covenants find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ and the New Covenant.

See: Jeremiah 31:31–34; Hebrews 8

See also: Church, Communion, Gospel Signs

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Depravity

Depravity is the corruption of human nature through sin, affecting every part of man and leaving him unable to restore himself to right standing before God.

Sin affects the whole person—mind, will, desires, affections, and body. Human beings remain image-bearers of God and capable of real acts of kindness, love, creativity, and justice, yet every aspect of human life has been distorted by sin.

Depravity does not mean every person is as evil as possible, but that sin reaches every part of human nature and leaves man spiritually separated from God. Left to himself, man does not naturally submit to God's rule or restore himself through moral effort, religion, or human achievement.

Because of depravity, salvation must originate in God's grace rather than human merit. The new birth, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the redemption accomplished by Christ are therefore necessary for reconciliation with God. The doctrine of depravity humbles human pride while magnifying the mercy and grace of God.

See: Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:3–6; Romans 3:10–18; Ephesians 2:1–5

See also: Sin, Salvation, Born Again, Grace, Sanctification

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Discipline

Discipline is placing oneself under rightful authority for the purpose of growth, correction, and development.

Biblical discipline includes instruction, correction, training, and formation.

God disciplines His people not for destruction, but for maturity and holiness.

See: Hebrews 12:5–11

See also: Church Discipline, Sanctification

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Elder

An elder is a spiritually mature man recognized by the church to shepherd, teach, oversee, and care for the people of God.

In the New Testament, elders are entrusted with the spiritual oversight of the church. Scripture also uses related terms such as pastor, shepherd, and overseer to describe this work of leadership and care.

An elder's authority is not rooted primarily in personality, status, or control, but in faithful teaching of the Word of God and Christlike character. Elders are called to shepherd willingly, humbly, and as examples to the flock.

The qualifications for elders emphasize spiritual maturity, doctrinal soundness, self-control, faithfulness in the home, and the ability to teach. The office exists not for personal power, but for the strengthening, protection, and edification of the church. Because Christ is the true Chief Shepherd, elders serve under His authority and remain accountable to Him.

See: Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4

See also: Church, Pastor, Discipline, Teaching, Shepherding

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Election

Election is God's choosing of Christ as the appointed Redeemer, so that those in Him share in His chosen standing and purpose.

Believers are elect in Christ and called to holiness, service, and participation in God's redemptive plan.

Election is centered ultimately in Christ Himself.

See: Ephesians 1:4–5; Isaiah 42:1

See also: Foreknowledge, Predestination, In Christ

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Eschatology

Eschatology is the study of the last things and the fulfillment of God's purposes in history through Jesus Christ.

Eschatology includes the return of Christ, resurrection, judgment, the kingdom of God, the renewal of creation, and the final defeat of sin and death.

Biblical eschatology is not merely speculation about future events, but the recognition that history is moving toward the fulfillment of God's purposes in Christ. The end of all things is not chaos, but the complete establishment of God's righteous rule.

Scripture calls believers to hope, readiness, faithfulness, and perseverance in light of Christ's return. The purpose of prophecy is not merely curiosity, but encouragement toward holy living and confidence in God's promises. Christian hope ultimately rests not in escaping creation, but in the resurrection, the return of Christ, and the restoration of all things under His lordship.

See: Daniel 7; Matthew 24–25; 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelation 21–22

See also: Resurrection, Kingdom of God, Salvation, Perseverance, Glory

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Expiation

Expiation is the removal and cleansing of sin through the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ.

While propitiation emphasizes the satisfaction of God's righteous wrath, expiation emphasizes the removal of guilt, defilement, and the barrier created by sin.

Under the Old Covenant, sacrifices symbolically bore away uncleanness and sin from the people. These sacrifices pointed forward to Jesus Christ, whose death truly removes sin and cleanses those who trust in Him.

