The time period when Jesus was born and had His earthly ministry. This time period extends from His birth to His death, resurrection and ascension.
Jesus Christ will return to earth at the end of the Tribulation with His saints to destroy the armies gathered against Israel and to restore the earth to perfect environment. (Bible Doctrine Resource) (McLaughlin—which appears to be where BDR got this doctrine from)
1st and 2nd Advents of Jesus
When Jesus first came to walk on this earth, that was the 1st Advent. When He returns to destroy the nations who are about to invade Israel, that will be the 2nd Advent. David and the two advents of Jesus Christ (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). (Stan Murrell)
This is when a foreign nation comes in and rules over the country which is under discipline. These stages of discipline were devised primarily for nation Israel, but there is some application to us today. Thieme called this the 4th Cycle of Discipline.
This is the stage of discipline God brings upon Israel when the people are removed from their own land and taken into slavery by some foreign power. Thieme called this the 5th Cycle of Discipline. The Five Cycles of Discipline (R. B. Thieme, Jr.) (Ken Ford) (Joe Griffin chart) (Lee Griffith) (Wisdom and Knowledge) (L. G. Merritt).
When Israel sinned against God, there would be increasing pressure brought to bear against them, beginning with warning disciplines and working toward more intensive stages of discipline. These stages are enumerated in Lev. 26 and were originally called the five cycles of discipline by R. B. Thieme, Jr. The Five Cycles of Discipline (R. B. Thieme, Jr.) (Ken Ford) (Joe Griffin chart) (Lee Griffith) (Wisdom and Knowledge) (L. G. Merritt).
The Church-age believer has, in the Church-age, his very own portfolio of invisible assets, the unique availability of divine power, and the fantastic privileges related to being a member of the Royal Family of God. Included with this are clearly defined problem-solving devices. In other words, beyond gnosis (knowledge) there is the most fantastic system of solving one's own problems from thinking with the mind of Christ. Accomplishing this requires us to put Bible doctrine first in our life. These problem solving devices are: 1. Rebound; 2. The Filling of the Holy Spirit; 3. Faith-Rest; 4. Grace Orientation; 5. Doctrinal Orientation; 6. A Personal Sense of Destiny; 7. Personal Love for God the Father; 8. Impersonal Unconditional Love for all Mankind; 9. Contentment and Perfect Happiness with God; 10. Occupation with the Lord Jesus Christ. For more information, see: R. B. Thieme, Jr., Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries, and All Aboard God’s Train (Bible doctrine for children).
This is where a person in authority considers himself too smart and too good to consider the suggestions of his underlings. He automatically reacts negatively to the suggestions of certain people below him. Or he rejects philosophies and approaches which rejection has been ingrained in his soul from his early age.
Another form of this is where a person in authority abuses or takes advantage of those under his authority.
If God has already done the greater of two things; then it stands to reason that He can and will do the lesser thing.
Every person with the genes of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is considered to be a racial Jew. Abraham is considered to be the first Jew; and God made many promises to Abraham, most of which applied to the people who would come from him.
Abraham had two sons—Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael is a gentile (an Arab) and Isaac is a Jew (Hebrew). Isaac had twin sons: Jacob and Esau. Esau is a gentile (an Arab) while Jacob is a Jew. Technically, everyone descended from Jacob is a Jew.
The key is regeneration and foreknowledge. Many believe that Ishmael and Esau were both unbelievers. I disagree; I believe that both men believed in the Revealed God. However, they simply did not consistently pass down the heritage of that faith to their sons and grandsons. Despite their many failings, Jacob and his 12 sons consistently passed down this spiritual heritage. God knew who would and who would not.
Abraham is the first Hebrew (often called the founder of the Jewish race; but God founded the Jewish people Himself); and Moses is known as the father of the Jewish nation Israel. In the case of Moses, God also founded through Moses (and, to be accurate, the Hebrew nation Israel did not exist until Joshua took the people into the land of promise to conquer it. See Why God Chose Abraham (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).; and Moses (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A contract made between God and Abram.
All people have Adam’s original sin imputed to the sin nature from birth. This is also known as original sin (but never known as Eve’s original sin). Adam’s act of rebellion (or sin) against God becomes a part of our being at birth. As a result, all children are born condemned by God.
Some sins are naturally addictive—alcohol and drug usage are examples of this. Quite obviously, a person drinks or takes a particular drug because they like the way it makes them feel. It titillates their emotions and causes their mind and/or body to feel good. Most often, it removes them from their circumstances, which they may find difficult. At the same time, this addictive behavior begins to consume their life.
This is when a complex of sins takes over the life of a believer or an unbeliever. When committing these sins begins to be a priority in one’s life, that is the point at which these sins have become addictive. The ability to resist such sins becomes dramatically reduced, while the satisfaction from committing these sins is also lessened. Common addictions include alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling and sexual addiction (of various types). When addiction occurs, these sins have a degenerative effect: a person will neglect his own physical appearance, his own health, his family, his familial obligations, his work and/or his financial obligations. An addicted believer will often forgo his relationship to God (going to church, Christian fellowship, the exercise of his spiritual gift) in order to commit the sins that he is addicted to.
Our point of contact with God is His justice (not His love). We either adjust to God’s justice (by believing in Jesus Christ and then advancing toward spiritual maturity); or God’s justice adjusts to us (eternal damnation for the unbeliever; a life of misery for the believer who does not grow spiritually). See the Doctrine of the Adjustment to the Justice of God.
Agapê love (also called Christian love) is not an emotion that we have or work up; it is a mental attitude. Most often, this is used with reference to other believers. We view other believers without thinking any mental attitude sins about them (we are not jealous of them, we are not angry with them, we do not see ourselves as in competition with them, etc.). We treat them in the way that we would like to be treated. This does not mean that we go up to objectionable believers and figure out five nice things to say to them. Some believers you can love from afar. See the Doctrine of Love (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The time period during which Jesus Christ walked upon this earth. This dispensation acted as a hinge between the Church Age and the Age of Israel. See the Three Dispensations: The Age of Israel, the Age of the Hypostatic Union and the Church Age (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The age of innocence is the time of man from creation to when man fell. We have no idea how long things continued like that. Man and woman in the garden were called innocent, because they were innocent of human good and evil (or, ignorant of those two things). It appears that the man and woman had normal relations in the garden; that they had fellowship with God in the garden; and that they worked in the garden. See the doctrine of Dispensations (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
This is the period of time in history where God works through believers in nation Israel. God also worked through the Abraham and those descended from him until nation Israel was established. See the Three Dispensations: The Age of Israel, the Age of the Hypostatic Union and the Church Age (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
This is the first increment of the Age of Israel, which begins with God making promises to Abraham and ends when Moses dies. Joshua will lead the people of Israel into Canaan and capture it after the death of Moses, thus establishing nation Israel (the second increment in the Age of Israel).
An amanuensis is one employed to write from dictation or to copy manuscript.
An anadiplosis [pronounced An-a-dee-PLOH-sihs] is repeating a word from the end of a sentence at the beginning of the next sentence. The words so repeated are thus emphasized as being the most important words in the sentence, which we are to mark and consider in translation and exposition. So, in 2Sam. 19:11, while the people in northern Israel are discussing the king, the king is sending a message to the people in southern Israel.
This is done in film and television all the time. A character’s name is mentioned, and, in the next frame, we have that character’s face or that character involved in something. Cordelia might ask, “Has anyone seen Angel?” And the next frame of the show is Angel fighting for his life against some demon bad guy.
This is when a man of wealth selects someone outside of his own family to take control of the family fortune. In such a case, the man of wealth either lacks natural heirs or his natural heirs are a bunch of layabouts and degenerates.
Angel of God, the
The Angel of the Lord [= the Angel of God = the Angel of Jehovah] is one of the preincarnate forms of Jesus Christ. The Angel of Jehovah is identified as Jehovah. Gen. 16:7-13 21:17-18 22:11-18 31:11-13 48:15,16 Ex. 3:2 cf. Acts 7:30-35 Ex. 13:21 14:19 Judg.2:1-4 5:23 6:11-23 13:3-22 2Sam. 24:16 Zech. 1:12-13. The Angel of Jehovah is distinguished from Jehovah. Gen. 24:7 40 Ex. 23:20 32:34 Num. 20:16 1Chron. 21:15-18 Isa. 63:9 Zech. 1:12-13. See the Doctrine of the Angel of Jehovah (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The Angel of the Lord [= the Angel of God] is one of the preincarnate forms of Jesus Christ. The Angel of Jehovah is identified as Jehovah. Gen. 16:7-13 21:17-18 22:11-18 31:11-13 48:15,16 Ex. 3:2 cf. Acts 7:30-35 Ex. 13:21 14:19 Judg.2:1-4 5:23 6:11-23 13:3-22 2Sam. 24:16 Zech. 1:12-13. The Angel of Jehovah is distinguished from Jehovah. Gen. 24:7 40 Ex. 23:20 32:34 Num. 20:16 1Chron. 21:15-18 Isa. 63:9 Zech. 1:12-13. See the Doctrine of the Angel of Jehovah (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Angels were living creatures created before man. They also have free will. Those who chose against God (or sinned against God) are fallen angels. They will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. Those who have never sinned against God and never rebelled against God are the elect angels. We do not know exactly what their future is, apart from them spending eternity with God.
Before man was created, God had created angels, and some of these angels sinned against God. This conflict, which we cannot see, is a conflict that we are a part of, and our spiritual lives in particular are directly to the Angelic Conflict. See the Angelic Conflict (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
During human history, there is an invisible conflict being played out and tied to human history, which is call the Angelic Conflict. This began with the fall of Satan and has flowed into our own lives since Satan tempted the first woman to sin against God. The two primary objectives of Satan with respect to man are (1) to keep people from believing in Jesus Christ and (2) to keep believers from growing spiritually and participating in the production of divine good. See the Angelic Conflict (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Before man was created, God created billions of angels. Satan sinned against God and a third of the angels went with Satan (these are known as the fallen angels). Satan has been sentenced to eternity in the Lake of Fire, but this sentence has not been carried out yet, presumably because Satan has lodged many objections. Man was created in order to resolve the Angelic Conflict. See the Angelic Conflict (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The angelic conflict is the result of prehistoric creatures being in opposition to God. It began with the independence and rebellion of the one who was the Messiah's angel, Satan, and it continues throughout human history until the end of the Millennium. The angelic conflict answers many basic questions about life, such as - "Why was man created? Why sin? Why is there chaos on earth? Why is there so much suffering? Why did our Lord Jesus Christ have to go to the cross?"
The Angelic Conflict is an invisible war which is taking place which involves God, the elect angels and the fallen angels. Man was created to resolve the Angelic Conflict. See the Angelic Conflict (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
There is a great unseen war which is going on between fallen and elect angels. This has been going on since the fall of Satan known as the Angelic Conflict. We, as having volition, will resolve the Angelic Conflict. See the Angelic Conflict (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Before man was created, God had created angels, and some of these angels sinned against God. This conflict, which we cannot see, is a conflict that we are a part of, and our spiritual lives in particular are directly related to the Angelic Conflict. See the Angelic Conflict (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The angelic conflict is an intense war on the part of the fallen angels to further their cause by producing a creature incapable of being saved-part angel and part man, killing the humanity of Christ, inducing Christ to sin, somehow keeping man from accepting Christ as Savior, and causing sweeping Christian apostasy. See the Angelic Conflict (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Prior to the creation of man, there were billions of beings created called angels. A third of these angels fell by sinning against God and were sentenced to death. Satan appealed this sentence and we are now in the appeals phase of this conflict. See the Angelic Conflict (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
An anthropopathism takes an easily understood emotion, passion or thought that man has or an act which man does and attributes that emotion, thought or action to God. These would be thoughts and emotions which God does not have; or describes an act which God does not do. The idea is to better explain God’s thinking and His actions in terms which we understand (this is also known as, language of accommodation). For more information, see Wenstrom, Theopedia, Got Questions?, Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary.
An anthropomorphism simply assigns human actions, feelings or characteristics to non-human things and events in order to better explain something in human terms which we can better relate to. This often helps to explain God’s actions in human terms. (in Psalm 20:2, this better explains God’s sustenance and faithfulness). For more information, see Theopedia, Got Questions?, Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary, Wenstrom.
This is where a person rebels against societal norms and standards, to the point where, if society classifies some as right, he questions it; if society classifies something as wrong, he does it. He looks at other people who adhere to these rules with disdain and sees them as inferiors. A great many filmmakers suffer from this sort of arrogance. They attempt, in their films, to continually push the envelope when it comes to societal mores. Because they question society’s conventions, they see themselves as superior and insightful to those who abide by them. However, from time to time, they we latch on to an axiom of counter-culture morality and display it with great self-righteousness (such as, tolerance).
A type is a person, thing or circumstance which looks forward into the future and finds its fulfillment in an antitype, which may be a person, thing or circumstance. Example: Moses striking the rock and from it flows waters of life is a type; Christ being judged on the cross for our sins and from Him flows living waters is the antitype.
This is the science which shows Christianity and the Bible to be logical and reasonable.
The gift of Apostleship is the highest gift of the Church Age. This gives authority over more than one church to the individual with this gift (such a person usually has a plethora of gifts in addition to). Grace Notes on Apostleship (HTML) (PDF); L. G. Merritt (Apostleship); Jack M. Ballinger (Apostleship); Roy A. Cloudt (Defined) (Apostleship),Got Questions (What is an Apostle?).
The Ark of God (also called the Ark of Testimony, Ark of the Covenant) was a box which was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold; and it was placed in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle and then in the Temple. This is perhaps the most important religious symbol in the Old Testament, representing the humanity and the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The tables of the Law, Aaron’s rod that budded, and a pot of manna were placed. See the Ark of God (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The Ark of God (also called the Ark of Testimony, Ark of the Covenant) was a box which was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold; and it was placed in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle and then in the Temple. This is perhaps the most important religious symbol in the Old Testament, representing the humanity and the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The tables of the Law, Aaron’s rod that budded, and a pot of manna were placed. See the Ark of God (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
See interlocking systems of arrogance below.
Arrogance Complex (Also known as the interlocking systems of arrogance)
The interlocking systems of arrogance refers to many clusters of sins which have a tendency to interlock with one another. That is, a believer who goes into interlocking systems of arrogance through one gate (or entrance), is likely to interlock with another cluster of sins if he remains out of fellowship. We have simple examples of this in life. A person might begin to smoke marijuana, which is illegal. Some time later, he may become involved in anti-authority actions, extreme liberal philosophy and politics, and break more and greater laws. He may involve himself with a woman with the same weaknesses, and they become involved in sexual arrogance together (his norms and standards being wiped out by his changing mores). He enters in the gate of smoking marijuana which makes him vulnerable to a number of other clusters of sins.
The idea of atonement is not full and complete forgiveness, but a covering over of the sins committed. Psalm 65:3: When iniquities prevail against me, You [God] atone for [or, cover over] our transgressions. Atonement is a temporary measure. Sins are temporarily covered over. Jesus dying for our sins gives us a full and complete atonement. See the Doctrine of Atonement (Grace Bible Church) (Chafer Theological Seminary) Atonement (Theopedia) (Believe Religious Information Source).
In authority arrogance, the individual fails to make the most difficult transition of temporal life, which is going from the authority in the home to freedom in life. The home is organized humility. The parents' authority is enforced humility, and the child's response to enforced humility produces genuine humility. Rejection of overt authority in life results in rejection of inward authority of the soul, and that destroys your own self-discipline.
This is an understanding of the legitimate authorities in life, both civil and spiritual. Lacking such orientation can make a person’s life quite difficult. Doctrine of Authority (Maranatha Church) (Westbank Bible Church) (Lake Erie Bible Church Word Doc) (PDF). See Authority, God's Chain of Command (Grace Notes HTML) (PDF).
An autograph is an error-free copy of an original manuscript of a book of the Bible. We have no original manuscripts and we have no actual autographs.
The baptism of fire is the removal of all unbelievers from the earth at the end of the Tribulation. See Doctrine of the Baptism of Fire (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
When a person believes in Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit places him into the body of Christ. This is known as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is not an experience. Grace Notes (HTML) (PDF) Verse by Verse (PDF) Word of Truth Ministries (Baptism of the Holy Spirit) Dr. Todd Kennedy (PDF).
Bible doctrine is the information found in the Old and New Testaments which God wants all believers to know. We live in the Church Age, where there is no additional Scripture being written; and therefore, there is no direct teaching by God to man. All that we need to know is found within the pages of the Bible.
Biblical inspiration may be defined as human authors wrote as moved by the Holy Spirit, so that, without waving their human intelligence, their vocabulary, their personal feelings, their literary style, their personality, their environmental influences or their individuality, they recorded God’s complete and connected message to man with perfect accuracy in the original languages of Scripture, the very words bearing the authority of divine authorship. The is known as the verbal, plenary view of inspiration. See the Basic Doctrine of Inspiration (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); the Doctrine of Inspiration (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); and the Study of Inspiration (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
One theory of creation is that God created everything all at once (as per Genesis 1:1); that, over a period of time, things all went to crap (Genesis 1:2) (Satan’s rebellion is blamed here); and that God restored the uninhabitable earth for occupation over a period of six days. This gap theory was in existence long before the Big Bang theory was accepted by most scientists (mid 1900s). The idea of Genesis 1:2 representing a period of time was first introduced by the Dutch theologian Simon Episcopius (1583-1643).
Friends and relatives and associates of a spiritually mature believer receive some overflow of blessing from that believer. People in the same geographical area of a mature of maturing believer receive blessings through their association. Blessing by Association (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The words blood of Christ connect the animal sacrifices, which involved a great deal of blood, with the Lord’s spiritual death on the Roman cross. Although Jesus did bleed while on the cross, He did not bleed to death; and the shedding of His physical blood did not take away any sins (nor did His physical suffering for being crucified). When God darkened Golgotha for 3 hours and poured our sins onto the Person of Jesus Christ, He paid the penalty for our sins in His own body on the cross (1Peter 2:24). That was the Lord’s spiritual death and it was far more painful and difficult than any of the physical wounds which Jesus had. Grace Notes (HTML; PDF); R. B. Thieme, Jr.’s Doctrine of the Blood of Christ (HTML; Order from Thieme Ministries); Grace Doctrine Bible Church of Baytown (Blood of Christ); Maranatha Church (Doctrine of the Blood); Grace Fellowship Church (The Blood of Jesus Christ); Pastor Merritt (Doctrine of the Blood).
