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Definitions
These definitions are listed for your edification. A listing here is not necessarily an endorsement or validation of the belief presented by the definition. In fact, some are listed specifically because they are false doctrines about which Christians must be aware.

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• A - E
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• U - Z

ADOPTION:
Placing the believer in God's family as an adult son. [ Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:5 ]

AESITY OF GOD:
His self-existence. [ Genesis 1:1; John 1:1; Hebrews 13:8 ]

AMILLENNIALISM:
The view which states that there will be no literal, political Kingdom of God on the earth. ( Showers, Renald. There Really Is a Difference! p. 114 ) { See also Premillennialism ; Postmillennialism ; Covenant Theology ; Dispensational Theology ; Hermeneutics }

ANGELOLOGY:
Doctrine of angels, both holy and fallen.

ANNIHILATIONISM:
The view that the wicked will be quickly consumed in hell and cease all existence.

ANTHROPOLOGY:
Doctrine of man or concerning mankind.

APOSTASY:
The rejection of the revealed truth, especially as it relates to the Person and work of Christ, by a person who had professed to be a believer in Christ. [ I John 2:19; I Timothy 4:1; II Timothy 4:3-4; Hebrews 3:12 ] ( Walton, Arthur B. ) { See also Modernism }

ARIANISM:
Taught that the Son was generated by the Father and thus had a beginning. { See also Apostasy ; Aesity of God ; Christ, Deity of }

ARMINIANISM:
Teaches that Adam was created innocent, that we inherit from him pollution but not guilt or a sin nature, and that man has the ability to do good. { See also Sin Nature ; Will ; Depravity, Total }

BACKSLIDER:   Listen
One who has given back previously conquered spiritual territory.

BAPTISM BY THE SPIRIT:
The act whereby the Holy Spirit joins believers to the body of Christ. [ I Corinthians 12:13 ]

BARTHIANISM:
System of theology taught by Karl Barth (1886-1968). Emphasizes God sovereignly revealing Himself through the Word which is ultimately Christ, the Bible being a fallible pointer to Christ. { See also Modernism }

BIBLIOLOGY:
Doctrine of the Bible, including it's divine inspiration, inerrancy, infallibility, sufficiency and preservation.

CANON OF SCRIPTURE:
The collection of books that met certain tests and thus were considered authoritative, and are our rule of life.

CHRIST:   Listen
Annointed One. Messiah.

CHRIST, DEITY OF:
Jesus Christ is God. [ John 1:1-14; Colossians 1:13-17; 2:8-9; I John 5:7 ]

CHRISTOLOGY:
Doctrine of Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Godhead.

CHRISTIAN MUSIC:   Listen
That music in which text, music, performers, and performance practices are conforming to the image of Christ. ( Tim Fisher ) { See also Church Worship ; Worship }

CHURCH WORSHIP (CORPORATE WORSHIP):
What we do when we "meet with God, His Word, and His people in such a way that the mind is equipped, the will is committed, and the desire is kindled to the doing of God's will more and more." ( Glenn Harrell ) { See also Local Church ; Worship }

CONTENTMENT:   Listen
An inner satisfaction that enables God's child to live above external conditions and circumstances. [ Matthew 6:11, 24-34; Philippians 4:10-19; I Timothy 6:6-11; Hebrews 13:5-6 ]

CONVICTION OF SIN:
A man is given a very real awareness of his own guilt and condemnation before a holy and righteous God. ( Peter Jeffery ) { See also Repentance }

COVENANT:
Need a good definition or two or three. { See also Covenant Theology ; Dispensational Theology ; Hermeneutics }

COVENANT THEOLOGY:
A system of theology which attempts to develop the Bible's philosophy of history on the basis of two or three covenants. It represents the whole of Scripture and history as being covered by two or three covenants. ( Showers, Renald E. There Really Is a Difference! ) { See also Covenant ; Dispensational Theology ; Hermeneutics }

CULTURE:
The values and traditions which determine the way we live and the way of life we will hand down to our children and grandchildren. ( John A. Stormer ) { See also Family ; Marriage ; World, The }

