|
It has
often concerned me that Christians use
terms and sayings without explaining to the general public what
they mean. In fact the Christian Church is almost as bad as the
computer industry! I have included some of the most common
Christian terms in this section with a definition of what they
mean.
If
you are looking for a definition that is not in the list please
feel free to contact us and we will endeavour to research the
definition and include it.
------------------------------------------------------------
Fallen
From Grace
The
term "Fallen from grace" is a shortened version of the
term "Fallen from God's grace". The Book of
Genesis in the Bible starts off with the account of the
creation of the Universe, the Earth, and then life on Earth.
Genesis Chapter 2, ends with the creation of the human race: first
God created a man which He called Adam, then God created a woman
as a partner or helper for Adam. Adam named his wife Eve
(Genesis 3:20).
Genesis
Chapter 3 begins with the story of how first Eve and then Adam were
deceived into eating the fruit from the "Tree of the
Knowledge of Good and Evil". The "Tree of the
Knowledge of Good and Evil" was the only tree in the Garden
of Eden that Adam and Eve were commanded not to eat of it's
fruit. In doing so they disobeyed a direct command from God;
through their disobedience sin entered the world and the whole
balance of nature was changed.
Adam
and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden at God's invitation, and
therefore by the grace of God. When Adam and Eve disobeyed
God, they were expelled from God's garden and therefore they had
fallen from God's grace. They had fallen from a perfect
world to a world that was now dominated by sin.
Getting
Saved
The
term "getting saved" refers to the process of God's
salvation,
when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden, God began His plan
to save the human race from the sinful state they had fallen
into. The process of "getting saved" is the
outworking of God's plan of salvation in a persons life, removing
the sinful human nature that we inherited, and replacing it with
God's nature, one of righteousness.
Saved
By Grace
This
term comes from a verse recorded in the Book of Ephesians in the
Bible.
Ephesians
2:8-9
"For
by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that
no one should boast."
We
are saved from our sinful human nature inherited from Adam and
Eve, by God's grace. God's grace was extended to the human
race through the death of His Son Jesus Christ, who paid the price
for our sin, and therefore made it possible for the human race
to be set free from the curse of sin and death, and be reconciled
to God.
Romans
6:23
"For
the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Born
Again
The
term "Born again" refers to the rebirth of the human
spirit. The Bible teaches us that a human being is made
up of three components: a body; mind; and a spirit. When
Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, they experienced
spiritual death, they were no longer part of the spiritual world,
they could no longer communicate or approach God, as God cannot be
near sin.
When
a person acknowledges that Jesus Christ died for their sins
(becomes a Christian) their spirit is reborn. They can now
sense and even see the spiritual world, and they can now
communicate with God's Spirit, called the Holy Spirit. Hence
their spirit has become "born again".
Washed
In The Blood
The
term "Washed in the blood", "Washed in His
blood", or "Washed in the blood of the lamb" refers
to God's ability to forgive our sins. When Jesus Christ was crucified
on the cross, His blood that was spilt or shed paid the price for
our sins. His death has enabled God to cleanse the spirits
of those who believe the Jesus Christ died for their sins.
The
term "lamb" refers to Jesus as the lamb of God. In
the Old Testament times the Israelites could have their sins
forgiven by keeping God's commandment and statues, and by
sacrificing a lamb on the altar in the Temple of God. God
promised the Israelites that He would send a Messiah to save them,
God would provide His own "lamb" to pay the price for sin for all
time and all peoples of the world. Today we can partake in
God's gift to the human race by believing that Jesus Christ died
for our sins (accepting Jesus as our Lord and savior).
If
while reading this you feel that God is talking to you about
accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior; or you would
like to know more about what it means to be a Christian; or
perhaps you have been a Christian and you have wandered away for
God's will, and you feel He is calling you back; then give us a
call on (64) 9 276-7212 or e-mail us contactus@hopeministries.biz
Baptized
The
word "baptize" means to immerse in water, or make fully
wet. Baptism is the process that new believers go
through as an outward demonstration of his / her commitment to
Jesus Christ. In Baptism, the believer is immersed in water,
as a sign the person is dying with Jesus on the cross. As
the believer goes down into the water, this signifies the death of
their old sinful nature. When the believer is fully immersed
in the water, this signifies that their old sinful nature has died
and been laid to rest in the grave. As the believer
rises up from out of the water, this signifies the believer being
raised from the grave being reborn of the Spirit of
God.
Rom
6:3-4
Do
you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ
were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by
baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised up from the dead
by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness
of life.
Baptized
In The Holy Spirit
The
term "baptized in the Holy Spirit", or "being
baptized in the Holy Spirit", are terms used to describe what
happens when the Holy Spirit indwells the Spirit of a human
being. The word "baptize" means to immerse,
therefore "being baptized in the Holy Spirit" means to
be immersed in or with the Holy Spirit: in other words, God pours
out His Spirit on a believer or believers in a dynamic way.