The Book of Life is One Thing in Time and Something Different in Eternity. Because all men are potentially saved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Book of Life begins as a registry containing the names of every member of the human race in time, Psalm 139:16. However, in eternity, it is the registry of all believers. Doctrine of the Book of Life (Jim Rickard) (Don Samdahl).
Canaan, the Land of Promise
Canaan is the land promised by God to Israel on a number of occasions. It is named Canaan after the Canaanites who live there. In modern terns, this would be the land between Egypt and Lebanon (roughly).
The set of books that, over time, were organically determined to be authoritative and inspired by God, and therefore make up the books of the Bible that we have today. It is more correct to say that each book in the canon was recognized as being a part of God’s Word, rather than determined to be God’s Word. Further detail on this topic: Canonicity and Ancient Manuscripts (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); Canon of the New Testament (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); Canonicity (Wenstrom) (L.G. Merritt) (Spokane Bible Church) (Bible Hub) (Got Questions) (Got Questions #2) (Dr. Norman Geisler); and the best source for information on the Canon of Scripture I believe is found in Geisler and Nix’s Introduction to the Bible. R. B. Thieme, Jr. did a marvelous job on this topic, which can be ordered from R. B. Thieme, Jr. Ministries (Canonicity).
A believer is either carnal (out of fellowship) or spiritual (in fellowship). The believer becomes carnal by sinning; he gets back into fellowship by naming his sins to God. See the Doctrine of Rebound (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Carnality is the opposite of spiritually. A person who is carnal has sinned, and is therefore out of fellowship with God. When such a one names his sin or sins to God, he is restored to fellowship and he is spiritual once again. See the Doctrine of Rebound (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
This is the love between one man and one woman. This is also called right man/right woman. (Category #1 love is loving God; category #2 love is love between 1 man and 1 woman; and category #3 love is friendship.)
Charisma is a reference to spiritual gifts; and a Charismatic Church touts the so-called gifts of the Spirit. A charismatic is one who goes to such a church and/or claims to have a gift of the Spirit (nearly always, this is the gift of tongues). The problem is, the gift of tongues had a specific use at a specific time, and is no longer necessary. When a gift is no longer necessary, God no longer gifts Christians with that gift. Although a person can use the term charisma legitimately, most often when you hear these terms, they are a reference to an apostate group. Grace Fellowship Church (spiritual gifts), Doctrine.org (Sign Gifts: Valid Today?), Word of Truth Ministries (spiritual gifts).
This is a format where the first passage can be matched to the final passage; the second passage can be matched to the second-to-the-last passage, etc. It is called a chiasmos (or, chiasmus; plural is chiasmi) based upon the letter chi (Χ). Many times, this structure can be used to find the key element of the psalm or to rearrange the psalm. (Chiasmos example) (Thomas B. Clarke) (Brad McCoy) (Biblical Chiasm Exchange)
A chiasmos (also spelled chiasmus) is the way that some portions of the Bible are organized. It takes its name from the Greek letter chi (χ). The first section matches with the last, the second with the second-to-the-last, etc. It is called a chiasmos, because the inverted parallelism looks like a chi (actually, half a chi) when one looks at it from its organizational standpoint. When there is a center element, that is what is often emphasized and what is the most important part of the passage. (Chiasmos example) (Thomas B. Clarke) (Brad McCoy) (Biblical Chiasm Exchange)
A chiasmos organizes a passage, so that there is a parallel with the beginning of the chiasmos with the end of it; the second portion of the passage finds its match in the second to the last portion of the passage; etc. The name comes from the outline looking somewhat like the Greek letter Chi (χ) (Chiasmos example) (Thomas B. Clarke) (Brad McCoy) (Biblical Chiasm Exchange)
A chiasmos organizes a passage, so that there is a parallel with the beginning of the chiasmos with the end of it; the second portion of the passage finds its match in the second to the last portion of the passage; etc. (Chiasmos example) (Thomas B. Clarke) (Brad McCoy) (Biblical Chiasm Exchange)
This is a psalm where the first passage can be matched to the final passage; the second passage can be matched to the second-to-the-last passage, etc. It is called a chiasmos (or, chiasmus) based upon the letter chi (Χ). Many times, this structure can be used to find the key element of the psalm or to rearrange the psalm. (Chiasmos example) (Thomas B. Clarke) (Brad McCoy) (Biblical Chiasm Exchange)
This is a term which has been tossed around for years, for which few could give a solid definition. Many understand a Christian nation to be that in which the government encourages and even mandates Christianity among its people. Since such a concept is anti-Biblical because it implies state-interference with free will, a new term needed to be developed.
Christology is the study of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, Christ was explained and developed through a complex system of animal sacrifices, feast days and the design of the Tabernacle and its furniture. See Basic Christology from the Spokane Bible Church.
A Christophany is an appearance by Jesus after the resurrection
The church has several different meanings today: (1) Most often, today, we understand this to refer to a local church that we attend. (2) At the beginning of the Church Age, this word referred to a gathering or assembly of people; their racial and gender specifics were unimportant. (3) The church universal refers to all of the believers (this could be all of the believers alive on earth right now or all of the believers who have lived throughout the Church Age). Grace notes “Church, the Body of Christ” (HTML) (PDF); Doctrine.org (The Church—the Body of Christ); Word of Truth Ministries (Church); Grace Bible Church of Baytown (The Church);
The Church Age is the period of time in history where God works through the body of believers, also known as the church. This age began on the Day of Pentecost, following our Lord’s resurrection and ascension, and continues today. See the Three Dispensations: The Age of Israel, the Age of the Hypostatic Union and the Church Age (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). See the doctrine of Dispensations (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A civilization marks a new beginning on planet earth. Often, there has been some sort of a purging event which occurs first. Adam and Eve began the first human civilization. After God destroyed the inhabitants of the earth with water, a new civilization began with Noah, his wife and his sons, and his son’s wives. The Millennium will begin a 3rd human civilization, when unbelievers are removed from the earth. Each new civilization is begun with believers only (we could reasonably classify Adam and Eve as believers). See Civilizations (Word of Truth)
An operation sponsored or conducted by governmental departments or agencies in such a way as to assure secrecy or concealment. A clandestine operation differs from a covert operation in that emphasis is placed on concealment of the operation rather than on concealment of the identity of the sponsor. In special operations, an activity may be both covert and clandestine and may focus equally on operational considerations and intelligence-related activities.
A client nation, is a national entity in which a certain number of spiritually mature Christians (the salt of the earth) have formed a pivot sufficient to sustain the nation and through which God specifically protects this nation so that believers can fulfill the divine mandates of evangelism, communication and custodianship of Bible doctrine, providing a haven for Jews, and sending missionaries abroad. The United States is a client-nation to God. A client nation must have freedom: Freedom to seek God, freedom to use one’s own volition and self-determination to succeed or fail, freedom from anarchy and tyranny, freedom for evangelism, freedom for believers to hear Bible teaching without government interference and, therefore, to grow spiritually, and freedom to send missionaries to other nations. Doctrine of the Client Nation (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The client nation is a nation where there are a lot of believers and a lot of mature and growing believers. This nation is known for its evangelization, for its Bible teaching, its Bible scholarship, and missionary activity. The government and leaders may or may not be supportive of such activity. However, generally speaking, such activity is allowed within the national entity. It is this activity which preserves such a national entity. Doctrine of the Client Nation (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A genealogy where the patriarch is named along with several of his sons and several of their sons. Generally, this is only for 3 or 4 generations.
A codex is an ancient manuscript text in book form. These books are constructed of a number of sheets of paper, vellum, papyrus, or similar materials. The term is now usually only used to describe manuscript books, with hand-written contents.
To compartmentalize means to put or divide into (compartments, categories, etc.), especially to an excessive degree. Compartmentalization arrogance takes this concept to the nth degree.
Consecration is the act of inducting a person into a permanent office with a ceremony (as the High Priest is consecrated for service in the book of Exodus of Leviticus). The Tabernacle and altar were also consecrated for specific service to Yehowah. These things are declared to be sacred or set apart.
Conspiracy arrogance results in a conspiracy to overthrow the purpose, policy, or authority of an organization.
God judges nations, states, cities, neighborhoods and various other organizations of people. This is known as corporate judgment. When we belong to such a place, we might receive judgment ourselves (however, we will see that God will rescue Lot from the corporate judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah).
Corporate relationship with God
God does not simply interact with man individually, which is nearly all that is taught at most churches. We have a variety of corporate or group relationships with God: our family, our business, our school, our neighborhood, our city, our state and our country. Just as corporations of men have relationships with other corporations of men, so the various corporate entities to which we belong has a relationship with God.
The term "cosmic system" refers to Satan's plan and process for controlling the world, and his attempt, using his organization of fallen angels, to counteract the plan of God in all respects. The Cosmic System (Grace Notes) (Grace Bible Church of Baytown); Cosmic System 1 & 2 (Grace Fellowship Church) (Word of Truth Ministries)
Cosmic system thinking is a person whose thinking is influenced by the cosmic system, which is the thinking of Satan. Cosmic system viewpoint is a collection of human viewpoint, lies, legalism and Satanic thinking. Cosmic system thinking opposes the gospel, Bible doctrine, and the laws of divine establishment. The Cosmic System (Grace Notes) (Grace Bible Church of Baytown); Cosmic System 1 & 2 (Grace Fellowship Church) (Word of Truth Ministries)
Cosmic thinking is the way that Satan thinks; it is the opposite of thinking like God thinks. Such a person thinks in terms of human viewpoint, Satanic lies and legalism; rather than in terms of the gospel, Bible doctrine, and the laws of divine establishment. The Cosmic System (Grace Notes) (Grace Bible Church of Baytown); Cosmic System 1 & 2 (Grace Fellowship Church) (Word of Truth Ministries)
The cosmic vortex appears to be a synonym for the cosmic system, with an emphasis on it pulling you into its grasp. The Cosmic System (Grace Notes) (Grace Bible Church of Baytown); Cosmic System 1 & 2 (Grace Fellowship Church) (Word of Truth Ministries)
Those military, paramilitary, political, economic, psychological, and civic actions taken by a government to counter the activities of rebels, guerrillas, etc.
God made a number of covenants (contracts) with Israel and with various Jews—which covenants often related to Israel as a nation. In these covenants, God made specific promises to Abraham, to David, and to the Jewish people. See the Abrahamic Covenant (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). Psalm 89 (the Davidic Covenant) (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). In many ways, the Law of Moses is a lengthy covenant.
One of the most prevalent theories in Christianity; that God has replaced Israel with the church and that the promises made to Israel have been spiritualized and made to the church instead. This is a false theory. See (Got Questions?), (Doctrine.org), (Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology), (Bible.org), (Middletown Bible Church).
The general idea is that man has a relationship to God based upon covenants, or contracts, which is not disputed by theologians. Covenant theology takes this one step further and says that the entirety of the Bible can be interpreted within the framework of covenants, which position is disputed. See (Got Questions?), (Doctrine.org), (Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology), (Bible.org), (Middletown Bible Church).
This is the incorrect interpretation of Scripture that Israel failed so many times before God that God finally just gave up on them and transferred all of His promises over to the church. Many churches and denominations hold to this theology. The over-arching view opposed to this is dispensationalism. See (Got Questions?), (Doctrine.org), (Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology), (Bible.org), (Middletown Bible Church).
Criminal arrogance seeks to solve problems by violence and/or by criminal actions. The modus operandi of a person in criminal arrogance is criminal behavior. Believers are susceptible to this kind of arrogance just as unbelievers are.
Crusader arrogance is the self-righteousness arrogance that tries to straighten the world from its error and mistakes. A person places his personal standards above the law or any form of establishment or authority. When criminal arrogance interlocks with crusader arrogance, there is terrorism or revolution.
The Cross; the Cross of Christ
The phrases the cross and the cross of Christ are common phrases used today to represent Jesus dying for our sin on the cross. In that way, these phrases mean essentially the same thing as the blood of Christ. This does not mean that there is some magic or importance in the symbol of the cross, which is ubiquitous today. Jesus did not die on a cross which looked like that. The cross that He died on was a Roman cross, which looked more like a T. The physical pain which Jesus endured, the small amount of blood which He bled, and His actual physical death are real events, but they are typical of what actually saves us from our sins. During three hours of the cross, God the Father poured out on God the Son our sins; and Jesus took upon Himself the penalty for our sins during those three hours. This is not something which was not actually observed by anyone (although the Lord is said to have screamed throughout that process).
A national entity which is a client nation to God is under both God’s protection and His discipline (much like the individual believer). As a nation moves further and further from God, God may impose disciplinary measures on that nation, which include economic disaster, illness, civil unrest, military defeat, and even invasion which may include a slavery or dispersion of the people. These cycles are found in Lev. 26. Although these warnings are designed for Israel, all client nations to God may face similar downward historical trends. These stages were originally called the five cycles of discipline by R. B. Thieme, Jr. The Five Cycles of Discipline (R. B. Thieme, Jr.) (Ken Ford) (Joe Griffin chart) (Lee Griffith) (Wisdom and Knowledge) (L. G. Merritt).
David’s Greater Son is a reference to the Messiah Who would come from the loins of David. In the Davidic Covenant (2Samuel 7), Nathan (speaking on behalf of God) promises the David’s son would rule after David dies. Although this is clearly a prophesy about Solomon, Nathan also says, “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.” (2Samuel 7:16; ESV; capitalized). David prophesied about his own Son in Psalm 110:1 The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool." ESV (capitalized) Jesus has an exchange with the religious types over this very topic in Matt. 22:41–46. The phrase, David’s Greater Son, is not found in the Bible.
A covenant (contract, agreement) which God makes with David which include the promise that David would have a Son Who would rule over Israel forever and that Israel would occupy a huge chunk of land (today, the equivalent of Israel, Jordan, Syria and Iraq, as well as portions of the Sinai Peninsula and Saudi Arabia). This covenant is eternal and unconditional. For details on this covenant, see 2Samuel 7 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD) 1Chronicles 17 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD) Psalm 89 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Once a year, the High Priest would enter into the Holy of Holies, which is in the Tabernacle, and he will sprinkle blood on the Mercy Seat, which is on top of the Ark of God. What is the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)? (Got Questions?) Day of Atonement (Bible Study) Day of Atonment.org 5 Things Christians Should Know about the Day of Atonement (Crosswalk).
This will be the return of Jesus Christ to this earth (also known as the 2nd Advent). He will bring the first installment of justice (the second installment will take place at the end of the Millennium.
These are very ancient manuscripts of portions of the Old Testament which date back to approximately 200 b.c. These are the oldest manuscripts which we have. I have done some extensive study on them in in Genesis 19 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
For the believer in Jesus Christ, dead works are things which we do that are not rewardable. This is anything that we do, no matter how noble, when controlled by the sin nature.
Jesus the Christ died twice on the Roman cross. During the crucifixion, He was separated from God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, and all of our sins were poured out on Him and He paid the punishment for those sins. This is the first death, sometimes referred to as His spiritual death; and it was a process which took three hours. It is because of this death that we are saved. When the Lord had paid for all of our sins, he proclaimed “Finished (in the past with results that continue into the future); and then He breathed His last. This was His physical death or second death on the cross.
Being involved in a set of sins which are both addictive and can become very time consuming. In many cases, such sins can take over a person’s life.
Spending a significant portion of your life pursing this or that degeneracy sin—whether it is the use of drugs, alcohol, chasing women, and/or having sex (with either gender). All of this takes time and planning out of your life, which takes valuable time from your place in God’s plan. This can be applied to any addictive sin (e.g., gambling).
We all face personal disasters (disease, loss of loved ones) and many of us face natural (hurricanes, floods, tornadoes) and national disasters (violence, terrorism, war). When we apply Bible doctrine from our souls to such a crisis, our spiritual growth is accelerated.
A disciple of Jesus would be simply a follower and/or a student of Jesus. However, this word is also applied specifically to the 12 men that Jesus chose (often called the Twelve, the 12 Disciples, or just the Disciples).
An over-arching view of God’s relationship to man; that God has, at different times in history, used different entities (Israel, the church) to move His plan forward. Sometimes an era is defined by God’s use of these different entities. See the doctrine of Dispensations (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The over-arching theological view that God has slightly different programs from one era to the next. All of His promises to Abraham and to Israel will be fulfilled, even though God has temporarily set the Jewish race aside as His representatives here on earth. See the doctrine of Dispensations (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A dispensation is a period of time wherein God’s plan for that period of time is very specific and different from other periods of time. That is, the rules for the Church Age are different than rules for the Age of Israel. See the doctrine of Dispensations (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A Dispensation is a period of human history expressed from Divine viewpoint (God's point of view). Dispensations give us the Divine outline of human history. See the doctrine of Dispensations (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A dispensation is a period of time in which God has a specific plan for spirituality, evangelization, judgment, and the writing, preservation and dissemination of His Word. The Greek noun which is occasionally translated dispensation does not mean this exactly; although it has come to mean a specific period of time as defined by God. The Greek noun is oikonomia (οἰκονομία) [pronounced oy-koh-nohm-EE-uh]; which specifically means the administration or management of a household. The idea is, those administering God’s household here on earth change from time to time. Strong’s #3622. See the doctrine of Dispensations (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A reference to the different game plans which God has for various periods of time in history. See the doctrine of Dispensations (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
God divides up human history into large blocks of time, and God has a slightly different program for each block of time. For instance, during the Age of Israel, God worked primarily through the nation Israel—through its kings, judges, prophets and priests, and through His people, the Jews.
During the Church Age, spiritual growth usually occurs as a result of the function of the local church. However, God still deals with national entities, like nations, cities, states, geographical areas, businesses, schools, etc. See the doctrine of Dispensations (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A dispensation is a period of human history expressed in terms of divine revelation. God programmed human history as a series of five unique dispensations or ages: The Age of the Gentiles (from the creation of Adam to the Exodus of Israel from Egypt), the Age of Israel (from the Exodus to the First Advent of Christ plus the seven years of the Tribulation), the Age of the Hypostatic Union (Christ’s life on earth, from His birth to His ascension), the Church Age (our present age which will end at the Rapture—also known as the Exit Resurrection), and the Millennium (the one thousand year reign of Christ). Consecutive dispensations reflect the unfolding of God’s plan for mankind and constitute the divine viewpoint and theological interpretation of history. See the doctrine of Dispensations (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Also known as the Age of Israel, the Jewish Dispensation, the Age of the Jews, etc. This was the time period between Abraham and Christ. During this time, nearly all of the Old Testament was composed (Job and the first dozen or so chapters of Genesis may have been written prior to the Age of Israel). God worked through individual Jews and corporately through the nation Israel.