DEATH:   Listen
Separation. Physical death separates the immaterial soul from the material body. Spiritual death separates a person from God for all of eternity. [ Romans 5:12; Revelation 20:14-15, 21:18 ]

DEPRAVITY, TOTAL:
The unmeritoriousness of man in the sight of God. { See also Arminianism ; Grace ; Holiness ; Sin Nature }

DISPENSATION:
A particular way of God's administering His rule over the world as He progressively works out His purpose for world history. ( Showers, Renald E. There Really Is a Difference! ) { See also Dispensational Theology ; Covenant Theology ; Hermeneutics }

DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY:
A system of theology which attempts to develop the Bible's philosophy of history on the basis of the sovereign rule of God. It represents the whole of Scripture and history as being covered by several dispensations of God's rule. ( Showers, Renald E. There Really Is a Difference! ) { See also Dispensation ; Covenant Theology ; Hermeneutics }

ECCLESIOLOGY:
Doctrine of the Church, Christ's body.

ECUMENISM:
See Ecumenical Movement

ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT:
A movement of men, churches, parachurch organizations and church councils that strives to unite all churches that claim to be 'Christians,' whether Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal or Evangelical. While the ecumenical movement originally sought to unite only professing Christian churches, today a strong emphasis is placed upon the unification of all religions-Christian and non-Christian. Initially, the ecumenical movement intended to forge a visible organizational or institutional unity of all churches. However, the emphasis of the ecumenical movement is now upon a 'unity by consensus' or 'unity in diversity' model, that is, a unity in which those of all religious persuasions are now urged to retain their own religious or denominational identities while uniting around a common cause or belief. In the U.S., key proponents of the ecumenical movement include the World Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches, the Charismatic Movement and evangelical movements such as the Promise Keepers movement, Evangelicals and Catholics Together and any other individuals, churches or parachurch organizations that seek to minimize Biblical doctrine (truth) in an effort to find common cause with those who preach a false gospel. ( Costella, Matt 22 Terms to Know in the 21st Century ) { See also New Evangelicalism ; Apostasy ; Separation }

EISOGESIS:
Reading a meaning into the text of Scripture. { See also Exegesis ; Hermeneutics }

ELECTION:
The doctrine concerning God's choice of those who would be saved. { See also Omniscience of God ; Preterition ; Inclusivism ; Restorationism ; Universalism }

ELOHIM:
Name of God which means the strong One, the mighty Leader, the supreme Deity.

ESCHATOLOGY:
The study of the end-times. { See also Amillennialism ; Premillennialism ; Postmillennialism ; Covenant Theology ; Dispensational Theology ; Tribulation Period }

ETERNAL SECURITY:
The work of God that guarantees that the gift of salvation, once received, is forever and cannot be lost. [ John 6:37, 10:27-30, 17:11-12; Ephesians 4:30; II Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; I Peter 1:3-5; Jude 24 ] ( Ryrie, Charles C. Basic Theology [1999 edition] p. 379 ) { See also Arminianism ; Grace ; Immutability ; }

EXEGESIS:
Drawing the meaning from the text of Scripture. { See also Eisogesis ; Hermeneutics }

FAMILY (NUCLEAR):
Need a good definition. { See also Marriage ; Culture }

FORNICATION:
Sexual intercourse lying outside the boundaries established by God (i.e. marriage). [ I Corinthians 5:1 ] { See also Marriage ; Homosexuality }

FUNDAMENTALS:   Listen
Those doctrines which are the fundamental or essential elements of the Christian faith. These are the many absolute truths revealed in the Bible, historically accepted by true believers, and agressively defended by obedient Christians. { See also Fundamentalism ; Fundamentalist ; New Evangelicalism ; Separation ; Separatist ; Modernism ; Apostasy }