Expiation does not mean sin is ignored or excused. Sin is removed because Christ bore its judgment fully. Through His sacrifice, believers are forgiven, cleansed, and no longer condemned before God. In Christ, sin is not merely hidden temporarily, but dealt with decisively and finally.

See: Leviticus 16:20–22; Psalm 103:12; John 1:29; Hebrews 9:26; 1 John 1:7

See also: Propitiation, Forgiveness, Atonement, Sacrifice, Cleansing

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Fellowship

Fellowship is the shared participation of believers in Christ and in the life of His church.

It is expressed through worship, truth, mutual care, and common allegiance.

Fellowship is not merely social gathering, but spiritual union made visible through shared life in Christ.

See: Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 10:16–21; 1 John 1:3; Philippians 1:5

See also: Church, Church Membership, Worship

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Foreknowledge

Foreknowledge is God's perfect knowledge of all things, including His relational knowledge and purpose concerning those who are in Christ.

God knows all things fully and eternally. Nothing is hidden from Him, uncertain to Him, or discovered by Him over time. Scripture speaks of God's foreknowledge not merely as awareness of future events, but also as His personal and covenantal knowledge of His people.

In Scripture, "to know" often carries relational meaning, describing recognition, covenant relationship, and loving regard rather than mere intellectual awareness. God's foreknowledge therefore involves more than passive observation of future human actions. Believers are described as foreknown in Christ, whom God purposed before the foundation of the world as the Redeemer. Through union with Christ, believers share in what God has eternally purposed in Him.

Foreknowledge does not remove human responsibility, nor does it reduce history to blind fate. Rather, it reveals that salvation rests ultimately within the wisdom, purpose, and faithfulness of God.

See: Romans 8:29; Acts 2:23; Ephesians 1:4–5; 1 Peter 1:1–2, 20

See also: Election, Predestination, Sovereignty, Salvation, In Christ

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Glory

Glory is the revealed worth, beauty, and visible display of who God truly is, most fully revealed in Jesus Christ.

Scripture speaks of the glory of God filling the earth, dwelling among His people, and being revealed in the face of Jesus Christ. God acts for His glory not out of vanity, but because He Himself is the highest and most worthy reality.

Man was created to glorify God by living in right order under Him, reflecting His character and proclaiming His greatness. Sin distorts this purpose by turning glory toward the self, while redemption restores man to rightly recognize, enjoy, and display the glory of God.

The glory of God is most clearly revealed in Christ, where holiness, truth, justice, mercy, love, and power are displayed together without contradiction.

See: Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 6:1–3; John 1:14; John 17:1–5; 2 Corinthians 4:6

See also: God, Trinity, Love, Sovereignty, Worship

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Gospel

The gospel is God's authoritative good news concerning His Son, Jesus Christ: that Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose again, and saves all who trust in Him.

It is the announcement of what God has done, not advice about what man must achieve.

The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

See: 1 Corinthians 15:1–4; Romans 1:1–4; Mark 1:14–15

See also: Faith, Grace, Repentance, Justification

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Grace

Grace is unearned favor expressed in generous giving.

God shows grace by saving the undeserving through Christ; believers show grace through kindness, forgiveness, generosity, and words that become gifts to others.

Grace is not license, but the very power that trains us for godly living.

See: Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 2:11–12; Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6

See also: Gospel, Mercy, Faith

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Hell

Hell is the final judgment and separation from God experienced by those who remain in rebellion against Him.

Scripture describes hell as a real and dreadful judgment prepared for Satan, his angels, and all who reject God's rule and refuse His salvation in Jesus Christ.

Hell is portrayed as exclusion from the blessing, peace, and fellowship of God's kingdom, as well as the experience of divine judgment against sin. Scripture uses images such as darkness, fire, destruction, and punishment to communicate its seriousness and terror.