This was a very short dispensation when the God-man, Jesus Christ, was on this earth. There were aspects of the Jewish Age and the Church Age which were true at this time. Jesus Christ test drove the spiritual life for us in the Church Age; His power was based upon the power of the Holy Spirit, just as ours is. Even though many of the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament were still occurring, they were in the background. What Jesus said and did took precedence over all Old Testament ritual. See the Three Dispensations: The Age of Israel, the Age of the Hypostatic Union and the Church Age (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The time that Jesus was in bodily form on this earth. This formed somewhat of a hinge between the Age of Israel and the Church Age.
A distich [pronounced DIHS-tihk] is a couplet or pair of verses or lines, usually read as a unit., which fit well together into a psalm. The book of Proverbs is chapter after chapter of distichs.
The Divine Decree of God refers to his eternal, holy, wise and sovereign purpose. God simultaneously comprehended all things that ever were or ever would be. He comprehended every event that would ever take place, along with its causes and interaction with other events, and he knew in eternity past every decision mankind would ever make.
The Decree of God is His eternal and immutable will with regard to all future events, and the precise manner and order of their occurrence (Eph. 1:11: Also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose Who works all things after the counsel of His will). The word ‘Decree’ refers to the eternal plan by which God has rendered all of the events of the universe as certain. This includes past, present and future angelic and human history. The Decree of God is the chosen and adopted plan of God for all of His works. It is His eternal purpose according to the counsels of His own will whereby, for His own glory, He has foreordained all that will ever come to pass.
Divine discipline is the divinely-ordered corrective action through which God motivates His children to turn away from sin and to return to the post salvation spiritual life. We are disciplined when we are out of fellowship (by means of sin); and we get back into fellowship by naming our sins to God. See the Doctrine of Divine Discipline (Maranatha Church—Jack M. Ballinger) (Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries) (Pastor Doug Laird) (Reasons for Christian Suffering by Dr. Robert D. Luginbill)
Also known as the laws of divine establishment. These are laws which are devised by God for the human race (for believers and unbelievers alike). The more aligned a country is with these laws, the greater freedom and prosperity that country will enjoy. Furthermore, there will be greater evangelism and Bible teaching which takes place. The further a country strays from these law results in greater tyranny and unhappiness among its population. See the Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
This is thinking the way that God thinks about things, generally in relationship to man’s relationship to other men. See the Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
This is good which is completely in accordance with the plan of God. In order for a person to do acts of divine good, they must be in fellowship and be thinking Bible doctrine. As a result, that which they do is divine good and moves the plan of God forward. See also the Doctrine of Divine Good (L.G. Merritt—West Bank Bible Church) (Grace Bible Church of Baytown) (Maranatha Church).
That which the believer produces while filled with the Holy Spirit. A mature believer will produce more divine good and more efficiently than an immature believer. See also the Doctrine of Divine Good (L.G. Merritt—West Bank Bible Church) (Grace Bible Church of Baytown) (Maranatha Church).
God’s ability to guide us through this life. His guidance comes from know the Word of God, being filled with the Spirit, and making decisions from a position of strength. When we tend to our responsibilities in life (our families, our work, the laws of divine establishment), the road forward is often as perspicuous as God telling us where to go and what to do. See the Will of God (HTML) (PDF); also Divine Guidance (Bible Doctrine Resources) (R. B. Thieme, Jr.) (verse-by-verse).
A divine institution is an absolute social structure instituted by God for the entire human race—for believers and unbelievers alike. The term divine emphasizes the fact that they have their origin in God. These are social structures that have been built into creation and into the nature of man by God. These are (1) the volitional function of the human soul; (2) work; (3) marriage; (4) family; and (5) human government. These divine institutions provide protection, perpetuation, orderly function, survival and blessing of the human race, and allow for the teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. For more information, see Divine Institutions (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A divine institution is a social structure that God has established for the safety, security, perpetuation and stability of the human race. These are (1) the volitional function of the human soul; (2) work; (3) marriage; (4) family; and (5) human government. See Divine Institutions (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
These are the things which God gives to the believer in the Church Age at the point of salvation. We have the ability to comprehend with all saints the nature of the plan of God and our place in it. We have the power of God the Holy Spirit (think of this as having power tools as opposed to having regular tools and no strength). We have the ability to grow spiritually and to make a difference in this world with the assets that God has given us. See 40 Grace Gifts Given at Salvation or 60 Grace Gifts Received At the Moment of Salvation.
Divine viewpoint is how God thinks. This is very different than how man thinks. The Lord says, "My thoughts are not like yours. Your ways are not like mine. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8–9; ERV) See Human Viewpoint Versus Divine Viewpoint Thinking (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
God’s thinking.
This is a church where the primary thrust of the church is the teaching of the Word of God, verse-by-verse and book by book. A believer attending such a church for a month or two should fully understand the gospel and rebound. It should not take much longer than that, before the believer recognizes the importance of Bible doctrine; and be on his way to having a good grasp of the plan of God. I should think that a 45 minute teaching session would be the bare minimum; and that, at least 3x a week (with provisions for getting teaching in some way on the other days of the week). One more thing: a doctrinal church is an independent church, where the pastor-teacher is the authority; and the authority over him is the Word of God and God the Holy Spirit (Who guides the pastor in his study).
Doctrinal orientation means that you have a reasonable amount of Bible doctrine circulating in your soul. You are thinking (or beginning to think) like God thinks. See Doctrinal Orientation (Bible Doctrine Resource).
A doctrinal rationale is when you take doctrine that is in your soul and you come to a conclusion concerning the circumstances in your life, so that you are able to depend upon God’s promised provisions instead of spending time in worry or fear.
The believer, in his mind, puts together some doctrinal principles and/or verses which deal with his current problem, and he depends upon these principles.
This is taking information from the Word of God and developing a logical rationale as to how God will deal with you in certain circumstances. For instance, we know that God must provide for our needs while we are here on this earth, so that we do not need to worry about what we should eat or what we should wear. God knows about these things and made provision for them in eternity past.
You understand, from Bible doctrine, the thinking, character and actions of God, and are able to apply God’s essence and function to your day to day life.
Documentary Hypothesis simply asserts that the Pentateuch was not authored by Moses but written 1000 years (give or take) after Moses by several authors who wrote portions here and there and then other men have performed extensive revisions and editing after them. See the Doctrine of Documentary Hypothesis (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). Josh McDowell did an outstanding treatise of this in The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict (or Evidence that Demands a Verdict Vol. 2).
This is the concept that the Scriptures were written by men concerning actual historical events; and by God the Holy Spirit, Who, at times, has a purpose in recording that particular event, often using it as a prophecy or as a type to be fulfilled by our Lord. Therefore, there is a literal understanding of Psalm 41:9 (Even this man I believed to be looking out for my welfare and prosperity—a man whom I trusted; a man who took meals with me—his heel has been lifted up against me.), as well as an application of this verse by Jesus to His betrayal by Judas. David the psalmist, was thinking of a specific person who had betrayed him in life; and God the Holy Spirit was thinking of Judas betraying the Lord. Same words, but different meanings and purposes. The Doctrine of the Dual Authorship of Scripture (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A state of peace and spiritual blessing when the believer is called home to be with the Lord, regardless of the amount of suffering. The peaceful awareness of God in death. BDR.org
Individually edification refers to the spiritual growth of the positive believer, and/or momentum in the Christian way of life. Hence, the individual connotation edification complex refers to the execution of the protocol plan of God and the subsequent manufacture of the "invisible hero," resulting in the glorification of God. See the Doctrine of the Edification Complex of the Soul (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). Ron Adema (Edification Complex of the Soul). Robert R. McLaughlin (Erection of an Edification Complex). Joe Griffin (chart). This term is original with R. B. Thieme, Jr. The booklet on it is now out of print.
"Edification" in the Greek is oikodomê (οἰκοδομη), which means a building or structure. The edification of the soul is accomplished by a building, or Edification Complex, that is constructed in the soul of the believer through the metabolization of Bible Doctrine. See the Doctrine of the Edification Complex of the Soul (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). Ron Adema (Edification Complex of the Soul). Robert R. McLaughlin (Erection of an Edification Complex). Joe Griffin (chart). This term is original with R. B. Thieme, Jr. The booklet on it is now out of print.
The Edification Complex of the Soul is an illustration developed and named by R. B. Thieme, Jr. It is a “building” which is constructed within the soul to illustrate spiritual growth and what sorts of things have been attained by a person who is spiritually mature. See the Doctrine of the Edification Complex of the Soul (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). This terminology is original with R. B. Thieme, Jr.
We build within our own souls a structure based upon doctrine from the Word of God. This structure gives us the very framework from which our lives are defined, guided and made content. More info is found here (there is a second part to this lesson as well):
http://www.gracedoctrine.org/word/Doctrines/Edification%20Complex%20of%20the%20Soul,%20Part%201.htm
This is an illustration of building a structure in the soul; this structure indicates spiritual maturity. See the Doctrine of the Edification Complex of the Soul (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
An ellipsis means that there is an intention gap left in the writing (or speaking), and the reader fills in this gap himself. This omission arises not from any want of thought, or lack of care, or from accident, but from design, in order that we may not stop to think or, or lay stress on, the word or thought omitted, but may dwell on the other words which are thus emphasized by the omission.
An emendation is a correction by emending; a correction resulting from critical editing. It is the act of offering an improvement to replace a mistake; setting right. In relationship to the Bible, it is thought to be a place where the text of the Old Testament might be slightly different. Although Bulling speaks of the 18 emendations, this is not a set number.
Emotional arrogance is where you allow your emotions to dominate your life, and you will set aside truth (in any of the 3 categories) in order to satiate your own emotions.
The emotional revolt of the soul is the condition of the soul when the soul’s self-consciousness makes decisions because it has yielded itself to a strong emotional state.
Enforced humility emphasizes the function of the particular authority within the societal organization. This one causes people some problems because here is where the teeth of authority begin to be felt. Because mankind is inherently sinful, when God delegated responsibility and authority in the realm of Divine Establishment, he also had to include the means to compel obedience.
Enforced humility is when you are forced to obey the proper authorities. Whether it is a parent standing over you with a switch or the police car behind you, you bend your behavior to what is expected, even though your volition desires to do just the opposite. Genuine humility is, you choose to do those things required by authority.
An epanadiplosis [pronounced EHP-an-a-dee-PLOH-sihs], where a word is used at the beginning and at the end of a sentence, in indicates that this gives a full circle of an event, from beginning to end. There is a completeness in this statement, a completeness which also causes the hearer to pay attention to what has been said.
This is the information which you have heard and believed about God and/or about His plan. The Greek word epignosis means over and above knowledge.
Epistemological rehabilitation is the perception, metabolization and application of Bible doctrine to your own experience (2Cor. 6:11-12). The end result is the renovation of one’s thinking (Rom. 12:1–2).
A question which does not require an answer.
God places certain blessings into escrow for us, so that, when we perform certain actions, these blessings are released to us. The parallel is to the of the purchase of a house where everything is placed in escrow until the buyer and seller have performed certain functions, which then transfers the house from the ownership of the seller to the ownership of the buyer. See the Doctrine of Escrow Blessings (Bible Doctrine Resource).
The essence of God is the invisible nature of God. He is perfect righteousness, perfect justice, eternal life, love, omnipotent, omnipresent, all-knowing, immutable. See Grace Notes Essence of God (HTML) (PDF); Got Questions (Omnipotence).
Establishment Code (also known as, the Laws of Divine Establishment)
These are natural laws (meaning that, they come from God) which apply to people and nations, which cause a nation to be preserved and a people to be perpetuated. These laws are designed for believers and unbelievers alike. See the Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
This is a synonym for the laws of divine establishment. Since the world appears to be made up of mostly unbelievers, God must have some kind of plan for the unbelievers while they are alive. These are called the laws of divine establishment, and they are applicable to both believers and unbelievers. These are the laws which protect the freedom of a nation, and allow for evangelism and for the teaching of the Word of God. See the Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Eternal security is also known as once saved, always saved. That is, once you have exercised faith alone in Christ alone, then you are saved forever, no matter what you do, think or say after that point in time. This is because we are saved on the basis of our Lord’s merit; on the basis of His sacrifice on the cross, not on the basis of our own merit. There is not some sort of mediocre (or better) Christian life that you must lead in order to retain your salvation or to prove your salvation. External links: Robert Dean, Grace Notes, Robert R. McLaughlin, Lewis S. Chafer, H. A. Ironside, Grace Bible Church of Baytown, and Verse by Verse (click on printed doctrines and then go to Eternal Security).
Time is an invention of God, and we find ourselves within the concept of time. However, prior to God inventing time, there is, what we call, eternity past, a time and place, if you will, before time and place existed. It is here when God made the Divine Decree (above).
The Eucharist
The Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper, is the New Testament (or Church Age) observance of Passover. Believers in a group are to eat a piece of unleavened bread and drink unfermented grape juice, while the meaning of this observation is explained (generally by a well-qualified pastor-teacher). There are very few traditions which are followed in the Church Age, but the Eucharist is clearly to be observed until the Lord returns.
Evil is the thinking, strategy and plan of Satan. Evil may include sin and human good. See the Doctrine of Evil (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The word “Evil” has a distinct technical and categorical meaning in the Word of God. It is not simply a generic word referring to anything that is bad or sinful. The word “Evil” refers specifically to the policy of Satan as the ruler of this world. Evil is the modus operandi of Satan from the time of his fall throughout the angelic revolution and down to the point when be became the ruler of the world. This definition is probably right out of R. B. Thieme, Jr.’s notes. See the Doctrine of Evil (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The Exodus generation is actually two generations of Israelites. Those who walked out of Egypt as adults (aged 20 and older) make up the older generation, whom I refer to as Gen X (ultimately they will be failures and die the sin unto death in the desert-wilderness). The younger generation is the generation of promise. They are either born in the desert-wilderness or they walked out of Egypt as children (aged 20 or younger). These men will walk into the land under the command of Joshua and take it.
Often, the Exodus generation refers only to that older generation, Gen X.
Faith-Rest is taking the promises from the Bible and mixing them with faith. This approach to life is characterized by a moment-by-moment tranquillity, happiness, and stability, even when you are in the midst of pressure, adversity, and disaster. See the Doctrine of Faith-Rest (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Faith-rest is placing your trust in God, in His Word, in His promises or in Bible doctrine, and you step back and allow God to keep His Word, or fulfill His promises, or vindicate the doctrine which is in your soul. See the Doctrine of Faith-Rest (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). Doctrine of the Faith-rest Drill (Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries); (Divine Viewpoint.com); (Robert McLaughlin).
There are three stages to the faith-rest drill. (1) Stage #1: Faith claims a promise. (2) Stage #2: Faith develops a rationale. (3) Stage #3: Faith draws a doctrinal conclusion. Doctrine of Faith-rest (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). Doctrine of the Faith-rest Drill (Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries); (Divine Viewpoint.com); (Robert McLaughlin).
Faith-rest rationale
Exodus 15
A fast is when one sets aside normal and legitimate activities (like eating a meal) in order to attend to spiritual activities (like going to Bible class). Fasting, in the sense of simply going without food, has no spiritual benefit.
Fear of the Lord connotes both awe and respect of our Creator. In the Old Testament, this was one way to designate a mature or maturing believer. See the doctrine of the Fear of the Lord (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Fellowship (with God)
Fellowship means that we enjoy a current, active relationship with God. This is a real state of being; but it does not mean that we feel it. We lose fellowship with God by sinning; and we regain that fellowship by naming our sins to God (also known as, rebound; as explained in 1John 1:9). R. B. Thieme, Jr. called the naming of your sins and the resultant restoration to fellowship as rebound. See Rebound and Keep Moving! (R. B. Thieme, Jr.) Rebound (Kukis).
The 4th stage of national discipline is when a foreign country comes in and both taxes and rules over the priest nation to God.
The 5th stage of national discipline involves complete loss of personal and national sovereignty, the destruction of the family and the nation. Offerings to God are unacceptable. Nations which have undergone this destruction have experienced slavery, cannibalism, and the assimilation of its surviving citizens into other cultures. The Five Cycles of Discipline (Free Republic—R. B. Thieme, Jr.) (Lex-Rex) (Mark Perkins) (L. G. Merritt) (Joe Griffin—a chart).
The 5th stage of national discipline involves complete loss of personal and national sovereignty, the destruction of the family and the nation. Offerings to God are unacceptable. Nations which have undergone this destruction have experienced slavery, cannibalism, and the assimilation of its surviving citizens into other cultures. The Five Cycles of Discipline (Free Republic—R. B. Thieme, Jr.) (Lex-Rex) (Mark Perkins) (L. G. Merritt) (Joe Griffin—a chart).
The fifth cycle of discipline involves complete loss of personal and national sovereignty, the destruction of the family and the nation. Offerings to God are unacceptable. Nations which have undergone this destruction have experienced slavery, cannibalism, and the assimilation of its surviving citizens into other cultures. The Five Cycles of Discipline (Free Republic—R. B. Thieme, Jr.) (Lex-Rex) (Mark Perkins) (L. G. Merritt) (Joe Griffin—a chart).
For the believer in the Church Age, his restoration to fellowship by rebound also restores the filling of the Holy Spirit to him. This is not an experience. That is, you will not feel differently when filled with the Holy Spirit. See the Doctrine of the Filling of the Holy Spirit (Grace Bible Church of Baytown) (Maranatha Church) (Word of Truth Ministries) From Grace Notes (HTML) (PDF) R. B. Thieme, Jr. (Rebound and Keep Moving) (Rebound Revisited).
For the believer in the Church Age, his restoration to fellowship by rebound also restores the filling of the Holy Spirit to him. This is not an experience. That is, you will not feel differently when filled with the Holy Spirit. See the Doctrine of the Filling of the Holy Spirit (Grace Bible Church of Baytown) (Maranatha Church) (Word of Truth Ministries) From Grace Notes (HTML) (PDF) R. B. Thieme, Jr. (Rebound and Keep Moving) (Rebound Revisited).
A flying column is a force of troops equipped and organized to move swiftly and independently of a principal unit to which it is attached. It is also a very mobile military organization which engages in guerilla tactics.
The frame of reference is the conceptual structure to which doctrines, principles, and categories of Scripture are related. This is because knowledge is built upon knowledge; truth is built on truth. In the frame of reference, information can come in and be processed out to the other parts of the soul by means of intake and output valves.
