Terms

Cassianism

Middle ground between Augustine and Pelagian perspectives on sin and grace. Humans neither spiritually dead or spiritually alive They are spiritually sick, in need of grace to be saved, but enough free will to respond to God's outstretched hand Semi-pelagian or cooperationism

conditional immortality

Minority/cult opinion where human souls like bodies are mortal and after physical death, only after the resurrection will humans experience consciousness; Soul sleep until day of judgement

Justification

a declaration of righteousness we are acquitted, excluding all condemnation to charge to one's account - imputation not impartation of righteousness righteousness through faith in Christ (Paul) - we are made forever right and acceptable to God - legal declaration that happens at conversion

theism

belief in a god or gods

Exclusivism

belief that one's own tradition is the only true religion and that others are invalid "Or particularism, the view that salvation is found only in and through the work of Jesus Christ Also generally includes the necessity that a person must know and believe in Christ's work to be saved."

Special Grace

extended to those who become believers, is an act of God limited to those who trust in Christ

expiation

the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing; atonement - covering sins or canceling debt

Pelagianism

the belief that original sin did not taint human nature and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without special divine aid. - fifth century

Covenant Theology

the system of theology that centers on God as a covenant-making God and sees the history of creation through these covenants. Built on 3 covenants: 1 - covenant of works between God and Adam: perfect obedience is enjoined with promise of eternal life 2 - covenant of redemption between God Father and Son where elect are promised to Son on basis of His obedience 3 - covenant of grace between Son the elect person where eternal life is pledged on condition of faith Along with dispensationalism are distinct Protestant traditions

Theodicy

the theological question that tries to connect belief in God's justice with the reality that sometimes good people suffer unjustly and die "From Greek words meaning "to justify God"; an attempt to explain how evil, sin, suffering, death, and destruction can exist in a universe created by a morally perfect, all-powerful, all-knowing God."

Grace

unmerited favor Romans 4:4-5

Salvation

"The general term for God's activity on behalf of rebellious sinners; includes past, present, and future aspects, beginning with foreknowledge and predestination and culminating in glorification (Rom. 8:29-30)."

Regeneration

"The picture of salvation as a new birth, to be born again (John 3:3), washed by the Spirit (Titus 3:5), and made alive in Christ (Eph. 2:5). Some theologians have used it to refer to the moment of conversion to Christ by repentance, linking it closely to the act of baptism. Others spoke of it as a progressive spiritual renewing by the Spirit, by which Christians are made more righteous. The most common theological usage refers to the onetime moment when a person is transferred from spiritual death into spiritual life (2:1-5)."

Redemption

"The process by which sinners were purchased by God. The controlling metaphor is the slave market; the dominant biblical example is the exodus, where God delivered his people from bondage in Egypt. Having been purchased, they belonged to Him, just as sinners purchased by the Savior belong to Him (1 Cor. 6:20; Rom. 6)."

Universalism

"The view of salvation—rejected throughout history by almost all orthodox protestant evangelical Christians—that ultimately all sinners will be forgiven and saved either because of God's universal love for all humans or because of some cleansing of all through purgatorial fires."

Pluralism

"The view that all religions include some truth and that there are many paths to God. Christians are saved through following the Christian path, Buddhists through following the Buddhist way, Muslim through faithfulness to Islam, etc."

Inclusivism

"The view that salvation is found only through the work of Christ but that one might be saved apart from knowledge of His work. " - some limit to infants and to those who don't have ability to hear and respond to God - others extend the hope of salvation to those who have never heard the gospel or those who respond to whatever revelation they receive

Objective Atonement

"Theories of the atonement that relate the work of Christ "Godward" in actually, objectively affecting a necessary change in circumstances, with regard to God's demand for justice that makes salvation possible. - which include penal substitution and satisfaction, contrast with subjective theories."