FUNDAMENTALISM:
1. (As a position): The principle of accepting the fundamental teachings of Christianity as beyond question or not subject to criticism. ( Emery, H.G. & Brewster, K.G. The New Century Dictionary of the English Language. New York: The New Century Co. 1927 ) { See also Modernism }
2. (As a belief): The militant belief and proclamation of the basic doctrines of Christianity leading to a Scriptural separation from those who reject them. ( John Ashbrook )
3. (As a movement): That sub-set of Evangelical Christianity consisting of those ministries and people which are firmly committed to a defense of the whole faith and which refuse to cooperate or share in spiritual activities with unbelievers, apostates, heretics, charismatics and cultists, or with disobedient or compromising believers. { See also Fundamentals ; Fundamentalist ; New Evangelicalism ; Separation ; Separatist ; Apostasy }

FUNDAMENTALIST:   Listen
One who defends the whole Bible as the absolute inerrant and authoritative Word of God, and is committed to the biblical doctrine of holiness (separation from all apostasy and willful practices of disobedience to the scriptures). { See also Fundamentals ; Fundamentalism ; New Evangelicalism ; Separation ; Separatist ; Modernism ; Apostasy }

GAMBLING:
Gambling involves the transfer of something of value from one person to another on the basis of mere chance rather than wisdom or work. [ Proverbs 13:11, 21:5, 28:20, 28:22 ]

GRACE:
God's beneficent work for us, wholly independent of what we are and what we do. It is not merely God's attitude toward us, but His activity in our behalf. ( Trumbull, Charles G. Victory in Christ: Messages on the Victorious Life. Fort Washington, PA: Christian Literature Crusade. 1959. p. 56 ) { See also Depravity, Total ; Justification }

HAMARTIOLOGY:
Doctrine of sin.

HEART:   Listen
The inner control center of the Christian. [ Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 15:18-19 ] { See also Will ; Depravity, Total }

HEATHEN:
An unconverted member of a people or nation that does not acknowledge the God of the Bible. ( Webster ) { See also Pagan }

HERMENEUTICS:
The principles of Bible interpretation. [ Acts 17:11; II Timothy 2:15] { See also Eisogesis ; Exegesis }

HOLINESS:   Listen
1. (Of God): That divine attribute whereby God maintains His own moral exellency, abhors anything unlike Himself, and demands of others a purity identical to His own. { See also Depravity, Total }
2. (Biblical principle of): Separation from all apostasy and willful practices of disobedience to the scriptures. { See also Separation }

HOMOSEXUALITY:
Erotic arousal by members of the same sex. { See also Fornication ; Pagan }

HUMANISM:
See Secular Humanism

IMMUTABILITY:
That divine attribute whereby God's personality and His essence are unchangeable. [ Hebrews 13:8; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17 ]

IMPECCABILITY (OF CHRIST):
The inability of Jesus Christ to sin. { See also Omnipotence of God }

INCLUSIVISM:
The view that people who have not knowingly accepted Christ may nevertheless be saved by His sacrifice on the cross, for God can read their hearts. { See also Election ; Preterition ; Restorationism ; Universalism }

INDEPENDENT BAPTIST:
Refers to a church that is Baptist in doctrine and that is not aligned under a denominational structure. ( David Cloud ) { See also Fundamentalist }

INDWELLING OF THE SPIRIT:
The work of God whereby He places His Spirit permanently within every believer. [ I Corinthians 6:19 ] { See also Baptism by the Spirit }

JUSTIFICATION:
The act of God declaring men free from guilt and acceptable to Him. ( Thayer )
A declaration that no ground for the infliction of punishment exists. ( Hodge ) { See also Grace ; Depravity, Total }

LAST DAYS:
The entire period from the first to the second coming of Christ. [ I John 2:18; Hebrews 1:2; I Peter 1:20 ]

LIBERALISM (THEOLOGICAL):
See Modernism.