The believer or unbeliever, after rejecting the truth (the truth of the gospel or the truth of Bible doctrine), then tries to find happiness through a variety of things which are not connect to the truth (like asceticism, religion, political activism, drugs, drinking, chasing, eating).
GAP is an acronym for grace apparatus for perception. The idea is, God has made it possible for all believers, no matter what their IQ, to take in doctrine and to understand doctrine. Any believer, no matter what his or her IQ, can grow spiritually; and their spiritual growth is never hampered by their IQ (although, some high IQ types may try to over think a doctrine or find some clever way to justify some personal sin or failing, and fail to grow in that area). See the Grace Apparatus for Perception (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
This is a short and clever reference to the generation of the Exodus. I was going to try to represent this as Gen Ex, but that looked too much like I was just naming the first two books of the Bible. At least with Gen X, most understand that we are speaking of a specific generation. Gen X stands for generation exodus; the generation of adults (20 and older) who left Egypt with Moses. Their children with them and the children born in the wilderness will be called the generation of promise.
The generation of promise are the Israelites who will actually go into the Land of Promise and take it (which process is described in the first half of the book of Joshua). They were under the age of 20 when they left Egypt in the exodus and some of them were born in the desert-wilderness, either as sons of Gen X-ers or as sons of the generation of promise.
Quite obviously, it would have been cooler to refer the second generation as GOP, but that designation may not have as easily contributed to your understanding of the 2nd generation.
A genealogy where the patriarch is named along with several of his sons and several of their sons. Generally, this is only for 3 or 4 generations.
A linear genealogy (also called a straight-line genealogy) follows one particular line for 3 or 4 or more generations. Very rarely is more than one son named in any generation.
This is the line that goes through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and eventually leads to Jesus Christ.
Gentile is a term applied to anyone who is not Jewish (Hebrew). That is, someone who does not have the genes of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Because Jewish society in general rejected Jesus Christ, He then spoke of turning to the gentiles with His message. Paul during his ministry realized that he was primarily to go to the gentiles with the word of Christ. On occasion, the word gentile is synonymous with unbeliever. (Don Samdahl on The Gentile Exceptions) Gentile Salvation in the Old Testament (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The Gentile Age
The Age of the Gentiles is sometimes understood to incorporate the era of innocence, the antediluvian and the postdiluvian ages (up to the time of Abraham). Some see the Age of Innocence to be a separate age from the Gentile Age. See the doctrine of Dispensations (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Genuine humility denotes the positive response to authority by the one under authority. Whereas in Enforced Humility we looked at humility from the standpoint of the one in authority, we now look at humility from the standpoint of the one under authority. If a person is properly oriented to authority, and has cultivated the habit of humility, his expression of humility will be genuine-not forced.
This is simply stated as, where does God want me to be? The Geographic Will of God (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A word or phrase added in by way of explanation by a later author (or copyist). I include in this those people who might relay this narrative verbally. This would have been done by a later writer or copyist.
A gloss is simply taking the name of a place in one era and identifying it with the same place under a new name in a later era, so that the reader knows where the area is. This would have been done by a later writer or copyist.
Gnosis is divine knowledge which has been taken in by the mind (the left lobe) and is considered. Epignosis is divine knowledge which has been believed, and is then transferred over into the right lobe of the soul (the heart). For further study, see gnosis and epignosis.
Dispensation actually means the administration of a household. Popular usage of the word dispensation is as a reference to an epoch or a period of time. However, the original meaning is related to how a household is run. God, during the Jewish Age, has a different set of servants and a different set of practices than is found in the Church Age. See the doctrine of Dispensations (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
There are at least 3 ways to understand the word gospel: (1) It is a synonym for the truth, or the real truth. (2) The gospel of Jesus Christ refers to the revelation of the means of salvation to unregenerate man: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” There are other things which may be included in the gospel, such as a reference to the cross, to Jesus dying for our sins, to Jesus being resurrected, etc. (3) The gospels refer to the 4 biographies of Jesus the Messiah.
This is the term applied to the first 4 books of the New Testament. That is because these first 4 books provide us with the good news that Jesus has come to save man. However, strictly speaking, these first 4 books are biographies, two written as firsthand accounts (Matthew and John), one written by an historian who gathered this information by speaking to many witnesses of Jesus (Luke), and the book of Mark appears to be the gospel of Peter (a firsthand witness to the events), but written down by Mark.
Grace of God, The
Grace is all that God has done to bring fallen and sinful man into a just, perfect, and eternal relationship with Himself, without compromising His divine attributes and totally apart from human merit and works. Grace is a free will work of God; something totally undeserved by man (Grace Notes on Grace) (L. S. Chafer on grace) Grace Bible Church: Grace, Understanding Grace, Grace in Prayer, Grace versus Legalism)
God has made it possible for all believers, no matter what their IQ, to take in doctrine and to understand doctrine. Any believer, no matter what his or her IQ, can grow spiritually; and their spiritual growth is never hampered by their IQ (although, some high IQ types may try to over think a doctrine or find some clever way to justify some personal sin or failing, and fail to grow in that area). See the Grace Apparatus for Perception (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Grace Oriented Believer, The
This is the understanding of the believer that our lives depend upon the graciousness of God, and not upon our own efforts and works. Our spiritual growth is a result of grace, our production is a result of grace, and, quite obviously, our salvation is the result of grace. At no point can we, as individuals, take credit for what God has done for us and in our lives. See the Doctrine of Grace Orientation (Ron Adema) (Robert Dean) (Rick Hughes—audio) (Robert McLaughlin) (Utilization of Grace Orientation) (R. B. Thieme, Jr. as one of the problem solving devices)
Grace is all that God is free to do for mankind on the basis of the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Grace is undeserved mercy and unmerited favor from God to us. Grace is the title of God's plan and His policy for mankind. Orientation is defined as familiarization with a particular person, thing or field of knowledge. To orient means to set right by adjusting to facts or principles; to put oneself into correct position or relation or to acquaint oneself with the existing situation. Grace orientation, therefore, means to become familiar with God's grace plan and grace policies by adjusting to the facts and principles found in the Word of God, which puts you in correct relation to God and others. You will never be grace-oriented until you understand that your personal sins don't condemn you. Adam's original sin, which was imputed to you at birth, is what condemns you (spiritual death). This means that God's grace was operational when He imputed Adam's original sin to you, because condemnation must precede salvation. This is just another part of God's ingenious grace plan of salvation. The Doctrine of Grace Orientation (Ron Adema) (Robert Dean) (Rick Hughes—audio) (Robert McLaughlin) (Utilization of Grace Orientation) (R. B. Thieme, Jr. as one of the problem solving devices)
Guardian angel
See Hebrews 1:14 on this.
An hapax legomenon [pronounced, HAP-aks li-GOM-uh-non, also, hey-PAKS] (plural: hapax legomena [pronounced: HAP-aks li-GOM-uh-nuh, and hey-PAKS]), is a word or phrase that appears only once in a manuscript, document, or particular area of literature.
In the original text of the Bible, the heart refers to the thinking of the soul. In the Bible, the word heart does not refer to emotions or to the physiological pump. However, some modern translations will translate some words heart that should not be so translated. The heart is also called the right lobe. Prov. 23:7 As a man thinks in his right lobe [heart], so he is. (Translation probably by R. B. Thieme, Jr.) Doctrine of the Heart (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Hebrew is an Old Testament designation of the people descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jew is a later term, referring to the same people, which has its origins in the name Judæa. I primarily use the first term in OT studies and the second terms in NT studies (and for current references to the same people).
An hendiadys is the expression of an idea by the use of usually two independent words connected by and (as nice and warm) instead of the usual combination of independent word and its modifier (as nicely warm).
High Priest (the Chief Priest)
From the Aaronic tribe of the Levites comes the priests. From among those, there is one man who is in charge, or who has the authority. He is called the High Priest, the chief priest, or simply the priest. Priests represent man to God. The High Priest is a shadow of Jesus to come. See the Priesthoods of God and of Man: (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
This would be the first 10 or 11 chapters of Genesis; and perhaps the book of Job. This would be the Bible that Abraham had access to. It may or may not have been in written form. The Jews who were slaves in Egypt also had a rudimentary understanding of their relationship to God, suggesting that they may be in possession of the books of Genesis and Job, to which I have given the title, The History of God and Man.
The Tabernacle is divided into two compartments: the Holy of Holies and the sanctuary. Only the High Priest can enter into the Holy of Holies; and only once a year (on the Day of Atonement). Between the compartments was an exceptionally thick curtain. The priests were allowed to enter into the sanctuary to perfrom specific functions and rituals. See the Tabernacle (Redeeming Grace).
That which is done when out of fellowship, but is not sin. These acts are often in accordance with Satan’s strategy and plan, thought by some to be good. Giving your time or money to a global warming organization would be an example of human good. All human good will be burned at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1Cor. 3:11–15). The Doctrine of Human Good (HTML) (PDF) (WPD)
Human good is what does not move the plan of God forward. This is anything done in the power of the flesh. This means that (1) a person is not in fellowship or (2) they are not thinking Bible doctrine. It is possible for the exact same act to be divine good on one day and human good on the next (such as, tossing a $20 bill into the offering basket when it comes around). (HTML) (PDF) (WPD) combine these!!!
This is what is produced by the area of strength in the sin nature. Human good might be deficit neutral (e.g., giving money to your church when out of fellowship) or create a deficit in the life of an unbeliever (e.g., an unbeliever who spends his life fighting for social and economic justice). (HTML) (PDF) (WPD)
Acts which society may see as being good, but things which have no eternal value. For instance, a person may want to give one of Al Gore’s carbon credit companies money to pay for “carbon usage,” and then Al sends out one of his minions to go plant a tree. There are people who would praise this as a great act of self sacrifice, but it means nothing to God. The Doctrine of Human Good (HTML) (PDF) (WPD)
We store information about God and the plan of God in the human spirit. Only the believer has a functioning human spirit. See the Doctrine of the Human Spirit (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Man’s thinking apart from Bible doctrine. See Human Viewpoint versus Divine Viewpoint (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect, as in I could sleep for a year or This book weighs a ton.
In the person of Jesus Christ since His physical birth [incarnation], there are two natures, undiminished deity and true humanity in one person forever. These two natures—human and divine—remain distinct and are inseparably united without mixture or loss of identity, without loss or transfer of attributes. This means that the Lord Jesus Christ is just as much God as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit and at the same time He is also just as much human as you and I. He is undiminished deity and true humanity in one person forever. This union is known as the hypostatic union.
For more information: Got questions? on the Hypostatic Union; Theopedia on the Hypostatic Union; VersebyVerse.org: the Doctrine of the Hypostatic Union and Kenosis; Robert R. McLaughlin on the Doctrine of Hypostatic Union.
In the person of Jesus Christ since His physical birth [incarnation], there are two natures, undiminished deity and true humanity in one person forever. These two natures—human and divine—remain distinct and are inseparably united without mixture or loss of identity, without loss or transfer of attributes. This means that the Lord Jesus Christ is just as much God as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit and at the same time He is also just as much human as you and I. He is undiminished deity and true humanity in one person forever. This union is known as the hypostatic union.
The two natures of Christ maintain their complete identity while being joined in personal union forever. The characteristics of His human nature belong to the human part of Him; the characteristics of His divine nature belong to the God part of Him. Each nature has its own attributes that adhere to that nature. In other words, there is no mixture of the two natures. He is never half-God and half-man or half-man and half-God.
The "I" in "ICE" stands for Isagogics: the historical background of the Bible. Isagogics recognizes the basic principle of interpretation: the Bible must be interpreted within the framework of its own historical setting. A pastor-teacher must be a detective in order to reconstruct the life, the customs and the idioms of the times during which the Bible was written as they relate to the Word and the usage of the Word. In the ancient world, the meaning of a word was determined by its usage; today it is also determined by etymology (the study of words), present day literature, etc. Isagogics helps bridge the historical and cultural gaps by teaching a little more detail about the customs and culture of the people and of the periods of times the passage was written in. It takes us back into history and gives us a more vivid realization of what others experienced when they had learned and applied Bible doctrine.
The "C" in "ICE" stands for Categorical teaching: the organization of principles of doctrine based on the comparison of Scripture with Scripture to determine doctrinal classification. A Biblical subject may be taught in a number of passages throughout the Old and New Testaments, and these subjects or concepts are pulled together for the student's consideration by the pastor-teacher. Each one will increase the meaning of the others. Tracing a subject through Scripture in order to compile information about that subject is categorical teaching.
The "E" in "ICE" stands for Exegesis: the analysis of each verse within its context, emphasizing grammar, syntax and etymology (study) of words from the original languages (Hebrew, Chaldean, Aramaic and Koine Greek). Exegesis is absolutely essential in order to determine exactly what concept the writer was trying to convey and what he actually communicated through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Every passage must have an exegetical approach, not simply to the verse itself, but also to the other verses in the context. Often a verse will seem to have one interpretation; but when it is taken within the framework of its context, it means something quite different.
From Bible Doctrine Resources.
Iconoclastic arrogance is idolizing a person, which person is then mentally destroyed by the admirer's own disillusionment because a flaw in that person is discovered.
This is also known as the feet of clay syndrome. One person builds up this great, unrealistic image of a second person, often out of arrogance. This often happens in love, where one person or the other is unable to really see or understand the sin nature of the one they love. Suddenly, the person who built up this image sees the feet of clay in the other person, and they are angry and they, in arrogance, smash this image.
Immanence is where God is fully present in the physical world and thus accessible to His creatures in various ways. (Immanence is not to be confused with imminence, which refers to the timing of the Lord’s return to earth.) Immanence means that God is present in all of His creation, yet He is distinct from it (that is, He also transcends it). Transcendence means that God transcends, goes outside of, exists above, or is wholly independent from the universe and all physical laws. God made the universe, but He is not confined by the universe nor is He subject to its physical laws. Immanence and Transcendence.
Immanence and Transcendence of God; immanent and transcendent
Immanence is where God is fully present in the physical world and thus accessible to His creatures in various ways. (Immanence is not to be confused with imminence, which refers to the timing of the Lord’s return to earth.) Immanence means that God is present in all of His creation, yet He is distinct from it (that is, He also transcends it). Transcendence means that God transcends, goes outside of, exists above, or is wholly independent from the universe and all physical laws. God made the universe, but He is not confined by the universe nor is He subject to its physical laws. Immanence and Transcendence.
Loving others on the basis of your own character and not on the basis of their failings and shortcomings. This is called agape love in the Bible. See Bible Doctrine Resource; BDR #2; L.G. Merritt; and Grace Bible Church.
Imprecatory Psalms in the Bible, are those that invoke judgment, calamity, or curses, upon one's enemies or those perceived as the enemies of God. For example, Psalm 69:24 states toward God, "Pour out Your indignation on them, and let Your burning anger overtake them."
The concept of imputation is fundamental to the Christian life. When we are born, Adam’s original sin is imputed to us. We are born with a sin nature, so Adam’s original sin has a target that it has a natural affinity for. When we believe in Jesus Christ, we are saved, and God’s righteousness is imputed to us. This is possible because our sins were imputed to the humanity of Jesus Christ and they were judged in His body on the tree. It is this judicial imputation which makes it possible for God to love us and to bless us. God is able to love us because we now possess His righteousness. Bible Verses on Imputed Righteousness (knowing-jesus.com). Theopedia. Imparted, Infused and Imputed Righteousness (Reasons for Hope in Jesus). The Doctrine of Imputed Righteousness (Gary Ray Branscome).
Imputed righteousness is the Protestant Christian doctrine that a sinner is declared righteous by God purely by God's grace through faith in Christ, and thus all depends on Christ's merit and worthiness, rather than on one's own merit and worthiness. Bible Verses on Imputed Righteousness (knowing-jesus.com). Theopedia. Imparted, Infused and Imputed Righteousness (Reasons for Hope in Jesus). The Doctrine of Imputed Righteousness (Gary Ray Branscome).
In Christ describes the position of the believer in the Church Age. Therefore, when God looks at us, He does not see us with our many flaws and sins, but He sees His Son instead (because we are in Christ). R. B. Thieme, Jr. often described this as being in the top circle (“You never get out of the top circle,” as he was wont to say). This is the permanent position for all believers at salvation.
The sense in which we understand the word incarnation is, this refers being in a fleshly state; or something which is not physical takes on a physical form. The idea is, God is a Spirit, but He takes upon Himself the form of man in the 1st advent. Another way of saying this is, God becomes a man (John 1:1–3, 14).
Inspiration, Biblical
Biblical inspiration may be defined as human authors wrote as moved by the Holy Spirit, so that, without waving their human intelligence, their vocabulary, their personal feelings, their literary style, their personality, their environmental influences or their individuality, they recorded God’s complete and connected message to man with perfect accuracy in the original languages of Scripture, the very words bearing the authority of divine authorship. The is known as the verbal, plenary view of inspiration. See the Basic Doctrine of Inspiration (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); the Doctrine of Inspiration (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); and the Study of Inspiration (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
God the Holy Spirit so supernaturally directed the human writers of Scripture, that, without waving their human intelligence, individuality, literary style, personal feelings or any other human factor, His own complete and coherent message to man was recorded in perfect accuracy in the original languages of Scripture, the very words bearing the authority of divine authorship. The literary style of the human author would include a variety of literary devices and figures of speech. Furthermore, there is nothing in the definition of inspiration which precludes the human authors or even God the Holy Spirit from making use of literary devices. See the Basic Doctrine of Inspiration (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); the Doctrine of Inspiration (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); and the Study of Inspiration (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The sins committed require extensive discipline. Instead of delivering the discipline all at once, God delivers the discipline in several parts (installments).
Our sins and often our addictions can be so great, that God cannot simply discipline us and we start from zero again. God has to, on several occasions subsequent to confessing our sins to God, make us face the results of our sins, to the point where we choose God over our addiction. This is how David was cured from his sexual addiction.
Because of the quality of David’s soul, God will only be able to turn him around by putting David under great pressure 4 times, each of which relates back to his sins of 2Sam. 11. This will be covered in greater detail under David’s Soul and the Harsh Discipline of God (this represents an update from R. B. Thieme, Jr.’s 1980's era Doctrine of Installment Discipline).
When you have sinned, and God begins to discipline you, you go through 3 stages: (1) warning discipline (God lets you know that you have sinned and you need to get back into fellowship); (2) intensive discipline (God increases or intensifies the discipline to a point where, it really, really hurts); (3) the sin unto death (God begins the process of removing you from this world because you refuse to rebound).
