List Of Common Christian Terms!
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Hosea 4:6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
Learn the definitions of many common Christian terms. There is a loosely used term, “Christianese,” which implies when a Christian speaks in a way that only other Christians can understand. Slang or expressions to convey spiritual terms. It is not something to be grasped, yet we often say them in circles of Christian friends. I found out that it is best to speak so that others who are not Christian can understand. ~ Bill Greguska
Terms Christians Sometimes Use With Themselves!
What is Christianese?
“Christianese” is a term made to describe Christian jargon and phrases. In short, it’s Christian jargon that people outside the Christian community wouldn’t understand.
We must be aware of when we’re speaking Christianese, especially to those who are unfamiliar with the terminology. I’ve found this to be an issue when it comes to evangelism.
Christian Terms and Definitions
To simplify terms, here are Christian terms and definitions for you. Each word is also linked to another website to better understand the word and its meaning.
- Baptize: When someone says baptize or baptism, they often refer to water immersion. This is a practice Christians do to declare their faith in Jesus publicly.
- Born again: Being born again means God has saved you, and you’ve become a new person. Jesus talks about being born again with a man named Nicodemus (John 3:1-15).
- Christ: Christ isn’t Jesus’ last name. It’s a title that means Messiah or anointed one. The Old Testament speaks of someone who would be a savior and deliver (e.g., Isaiah 42:1, 61:1-3). Jesus fulfills this Messiah role. That’s why he’s called Christ.
- Church: Most people know what Church means if you’re referring to the building. However, in the New Testament, we learn that Church refers to the people rather than the building. As Christians, we are the Church.
- Depravity: Depravity isn’t a word we find in the Bible. It’s a theological word used to describe our human nature.
- Disciple: Disciple means student. In that period, this conveyed a student who would follow their teacher and
- Doctrine: Doctrine is another word that isn’t found in the Bible. It’s a theological word that refers to the teachings or beliefs.
- Evangelism: Evangelism means sharing the gospel, which is the good news of Salvation.
- Faith: Faith isn’t wishful thinking or blind belief as unbelievers may think. We’re told what faith is in the Bible. It states, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
- Fornication: Fornication is premarital sex. This isn’t limited to sexual intercourse – any sexual interaction between people before marriage. Fornication is a sin.
- Grace: Grace means unmerited favor. It’s a favor the person doesn’t deserve.
- Hedge of protection: Funny enough, this phrase isn’t found in the Bible. You can argue the concept is located in the Bible, though. When people say this phrase, they typically pray God will protect them/others.
- Idolatry: Idolatry is anything you love and put above God. Anything can become an idol.
- Messiah: see Christ for definition.
- Repentance: Repentance means turning away from sin and turning toward Christ. It’s a complete 180.
- Righteousness: Righteousness is doing what’s right in the sight of God. We’re called righteous when we put our faith in Jesus.
- Salvation: Salvation means you’ve been saved and delivered from sin and its ultimate destiny – hell.
- Saved: Being saved means God has saved you. You have been made right in God’s eyes and are in good standing with him because of Jesus. (see also born again for definition).
- Sin: Most would profess to be a good person, but we’re all bad people when it comes to it. Sin means missing the mark. We all sin – no one is perfect except God.
- Son of God: To be the Son of God simply means to be of God. Jesus is the Son of God in that he is of God. He has the exact nature of God because he is God.
- Sovereignty: Sovereignty is a word used to describe God often. God is sovereign in that he’s in control of everything. He has the power to do whatever he wills.
- Theology: Theology simply means the study of God.
- Washed in the blood: This phrase isn’t found in the Bible but is used by Christians to refer to God’s sacrifice for us on the cross.
- Worship: Worship doesn’t simply refer to music but to reverence for God. We worship Him through the way we live our lives.
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* Grace: Receiving something we don’t deserve. God forgives sins and gives us His love through His grace even though we don’t deserve it. We cannot earn His grace; it’s His gift to us when we accept Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross.
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3:14-17] Salvation = being saved from sin and its consequences, being saved from dangers, adversities, and tribulations, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, being healed from disease, and having the gift of eternal life with God.
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