LOCAL CHURCH:
An assembly of professing believers in Christ who have been baptized and who are organized to carry out God's will. { See also Church Worship }

MARRIAGE:
One man and one woman joined in union for life. [ Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19:3-6; Ephesians 5:28-31 ] { See also Covenant ; Family ; Fornication ; Culture }

MIRACLE:   Listen
An extraordinary event that cannot be explained in terms of ordinary natural forces. { See also Grace ; Omnipotence }

MODERNISM:
A tendency or movement in modern thought characterized by the use of independent critical methods in dealing with theological questions, and having as its object the harmonizing of the teachings of Christianity with modern intellectual requirements.... [It] has...attained importance in Protestant churches in conflict with fundamentalism. ( Emery, H.G. & Brewster, K.G. The New Century Dictionary of the English Language. New York: The New Century Co. 1927 ) { See also Fundamentalism ; Apostasy ; Form Criticism }

MONTANISM:
A movement around A.D. 70 that taught God was giving new revelation to people.

MYSTERY:   Listen
A previously hidden truth now divinely revealed. [ Colossians 1:26; I Corinthians 2:7-8 ] { See also Revelation }

NEO-ORTHODOXY:
Need a good definition. { See also Modernism ; Apostasy }

NEW EVANGELICALISM:
A theological position that attempts to bridge the gap between Biblical fundamentalism (or traditional evangelicalism) and religious liberalism and neo-orthodoxy in an effort to gain intellectual and cultural respectability. Harold Ockenga, who coined the term 'New Evangelicalism' in 1948, said this new movement emphasizes infiltration rather than separation from error, the advancement of the social gospel and a willingness to re-examine certain Biblical teachings embraced by fundamentalists (such as, the nature of Scripture, the origin of man, the universality of the flood, etc.). The March 1956 issue of Christian Life elaborated upon the tenets of New Evangelicalism in the article 'Is Evangelical Theology Changing.' The article noted the characteristics of the New Evangelicalism: 1) A friendly attitude toward science, 2) a willingness to re-examine beliefs concerning the work of the Holy Spirit, 3) a more tolerant attitude toward varying views on eschatology, 4) a shift away from so-called extreme dispensationalism, 5) an increased emphasis on scholarship, 6) a more definite recognition of social responsibility, 7) a re-opening of the subject of Biblical inspiration and 8) a growing willingness of evangelical theologians to converse with liberal theologians. Today, New Evangelicalism is often manifested as a mood or attitude of disdain toward Biblical fundamentalism as well as a ministerial philosophy which encourages ecumenical cooperation and emphasizes 'love' at the expense of sound doctrine. ( Costella, Matt 22 Terms to Know in the 21st Century ) { See also Ecumenical Movement ; Fundamentalism ; Fundamentalist ; Separation ; Modernism ; Apostasy }

NEW NATURE:
A new favorable disposition toward God consisting of the law of God written in the heart. [ Romans 7:22; II Corinthians 3:3; II Peter 1:4 ] ( Showers, Renald. There Really Is a Difference! p. 104 ) { See also Depravity, Total ; Regeneration ; Sin Nature ; }

OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD:
He is all-powerful; He can do anything consistent with His own nature. { See also Miracle }

OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD:   Listen
God is everywhere present with His whole Being always. { See also Omnipresent }

OMNIPRESENT:
Present all places at once. { See also Omnipresence of God }

OMNISCIENCE OF GOD:   Listen
God knows everything, things actual and things possible, effortlessly and equally well. ( Ryrie, Charles. Basic Theology p. 629 ) { See also Election ; Open Theism }

OPEN THEISM:
Denies the foreknowledge and omniscience of God, claiming that He does not know the future perfectly. { See also Omniscience ; Election ; Arminianism }

OPEN THEOLOGY:
See Open Theism

PAGAN:
Heathen; One who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods; an irreligious or hedonistic person. ( Webster ) { See also Heathen ; Homosexuality }

PNEUMATOLOGY:
Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead.