The 1st and 2nd advents of Jesus Christ was taught as one whole event in the Bible. However, intercalated (or, inserted) between these two events is the Church Age. See the Doctrine of Intercalation (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Intercession is a prayer, petition, or entreaty in favor of another. Moses speaking to God to spare Israel in Exodus 32 is an example of intercession. When we are accused before God by Satan or any of his demons, Christ intercedes for us, telling God the Father, “Charley Brown has believed in Me; he is saved.”
The interlocking systems of arrogance refers to many clusters of sins which have a tendency to interlock with one another. That is, a believer who goes into interlocking systems of arrogance through one gate (or entrance), is likely to interlock with another cluster of sins if he remains out of fellowship. We have simple examples of this in life. A person might begin to smoke marijuana, which is illegal. Some time later, he may take other drugs (this is why marijuana is often called a gateway drug). He may also become involved in anti-authority actions, extreme liberal philosophy and politics, and break more and greater laws. He may involve himself with a woman with the same weaknesses, and they become involved in sexual arrogance together (his norms and standards being wiped out by his changing mores). He enters in the gate of smoking marijuana which makes him vulnerable to a number of other clusters of sins. This is also known as the arrogance complex. See the full doctrine here (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The interlocking systems of arrogance refers to many clusters of sins which have a tendency to interlock with one another. That is, a believer who goes into interlocking systems of arrogance through one gate (or entrance), is likely to interlock with another cluster of sins if he remains out of fellowship. This is also known as the arrogance complex. See the full doctrine here (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Also known as the arrogance complex. The interlocking systems of arrogance refers to many clusters of sins which have a tendency to interlock with one another. Entering into this complex is more than carnality and it is different from reversionism. See the full doctrine here (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Believers who execute the plan of God. They preserve the city, state and nation in which they live.
Isagogics is a branch of theology which examines the particular literary and external history of the Bible. The Bible must be understood and interpreted within its historical context and isagogics provides us with that context. See the Doctrine of I.C.E. Teaching (Bible Doctrine Resource) (Hermeneutics—Gene Cunningham)
Documentary Hypothesis simply asserts that the Pentateuch was not authored by Moses but written 1000 years after Moses by several authors who wrote portions here and there and then other men have performed extensive revisions, colating and editing after them. See Documentary Hypothesis (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The JEPD theory is also called Documentary Hypothesis and Form Criticism. This is the theory that there were originally two manuscripts which were interwoven to make the Law of Moses. The writer of one manuscript favored the name Jehovah and the other favored the name Elohim. A priest later took these two manuscripts and wove them together, throwing in a lot of pro-priest stuff. Another writer came along later and wrote Deuteronomy. The basis of this theory is, historians did not believe that writing existed during the time of Moses. So, if writing did not exist, then Moses could not have written the Law. If Moses did not write it, then someone else wrote it. After that, they went bonkers with this theory. Even though archeologists have discovered writing which predates Moses, this theory persists in hundreds of seminaries throughout the world. The Satanic purpose of this theory is to question whether Moses wrote the Torah (Moses’ authorship is attested to in both the Old and New Testaments; and by Jesus). If Moses did not write the Torah, then the Bible is filled with inaccuracies, meaning it cannot be the Word of God. Josh McDowell deals with this theory in great detail in his book, More Evidence Which Demands a Verdict revised and reprinted in The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict. See Documentary Hypothesis (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Genetically, Jews are those with the genes of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Religiously, those who follow the faith of Abraham (and today, those who follow a distorted version of the faith of Moses). Hebrew is the term used in the Old Testament; Jew/Jewish is used in the New. See Jews, Gentiles and Christians; Jewish Civilization; The Jewish Religious Systems; The Jews and Hellenism; Jews and Judaism; and Jews and Gentiles in Bible Times.
The period of time which includes the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob); the nation Israel; and the Tribulation (which takes place at the end of the Church Age). The Jewish Age is equivalent to the Age of Israel. See the Three Dispensations: The Age of Israel, the Age of the Hypostatic Union and the Church Age (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
John the Herald is another designation for John the Baptist (also known as, John the Baptizer).
Judaism (of the Jewish faith) is often put forth as the Jewish religion, and specifically without Christ. In a broad sense, that is true. This term might also defined as the religious practices of the Jewish people throughout the ages, and that is also true in a broad sense. Let me suggest 3 more specific definitions: (1) the proper observance of the Old Testament Scriptures before Christ. This would be a legitimate observance of the Scriptures and often referred to as the Way of God in the Old Testament. (2) The observance of both the OT Scriptures and the traditions which had developed over the centuries (this would be Judaism after the close of the OT canon up to the time of Christ). Some of these would be believers, and some not. (3) Judaism as practiced today is nothing like #1 or 2. The rituals are very different from those followed in the Old Testament. Also, in Judaism today, they still believe in the messiah; but he is no longer the central figure of their faith.
The Judaizers were, for the most part, believing Jews, who attempted to get those who have believed in Jesus to follow the Law of Moses (or some aspect of the Mosaic Law, like circumcision).
At the end of the Tribulation, believers will be gathered together and God will test their production with fire. Their human good and evil will be burned; the divine good which they create will remain. Grace Notes (HTML) (PDF). The Judgment Seat of Christ (Grace Bible Church 1; 2) (Ironsides) (Haldeman). Supreme Court of Heaven (L. G. Merritt).
Judicial Imputation versus
Real Imputation (or Natural Imputation)
A real imputation has a target or a natural home. What is imputed belongs there. Real imputations at birth: human life is imputed to the human soul at birth; Adam’s original sin is imputed to the genetically formed sin nature. In a real imputation, there is a natural affinity for what is imputed and its target. No volition is involved.
A judicial imputation occurs when something goes where there is no natural target or home. Our personal sins were imputed to Christ on the cross. There was no natural home anywhere in Christ for our sins. Similarly, when we believe in Jesus Christ, we have His righteousness imputed to us (but we have no natural home for His righteousness). A judicial imputation requires the volition of the one receiving the imputation.
Some might define a judicial imputation as an active imputation; and a real imputation as a passive imputation. See Wenstrom’s Doctrine of Imputation.
The righteousness of God is the principle of God’s integrity; and the justice of God is the application or the function of God’s integrity. Our point of contact with God in this life is not His love but His justice (strictly speaking, God does not love us until we have His righteousness). We are justified before Him. We initially adjust to His justice by believing in Jesus Christ.
Justification represents that aspect of salvation whereby God qualifies man to have eternal life based on the imputation of God's absolute righteousness based upon faith in Jesus Christ.
During the dispensation of the hypostatic union, the doctrine of kenosis tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ voluntarily restricted the independent use of His divine attributes in compliance with the Father's plan for the Incarnation and the First Advent. This means that Jesus Christ did not use the attributes of His divine nature to benefit Himself, to provide for Himself, to glorify Himself, or to act independently of the plan of God for the Church-age by any compromise of the spiritual life. Doctrine of Kenosis (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). For further reference: (Robert McLaughlin) (Charles Clough) (Josef Cherreguine) (Herman Mattox) (Joe Griffin)
Jesus voluntarily restricted the use of His Deity when it was not a part of God the Father’s plan. Doctrine of Kenosis (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). For further reference: (Robert McLaughlin) (Charles Clough) (Josef Cherreguine) (Herman Mattox) (Joe Griffin)
The Kingdom of God is anywhere that God’s reign is supreme. Since these words often refer to the Millennium, we further modify that definition to mean, God’s discipline in His kingdom is reasonably quick and always certain. The Kingdom of God can refer to heaven and Jesus said, at one time, “The Kingdom of God is within.” (Don Samdahl on the Kingdom of God) (Spokane Bible Church on Kingdom Citizenship).
The Lake of Fire was prepared for the devil and his angels. However, unbelievers will also be thrown into the Lake of Fire after the last judgment. See Got Questions (Hell as a Lake of Fire; Difference between terms); DCLM download.
The Law of Moses
The Mosaic Law is the Law which God gave orally to Moses, which Moses wrote down. It is found at the beginning of Exodus 20 and continues through the book of Numbers (with some narrative integrated into the text of the Law). The book of Deuteronomy summarizes and reviews much of the Mosaic Law and adds in some additional applications (Deuteronomy is actually a series of sermons given by Moses to the people of Israel—Moses himself wrote these sermons.
Often the words the Law refer back to the books specifically written by Moses (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). See also (the Spokane Bible Church on the Mosaic Law.) (Maranatha Church on the Mosaic Law).
These are laws will protect and prosper a nation. Hypothetically speaking, even a nation without Christians could follow the laws of divine establishment (although this would not occur in practice). The five divine institutions (the volition and function of the individual human soul, work, marriage, family and nation) are recognized and protected and there is a system of just laws and equitable enforcement of same. The result is law and order, freedom and prosperity. There is no freedom apart from law and order.
The laws of divine establishment should also protect Christian activity, e.g. churches, evangelism, missionary activity, and Christian scholarship). Protection within the nation is provided by law, a police force and the courts; protection from without is provided by a well-trained military force. See the Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Since the world appears to be made up of mostly unbelievers, God must have some kind of plan for the unbelievers while they are alive. These are called the laws of divine establishment, and they are applicable to both believers and unbelievers. These are the laws which protect the freedom of a nation, and allow for evangelism and for the teaching of the Word of God. See the Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
These are laws which are devised by God for the human race (for believers and unbelievers alike). The more aligned a country is with these laws, the greater freedom and prosperity that country will enjoy. Furthermore, there will be greater evangelism and Bible teaching which takes place. The further a country strays from these law results in greater tyranny and unhappiness among its population. See the Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
These are the laws, principles and morality which God has designed to perpetuate every society or government in such a way that freedom to evangelize, freedom to teach doctrine and the freedom to send out missionaries are maximized. See the Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
These are the laws by which all men ought to be governed. Much of the Mosaic Law is divine establishment law (given their cultural context). See the Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
These are natural laws (meaning that, they come from God) which apply to people and nations, which cause a nation to be preserved and a people to be perpetuated. These laws are designed for believers and unbelievers alike. See the Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The laws of divine establishment are a system of laws and principles which provide for the preservation as well as for the prosperity of the human race. These laws apply to both believer and unbeliever alike. See the Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Legalism is the idea or philosophy that you might earn or gain something from God by means of your works or sincere efforts. (Grace Notes on Legalism) (Spokane Bible Church on Legalism) The Doctrine of Legalism (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Levi, one of the tribes of Israel, was entrusted with the spiritual responsibilities of Israel. One branch of Levites, the descendants of Aaron, would make up what is called the Levitical Priesthood. See the Priesthoods of God and the Priesthoods of Man (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Levi, one of the tribes of Israel, was entrusted with the spiritual responsibilities of Israel. One branch of Levites, the descendants of Aaron, would make up what is called the Levitical Priesthood. See the Priesthoods of God and the Priesthoods of Man (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
This is the genealogical line which extends from Abraham down to our Lord Jesus Christ. It is called the line of promise because God, on many occasions, gave promises concerning this line and about the Lord.
A linear genealogy (also called a straight-line genealogy) follows one particular line for 4 or 5 or more generations. Very rarely is more than one son named in any generation.
Logistical grace is defined as what God has planned for us, the Divine support he gives us, His Divine provision, and his Divine blessing. The result is, we as believers in Jesus Christ are able to execute the plan of God just as logistical support on the battlefield allows an army to defeat the enemy. God does not give us logistical grace because we are nice people or really good Christians; God gives us logistical support because we are believers and He gives this to us for a purpose.
Logistical grace is Life support is provided for every Church Age believer. This explains how and why we are alive at any given moment. The only reason we are alive is because of logistical grace. We do not earn it nor do we deserve it. There is no set of spiritual works which we can accomplish to keep ourselves alive. For all intents and purposes, this is food, shelter and clothing. The principle was explained by Jesus in Matt. 6:25-33. Logistical Grace (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Logistical grace is the divine planning, divine support, divine provision and divine blessing which are designed by God to keep the believer alive so that we can properly execute or fulfill God's plan. Logistical Grace (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Logistics is the science of the movement, supplying, and maintenance of military forces in the field.
These are believers who never advance in the spiritual life.
The Septuagint was the Greek translation made of the Old Testament somewhere between 300–100 b.c. It is often called the LXX, because 70 translators were thought to be employed in this task.
Maladjustment to the justice of God is (1) the unbeliever rejecting God’s offer of salvation through faith alone in Christ alone; or (2) the believer rejecting God’s grace method of spiritual growth (rebound and GAP). See the Doctrine of Adjustment to the Justice of God. Also see (Cherreguine’s Doctrine of Reversionism)
In life, there are two adjustments to the justice of God. As unbelievers, we hear the gospel and believer—that is salvation adjustment to the justice of God. As believers, we hear Bible doctrine taught correctly, and we believe it; that is growth or maturity adjustment to the justice of God. However, the unbeliever who hears the gospel and rejects it is maladjusted to the justice of God, and will spend eternity under the judgment of the justice of God. The believer who rejects the teaching of Bible doctrine will spend his entire life maladjusted to the justice of God, which will include a great deal of discipline. See the Doctrine of Adjustment to the Justice of God. Also see (Cherreguine’s Doctrine of Reversionism)
The massorah is a varying number of lines of smaller writing, distributed between the upper and lower margins of the Biblical text. It contains information necessary to those who trust the Sacred Text was committed, so that they might transcribe it, and hand it down correctly.
The Hebrew (and Aramaic) text of the Old Testament, passed down for many hundreds of years. The Masoretic text was written sometime between the seventh and tenth centuries AD and it was based on the meticulously preserved oral tradition and the best available manuscripts of the original Hebrew text. Over a lengthy period of time, punctuation marks and vowel points were added to the text to clarify it.
This simply means that we mature as believers as our lives continue. The emphasis here is upon the standards of God, which we learn to adhere to as we mature. The believer is mandated to advance spiritually in this life, which means he becomes more and more aligned with the thinking of God, and therefore, more adjusted to the justice of God. See the Doctrine of Adjustment to the Justice of God.
These sins would include arrogance, pride, jealousy, implacability, bitterness, vindictiveness, inordinate ambition and inordinate competition, all motivational sins, and sinful thoughts such as fear, guilt, worry, anger, judging, hatred. See the Doctrine of Mental Attitude Sins (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
On top of the Ark of the Covenant was a lid or a covering, which was made of gold and two angels were a part of this configuration—this is the Mercy Seat. On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would come into the Holy of Holies and sprinkle blood on the Mercy Seat to atone for the sins of the many. This is all representative. The gold represents the pure essence of God; the angels represent the elect and fallen angels who are watching all of these things play out. The blood represents the spiritual death of our Lord on the Roman cross. As on the cross, no one actually saw this take place; they simply knew what happened by the testimony of the Scriptures.
The Messiah is one of the terms found in the Old Testament (and New) which refers to Someone Who would come and deliver the Jews. There was the true foundation of the Hebrew faith, and that was the Messiah-to-come; there was the false foundation of the bastardized Hebrew faith, and that was legalism. The Messiah is known by several titles in the Old Testament, including David’s Greater Son and the Suffering Servant. Jesus Christ fulfilled all of the prophecies related to the Jewish Messiah, even though He was, for the most part, rejected by His people. Jesus will return to a much more appreciative people in the future. The Messiah (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). The Jewish Messiah (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). The Promised Messiah (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). (Grace Notes: Messiah in the Old Testament) (Spokane Bible Church: Messiah; Messiah's Birth was Unique; Messianic Prophecies 1; Messianic Prophecies2)
Metabolized doctrine is Bible doctrine (or divine truth) that is understood and believed. It is a necessary building block of spiritual growth. Academic knowledge of things Biblical is not enough. Doctrine must be believed. See the Doctrine of Grace Apparatus for Perception (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). See also the Metabolization of Bible Doctrine.
Metabolizing Bible doctrine is the process by which Bible doctrine (or divine truth) is understood and believed. It is a necessary building block of spiritual growth. Academic knowledge of things Biblical is not enough. Doctrine must be believed. See the Doctrine of Grace Apparatus for Perception (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). See also the Metabolization of Bible Doctrine.
A metonym is where one word stands in for another word (or for several words). The headline which reads: California Elects Jerry Brown actually means the voters of California elect Jerry Brown. In Exodus 12:21, the Israelites are instructed to kill the Passover. However, what they are to kill is the Passover lamb.
The Millennium is the dispensation of the 1000 year reign of Christ over the earth, following the Great Tribulation, where all unbelievers will be removed from the earth (which is known as the Baptism of Fire). (Grace Bible Church of Baytown: Millennial Facts, Millennial Life) (Grace Fellowship Church on the Millennium) (Maranatha Church on the Doctrine of the Millennium) (Spokane Bible Church Brief Summary of the Millennium)
The word mimesis means imitation, reproduction; and this is especially applied to human actions, words or thinking. In the example given in Exodus 15, God reproduced against Egypt the intended actions of Egypt against Israel (which acts they were unable to carry out).
Momentum testing represents a variety of different tests (people testing, system testing, disaster testing, thought testing) which result, ideally, in accelerated spiritual growth.
Morality is the protocol for human behavior which applies to all mankind. Morality preserves nations, states and cities. Morality is not the Christian way of life, although the Christian is sinning when he is immoral. (HTML) (PDF) (WPD)
The Mosaic Law
The Mosaic Law is the Law which God gave orally to Moses, which Moses wrote down. It is found at the beginning of Exodus 20 and continues through the book of Numbers (with some narrative integrated into the text of the Law). The book of Deuteronomy summarizes and reviews much of the Mosaic Law and adds in some additional applications (Deuteronomy is actually a series of sermons given by Moses to the people of Israel—Moses himself wrote these sermons.
Often the words the Law refer back to the books specifically written by Moses (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). See also (the Spokane Bible Church on the Mosaic Law.) (Maranatha Church on the Mosaic Law).
These are the laws of God given to Moses for nation Israel. Moses, near the end of his life, supplemented these laws with an additional group of laws in the book of Deuteronomy. For more details, see Bible Doctrine Resource; Grace Notes.
Nationalism (as a divine institution)
This is the 5th divine institution, wherein God has a prescription for life on this earth for all mankind. We are to begin and remain as a variety of independent nations, where a nation is generally defined by its borders, its culture and its language (a nation can tolerate other cultures and languages within, but only when they do not threaten to sovereignty of the nation itself).
Each nation is to act individually, sovereignly, with its own interests as a motivating factor. This does not mean that two nations ought to be in conflict with one another. Solomon’s relationship with Hiram King of Tyre is a great example of two nations which remain allied, friendly, mutually-respectful and independent.