Governmental Theory

"Theory of the atonement often associated with Hugo Grotius that sought to mediate between penal substitution (objective atonement) and the moral example theory (subjective atonement). It emphasized God as loving Creator with freedom to forgive whomever He wills. However, if He does so, He will be perceived as lax with regard to sin's seriousness, which will lead to loss of moral government over the earth. In Christ's death, then, God demonstrates sin's seriousness, deters humans from further sinning, and so justly upholds His this role." - Remonstrants and Arminian

Assurance of Salvation

1 John 5:13, John 5:24 the confidence we may have based on certain evidences in our lives that we are truly born again and will persevere as Christians until the end of our lives

Unlimited Atonement

1 Timothy 2:4 "The view that Christ died for the whole world, for everyone, without exception, but that only those who place their faith in Him will be saved. His work of atonement, sufficient to save all, is efficient only for those who believe.

New Perspective on Paul

A scholarly perspective that interprets Paul's phrase "works of the law" as covenant markers (circumcision, Sabbath observance, dietary restrictions) that identify Jews as being God's chosen people; this interpretation differs from the traditional view that "works of the law" are meritorious acts of human achievement (keeping the commandments, performing good works). - declaration of righteousness at the end

Yes

Did OT receive forgiveness through sacrificial system Lev 4-6, 17

Total Depravity

Essentially and unchangeably bad Humans are guilty before God because of sin Romans 3:10-12, 6:17-20, 8:6-8 "the doctrine of sin associated with Augustinian, Calvinist, and Arminian theology that because of the fall, humans are spiritually dead—essentially and unchangeably bad apart from divine grace. Their guilt before God is total. Total depravity doesn't mean everyone is as evil as they could possibly be, but that everyone absolutely needs the grace of God to even understand the gospel and choose to accept it."

Conditional election

God predestines (elects) a person to be saved because in his foreknowledge he sees that he or she will choose in favor of the gospel. Non-Calvinism and non-Augustinian God's election based on person's decision to believe

Election

God's choosing of people for salvation and carrying out God's works on earth Calvinist believe it is based on God's eternal choice

Special Revelation

God's communication of Himself and His will to particular people through His word and Jesus Christ Results in a personal and propositional knowledge of God Himself, his works and his will

Security

God's work so that believer feels this way in the Savior (Phil 1:6)

foreknowledge

"The biblical term means "to know [or decree] in advance." It indicates His favorable disposition to people prior to their existence."

Glorification

" The final stage in the salvation process. It includes the resurrection of the body and the new heaven and new earth (Rom. 8:18-23, 30)." The final step in the application of redemption. It will happen when Christ returns and raises from the dead the bodies of all believers for all time who have died, and reunites them with their souls, and changes the bodies of all believers who remain alive, thereby giving all believers at the same time perfect resurrection bodies like his own.

Panetheism

" The intersection between theism and pantheism; says the divine nature intimately, inextricably indwells all creation from greatest to least. Everything is/becomes a revelatory encounter with the divine."

Supralapsarianism

"A Calvinist view that God's decree to elect some humans to salvation (and not others) occurred prior to His decree to allow the fall. Those who hold this view hold to double predestination."

Sublapsarianism

"A Calvinist view that God's decree to elect some to be saved occurred after His decree to allow the fall." Creation, Fall, Provision of Salvation for all, Election of Some to be Saved

reonciliation

"A change in relationship from enmity to peace. In salvation, God worked on our behalf through Christ to restore our relationship to Him (2 Cor. 5:19)."

Repentance

"A change of heart and mind that produces a change of life (Matt. 3:8). It must be distinguished from faith but can never be separated from faith, since repentance brings forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:47)."

faith

"A firm and certain knowledge of God's benevolence toward us, founded upon the truth of the freely given promise in Christ, both revealed to our minds and sealed upon our hearts through the Holy Spirit" (John Calvin, Institutes, 3.2.7)." The theological virtue by which one believes in all that God has said and revealed to man and that the Church proposes for belief.

Free Grace

"A position, in reaction to "lordship salvation," emphasizing that salvation is by grace through faith and that repentance and obedience are subsequent responses to salvation." The opposite of Unconditional Election. Basically, this is salvation (and entry into Heaven) as a product of faith, as opposed to the belief that God has preordained those who make it into Heaven.

Final Sanctification

"Also called "complete" or "perfect" sanctification; an aspect of the biblical teaching on the believer's growth in holiness. Scripture suggests that his or her experience of being taken to be with the Lord will coincide with a divinely given freedom from sin's very presence—i.e., sin will no longer be a part of his or her experience."