Hell does not exist because God delights in suffering, but because God is holy, just, and opposed to evil. The cross itself reveals both the severity of sin and the lengths to which God has gone to provide salvation. The doctrine of hell warns humanity of the reality of judgment while magnifying the mercy and grace offered through Jesus Christ.

See: Matthew 25:41–46; Mark 9:43–48; Luke 16:19–31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9; Revelation 20:11–15

See also: Judgment, Salvation, Wrath, Justice, Gospel

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Holiness

Holiness is being set apart to God for His rightful use and brought into right order under His will.

It is both a positional reality for believers in Christ and a progressive work of the Spirit.

Holiness reflects God's character and demonstrates the reality of the gospel to the world.

See: Leviticus 20:26; 1 Peter 1:15–16; Romans 12:1; 2 Timothy 2:20–21

See also: Sin, Sanctification, Discipline, Worship

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Imputation

Imputation is the reckoning or counting of righteousness to believers through union with Jesus Christ.

Scripture teaches that believers are justified not because of their own righteousness, but because the righteousness of Christ is counted to them through faith.

Imputation does not mean God pretends sinners are righteous while leaving them unchanged. Rather, through union with Christ, believers truly share in what He has accomplished and are brought into right standing before God.

Humanity stands condemned in Adam as the fallen head of mankind, sharing both a corrupted nature and participation in sin. Yet the righteousness of Christ is uniquely given to believers as a gracious gift through faith and union with Him. At the cross, Christ bore the judgment of sin on behalf of sinners. Through imputation, believers are counted righteous in Him and accepted before God on the basis of His finished work rather than their own merit.

See: Romans 4:3–8; Romans 5:12–19; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9

See also: Justification, Grace, Salvation, In Christ, Redemption

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In Christ

To be in Christ is to stand within the reality of the One in whom God's saving purpose is fulfilled.

Those who trust in Him share in what He has secured, for He is the true ground, standing, and end of redemption.

It is participation in His completion, not striving for our own.

See: Ephesians 1:3–10; Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 2:10

See also: Election, Predestination, Adoption, Rest

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Justice

Justice is the righteous ordering of all things according to the truth, holiness, and character of God.

Biblical justice is more than punishment or legal process. It is the establishment and maintenance of what is right according to God's nature and order.

Because God is just, He judges sin, defends truth, opposes evil, and upholds righteousness. His justice is never separated from His wisdom, holiness, or love.

Human justice is often partial, corrupted, or inconsistent, but God's justice is perfect and without distortion. Scripture teaches that all wrongs will ultimately be addressed under His righteous judgment.

At the cross, the justice and mercy of God meet together. Sin is not ignored, yet forgiveness is extended through the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ.

See: Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 89:14; Romans 3:25–26; Micah 6:8; Revelation 15:3

See also: Wrath, Holiness, Propitiation, Mercy, Righteousness

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Justification

Justification is God's act of grace, bringing the sinner into right standing—placing him upon the level ground of Christ's righteousness in the presence of God—received by faith alone.

It is a legal declaration, not an internal transformation. God pronounces the guilty righteous on the basis of Christ's finished work.

Justification secures peace with God and guarantees eternal standing.

See: Romans 3:24–26; Romans 5:1; Philippians 3:9

See also: Faith, Gospel, Peace, In Christ

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Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God is the rightful reign of God established in Jesus Christ, present now wherever He is trusted and obeyed, and awaiting full visible completion at His return.

It is not a geographical territory, but the active rule of God over redeemed hearts and history.

The kingdom advances through the gospel, grows through suffering, and culminates in Christ's return.

See: Mark 1:14–15; Luke 17:20–21; Romans 14:17; Revelation 11:15

See also: Gospel, Church, Worship, Holiness

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Law

Law is the revealed order, command, and righteous standard of God governing His creation and human conduct.

Scripture uses the word "law" in several related ways, including the Law of Moses, the moral commands of God, and the broader principle of God's righteous order.