Nationalism also helps to control outbreaks of evil in any given nation.
There are three kinds of truth in this world: divine establishment truth; the gospel of Jesus Christ; and Bible doctrine. When you reject any of these, you are exercising negative volition toward what you have rejected. The Laws of Divine Establishment (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). Salvation (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). The Importance of Bible Doctrine (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Negative volition is resistance to Bible doctrine on the one hand, or indifference to Bible doctrine on the other hand, based on arrogant preoccupation with self. Arrogance preoccupation with self has many aspects, such as a personality conflict with the teacher of doctrine, or self-pity in interaction with people in the congregation. In this state, you are not antagonistic to doctrine, but simply distracted from it by your own status quo of arrogance. For the believer, this is the most damaging arrogance of then all.
Occupation with Christ is a mental attitude by which a Christian believer views all things in life with the Lord Jesus Christ in mind. Occupation with Christ is love for the Son, the 2nd Person of the Trinity, therefore it is the expression of love for God. The Bible commands us to love God, with all our heart, soul and mind. Being occupied with Christ is a great part of our love for God. Therefore, this concept is one of the most important spiritual functions in the Christian life. See (Bible Doctrine Resource 1) (Bible Doctrine Resources 2) (Grace notes) (Grace Bible Church).
Omnipotence (of God)
Omnipotence means that God is all powerful. Bearing that in mind, this does not mean that God can act outside of His perfect character. See Grace Notes Essence of God (HTML) (PDF); Got Questions (Omnipotence).
God is present everywhere. His presence is not limited in any way by time or space. See omnipresence at Got Questions. Also see Rev. Thomas Tyree, Jr.’s work on this topic.
Omniscience (of God); omniscient
Omniscience means that God knows everything—whether past present or future, whether actual or possible. See Grace Notes Essence of God (HTML) (PDF); Grace Bible Church (Omniscience); Got Questions (Omniscience).
Organizational humility focuses on the social structure inside which humility is fostered and developed. All human societies have social structures. No matter how different the cultures are, they are all divided into social structures that exist on different levels.
Operation Z refers to the process of receiving and retaining Bible doctrine in the human soul.
The pastor-teacher teaches the Word of God accurately from the pulpit and we hear and consider that information. This is known as the staging area of the soul; and doctrine retained here is of no use to us. It is simply information.
When we believe what we have heard, then the doctrine is transferred to our heart, into our thinking; and I would say that it is then placed into the human spirit.
The human soul contains information about ourselves and our surroundings; and the human spirit contains information about ourselves, God, and our relationship with Him.
Graphic from Country Bible Church, accessed May 18, 2020. The terminology and original graphic came from R. B. Thieme, Jr.
Orthodox theology is the commonly accepted theology of Christianity. This fundamental understanding of Christian doctrine is the basis for what Christians have believed for centuries. Nearly all Christian faiths believe in the Trinity, which holds that God is one in essence and three in person. It is accepted historically by almost every creed of Christianity that Jesus is fully man and fully God. So the Trinity and the Hypostatic Union are considered orthodox beliefs.
A paronomasia is where similar sounding words are synonymous, antithetical or of varied significance. This is a figure of speech only occasionally found in the Bible.
The Passover is a ritual observed by the Hebrew people, going back to the period of time that God, through Moses, led them out of Israel. For the first Passover, the people had to put blood on the header and side doorposts so that their firstborn would not be taken. See the Passover: (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); Grace Notes (HTML) (PDF); Grace Doctrine 7 Feasts of Israel; Maranatha Church Doctrine of the Passover.
The pastor (or pastor-teacher) is the highest spiritual gift with regards to authority. He has the authority over a single church. He is given one level of authority when he is called by the church into service; and then he develops a higher level of authority by teaching the Word of God. This is not, however, the authority to run the lives of individuals at the church. The pastor can teach the Word of God with near complete accuracy, yet members of his congregation might do the exact opposite. Grace Notes’ Pastor-Teachers in the Church Age (HTML) (PDF); Jack Ballinger (Pastor-teacher); Roy Cloudt (pastor-teacher).
Pentecost comes from the Greek word Πεντηκοστή (Pentēkostē) meaning fiftieth. Pentecost is celebrated on the 50th day after the Passover (the seventh Sunday). The Feast of Pentecost is found only twice in the noncanonical intertestamental books, Tobit and 2 Maccabees, revered by the Catholics. This is the updated name for the Festival of Weeks, which is found in Leviticus 23:15–16 and Deuteronomy 16:9–10; also known as the feast of Harvest (Exodus 23:16) and the day of first fruits (Numbers 28:26).
Because the Holy Spirit was given to the church on that day, this remembrance of Pentecost has overshadowed the purpose of that day as found in the Torah. See Pentecost in Wikipedia; Dr. Robert Dean, Jr. (Doctrine of Israel's Feasts); Grace Notes (HTML) (PDF); Maranatha Church (Feasts); Grace Bible Church of Baytown (Biblical Concept of Feasts); Grace Fellowship Church (7 Feasts).
This is loving a person (or an object) because of their attractiveness to you. Obviously, God is always deserving of our personal love, and people gain our personal love from time to time.
This is the point at which, you understand God well enough to have personal love for Him. As we move from spiritual childhood to spiritual adulthood, we realize more and more of what God the Father has done for us and with that knowledge we love Him more and more every day. Therefore, having a personal love for God is based on your understanding and assurance of the common questions you found answers to as a growing believer. Personal Love for God (Bible Doctrine Resource) (Grace Fellowship Church).
A person so in tune with the will of God (by means of knowledge of doctrine), that they understand their reason for being alive and they execute the plan of God almost as if God were whispering into their ear what to do (God does not whisper into anyone’s ears today). This doctrine can be found at Grace Bible Church, Wenstrom , Grace and Truth Bible Ministries and Robt McLaughlin.
Every believer, as a member of the body of Christ and the Royal family of God, has a destiny. This starts at the moment of belief, at the moment of salvation. The believer may or may not recognize this.
The pharisees make up the primary religious sect found in the gospels and Acts. Their doctrines are based upon a legalistic interpretation of the Old Testament and heavily dependent upon traditions of earlier teachers. Jesus said that they followed the laws of men rather than teaching of Scripture (Matt. 15:9).
Phase I is salvation; phase II is the believer’s life in time, and phase III is eternity (all believers spend eternity with God).
Phase 1 is salvation; phase 2 is the believer’s life in time, and phase 3 is eternity (all believers spend eternity with God).
Those people in a national entity who are growing spiritually or who have entered into spiritual maturity. For more information, see R. B. Thieme, Jr.
A pivot it is the accumulation of mature believers living in a client nation or under civil government in a specific geographical location. While a pivot is composed primarily of mature believers, it may also include those positive believers whose momentum has carried them into spiritual adulthood. For more information, see R. B. Thieme, Jr.
In nearly any nation, there will be believers and there will be mature believers (which is called a pivot). If these groups are large enough, a nation will be preserved and, in most cases, greatly prospered. If the pivot is small, or if there are very few mature believers in this pivot, then that nation will go down. The concept of a pivot of believers preserving a nation is found in Gen. 18:22–33 Matt. 5:13. For more information, see R. B. Thieme, Jr.
Believers with doctrine influence a society. A good example of this is the Roman Empire, which began as being very opposed to Christianity, but which became strongly influenced by Christianity. As the Christian Tertullian observed: "We are but of yesterday, yet we fill your cities, islands, forts, towns, councils, even camps, tribes, decuries, the palace, the senate, the forum; we have left you the temples alone." This was accomplished without an armed insurrection against Rome.
The norms and standards of believers in Jesus Christ began to filter into the society. Abraham and his people represented a positive influence on the surrounding areas; Lot and his family had almost no influence whatsoever. For more information, see R. B. Thieme, Jr.
These are the mature and maturing believers in a geographical or corporate entity. The way that the pivot goes determines the way that the nation goes with respect to its freedom and prosperity. For more information, see R. B. Thieme, Jr.
Also known as a portfolio of spiritual assets. These are the spiritual assets that we receive as a believer in Jesus Christ. We gain greater access to these benefits as we grow spiritually. For further examination: Wenstrom; Rickard; Prep School.
Positional truth refers to the things which are true of us positionally at the point of salvation. For example, because we are in Christ we share His eternal life, His destiny, His righteousness. We may not act very righteous, but His righteousness is imputed to us as a part of positional truth. This is similar to being made an heir of a fortune which you have not yet inherited.
Positional sanctification means that we are set apart to God from the moment that we believe in Jesus Christ. We may be good or bad Christians, but we are always in Christ.
Pre-canon Period; Pre-canon era; Post-Canon Period; Post-Canon Era
The Church Age is divided into two period of time: the pre-canon era and the post-canon era. The pre-canon period takes place before the completion of the New Testament writings; and the post-canon period takes place after the completion of the New Testament (approximately a.d. 90). Healings, tongues, and various sign gifts are found in abundance prior to this time, close to a.d. 33. As the writings of the Apostles (and others) are recognized as authoritative, the sign gifts (which establish one’s authority from God) are no longer necessary.
Prior to the building of the Tabernacle, there appears to have been a tent where Moses would go to speak with God (it is also called the Tent of Meeting). This would have been the tent that Moses moved outside of the camp when the people sinned against God with the golden calf. This tent probably existed when Moses and Aaron announced the judgments to Pharaoh of Egypt.
Christ reveals Himself to man prior to His incarnation (His earthly ministry, also known as the 1st advent). He revealed Himself as an Angel to Abraham; as a burning bush to Moses; as a wrestling Angel to Jacob, and as a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud in the desert to lead the Israelite people. These are some of the preincarnate forms of Jesus.
During the Age of Israel, only those descended from Aaron were priests. Priests represent man before God (whereas, a prophet represents God to man). In the Church Age, every believer is a priest and there is no specialized priesthood. Every priest-believer can represent himself directly to God. See the Priesthoods of God and of Man: (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A nation which represents God on earth. The United States is such a nation today, although there are attempts at all levels to change this. Israel was the first priest nation. See (L. G. Merritt) and (Ron Adema).
A priest nation is a nation through which God works. The Word of God will be preserved in a priest nation (and even written in a priest nation); and evangelization will occur both within that priest nation, and men will be sent out to evangelize (like Jonah). See (L. G. Merritt) and (Ron Adema).
In the Old Testament, priests, in general, represented man before God. They offered animal sacrifices on our behalf. The Levitical priesthood is actually a reference to Aaron and his descendants, all of whom were potentially priests under the dispensation of Israel. Aaronic priests had specific duties, outlined in the Law of Moses; but, essentially, they represented man to God, through animal sacrifices; and they taught the Law of God to the people. The High Priest is a type of Christ. See the Priesthoods of God and of Man: (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Every believer has the right to live his life before the Lord without coercion or interference by others. That is, you personally do not have the right to approach some other believer and complain to him about his look, his dress, mannerisms, or lifestyle. A local church, of course, can prescribe some behavior requirements. For instance, a prostitute can certainly attend any church of his or her choosing; but the church certainly would have a right to curb him or her from plying their trade in or around the church auditorium. The privacy of the priesthood means that we stand before the Lord on our own, to rise or fall on our own. See also Robert R. McLaughlin (Importance of Positive volition); Grace Bible Church (GAP); Wenstrom (Doctrine of Honor); and R. B. Thieme, Jr. (Privacy) (Privacy—1975).
In order to be in production mode as a believer, you need to be filled with God the Holy Spirit. When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you are then producing divine good. We are filled with God the Holy Spirit when we name our sins (1John 1:9). Once that has been done, we are able to produce divine good. The quality of this divine good depends upon your spiritual growth. The believer who is mature will produce a better quality of divine good. See the Doctrine of Divine Good (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); Divine Good (L.G. Merritt); the Doctrine of Human Good (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Progressive revelation simply means that God reveals Himself progressively. As we read about God and His decree in the Bible, it is not revealed to us all at once. Although we find suggestions of the Trinity in Gen. 1, it is not until the New Testament that the concept of the Trinity is revealed well enough to more fully comprehend it. God’s grace and judgment, and what He would do about sin, is first mentioned in Gen. 3; further elaborated on when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his firstborn (by Sarah); and fulfilled by the incarnation of Jesus Christ. See the Doctrine of Progressive Revelation (HTML) (PDF) (WPD)
Progressive revelation means that, each additional truth builds upon, expands, and better explains that which was already taught. New revelation does not supersede, contradict, replace or nullify previous revelation, but builds upon that which is past and upon that which is foundational. Progressive revelation is exclusively found in the Bible. See the Doctrine of Progressive Revelation (HTML) (PDF) (WPD)
Moses promised the people of Israel that God would raise up a prophet like him, and that the people were to listen to Him (Deuteronomy 18:15). This has been traditionally and rightfully understood to be a reference to the Messiah. That Jesus is the fulfillment of this promise is found in Acts 3:22 7:37.
Propitiation means satisfaction or appeasement, specifically towards God. Propitiation is the work of Jesus Christ on the cross by which He appeases the wrath of God who would otherwise be offended by our sin and demand that we pay the penalty for it. The concept of propitiation is often associated with the idea of a substitutionary atonement.
God's protocol plan is a rigid, long-established code and procedure, prescribing complete deference to superior rank and authority, followed by strict adherence to due order and precedence, coupled with precisely correct procedure. (PPG–BDresource) (PPG1–BDresource) (PPG–He Ekklesia)
Psychopathic arrogance is total divorcement from all reality. It is a result of bad decisions, not genetics. It is intense concentration on self. Emotions take precedence over reason.
The rapture marks the time when all remaining believers on the earth are taken up to meet Jesus Christ in the air. This event marks the end of the Church Age. There are no prophecies to be fulfilled prior to the rapture, so it cannot be predicted with a date or time. The rapture is also called the exit-resurrection. (Rapture @ Grace Bible Church); (Pre-Tribulation Rapture @ Grace Bible Church); (Rapture @ Got Questions); (Rapture @ Theopedia).
The rapture is the physical transfer of all believers who are alive at the end of the Church Age from earth to meet the Lord in the air. This is not the 2nd advent of the Lord, which occurs 7 years later. The rapture is also called the exit-resurrection. (Rapture @ Grace Bible Church); (Pre-Tribulation Rapture @ Grace Bible Church); (Rapture @ Got Questions); (Rapture @ Theopedia).
1. Rational arrogance is the vanity of intellectual arrogance, or the elitism of the genius I.Q. Elitism might be defined for this study as that arrogant consciousness of pride in belonging to a select or favorite group of people. People with a high I.Q. have a tendency to look down their noses at those who are less fortunate.
2. Rational arrogance is the vanity of giving precedence to human I.Q. and intellectual attainment over spiritual I.Q. and momentum from doctrine. The human viewpoint of life rejects or sets aside divine viewpoint.
3. Rational arrogance generally afflicts those believers in Jesus Christ whose superior I.Q. or educational background gives them a false sense of elitism or
4. All too often, intellectual arrogance compromises Bible doctrine by attempting to reconcile those things found in the Word of God with philosophical and scientific speculation.
5. Because rational or intellectual arrogance is so anthropocentric, it has a tendency to accept as fact theories and philosophical speculations in the field of rationalism and empiricism, and make them a part of Christian doctrine.
6. This doctrine is found at the Free Republic Website as gate #9.
The plan of God rationale, the rebound rationale
This is where you gather a few doctrines which give you confidence in God, God’s plan, and what is gong on around you. Because these rationales are in your soul, you are able to withstand certain pressures. For instance, the plan of God rationale means, all that is in your life is a part of the plan of God. Now, obviously, when you sin, you take yourself out of God’s will, and that is a separate consideration; but when you are filled with the Spirit and advancing spiritually each day through the intake of Bible doctrine, then you are able to evaluate difficulties in your life as being a part of the plan of God. Since these things are a part of the plan of God, then God has given you the wherewithal to endure these difficulties.
The rebound rationale means that, no matter what sin you have committed, you name that sin to God, and you are completely and totally forgiven in time for committing that sin. Therefore, you re-enter the plan of God. Because of the rebound rationale, you do not go back to past sins from 5 or 10 years ago and lament these great sins.
Rebound (Restoration to fellowship with God)
In the New Testament, this is naming your sins to God, so that you are both restored to temporal fellowship with God and are then filled with the Spirit of God. In the Old Testament, naming your sins to God would result in a restoration of fellowship and, in some cases, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit once again (the Holy Spirit was not given to all Old Testament believers). See the Doctrine of Rebound (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
You get out of fellowship by sinning. You get back into fellowship by naming your known sins to God. God then forgives you for the sins which you named and any other sins which you also committed (1John 1:9). This process is known as rebound. See the Doctrine of Rebound (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The act of naming one’s sins to God. You get out of fellowship by sinning; you get back into fellowship by naming those sins (privately) to God. See the Doctrine of Rebound (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Temporal restoration to fellowship with God by naming your sins to Him. See the Doctrine of Rebound (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Reconciliation means that we are reconciled to God or made right with God. We are separated from God because we have a sin nature, the imputation of Adam’s original sin, and we have committed personal sins. If these three things are properly dealt with, so that God’s essence is not compromised, then we are able to be reconciled to God. Grace Notes (HTML); Maranatha Church (PDF); Grace Church of Baytown (PDF).
Redemption is the saving work of Christ whereby He purchased our freedom from the slave market of sin by means of His death on the cross. Doctrine of Redemption: (Jack Ballinger) (Ken Reed) (Wenstrom)
Redemption is the purchase of something. In the Bible, this generally refers to Jesus purchasing us with His blood (i.e., by means of His spiritual death on the cross). Doctrine of Redemption: (Jack Ballinger) (Ken Reed) (Wenstrom)
Jesus Christ, by His blood on the cross, has purchased us. Doctrine of Redemption: (Jack Ballinger) (Ken Reed) (Wenstrom)
There was a period of time, in Europe, when the Catholic Church was the spiritual and sometimes political power of most of the European countries. The early beginnings of the Catholic Church were remarkable and commendable; but they began to develop false doctrines that spiraled out of control. But, their worst sin was to take the Word of God out of the hands of the people. Dozens of men throughout Europe (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Wesley) began to find their way to the Scriptures and to provide Scriptures in the language of the people and began to teach what was in the Bible. This period of time was known as the reformation. Wikipedia on the Reformation.
Regeneration simply means to be born again. We are born physically alive at birth. At some point in our lives, many of us choose to believe in Jesus Christ (in the Old Testament, people believed in God as He revealed Himself). When we have exercised faith in Jesus Christ, we are regenerated.
