A go-to verse for so many regarding salvation and the source of that salvation. It is a wonderful verse and should never be degraded as it is also a part of the Word of God. Unfortunately, this has not stopped many from ripping this text from its surrounding context and effectively reading into it what … Continue reading John 3:16 – Digging Into the Fuller Meaning of a Text
-ologies & Key terms
Christ Is Not a Last Name
This should be a rather straightforward topic but it is funny how often people treat Christ's full name as 'Jesus Christ' when 'Christ' isn't a name, to begin with. Jesus is the (English) name of the savior. We are given no further information as to whether he had any additional parts to his name. If … Continue reading Christ Is Not a Last Name
Predestination
Merriam-Webster.com 1: the act of predestinating: the state of being predestinated 2: the doctrine that God in consequence of his foreknowledge of all events infallibly guides those who are destined for salvation Etymonline.com mid-14c., predestinacioun, "the action of God in foreordaining certain of mankind through grace to salvation or eternal life," from Old French predestinacion and directly from Church Latin praedestinationem (nominative praedestinatio) "a determining beforehand," … Continue reading Predestination
Election
Merriam-Webster.com elec·tion | \ i-ˈlek-shən \ Definition of election 1a: an act or process of electing the election of a new governor b: the fact of being elected her election to the Senate 2: predestination to eternal life 3: the right, power, or privilege of making a choice Etymonline.com c. 1300, eleccioun, "act of choosing" someone to occupy a position, elevation to office" (whether by one person or a body of … Continue reading Election
Adiaphora & More
Literally, "matters of indifference." Beliefs or practices which the sixteenth-century Reformers regarded as being tolerable, in that they were neither explicitly rejected nor stipulated by Scripture. For example, what ministers wore at church services was often regarded as a "matter of indifference." The concept is of importance in that it allowed the sixteenth-century reformers to … Continue reading Adiaphora & More
Pentecost
Merriam-Webster.com Definition of Pentecost 1: SHAVUOT: a Jewish holiday observed on the sixth of Sivan and by Orthodox and Conservative Jews in the Diaspora also on the seventh of Sivan in commemoration of the revelation of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai — called also Pentecost 2: a Christian feast on the seventh Sunday after Easter commemorating the descent of … Continue reading Pentecost
Arminian
Merriam-Webster.com : of or relating to Arminius or his doctrines opposing the absolute predestination of strict Calvinism and maintaining the possibility of salvation for all likewise definition for arminianism Etymonline.com Arminian (adj.) 1610s in reference to a Protestant sect, from Arminius, Latinized form of the name of James Harmensen (1560-1609), Dutch Protestant theologian who opposed Calvin, especially on the question of … Continue reading Arminian
Recapitulate and Recapitulation
I specifically put both terms in the title as they are each so common but with the differing ending have slightly different situational use. Merriam-Webster.com transitive verb 1: to retell or restate briefly : SUMMARIZE recapitulate the main points of an argument. He is best when commenting on the words of others; he is worst when attempting to recapitulate the history … Continue reading Recapitulate and Recapitulation
Asceticism
Merriam-Webster.com as·cet·i·cism | \ ə-ˈse-tə-ˌsi-zəm \ Definition of asceticism 1: the practice of strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline : the condition, practice, or mode of life of an ascetic: rigorous abstention from self-indulgence Sacrifice, renunciation, asceticism, fasting, returning again to God … : these are inclinations fueled as much by instinct as by religious idealism. — Joyce Carol Oates Crossing … Continue reading Asceticism
Covenant
Dictionary.com noun an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified.Law. an incidental clause in such an agreement.Ecclesiastical. a solemn agreement between the members of a church to act together in harmony with the precepts of the gospel. verb (used without object) to enter into a covenant. verb (used with … Continue reading Covenant
Monergist Gratia 