The Law reveals the holiness, wisdom, and righteousness of God. It exposes sin by showing where human life departs from God's order and will. The Law itself is holy and good, but fallen man cannot achieve righteousness through obedience to it.

The Law was never intended to save sinners through human effort. Rather, it reveals guilt, restrains evil, instructs God's people, and points ultimately to Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the Law perfectly. Believers are not justified by the Law, yet through the Holy Spirit they increasingly walk in harmony with the righteous character the Law reveals.

See: Exodus 20; Psalm 19:7–11; Romans 3:20; Romans 7:12; Galatians 3:24

See also: Sin, Grace, Salvation, Holiness, Sanctification

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Lordship

Lordship is the rightful authority and rule of Jesus Christ over all creation and over the lives of those who belong to Him.

Jesus Christ is not merely Savior, but Lord. Through His incarnation, death, resurrection, and exaltation, He has been revealed as the rightful King and ruler over heaven and earth.

To confess Jesus as Lord is more than using a title; it is recognizing His authority, submitting to His rule, and acknowledging that life belongs ultimately to Him rather than to self.

Lordship does not mean believers achieve sinless perfection, but that the direction of life increasingly comes under the authority of Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. Because Christ is Lord, no area of life stands outside His claim. Worship, morality, relationships, work, thought, and obedience all fall under His rightful rule.

See: Matthew 28:18; Luke 6:46; Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:9–11; Colossians 1:15–18

See also: Salvation, Sanctification, Sovereignty, Obedience, Church

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Love

Love is the committed, self-giving pursuit of another's good according to the truth and character of God.

Scripture teaches that "God is love," meaning that love is not merely something God does, but something revealed through His character and actions. God's love is most clearly displayed in Jesus Christ giving Himself for sinners.

Biblical love does not ignore truth, holiness, or righteousness. Rather, it acts in accordance with them. To love someone is not merely to approve of them, feel affection toward them, or affirm their desires. It is a committed pursuit of their proper good under God.

Biblical love is fundamentally an act of commitment rather than a passing emotional state. Feelings may strengthen or weaken over time, but love remains rooted in faithful action aligned with the character of God. Love and affection are closely related but not identical. Scripture commands believers to love even enemies, showing that love is not dependent upon emotional warmth or personal preference.

See: John 3:16; John 13:34–35; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 John 4:7–12

See also: Glory, Grace, Joy, Sanctification, Holy Spirit

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Mercy

Mercy is compassion shown to the guilty and the suffering, by which deserved judgment is withheld and needed help is given.

While grace gives what is not deserved, mercy withholds what is deserved.

God's mercy is the foundation of our salvation and the model for our conduct.

See: Ephesians 2:4; Luke 18:13; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 4:16

See also: Grace, Gospel, Atonement, Peace

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Mercy Seat

The mercy seat (Hebrew: kapporeth, "covering") was the golden lid placed over the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place.

It was the place where God met with His people—not on the basis of their obedience to the Law stored inside the Ark, but on the basis of sacrificial blood sprinkled upon it.

On the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), the high priest entered the Most Holy Place once a year with blood from the sin offering. He sprinkled this blood on and before the mercy seat, making atonement for himself and for the people. There, between the cherubim, God's presence dwelt, and there forgiveness was granted.

The mercy seat reveals a profound truth: a holy God can dwell among a sinful people only through a covering that satisfies His justice. The broken Law was inside the Ark, but the blood-covered mercy seat stood between the broken Law and the holy presence of God, and mercy was extended.

The New Testament identifies Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of this type. He is both the true mercy seat (Romans 3:25 uses the Greek word hilasterion, translated "propitiation" or "mercy seat") and the final sacrifice whose blood covers sin eternally. In Christ, God meets with man not through repeated animal sacrifices, but through one perfect, finished work.

Because of Christ, the veil is torn, and believers now have bold access to the throne of grace—not by their own righteousness, but by His blood.