Strictly speaking, religion is man earning God’s approbation through man’s efforts, works and/or piety. This is the basis of all religions. Christianity is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We are saved because we stand upon the merit of Jesus Christ; not because of any good thing in us. See the Doctrine of Religion (Bible Doctrine Resource) (Philip. 1:21) (Chart from Middletown Bible Church) (Christian Ministries International).
Got Questions: Replacement theology (also known as supersessionism) essentially teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. Adherents of replacement theology believe the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, and God does not have specific future plans for the nation of Israel. Among the different views of the relationship between the church and Israel are the church has replaced Israel (replacement theology), the church is an expansion of Israel (covenant theology), or the church is completely different and distinct from Israel (dispensationalism/premillennialism). This is a false theory based on the false concept that a person can fail so many times in the plan of God, that God completely boots him out of any relationship to God.
When a believer gives into the lusts of his soul continually, this can change that believer’s soul. Often the result is addictive behavior where a pleasurable addiction takes over the soul. God’s harsh discipline first guides such a believer to restoration to fellowship and then it continues as blessing to cure that addiction.
The Revealed God (or, the Revealed Lord), the Revealed Member of the Trinity
We do not look within ourselves or do we build up some concept of God based upon our own experiences, but we first understand God as He has revealed Himself. Throughout the lives of the saints who have gone before us, God revealed Himself through the written Word and sometimes through direct contact. Once a foundation is laid, then we can see how God is understood through various experiences in our lives. I often refer to Him as the Revealed God.
We do not look within to find God and we do not go out and search for God. He will reveal Himself to us. Those who look to other gods are simply worshiping that which others have defined as God; or, in many cases, they incorporate their own norms and standards into their belief of the God they choose to believe in. Essentially, such a person is making God in his own image.
The Revealed God (or, the Revealed Lord)
We all come to a time of God-consciousness where we understand the concept and possibility of the existence of God. At that point, we face 2 great questions: (1) do we want to know this God and (2) are will willing to believe in God as He has revealed Himself or do we make a god in our own image and worship that? In both the Old and New Testaments, God will make Himself known (He reveals Himself) to those who will believe in Him and to others as well. We know Him firmly and concretely as Jesus Christ; and in the Old Testament, He is known as the God of the Jews, the Creator of the Universe, the God of Moses (or of Abraham), etc.
Reverse Process Reversionism is the final stage of reversionism where everything that is worthwhile and valuable in life is rejected; everything that is useless and nonsense is accepted. Prolonged residence in the cosmic system causes a complete reversal of all mandates, all priorities, and all norms and standards related to the plan of God. Christian degeneracy reaches its peak in reverse process reversionism. The believer in reverse process reversionism cannot be distinguished in any way from an unbeliever, though he cannot lose his salvation. In reverse process reversionism, degeneracy is defined as decline from the normal standards of the plan of God. Therefore, the believer retrogresses into below normal stages of reversionism, and totally reverts from the divine standards found in the Word of God.
Reversionism is getting out of fellowship through sinning, and then remaining out of fellowship for a long time. Often, such a believer reverts to his behavior as an unbeliever (like the dog who returns to his vomit). This is called reversionism; or spiritual regression; or spiritual retrogression. This is going further than simple carnality, which is being out of fellowship; this is a person staying out of fellowship for long periods of time, losing his spiritual focus, and beginning to think like an unbeliever. He is a believer who is off course, walking backwards, or has fallen into a ditch (Reversionism—Ken Reed) (Reversionism—Jim Rickard) (Reversionism—divine viewpoint)
Reversionism is spiritual decline or spiritual regression brought about by rejection of Bible doctrine. This is a reverting to one’s sin pattern before salvation. Sometimes, one develops a sin pattern after being saved. (Reversionism—Ken Reed) (Reversionism—Jim Rickard) (Reversionism—divine viewpoint)
Reversionism describes either a believer who reverts back to his unbelieving ways; or an unbeliever who, when faced with establishment thinking, returns to ideas he may have rejected in the past (like a dog returning to his vomit). (Reversionism—Ken Reed) (Reversionism—Jim Rickard) (Reversionism—divine viewpoint)
A state of being or a set of actions where a believer reverts back to a former state, habit, belief, or practice of sinning. Reversionism is the status of the believer who fails to execute the plan of God for the Church Age. He returns to his pre-salvation modus operandi and modus vivendi. Reversionism can also refer to the unbeliever who once embraced the laws of divine establishment and now rejects it. (Reversionism—Ken Reed) (Reversionism—Jim Rickard) (Reversionism—divine viewpoint)
The believer reverts back to his sinful habits as an unbeliever with great regularity. Reversionism can also describe the unbeliever who once embraced the laws of divine establishment and now rejects it. (Reversionism—Ken Reed) (Reversionism—Jim Rickard) (Reversionism—divine viewpoint)
A believer who has reverted back to his unbelieving ways; the believer who retrogresses in his spiritual life. (Reversionism—Ken Reed) (Reversionism—Jim Rickard) (Reversionism—divine viewpoint)
This is the thinking part of the soul; called the heart in the Bible. See the Doctrine of the Heart (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The concept that God has provided for almost all people out there the perfect partner (of the opposite gender, of course). This relationship is the basis for much of our enjoyment of life, for believers and unbelievers alike. (Doctrine of RM/RW) (Doctrine of Marriage)
Righteousness; Experiential Righteousness
Righteousness is having the perfect character of God. In time, the believer has experiential righteousness through the filling of the Holy Spirit and the production of divine good. Ken Reed’s Doctrine of Righteousness (PDF) (Word). Righteousness (Bible Doctrine Resource).
Righteousness; Imputed Righteousness
Righteousness is having the perfect character of God. We obtain the righteousness of God through imputation. That is, when we believe in Jesus Christ, His righteousness is imputed to us, so that when God looks at us, He sees the righteousness of His Son. After salvation, experiential righteousness is potential but not guaranteed. Ken Reed’s Doctrine of Righteousness (PDF) (Word). Righteousness (Bible Doctrine Resource).
Righteousness; Relative Righteousness
This is the arbitrary view of a believer or unbeliever that his righteousness is better or worse than the righteousness of someone else. Often, a person who sees himself as being more righteous than someone else has more refined sins or fewer overt sins. Ken Reed’s Doctrine of Righteousness (PDF) (Word). Righteousness (Bible Doctrine Resource).
Those in the Church Age who have believed in Christ Jesus are considered to be royal family of God. We are not simply members of the family of God, but of the royal family; which means we are closely associated the Christ’s royalty (because we are in Christ). See the Royal Family Honor Code (McLaughlin; McLaughlin2); Baptism of the Spirit and the Royal Family (Grace Notes); and the Royal Family of God (Joe Wall—p. 74).
All believers are members of the family of God. Because Jesus Christ is royalty (descended from David), we are also royalty. All believers in the Church Age are also priests, making us royal priests.
The function of the priest in the Old Testament was to represent man before God. In the New Testament, we have direct access to God. We pray directly to God; we confess our sins directly to God. We do not need a human priest between us and God because we are in Christ, our High Priest. See Stan Simonton or Rev. P. G. Matthew, who gives an historical perspective on how this doctrine was confused by the Catholic Church.
The Sabbath
The Sabbath Day is Saturday, and this was a day of rest for the Hebrew people, during which they would not work but contemplate the finished work of God. This became a repository of legalism over the years, where this day became more and more tightly regulated with new laws and regulations not found in Scripture. Believers in the Church Age are not under any Sabbath day restrictions. (Spokane Bible Church Sabbath Summary) (Grace Notes: Jewish Teaching on the Sabbath) Kukis—Doctrine of the Sabbath Day (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The Sabbath Day is Saturday, and this was a day of rest for the Hebrew people, during which they would not work but contemplate the finished work of God. This became a repository of legalism over the years, where this day became more and more tightly regulated with new laws and regulations not found in Scripture. Believers in the Church Age are not under any Sabbath day restrictions. (Spokane Bible Church Sabbath Summary) (Grace Notes: Jewish Teaching on the Sabbath) Kukis—Doctrine of the Sabbath Day (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The sabbath year (shmita Hebrew: שמיטה , literally "release") also called the sabbatical year or shevi'it (שביעית , literally "seventh") is the seventh year of the seven-year agricultural cycle mandated by the Torah for the Land of Israel, and still observed in contemporary Judaism.
As human beings, we are sinners and therefore rejected by the justice of God. However, if we believe in Jesus Christ, Who took upon Himself our sins, we have His justice imputed to us and stand blameless before God. That is salvation adjustment to the justice of God. See the Doctrine of Adjustment to the Justice of God.
Sanctification is a technical theological term for the status quo of the royal family of God in three phases of the plan of God. The term means to be set apart to God for a special purpose. We, the royal family of God, are set apart to God in three ways (at salvation, in our lives, and in the eternal state). See the Abbreviated Doctrine of Sanctification (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). Doud, McCalley, Braun, Thieme, Jr. (HTML) (PDF). L. G. Merritt (PDF). Word of Truth Ministries. H. A. Ironside (Sanctification).
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil represented Satan’s plan. The Tree of Life (literal Tree of Lives) represented God’s plan. Satan wanted to be seen as good as God. Prior to the fall of man, Satan was not the ruler of this world system, but Adam was the ruler. Of course, it was Satan’s ambition to be the ruler. He got his wish as a result of Adam and Eve’s sin. He was then free to perpetuate his policy of good and evil upon the human race. The concept of evil seems obvious, but includes much more subtle forms of evil than most of us think. Satan’s policy of good is human good designed to counterfeit the divine good of God.
Scar tissue is what develops on the soul as a result of negative volition toward God and/or Bible Doctrine. The heart becomes hardened toward God. Tyree uses the term soul cauterization. See (Bible News) (Robert R. McLaughlin) (Makarios) (Grace Notes)
Scar tissue of the soul is also called hardness of the heart, the uncircumcised heart, and stubbornness of heart. Unlike divine discipline that produces temporary suffering with no lasting side effects, scar tissue of the soul leaves a debilitating loss of capacity for life or love. However, since it is part of the soul's immaterial essence like emotion, it has no known physical properties. However, it does restrict the capacity of the soul. It blocks Spiritual light, which leads to affinity to the Cosmic System as well as soulish and physical ailments. Psychosis and psychopathic personality are examples of scar tissue of the soul. Although behavior can be altered by psychotherapy and psychiatric drugs, the only cure for such problems is the divine solution, which requires Rebound and application of Bible Doctrine. See (Bible News) (Robert R. McLaughlin) (Makarios) (Grace Notes)
A scribe is one who transcribes the Law, replacing old and worn out manuscripts with newer ones; or preparing manuscripts for distribution. Scribes also taught the Mosaic Law, and, apparently, from a legalistic bias (Matt. 7:29 17:10 23:2–3). They conspired against Jesus (Matt. 26:3, 57 27:41).
When Jesus Christ returns to the earth to establish His kingdom, which will occur 7 years after the rapture.
The Seder is the current practice of Jewish people today which is supposed to be the Passover meal. Although the ways that the Seder is observed today almost rivals the number of Jewish households, the one thing it bears almost no resemblance to is the Passover supper. Interestingly enough, what seems to be missing most often is the Passover lamb as the centerpiece of the meal. (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A Semite is one descended from Shem, one of the 3 sons of Noah. This branch of Noah’s line contains Assyrians, Moabites, Israelites (= Hebrews = Jews), Ammonites, Ishmaelites, Edomites, Midianites, Ashurites, and Arabs. Semitic is simply the adjective for Semite. The term antisemitic is almost universally applied to Jews only.
The Septuagint was the Greek translation made of the Old Testament somewhere between 300–100 b.c. It is often called the LXX, because 70 translators were thought to be employed in this task.
Sexual arrogance is preoccupation with sex and self-gratification. It is preoccupation with the body to the exclusion of the soul. This is the point at which sexual gratification becomes an addiction.
This is the point where sexual desire overrides all else in a person’s psyche. It overrides reason, compassion, protocol. Just as the drug addict might be willing to do nearly anything for a fix; so the sexually addicted will be willing to do and even risk anything in order to fulfill their lusts. For the sexual addict, the object of his sexual lust is simply an object; his sexual lust does not indicate any sort of love is involved; not even like.
Also known as Paragraph SG2 (Supergrace Two) blessings. This is a promise by God to believers which crack the maturity barrier, and it includes five categories of blessings: (1) spiritual blessings of occupation with Christ, sharing the happiness of God, capacity for life and love, and the inner resources from Bible doctrine to meet every exigency of life; (2) temporal blessings in various areas of prosperity which may include professional prosperity, social prosperity, romantic prosperity, mental prosperity, health prosperity, leadership prosperity, etc.; (3) blessing by association to those in the periphery of the supergrace believer; (4) historical blessing to the nation – the supergrace or ultra supergrace believer becomes the spiritual ‘Atlas’ holding up his generation of history; (5) dying blessing, a period of supreme inner peace and happiness prior to or coterminous with death.
As we grow spiritually, our mental attitude improves, and our ability to be content and to appreciate what God has done for us improves. At some point, we share God’s happiness (meaning, that this contentment and appreciation is consistent). Sharing the Happiness of God (Bible Doctrine Resource 1) (Bible Doctrine Resource 2).
The word Shekinah means he causes to dwell. This extra-Biblical expression was originally coined by Jewish Rabbis to describes God making His Presence known (such as, the cloud in the Temple in 1Kings 8:10–11). Its common use appears to be confined to God’s spectacular manifestations of His Presence, but I would argue that His appearance to Moses as the burning bush was no less spectacular than His appearing to Israel as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. God manifests Himself in such a way to be appropriate to the event and to the number of people there. See also (Got Questions?) (from which much of this explanation came) (CARM.org) (The Jewish Encyclopedia)
Shock troops are a group of soldiers trained specially for carrying out a sudden assault.
The sin nature is that part of man, passed down from father to his children, which is in rebellion to God. In the Church Age, we are either controlled by the sin nature or by the Holy Spirit. The sin nature has an area of weakness and an area of strength, as well as a lust pattern. The Doctrine of the Sin Nature (Grace Notes); Doctrine of the Old Sin Nature (Buddy Dano); Old Sin Nature (James Allen) (Michael Lemmon) (L. G. Merritt) (The origin of the old sin nature—McLaughlin) (Doctrine of the Old Sin Nature—Makarios—Word document) (Sin Nature)
Every believer has a weakness (or, weaknesses) in his (or her) sin nature. When this is placed above Bible doctrine, that is arrogance.
The phrase "sin unto death" describes the final stage of divine discipline in which God removes from the earth the person who is totally alienated from God. The "sin unto death" is not a particular sin; but it is, rather, a mental attitude of total indifference to and rebellion against the will and purpose of God. For more information, see the Doctrine of the Sin unto Death (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
When a believer stays out of fellowship for an extended period of time and consistently acts against the plan of God, God may remove him from this life painfully using discipline that will result in his death. For more information, see the Doctrine of the Sin unto Death (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
When a believer continues to sin without rebound and without responding to warning discipline, God will often remove that believer from this life with the sin unto death. This is not a particular sin, but usually a series of sins, which may includes acts of human good and evil. For more information, see the Doctrine of the Sin unto Death (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
This is not a particular sin, but the point at which harsh discipline is no longer working on the believer, so God takes the believer out of this world in a very painful way. For more information, see the Doctrine of the Sin unto Death (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
We illustrate the doctrine of redemption, is by picturing yourself being sold as a slave in a slave market. You are unable to purchase yourself, as you do not have the wherewithal to purchase yourself. A slave does not have the money to purchase himself (he lacks the coin of the realm, so to speak). Only someone who is not inside of this slave market (a non-slave) can purchase you. No fellow slave can look you over and say, "I'd like to purchase this one." This is because he is in the same boat that you are in. He cannot purchase himself and he certainly cannot purchase you. Jesus Christ does not have a sin nature and He has not committed any personal sins, so that He can purchase us from the slave market of sin.
This concept is actually based upon the real historical example, where God purchased the Israelites from Egypt, and brought them out of bondage. See the Slave Market of Sin (R. B. Thieme, Jr.) (Buddy Dano) (Kukis) (Wenstrom)
Son of Man is a title for Jesus which emphasizes His humanity.
Soteriology is the study of salvation provided for man by the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). (Salvation from Grace Fellowship Church) (Salvation from Maranatha Church)
The proper theological term for the study of salvation.
The soul is the immaterial part of man. It has volition, mentality, vocabulary, norms and standards, conscience, consciousness, self-consciousness, and the sin nature. Grace Bible Church of Baytown (Characteristics, Diagram, Soul and Depravity of the Soul, Battle for Soul Control, Soul Tragedy, Prospering Soul, Soul’s Need for Daily Doctrine, Soul’s Need #2); Grace Notes (Doctrine of the Soul; PDF).
These are believers who get sucked into the cosmic vortex (which is the thinking of Satan as over against the thinking of God). A great modern example of this are the civil rights protestors of the 50's and 60's, many of whom began as strong, Bible-believing Christians, but ended up as political and social activists. They achieved their political ends and lost their spiritual impact.
A more up-to-date example would be those who have truly exercise faith in Jesus Christ, but then have gotten caught up in political or social action or attend a church which teaches liberation theology (or any other anti-Biblical organization).
Spiritual advance is another way to describe growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2Peter 3:18). We grow by keeping short accounts with God insofar as our sinning goes (that is, we often name our sins to God as per 1John 1:9); and by exposing ourselves regularly (daily) to accurate teaching of the Word of God by a well-qualified pastor-teacher, hearing and believing the spiritual principles being taught. See Basic Themes of the Bible; aka The Fundamental Themes of Scripture (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); Living the Christian Life (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); and Christian Mechanics (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Often, during a time of national crisis, God promotes one man who, for all intents and purposes, carries his nation on his shoulders. God protects and even prospers a nation based upon the spiritual Atlas of that day. We have historical examples of Israel under Moses, Joshua and David (among many others) and Rome under Paul. In the Church Age, there can be many people who function as spiritual Atlases in any given period of time.
There are 3 types of spiritual death: (1) The unbeliever is said to be spiritually blind or spiritually dead; he does not understand the things of the Spirit; these things are foolish to him. (2) The believer out of fellowship is said to be spiritually dead. This means that he is temporally dead; he is not acting under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He is operationally dead (that is, the believer is not producing divine good). (3) On the Roman cross, when bearing our sins, Jesus suffered spiritual death. That is, God poured our sins upon Him and judged those sins. We understand by the context which of these is being referred to. The phrase, blood of Christ, refers to the Lord’s spiritual death on the cross. What is spiritual death? (Got Questions); 29 Bible Verses about Spiritual Death (Knowing Jesus); Bible Verses about Spiritual Death (Open Bible).
