Creation and Nature of Man in Theology

Creatio ex nihilo

Latin, "Created out of nothing"

Immediate creation

something created without pre-existing materials

Mediate creation

something created with pre-existing materials

Image of God

Image = a shadow; outline (of God)

Likeness

resemblance (to God)

Immortality

"deathlessness" (to live forever); mankind's condition apart from sin

Dichotomy

theory that man is a two-part being (body & soul, material & immaterial)

Trichotomy

theory that man is a three-part being (body, soul, & spirit)

Sovereignty

God's right of ownership over His creation

Free moral agency

the ability to make actual, original decisions, a.k.a. free will (not merely the appearance of choice)

Creation theory

false view that God creates the soul/spirit and places it into the developing body

Pre-existence theory

false view that God created all souls that would exist and placed them into Adam to be passed down each generation.

Traducian theory

view that the soul/spirit is formed through procreation by the parents (best supported by Scripture)

Death

separation

Physical death

separation of the material (body) from the immaterial (soul/spirit)

Spiritual death

separation of the immaterial (soul/spirit) from God

Eternal death

separation from God forever (material and immaterial - "the second death")

Original sin

the human sin nature originated in Adam and is passed to every member of the human race

Headship

when Adam sinned, he represented all of mankind

Sin nature

man's inherent predisposition toward evil

Curse

to withhold God's blessing and/or to bring adversity

Depravity

man's corruption (no part of man is unaffected by sin)

Iniquity

a departure from the right; lawlessness

Sin

to miss the mark (of God's standard of righteousness)

Transgression

a violation of a boundary; rebellion

Salvation

the redeeming work of God for man to deliver him from the penalty, power, and presence of sin

Propitiation

satisfaction; the turning away of God's wrath because of the offering of Christ (Ryrie)

Faith

confidence or trust in God's Word and character

Grace

unmerited favor

Substitutionary atonement

(aka vicarious atonement) Jesus Christ's death for sin in our place

Repentance

a change of mind

Regeneration

impartation of new and divine life after being spiritually dead (being born again)

Justification

to declare a sinner to be righteous

Imputation

transmission of one's characteristics to another (Adam's sin to man; man's sin to Christ; Christ's righteousness to the believer)

Remission

a sending away or removal of one's sin; forgiveness

Sanctification

God setting apart the believer for Himself to serve a specific purpose

Glorification

perfectly conformed to Christ's image; spiritually confirmed in holiness and physically incorruptible/immortal

Resurrection

returning life to the physical body and reuniting the soul/spirit and body

Legalism

an addition of works to faith as a futile way of obtaining grace

Assurance of Salvation

a believer's confident realization that he has eternal life by his faith alone

Eternal Security

the work of God which guarantees that salvation, once received, is possessed forever and cannot be lost (Ryrie)

Adoption

Greek, "placement of a son" (in the present, the position of sonship; in the future, glorification at the Rapture)

Arminianism

fallible theological system based on Arminius' teachings and developed by his successors; articulated in his Sentiments, and in Remonstrance

Calvinism

fallible theological system based on Calvin's teachings and developed by his successors; commonly characterized by the acronym, TULIP

Lordship salvation

the false view that for salvation a person must trust Jesus Christ as his Savior from sin and must also commit himself to Christ as Lord of his life, submitting to His sovereign authority

Church

a called out assembly

Synagogue

gathered, gathering (also translated "assembly")

Universal church

all believers (regenerate persons), from Pentecost to Rapture/first resurrection (regardless of affiliation)

Local Church

a specific local congregation of believers

Great Commission

Christ's command to evangelize all people and to disciple converts

Pastor

a shepherd (responsible for nourishing & protecting the congregation)

Bishop

an overseer (responsible for the administration & management of ministry)

Elder

a senior (responsible for biblical counsel/wisdom & spiritual leadership)

Deacon

a minister (responsible primarily for physical needs of the congregation)

Ordinance

an outward duty prescribed by Christ to be performed by His church (a ceremonial observation)

Sacrament

a false view of ecclesiastical ceremonies in which the participant is believed to receive grace in and through participation

Transubstantiation

false view of the Lord's Supper in which the elements (bread and cup) become the body and blood of Christ

Consubstantiation

false view of the Lord's Supper in which the elements (bread and cup) are mystically joined with the presence of Christ (i.e., "communion")

Commemoration

(also, Representation) biblical view of the Lord's Supper in which the elements (bread and cup) picture the body and blood of Christ.

Prophecy

Any & all predictions of Scripture made prior to fulfillment, many of which have already been fulfilled (e.g., exiles/captivities, Messianic ministry, vicarious death, etc.)

Eschatology

Prophecies specifically involving the end time events (last things), which have not yet been fulfilled

Dispensational interpretation

Approach to interpretation characterized by consistent contextual literalism

Replacement theology

False belief that the church replaces Israel in the covenants and promises

Dispensations

Dispensational interpretation typically leads to the identification of a series of dispensations in Scripture in which God deals with mankind in different ways. There is no universal list of dispensations; however, some are commonly accepted; these include the following: Innocence, Conscience, Civil Government, Patriarchs/Promise, Law, Grace, and Millennium.

Millennialism

Doctrine of the literal, physical reign of Christ for 1,000 years on earth

Premillennialism

Teaching that Christ will return to earth before the millennium

Pretribulation rapture

Teaching that Church Age saints will be raptured/resurrected at the close of the Church Age and before the Tribulation

Rapture

The bodily resurrection and departure of Church Age saints (both dead and living) to be with the Lord

First Resurrection

The resurrection of believers to eternal life

Mystery

A truth revealed in the N.T. that cannot be discerned from the O.T. alone

Judgment Seat of Christ

Judgment at which Christians will be rewarded for faithful service to Christ

Day of the LORD

An all-encompassing term to describe the period of time that begins after the Rapture and continues through the 'tribulation,' the Second Coming, and Millennial Kingdom (Christ's established kingdom on earth)

Tribulation

God's 7-year judgment of the world for its sin and rebellion and His purification of Israel; 'time of Jacob's trouble' (God will pour out His wrath on mankind and the physical creation; it is a time when Satan will seek to overthrow the rule of God and annihilate His chosen people Israel)

'Beginning of sorrows'

First half of the Tribulation (3½ years)

'Abomination of Desolation'

Midpoint of the Tribulation when the antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel

'Great tribulation'

Second half of the Tribulation (3½ years)

Second Coming

Physical return of Christ to earth to deliver Israel from destruction and to inaugurate His earthly kingdom