See: Exodus 25:17–22; Leviticus 16:14–15; Hebrews 9:5; Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2

Read More: He Is the Propitiation: Christ, Our Mercy Seat

See also: Propitiation, Atonement, Sacrifice, Blood, Day of Atonement, Access to God

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Obedience

Obedience is the willing submission of life and action to the truth, authority, and will of God.

Biblical obedience is not mere outward conformity or reluctant compliance, but the response of faith to God's character and Word. True obedience flows from trust, love, and recognition of God's rightful authority.

Scripture presents obedience not as the cause of salvation, but as the fruit of genuine faith and spiritual life. Believers obey not in order to earn acceptance, but because they belong to Christ and are being conformed to His image.

Obedience includes both turning away from sin and actively walking in righteousness, truth, love, and faithfulness. Through the Holy Spirit, believers increasingly grow in joyful obedience to God. Jesus Christ Himself is the perfect model of obedience, fully submitting to the Father even unto death.

See: John 14:15; Romans 1:5; Philippians 2:8; James 1:22; 1 John 2:3–6

See also: Faith, Sanctification, Lordship, Discipline, Love

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Pastor

A pastor is a shepherd of God's people who teaches, leads, protects, and cares for the church under the authority of Jesus Christ.

The word pastor means shepherd. In the New Testament, pastors are entrusted with the spiritual care of the church through teaching the Word of God, guiding the congregation, protecting against false doctrine, and nurturing believers toward maturity in Christ.

Scripture closely connects the work of pastor, elder, and overseer, presenting them not as entirely separate offices, but as different aspects of the same spiritual leadership. "Elder" emphasizes maturity and recognized standing, "overseer" emphasizes responsibility and oversight, and "pastor" emphasizes shepherding care.

A pastor's authority is not rooted in personal power, charisma, or status, but in faithful submission to Christ and the teaching of Scripture. Pastors are called to lead humbly, sacrificially, and as examples to the flock. Because Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd, every pastor serves under His authority and remains accountable to Him.

See: Jeremiah 3:15; John 21:15–17; Ephesians 4:11–12; 1 Peter 5:1–4

See also: Elder, Bishop, Church, Shepherding, Teaching

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Peace

Peace is the inward settledness that flows from being made right with God and yielding control to His wise rule.

It is the fruit of rest, grows through humility, and may fluctuate in feeling while Christ's finished work remains unchanged.

Biblical peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of Christ's lordship.

See: Romans 5:1; Philippians 4:7; John 14:27; 1 Peter 5:6–7

See also: Rest, Justification, Mercy, In Christ

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Pentecost

Pentecost is the Jewish feast day on which the risen and exalted Christ publicly poured out the Holy Spirit upon His gathered disciples, launching the church into its worldwide witness. It marks not the invention of the church from nothing, but the Spirit-filled beginning of its public mission.

Expanded Explanation

Pentecost (Feast of Weeks) occurred fifty days after Passover, when Jews from many nations gathered in Jerusalem. God chose this moment to pour out the Spirit, making the event public, multi-ethnic, and missional from the start.

The outpouring is inseparable from Christ’s ascension and enthronement. Peter explicitly teaches that the exalted Christ "shed forth" the Spirit (Acts 2:33). Pentecost is therefore Christ-centered, not Spirit-isolated.

The signs of wind, fire, and tongues were not ends in themselves, but visible markers that God had come to empower worldwide proclamation. The miracle centered on the nations hearing God’s works in their own languages, demonstrating that Christ’s lordship reaches every people without erasing linguistic or cultural diversity.

Pentecost should not be treated as "Babel reversed." At Babel, God scattered humanity to fulfill His command to fill the earth. At Pentecost, the gospel reaches those scattered nations, uniting them in Christ while preserving their distinct tongues and tribes.

Common Confusion

Is Pentecost the reversal of Babel?
No. Babel scattered humanity to fulfill God’s creational mandate. Pentecost reaches the scattered nations with one gospel while preserving linguistic diversity, pointing toward Revelation’s multinational worship.