Finneyism

"An aberrant soteriology arising, who denied such classic doctrines of the orthodox protestant evangelical faith as depravity, regeneration, and assurance of salvation. ... - ultimately made salvation not a free gift but the reward for a life of willing repentance and obedience to God."

Satisfaction Theory

"Atonement theory commonly associated with Anselm of Canterbury; a substitutionary form asserting that God's honor demands restoration and reparation by humanity; however, humanity cannot satisfy the demand; the God-Man, Jesus, is able to make satisfaction on behalf of humanity, for He is both divine (able) and human (obligated)."

Eternal Security

"God's selection of some to receive divine grace; refers to His choice of Israel (Acts 13:17), the church (Eph. 1:4), and those who compose each. Calvinists believe election is based on God's eternal choice, Arminians and Wesleyans that election is based on foreseen faith" Another term for "perseverance of the saints." However, this term can be misunderstood to mean that all who have once made a profession of faith are "this"in their salvation when they may not have been genuinely converted at all.

Predestination

"God's sovereignty and providence in salvation. Those He has chosen to receive His grace will be saved (Rom. 8:29-30). Some Calvinists use this term to refer also to those who are not saved, those predestined to condemnation (double predestination). But those who hold to such generally emphasize that predestination of the righteous is a positive divine act while God's passing over the non-elect is passive."

Subjective atonement

"In contrast with objective theories, this models (e.g., moral influence and moral example) share the belief that the atonement's main focus is to effect a change in humans—Christ's work is meant to produce a moral, emotional, or devotional response that leads the sinner to repentance and righteous living."

Ransom to Satan

"Objective atonement theory held by some early church fathers, that Christ's death paid a ransom price to Satan in order to free humans from their slavery and bondage to him. But because Christ was a perfect human and also perfect God, death and the devil couldn't hold Him; He was raised to lead liberated captives into new and eternal life."

Propitiation

"Offering that turns away (or satisfies) divine wrath against sin."

Order of Salvation

"Often called by its Latin phrase, ordo salutis, refers to orthodox protestant evangelical perspectives on the order in which God accomplishes various aspects of salvation in the experiences of the saved. Reformed Calling, Regeneration, faith, Justification, Sanctification, Perseverance, Glorification

Soul sleep

"The belief within personal eschatology that a person's soul does not consciously exist between physical death and resurrection but rests in an unconscious state until judgment. This is not a classic Christian view."

recapitulation

"Theory of the atonement; an ancient view of Christ's work as a replaying and reversing of what Adam wrought in the fall. Thus, Christ, the "second Adam," retraced the steps of Adam and all humans in birth, life, and death, but instead of failing the trials, tests, and temptations, as all others had, He succeeded. By His obedience, He undoes disobedience; by His righteousness He undoes unrighteousness; by His death he undoes sin, death, and the devil; by His life He opens the doors to participation in the divine life."

Forgiveness

"To remove (take away) sin, shame, and guilt. In the redemptive plan of God there is no forgiveness without blood being shed (Heb. 9:22)."

Sanctification

"can refer to the act of setting persons or objects apart for a special purpose. In Christian theology, refers especially to the process by which God's grace leads to a progressive growth in holiness for believers."

Foresight Election

"he belief that God, knowing the future, peers down the corridors of time from His vantage prior to creation and foresees who will respond freely to the gospel of salvation, and so elects them. God's decree of election, then, is based on Him having faith in those who will, by their free will, accept His offer of salvation through Jesus Christ."

Prevenient Grace

"in the Arminian and Wesleyan traditions, has extended to every person, which makes it possible for them to believe." "The theological designation for God's initial gracious movement toward the sinner with a genuine offer of salvation and an enablement to respond freely; it's thus "preparatory" or "enabling" grace. For Calvinism, it is extended only to the elect, who are made able and willing to respond. For Arminianism, it is given to all humans based on a universal application of Christ's death, though the enablement to believe doesn't necessarily mean all will respond positively.