Filled
With The Spirit
The
term "Filled with the Spirit" is another way of saying "baptized in the Holy Spirit" (see description on being
"baptized in the Holy Spirit" above). Both
describe what happens when the Holy Spirit indwells a believers
spirit, or God pours out His Spirit on a believer or believers.
Crucified
With Christ
The
term "crucified with Christ" is very similar to the
baptism, as it comes from the symbolism of the believer being immersed in water
signifying the death of the old sinful nature. In this sense
we are crucified with Christ, our old sinful nature has been put
to death by God's mercy and forgiveness, and our spirit has been
raise from the dead.
Gifts
Of The Spirit
The
term "gifts of the Spirit" comes from the New Testament
Bible teaching that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers to
empower the Church to fulfill its mission here on Earth, to go out
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Some examples of Spiritual
Gifts listed in the Bible are, prophesy, teaching, pastoral,
service, helps, healing, and many more.
A
Spiritual gift is any ability or attribute that God's people
require to establish the Kingdom of God here on Earth.
Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit as He sees fit, and
they are often not skills learned by the believers.
Spiritual
Gifts
See
the definition for the "gifts of the Spirit" above.
Speaking
In tongues
The
term "speaking in tongues" or "speaking in other
tongues" are names used to describe the gift of speaking in
tongues. Speaking in tongues is one of the gifts of the
Spirit mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible. A believer who
is granted this gift by the Holy Spirit has the ability to speak
in another language the he / she did not learn. It was one
of the manifestations of the out pouring of the Holy Spirit on the
day of Pentecost some 2000 years ago, and it often occurs when a
believer is filled with the Spirit or baptized in the
Spirit.
The
Second Coming
The
term "the second coming", "the second coming of
Jesus", "the return of Christ", or "the return
of the Messiah", all these terms refer to the promise Jesus
made to His disciples that one day He would return. Jesus
promised that when He returned, those that believe He died to pay
the price for their sin and rebellion against God, would live with
Him for eternity.
The
Tribulation Period
The
term the "tribulation period" refers to a period of time
that occurs just prior to the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Most scholars believe the tribulation period to be 7 years, but
some believe it to be 3½ years. No matter which one of
these views you take, the tribulation period is the period of time
just prior to the second coming of Jesus. The Bible
describes this time as the most evil period of time that this
world will
ever see: there has never been a period of time in human history
as evil and wicked as this period of time and there never will be
another period of time that will even come close to it.
The Rapture
The
term "Rapture" (which means 'caught up') is the name the church gives to an event
that will occur some time around the tribulation period.
When the Rapture occurs, those believers who have already died
will be resurrected from the dead, the sea will give up it's dead,
and the graves will be opened. Those believers who are alive
at the time the Rapture occurs, will be changed from their Earthly
body to their heavenly or resurrected body in the twinkling of an
eye. Both sets of believers will meet up with Jesus in the
air.
1
Thessalonians 4:14-18
For if we believe
that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also who sleep in
Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say to you by the word
of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain to the coming of the
Lord shall not precede them who are asleep. For the Lord himself
will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an
archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first: Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught
up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:
and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one
another with these words.
There are three popular
theories as to when the Rapture will occur.
-
Pre-Tribulation
Rapture - those who believe in pre-tribulation Rapture,
believe it will occur at the beginning of the Tribulation period (the
Tribulation period is usually accepted
to be 7 years, see the definition for the Tribulation
period). Some further believe the Rapture could happen at any
time before the Tribulation, not just at the start point of
this period of time.
-
Mid-Tribulation
Rapture - those who believe in mid-Tribulation Rapture,
believe it will occur half way through the Tribulation period, or 3½ years into the
Tribulation period.
-
Post-Tribulation
Rapture - those who believe in post-Tribulation Rapture,
believe it will occur at the end of the Tribulation period when the
Second Coming of Jesus occurs.
As with all theories
there are variations on these, but the three I have mentioned
cover the basic concepts of the Rapture.
The End Times
The
term "the End Times" or "End Times" refers to
the general period preceding the second coming of Jesus
Christ. The length of the End Times is not specific, but
generally starts when theologians consider Bible prophesy
concerning this period of time begins to be fulfilled.
The
Last Days
See
the description above for "the End Times".
The
End Of The World
The
term "the end of the world" refers to the Second Coming
of Jesus Christ. The Second Coming of Jesus will end the
world that we know and usher in a period of time the Bible calls
the Millennium (the Millennium will be 1000 years).
The
Millennium
The
term "the Millennium" or "the Millennial
reign" refers to the period of time that begins with the
Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us Jesus
will establish His Kingdom (Kingdom of God) here on earth, and
rule from the throne of David for 1000 years. The Bible also
tells us that during this time Satan (the devil) is locked away
and has no power to tempt or influence the human race.
|