Is Pentecost mainly about ecstatic experience?
No. Peter’s sermon dominates Acts 2, centering entirely on Christ’s life, death, resurrection, exaltation, and lordship. The Spirit’s primary work at Pentecost was empowering public witness, not private religious enthusiasm.

Was the church fully mature at Pentecost?
No. Pentecost launched the church, but its structure, Gentile mission, and doctrinal implications continued developing through Acts and the Epistles.

Scripture Chain

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Application

Pentecost reminds us that the church exists for mission, not comfort. The same exalted Christ who poured out the Spirit in Acts 2 still empowers His people today to bear witness to the nations in His name.

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Perseverance

Perseverance is the continuing endurance of faith and obedience in those who truly belong to Jesus Christ.

Scripture teaches that genuine faith continues. Believers may struggle, stumble, experience seasons of weakness, or require correction and discipline, yet the life given by God does not ultimately abandon Christ.

Perseverance is not the idea that believers preserve themselves through personal strength or perfect performance. Rather, God faithfully sustains His people through the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, producing enduring faith, repentance, obedience, and spiritual fruit.

The New Testament repeatedly calls believers to continue, endure, abide, and remain faithful. These warnings and exhortations are real means through which God strengthens and preserves His people. Perseverance does not deny the reality of false profession. Scripture recognizes that some may outwardly associate with the faith for a time without truly possessing spiritual life. True perseverance reveals genuine participation in Christ.

See: John 15:1–6; Romans 8:35–39; Colossians 1:21–23; Hebrews 3:12–14; 1 John 2:19

See also: Assurance, Salvation, Sanctification, Faith, Holy Spirit

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Predestination

Predestination is God's determination beforehand of what those in Christ are appointed to become and to do.

Scripture speaks of adoption, conformity to Christ, inheritance, and works prepared in advance.

Predestination does not rob human responsibility; it secures the certainty of God's redemptive purposes.

See: Ephesians 1:5, 11; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 2:10

See also: Election, In Christ, Adoption

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Propitiation

Propitiation is the satisfaction of God's righteous wrath against sin through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

In Scripture, propitiation is closely connected to the mercy seat—the covering placed over the Ark of the Covenant. Inside the Ark were the broken commandments of the Law, but the blood-covered mercy seat stood above them, and the blood of sacrifice was sprinkled upon it. God met with His people not through the condemnation of the Law, but through the blood-covered propitiation.

The New Testament applies this imagery directly to Christ. Jesus is both the sacrifice and the true mercy seat. Through His blood, sin is covered fully and eternally for those who are in Him.

Propitiation does not mean God ceased to be loving until His anger was calmed. Rather, the cross reveals both the holiness and love of God together. The Father Himself provided the Son so that justice would be satisfied and mercy extended.

Because Christ is our propitiation, believers may confess their sin honestly, knowing that forgiveness rests not on their righteousness, but on His finished work.

See: Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2; 4:10; Hebrews 9:5

See also: Atonement, Justification, Grace, Wrath, Forgiveness, Gospel, Mercy Seat

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Reconciliation

Reconciliation is the restoration of peace and right relationship between God and man through Jesus Christ.

Sin brings separation, disorder, and hostility between man and God. Reconciliation is God's work of removing that enmity and restoring fellowship through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Scripture teaches that reconciliation is initiated by God, not man. God does not reconcile Himself to sinners as though His holiness were the problem; rather, through Christ, He removes the barrier of sin that keeps man alienated from Him.

Reconciliation is more than the removal of guilt. It is the restoration of proper relationship, peace, fellowship, and order under God. Through Christ, believers are no longer enemies, but are brought near as children, citizens, and members of the household of God. Because believers have been reconciled to God, they are also called to pursue reconciliation with one another.