POSTMILLENNIALISM:
The view which states that Christ will return to this earth after the Millennium or Kingdom of God. ( Showers, Renald. There Really Is a Difference! p. 114 ) { See also Amillennialism ; Premillennialism ; Covenant Theology ; Dispensational Theology ; Hermeneutics }

PREMILLENNIALISM:
The view which states that Christ will return to earth before the Millennium or Kingdom of God. ( Showers, Renald. There Really Is a Difference! p. 113 ) { See also Amillennialism ; Postmillennialism ; Covenant Theology ; Dispensational Theology ; Hermeneutics }

PROPITIATION:   Listen
The sacrifice that completely satisfies the just demands of a holy God for judgment on sin. [ I John 2:2, 4:10; Romans 3:25; I Peter 3:18 ] { See also Grace ; Justification }

RECONCILIATION:
The cessation of hostility in a relationship.

REDEMPTION:   Listen
The transaction whereby the sinner is purchased from the slavemarket of sin and set free.

REGENERATION:
God's act of begetting eternal life in the one who believes.

REMISSION:   Listen
To be released from the consequences of [sin]. { See also Justification }

REPENTANCE:   Listen
A change of mind which issues in regret and in a change of conduct. { See also Conviction of Sin ; Will }

RESTORATIONISM:
A doctrine espousing a sort of purgatory, with an after-death opportunity to repent. { See also Election ; Inclusivism ; Preterition ; Universalism }

REVELATION: (verb)
Making known that which would otherwise be unknown. { See also Mystery }

SEPARATION:
Need a good definition. { See also Fundamentalism ; Fundamentalist ; New Evangelicalism ; Separatist ; Modernism ; Apostasy }

SEPARATIST:
Need a good definition. { See also Fundamentalism ; Fundamentalist ; New Evangelicalism ; Separation ; Modernism ; Apostasy }

SIN:   Listen
Any defection from God's standards; missing the mark. { See also Sinner ; Depravity, Total }

SIN NATURE:   Listen
The inherited desire and propensity of a human being to commit sin. [ Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:6-7; Romans 5:12,19; ch. 6; 7:14-8:15; Galatians 5:17; I Peter 2:11; James 1:14 ] { See also Arminianism ; Depravity, Total ; Impeccability ; New Nature ; Redemption ; Sin ; Sinner ; Will }

SOTERIOLOGY:
Doctrine of salvation.

SINNER:
One who has broken God's law by committing sin. { See also Sin ; Depravity, Total }

SECULAR HUMANISM:   Listen
Human knowledge worked over by human imagination which, for the humanist, becomes the basis for all human understanding and belief as well as the ultimate guide to human progress. { See also World, The }

SPIRIT BAPTISM:
See Baptism by the Spirit.

THEOCRACY:
The form of government in which the rule of God is administered through a mediator or representative.

THEOLOGY:
The doctrine of God, or more specifically, God the Father, the first Person of the Godhead.  In a general sense, the word may also be used of any system of doctrines as a whole, e.g. a "systematic theology" such as Dispensational Theology.

THEOPHANY:
A manifestation of God in visible and bodily form before the incarnation of Christ.

TOTAL DEPRAVITY:
See Depravity, Total

TRICHOTOMY:
The view that man is composed of three parts: body, soul, and spirit.

UNIVERSALISM:
The view that ultimately, all men will be saved. { See also Election ; Inclusivism ; Preterition ; Restorationism }

VICARIOUS:
Someone taking the place of another. [ I Peter 2:22; Isaiah 53:4-6 ] { See also Grace ; Propitiation }

WILL (SELF-DETERMINATION):
The ability to choose from various courses of action and seek to carry one through. ( Dickason, C. Fred. Angels: Elect & Evil ) { See also Arminianism ; Heart }

WORLD, THE:   Listen
That highly organized and carefully arranged system of thought and practice that stands in total opposition to God and His truth, and is fed and energized by the devil. [ James 4:4; I John 2:15-17, 5:19] { See also Secular Humanism }

WORSHIP:   Listen
The heart poured out in gratitude and awe, expressing our appreciation of Who God is and what He has done for us by His grace through Jesus Christ. ( Hunt, Dave. The Berean Call ) { See also Church Worship }

ZIONISM:
The belief that Jews have a right to their national homeland. ( Hunt, Dave. The Berean Call )