Theosis

'divinization', the process of becoming like God "A classic doctrine, especially emphasized in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, that emphasizes the Godward, Christ-ward, heavenward trajectory of salvation through mystical union with Christ. From an ancient Greek concept related to passing from mortality to immortality, or partaking of the divine nature by God's transforming grace, theosis teaches that in their glorious states redeemed humans will be forever growing toward, though never ultimately arriving at, a likeness with God through conformity with Jesus Christ, the God-Man."

Augustianism

All suffer spiritual death from Adam Inherit total depravity By Gods grace alone Humans not spiritually alive or sick Spiritually dead in need of miracle of regeneration so they can believe

Christus Victor

Atonement model focused on Christ's cosmic triumph over sin and death Christ death have great cosmic significance moore than significance, also are a victor in Christ and partake in spoils of victor

Moral Example Theory

Atonement viewed as God providing in Jesus Christ an example of perfect love; the cross of Jesus "draws" sinners to God and to love neighbors as God loves us. - rejects classic penal substitutionary theory - Abelard and liberal views

Arminianism

Belief that salvation is offered to all humans but is conditional on acceptance of God's grace. Different from Calvinism, which emphasizes predestination and unconditional election. Rooted in Gods foreknowledge of those who will respond in faith in universal offer of gospel Humans can choose Redemption is universal Believers can fall from grace and lose salvation

Antinomianism

Belief that the elect need not obey the law of either God or man; most notably espoused in the colonies by Anne Hutchinson. An interpretation of Puritan beliefs that stressed God's gift of salvation and minimized what an individual could do to gain salvation; identified with Anne Hutchinson.

Limited Atonement

Jesus died for the chosen only, not for everyone; Calvinist idealology

Perseverance of the Saints

John 6:37-40 - the doctrine that all those who are truly born again will be kept by God's power and will keep as Christians until the end of their lives and that only those who do so until the end have been truly born again - also eternal security

Calvinism

Protestant sect founded by John Calvin. Emphasized a strong moral code and believed in predestination (the idea that God decided whether or not a person would be saved as soon as they were born). Calvinists supported constitutional representative government and the separation of church and state.

Unconditional Election

Romans 9 "The view, common among Augustinian and Calvinist traditions, that God's choosing of some humans for salvation is not based on any real or potential good or anticipated response in those humans, but purely by His free, sovereign choice."

Irresistible Grace

Romans 9:19 "in the Calvinist tradition, the elect, who are recipients of God's prevenient, preparatory grace, will not resist it. Ultimately, all the elect will be saved; they cannot resist God's saving grace toward them."

effocacious grace

Saving grace that accomplishes salvation of the sinner and accomplishes the purpose for which it is given Associated with predestination and eternal security/ perseverance

Conversion

The point at which a person becomes a Christian and begins lifelong process of following christ

adoption

The act in which God makes believers part of His family, by grace through faith Fathers son - Hebrew 1:3 Believers made part - Ephesians 1:5 Co-hiers and future hope- romans 8:15-17, 23

TULIP

Total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, perseverance of the saints

Pantheism

The belief in opposition to Christian doctrine, that God and nature are one and the same.

Lordship Salvation

The belief that salvation includes both faith and repentance, which are two sides of the same coin. In repentance, the believer is committing to give up all known sin, thereby making Christ Lord of his or her life. "the view that becoming a Christian involves a turning in the heart from sin and, as a part of faith, a submissive commitment [repentance] to obey Jesus Christ as Lord."

Common Grace

The grace of God by which he gives people innumerable blessings that are not part of salvation Grace shown by God in spite of spiritual condition

Moral Influence Theory

The theory that Christ's death was not a payment for sins but simply a demonstration of how much God loved human beings, because it showed how God identified with their sufferings, even to the point of death. The atonement becomes, then, an example designed to draw from us a grateful response.

Penal Substitution

The view of the atonement that holds that Christ in his death bore the just penalty of God for our sins, and did so as a substitute for us. - penalty of sin is death and all humanity has earned just punishment - "Here the atonement is seen as a legal transaction between God and Christ for humanity's salvific benefit."

Infralapsarianism

The view that in the plan made by God in eternity, his decree to permit the fall logically preceded his decree of election, so that when God chose some people to receive eternal life, he was choosing them from the whole mass of humanity, all regarded as fallen creatures.