See: Romans 5:10–11; 2 Corinthians 5:18–21; Ephesians 2:13–16; Colossians 1:20–22

See also: Redemption, Salvation, Peace, Atonement, Justification, Church

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Redemption

Redemption is God's act of reclaiming and delivering sinners through Jesus Christ, establishing them as His own through the cost of His Son's blood.

The language of redemption in Scripture refers to release, ransom, and reclaiming what is brought under rightful ownership. God redeems not because man is inherently worthy, but because of His own character, mercy, and glory.

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, believers are delivered from the bondage and consequences of sin and brought into belonging under God. Redemption does not mean God paid Satan or bargained with evil powers, but that Christ fully accomplished the deliverance necessary to reclaim His people.

Scripture repeatedly connects redemption with covenant identity and belonging. Believers are redeemed not merely from something, but unto Someone. Having been bought with a price, they no longer belong to themselves, but to the One who redeemed them.

Redemption ultimately reveals both the seriousness of sin and the greatness of the Redeemer. In Christ, God restores what was ruined and brings it back into proper order under His rule.

See: Mark 10:45; Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18–19

See also: Salvation, Reconciliation, Atonement, Propitiation, Covenant

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Regeneration / New Birth

Regeneration, or the new birth, is the beginning of new life produced by God through His Word and Spirit.

Like seed planted in the heart, this life is meant to grow, endure, and be brought to maturity in fruitfulness.

It is monergistic—accomplished solely by God—and precedes faith as the Spirit awakens the spiritually dead.

See: John 3:3–8; 1 Peter 1:23; Mark 4:1–20; Hebrews 3:12–14

See also: Adoption, Sanctification, Faith, Grace

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Repentance

Repentance is the turning of a person from sin and falsehood to God in truth.

It is not mere sorrow for wrong, but a change of mind so real that it changes direction.

Repentance is a gift of grace, continually renewed throughout the Christian life.

See: Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19; 2 Corinthians 7:10

Further Study: Where to Stand; Where to Walk

See also: Faith, Gospel, Truth, Sin

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Resurrection

Resurrection is God's act of raising the dead to life, most fully revealed in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to the Gospel. Jesus did not merely continue spiritually after death, but physically rose from the grave in a glorified body, defeating death and vindicating His identity as Lord and Christ.

Scripture presents Christ's resurrection as both historical and foundational. Without the resurrection, there is no Christian faith, no forgiveness of sins, and no victory over death.

The resurrection of Christ is also the beginning of the future resurrection of believers. Those who are in Christ will likewise be raised bodily, transformed, and brought into eternal life in the renewed creation. Resurrection is therefore not merely survival after death, but the restoration and glorification of life under the victory and rule of God.

See: Matthew 28:5–7; John 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15; Philippians 3:20–21; Revelation 21:1–5

See also: Salvation, Redemption, Incarnation, Eternal Life, Gospel

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Rest

Rest is the condition that exists when the work upon which obligation depends has been completed.

In Christ, rest is entered through His finished work, not achieved through our striving.

Christian rest is active trust, not passive idleness.

See: Matthew 11:28–30; Hebrews 4:9–10; John 19:30

Further Study: Where to Rest

See also: Peace, In Christ, Faith

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Salvation

Salvation is God's work of delivering sinners from sin, death, and judgment through Jesus Christ and bringing them into eternal life under His rule.

Salvation includes forgiveness, reconciliation, redemption, justification, new birth, sanctification, and final resurrection. It is not merely escape from punishment, but restoration to life, fellowship, and proper order under God.

Scripture presents salvation as entirely dependent upon God's grace and accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is received through faith, not earned by human merit or works.

Salvation is both immediate and ongoing. Believers have been saved from the penalty of sin, are being saved from its power, and will ultimately be saved from its presence when Christ returns. The purpose of salvation is not merely the happiness of man, but the glory of God revealed through redeemed people conformed to Jesus Christ.

See: John 3:16–17; Romans 1:16; Ephesians 2:8–10; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3–5

See also: Redemption, Reconciliation, Justification, Sanctification, Resurrection, Grace

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Sanctification

Sanctification is the ongoing work of God the Spirit, by which the new life He has given increasingly overtakes the old patterns of sin.

It brings the believer into right order under God's will and into the likeness of Christ.

Sanctification is synergistic: God works, and we respond in obedience, discipline, and means of grace.

See: 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:29; Philippians 2:12–13

See also: Regeneration / New Birth, Holiness, Discipline, Sin

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Sin

Sin is placing one's own will above the will of God.

It begins in rebellion, appears in disobedience, and produces guilt, corruption, and disorder.

Sin is not merely broken rules; it is broken relationship, requiring reconciliation through Christ.

See: Genesis 3:1–6; Judges 21:25; Romans 3:23; 1 John 3:4; James 1:14–15

See also: Repentance, Atonement, Holiness, Sanctification

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Sovereignty

Sovereignty is God's absolute authority, power, and freedom to accomplish His will over all creation according to His wisdom and character.

God rules over all things as Creator and Lord. Nothing exists independently of Him, escapes His knowledge, or ultimately frustrates His purposes.

God's sovereignty does not mean He is arbitrary or tyrannical. He acts consistently with His holiness, wisdom, truth, justice, and love. Scripture presents His rule not merely as power, but as rightful authority flowing from who He is.

Human beings remain morally responsible for their actions even under God's sovereign rule. Scripture holds both truths together without contradiction: God truly reigns, and man is truly accountable.

The sovereignty of God comforts believers because history is governed not by chaos or fate, but by the God revealed in Jesus Christ.

See: Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 46:9–10; Daniel 4:35; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:11

See also: Foreknowledge, Election, Salvation, Lordship, Glory

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Unconditional

Unconditional means not based on prior merit, worthiness, or achievement.

In Scripture, the term is most often used to describe God's grace, love, and promises as originating in His own character rather than being earned by man.

This does not mean God acts without purpose, holiness, or response. God's grace is freely given, and it transforms those who receive it. Likewise, salvation is not purchased by human works, yet those brought to life in Christ are called to walk in obedience.

The Gospel is unconditional in its offer, but not meaningless in its effect. God does not save because man is worthy; He saves because He is merciful.

See: Romans 9:16; Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9

See also: Grace, Election, Faith, Gospel, Obedience

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Wrath

Wrath is God's righteous and holy opposition to sin, evil, and all that destroys His creation and glory.

The wrath of God is not uncontrolled anger, selfish irritation, or emotional instability. It is the settled and righteous response of God's holiness against sin and rebellion.

Because God is good, holy, and just, He necessarily opposes what corrupts, destroys, deceives, and brings death. Divine wrath is therefore not contrary to God's love, but flows from the same holy character.

Scripture reveals God's wrath both in present judgment against sin and in final judgment to come. Yet the Gospel also declares that Jesus Christ bore judgment on behalf of sinners so that mercy and forgiveness might be extended without compromising justice.

The cross reveals both the seriousness of wrath and the greatness of God's love together.

See: Romans 1:18; John 3:36; Romans 5:8–9; Ephesians 2:3–5; Revelation 20:11–15

See also: Justice, Holiness, Propitiation, Salvation, Hell

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Worship

Worship is the response of heart, mind, and life to God as He truly is, giving Him honor, trust, gratitude, and obedience.

It is not confined to music or gatherings, but encompasses the whole of life offered to God.

True worship flows from revelation, is sustained by truth, and produces holiness.

See: John 4:23–24; Romans 12:1; Psalm 95; Hebrews 13:15–16

See also: Truth, Holiness, Fellowship, Church

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About This Glossary

These definitions are intentionally concise. Fuller articles and deeper studies will be added over time.

This page will continue to grow as more terms are refined and added.

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