Spiritual dynamics is simply the believer making use of spiritual life which God has given to him (we might say, he is exploiting his portfolio of spiritual assets). Simply put, the believer names his sins to God (rebound; 1John 1:9); learns Bible doctrine (daily, if possible); produces divine good; and employs the ten problem solving devices. More informally, this term can simply understood as the use of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life. Apart from R. B. Thieme, Jr.’s massive audio (or video) study of this topic, I am unaware of this doctrine being reduced in size and presented online.
Spiritual food is Bible doctrine, generally taught to the believer by a well-qualified pastor-teacher, in the local church. When the believer hears the information and then believes is, he is consuming spiritual food, which will contribute to his spiritual growth. The believer, for the most part, does not grow by himself by reading a spiritual book. Just as physical growth is imperceptible from day-to-day, so it is with spiritual growth. See the Stages of Spiritual Growth (HTML) (PDF) (WPD)
Every believer, at the moment of salvation, is given one or more spiritual gifts. Knowledge of these gifts and the exploitation of same comes with spiritual growth. See the Doctrine of Spiritual Gifts (Dr. Grant C. Richison) (Ron Adema) (Ron Snider).
Spiritual growth for the believer is an option. We do not automatically grow spiritually simply because we have believed in Jesus Christ. We grow because we spend time in the Spirit (using rebound) and because we learn Bible doctrine under the ministry of a well-qualified pastor-teacher. See Living the Christian Life (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); Christian Mechanics (HTML) (PDF) (WPD), the Stages of Spiritual Growth (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); and the Spiritual Life (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The spiritual life is the life that God expects us to lead. Fundamental to the spiritual life is rebound (naming your sins to God and being filled with the Spirit) and spiritual growth (learning and believing Bible doctrine). Even though we are commanded to live the spiritual life, this is not an imposition to our lives, but enlightenment and peace of mind. The unbeliever cannot lead a spiritual life. (HTM) (PDF) (The Spiritual Life via the 10 problem solving devices—R. B. Thieme, Jr.) (Walking in the Spirit—Chafer) (Spiritual Metabolism—Robert R. McLaughlin)
Spiritual maturity is achieved through spiritual growth. One grows spiritually by using the rebound technique (1John 1:9) and by hearing, understanding and believing the teaching of the Word of God (aka, Operation Z). R. B. Thieme, Jr. has coined several terms which mean roughly the same thing: the edification complex structure of the soul and supergrace. See Christian Mechanics (HTML) (PDF) (WPD), the Stages of Spiritual Growth (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); and the Doctrine of the Edification Complex of the Soul (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Every believer is a priest and, as a priest, has the right (and responsibility) to live his life before God. That means, he should not be dependent upon a pastor or a counselor in order to make any decisions in life. This does not mean that you can abandon your pastor and find the truth of the Bible by self study. What this means is, you do not call up the pastor in order to find out what your next move in life ought to be. This also does not mean that you function entirely free from all other believers. You may be married, you may be involved in a ministry with other believers, etc. However, you do not require someone else to live your life for you or to make decisions for you. R. B. Thieme, Jr. taught this as the Doctrine of Spiritual Autonomy.
A national entity which is a client nation to God is under both God’s protection and His discipline (much like the individual believer). As a nation moves further and further from God, God may impose disciplinary measures on that nation, which include economic disaster, illness, civil unrest, military defeat, and even invasion which may include a slavery or dispersion of the people. These cycles are found in Lev. 26. Although these warnings are specifically designed for Israel, all client nations to God may face similar downward historical trends. The Five Cycles of Discipline (BDR—probably Thieme) (Mark Perkins) (L. G. Merritt). Also see the Doctrine of the Cycles of Discipline.
God set up a series of stages that He would go through to discipline the nation Israel, which stages are laid out in Lev. 26. These are called the cycles of discipline by R. B. Thieme, Jr. See the Doctrine of the Cycles of Discipline. Client nations experience similar discipline from God. The Five Cycles of Discipline (BDR—probably Thieme) (Mark Perkins) (L. G. Merritt).
This is when a nation is controlled and/or taxed by an outside entity. In the Bible, this is called paying tribute.
The fifth cycle of discipline involves complete loss of personal and national sovereignty, the destruction of the family and the nation. Offerings to God are unacceptable. Nations which have undergone this destruction have experienced slavery, cannibalism, and the assimilation of its surviving citizens into other cultures.
This is when a country and its people are completely destroyed. This is what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah. This was never an outcome that Israel had to worry about. God’s promises depend upon the continuation of the Jewish people. Genesis 19 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A strategy is a plan, a method, an approach, or series of moves/steps/actions to arrive at a specific outcome, long-term goal, or desired result. Strategy defines where you are and where you want to go. Those moves, individual steps or series of actions would be tactics. Strategy defines how you want to achieve a long-term objective; tactics are intended to move you to a short-term objective. The fact that strategy is in the singular and tactics is in the plural will help you to remember which is which.
Supergrace is a term and doctrine, developed by R. B. Thieme, Jr., which indicates a stage of spiritual maturity that some believers attain. Essentially, this is our first stage of spiritual maturity and it is based upon the words greater grace as found in James 4:6. (Robert R. McLaughlin) Or, R. B. Thieme, Jr. covers this in lesson #10 of his 1972 David Series 631; or in his 1972 Supergrace Series769 (12 lessons). There was a booklet from R. B. Thieme, Jr. ministries, but it is now out of print (the terminology is original with Thieme)
This is a term originated by R. B. Thieme, Jr. to indicate that a person is in spiritual maturity. (Robert R. McLaughlin) Or, R. B. Thieme, Jr. covers this in lesson #10 of his 1972 David Series 631; or in his 1972 Supergrace Series769 (12 lessons). There was a booklet from R. B. Thieme, Jr. ministries, but it is now out of print (the terminology is original with Thieme)
The supergrace life is simply life as a mature believer. The believer is using rebound regularly; the believer recognizes the importance of Bible doctrine and takes in Bible doctrine daily. They are grace oriented and living the faith-rest life.
A synonym for spiritual maturity. The idea is, God pours out grace and more grace upon the believer. (Robert R. McLaughlin) Or, R. B. Thieme, Jr. covers this in lesson #10 of his 1972 David Series 631; or in his 1972 Supergrace Series769 (12 lessons). There was a booklet from R. B. Thieme, Jr. ministries, but it is now out of print (the terminology is original with Thieme)
The is a treaty or contract made between the sovereign ruler of a nation and the people in another location. Often, this contract would demand taxes or some form of remuneration, which brought them both protection from the sovereign and from other foreign powers. It would be the sovereign who proposed the details of the contract. See the Abrahamic Covenant (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Synagogues are consecrated spaces used for the purpose of prayer, the reading aloud of the Tanakh (the entire Hebrew Bible, including the Torah), the study of the Tanakh, and to assemble and worship.
Most believe that synagogues were first formed during the Babylonian captivity (586–537 b.c.). One of the leaders at the end of the Second Temple era, promulgated the idea of creating individual houses of worship in whatever locale Jews found themselves. It is reasonable to suppose that there were formal and informal gatherings prior to this.
Syncretism, as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary, is “the reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of belief.” This is most evident in the areas of philosophy and religion, and usually results in a new teaching or belief system. Obviously, this cannot be reconciled to biblical Christianity [that is, we cannot offer a fusion of some philosophy and Christianity and the result still be Christianity].
Religious syncretism often takes place when foreign beliefs are introduced to an indigenous belief system and the teachings are blended. The new, heterogeneous religion then takes a shape of its own. This has been seen most clearly in Roman Catholic missionary history. Take, for example, the Roman Catholic Church's proselytizing of animistic South America. Threatened with the fear of death, natives were baptized into the church by the tens of thousands without any preaching of the Gospel whatsoever. Former temples were razed, with Catholic shrines and chapels built on the same spot. Natives were allowed to substitute praying to saints instead of gods of water, earth and air, and replaced their former idols with new images of the Roman Catholic Church. Yet, the animistic religion the natives had formerly practiced was never fully replaced—it was adapted into Catholic teachings, and this new belief system was allowed to flourish.
Syncretism is an attempt to reconcile or unite different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion. When related to the Word of God, it is mixing evil, human viewpoint, and contemporary norms with Bible doctrine. See Got Questions for more information.
A synecdoche [pronounced si-NEK-duh-kee] is a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for a part, the special for the general or the general for the special. If we read that David defeats the army of the Philistines, David is the part which represents the whole (that is, David’s army).
A syntheton [pronounced SYN-the-ton] is a figure of speech found in the Bible where two or more words are commonly combined, like rich and poor, meat the drink, young and old.
The Tabernacle was the original place of worship designed by God. It was constructed in the desert wilderness where the Jews lives before entering the Land of Promise; and it was the focal point of their worship up to the monarchy. The design of the Tabernacle, the furniture, and the way its furniture was arranged, all spoke of the first advent of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. For instance, the Ark of God was made of wood overlain with gold, speaking of the Lord’s Deity and humanity. The Tabernacle represented the 1st Advent of the Lord, as it was moveable. The Temple (a permanent structure) represented the Lord in the Millennium as the King of Israel. See the Ark of God (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); and the Model of the Tabernacle (which represents Jesus Christ and the cross) (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); the Tabernacle (Redeeming Grace); Jesus—the Golden Lampstand (Grace Bible Church).
The Temple is a permanent structure as the place of worship of the Revealed God, originally built by Solomon. Both Solomon and the Temple represent the Lord Jesus Christ and His reign in the Millennium. See the Temple, Description and Measurements (Grace Notes); Solomon’s Temple (Redeeming Grace); the Temple (Redeeming Grace).
Every problem in life has a solution stated in the Word of God. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are given ten or more problem solving devices to deal with every exigency in life. There is no such thing as a problem in life that does not have a solution in the Word of God.
For the unbeliever, solutions are always related to establishment principles, for only in establishment principles can the unbeliever utilize virtue and make it a part of his life. Therefore, solutions for the unbeliever are limited because he has no eternal or temporal relationship with God. Ultimately then, problem solving is the monopoly of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. This does not mean, however, that unbelievers cannot solve problems, but that unbelievers do not have answers to all their problems.
Consequently, the subject of problems and solutions is always directed toward the believer in Jesus Christ, and specifically toward the Church-age believer whose possession of the mystery doctrines of the Church-age, his very own portfolio of invisible assets, the unique availability of divine power, and the fantastic privileges related to being a member of the Royal Family of God, provide him with clearly defined problem-solving devices. In other words, beyond gnosis (knowledge) there is the most fantastic system of solving one's own problems from thinking with the mind of Christ. Accomplishing this requires us to put Bible doctrine first in our life. (Bible Doctrine Resources) (Pastor L.G. Merritt) (Hê Ekklêsia)
These are:
1. Rebound
2. The Filling of the Holy Spirit
3. Faith-Rest
4. Grace Orientation
5. Doctrinal Orientation
6. A Personal Sense of Destiny
7. Personal Love for God the Father
8. Impersonal Unconditional Love for all Mankind
9. Contentment and Perfect Happiness with God
10. Occupation with the Lord Jesus Christ
(Bible Doctrine Resources) (Pastor L.G. Merritt) (Hê Ekklêsia)
The tetragrammaton is the Hebrew theonym יהוה, commonly transliterated into Latin letters as YHWH. The word comes from Greek Τετραγράμματον, which means, [consisting of] four letters. It is one of the names of God used in the Bible and is derived from the very common Hebrew verb that means to be, to exist, to cause to become, or to come to pass.
The science of determining the most accurate reading for any given passage. Articles on textual criticism in the New Testament; An Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism; Theopedia’s article on Biblical criticism; The Encyclopedia of New Testament Textual Criticism conceived by Rich Elliott; Old Testament Textual Criticism; and The Study of Textual Criticism.
A Theophany is an appearance by God, the Revealed Lord, before the incarnation of Jesus. A “theophany”...refer [s] to either a visible or auditory manifestation of the Son of God before His incarnation in Bethlehem (Gen. 32:29-30; Ex. 3:2; 19:18-20; Josh. 5:13-15; Dan. 3:26). See the Theophanies of God for more information.
The time during which nation Israel is not a client nation to God. During this time, God does not work through nation Israel. This does not mean that God has completely rejected the Jews or that all of the Jewish covenants are now transferred to those in the church. It simply means that Israel is set aside for a time. The Jewish people are still God’s people and they have a glorious future.
Stage 1: Person believes in Jesus Christ and is born again. This is a spiritual baby. Stage 2: Spiritual childhood, where a believer learns basic doctrines and learns what it is that he did when he believed in Jesus Christ. Stage 3: Spiritual adulthood, where believers begin to understand divine viewpoint and to think like Jesus Christ. They understand their place in the world in the light of eternity. This is the stage at which the believer is most effective.
Under the Israel economy, all citizens of Israel paid a tithe (10%) to their government, which was a form of taxation. In Israel, this money was used to maintain the Levitical priesthood, the Tabernacle (and later the Temple). In addition to this, a tithe was paid every third year for the poor. This makes their basic tax rate 13.3% per year. Solomon put additional taxes upon the people (which taxes are not clearly specified but the people believed them to be onerous). Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, promised to out-tax his father (1Kings 12:1–14). Tithing is not appropriate for the Church Age. See R. B. Thieme, Jr.’s Giving: Gimmick or Grace?
Tongues (the gift of, the sign of)
Tongues is a spiritual gift given by God the Holy Spirit during the precanon period of the Church Age. It allowed believers with this gift to speak the gospel message to those who spoke a different language. The Gift of Tongues (HTML) (PDF) (WPD), Grace Notes Speaking In Tongues (HTML) (PDF), Merritt, Grace Fellowship Church (spiritual gifts).
When Jewish people heard people speak the message of God to them in gentile languages (gentile tongues), this indicated to them that they were under judgment by God.
The gift of tongues is the ability to speak in a foreign language that one does not know, and to provide spiritual information to those who speak that language. This was a sign gift which disappeared prior to the completion of the New Testament. The Gift of Tongues (HTML) (PDF) (WPD), Grace Notes Speaking In Tongues (HTML) (PDF), Merritt, Grace Fellowship Church (spiritual gifts), Jack Ballinger (Tongues), Doctrine.org (Sign Gifts: Valid Today?), Word of Truth Ministries (spiritual gifts), order from R. B. Thieme, Jr., Grace Bible Church (Pre-canon Gift: Tongues).
The word torah is a Hebrew word that means law. This word is often applied to the first 5 books of the Bible. Occasionally, it may be used to refer to the entire Old Testament.
Total depravity means that man has no ability to impress, please, or gain the favor of God. Apart from the cross of Jesus Christ, we have no path to God. The uncrossable barriers between us and God include: (1) the imputation of Adam’s sin; (2) the sin nature, which every person has; and (3) the commission of personal sins while we are alive.
When the Church Age comes to its completion, and the body of believers is raptures from this earth, there is remain a shortened 7 years which time is known as the Tribulation. This is actually the end of the Jewish Age and has many names in the Bible (like the time of Jacob’s trouble). (Doctrine of the Tribulation—Pastor L.G. Merritt) (The Great Tribulation—Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries) (Tribulation Time line [Chart]—Grace Bible Church of Baytown)
Yehowah Elohim, in the Old Testament; Jesus Christ in the New Testament. The God of Creation and the God of the Bible. Also called the Revealed Lord.
The Trinity
A type is a person, a thing or an act which looks forward to Jesus or to Jesus on the cross. For instance, Isaac’s birth was the type; our Lord’s birth was the antitype, which was the fulfillment of the type. Typical is the adjective; and typology is the study of type. Typological, an adjective, is, of or relating to typology or types. See Typology (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Persons and events often foreshadow future persons and events. The real person or event in the past is called a type; and that which follows it as an historical parallel is it antitype. See Typology (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A type is a preordained representation wherein certain persons, events, and institutions of the O.T. stand for corresponding persons, events, and institutions of the N.T. Types are pictures or object lessons by which God has taught His redemptive plan. They are a shadow of things to come, not the image of those things (Col. 2:17 Heb. 8:5 10:1). The Mosaic system, for example, was a kind of kindergarten in which God's people were trained in divine things and taught to look forward to the realities of things yet to come. See Typology (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A type is a preordained representation wherein certain persons, events, and institutions of the O.T. stand for corresponding persons, events, and institutions of the N.T. Types are pictures or object lessons by which God has taught His redemptive plan. They are a shadow of things to come, not the image of those things (Col. 2:17 Heb. 8:5 10:1). Typological, an adjective, is, of or relating to typology or types. See the Doctrine of Typology (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
Most of the time, a type is an incident, a person, or a symbol of some sort in the Old Testament which generally represents Jesus Christ (the antitype) in the New. See Typology (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
A type is a preordained representation wherein certain persons, events, and institutions of the O.T. stand for corresponding persons, events, and institutions of the N.T. Types are pictures or object lessons by which God has taught His redemptive plan. They are a shadow of things to come, not the image of those things (Col. 2:17 Heb. 8:5 10:1). See the Doctrine of Typology (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The believer who has reached the first stage of spiritual maturity (supergrace) and has moved forward from there.
That place in the angelic conflict where God places mature believers under maximum testing and pressure. This would include Job, Paul and Moses. 2Tim. 2:10 3:11-12.
Robert McLaughlin does not speak of the continual pressure aspect of this final stage of spiritual development. “Ultra-supergrace is the most advanced stage of spiritual maturity related to time, history, and the angelic conflict. Once the believer breaks the maturity barrier through the daily perception, metabolization, and application of bible doctrine, he moves into different spheres of spiritual maturity.”
The doctrine, held especially by some Christian groups, that all people will eventually be saved. Definition from Wordnik.
Unlimited atonement simply means that Jesus died for the sins of all mankind—for the sins of those who would believe in Him and for the sins of those who would choose not to believe in Him. No one can make the excuse, Jesus did not die for my sins. See A Defense of Unlimited Atonement (Middletown Bible Church), Unlimited Atonement (Wenstrom), Unlimited Atonement (Rev. Thomas Tyree, Jr.), Doctrines of Propitiation; Unlimited Atonement (Divine Viewpoint), For Whom Did Christ Die? (Doctrine.org)
Scripture Teaches Unlimited Atonement (mostly L.S. Chafer), A Critique of Limited Atonement and the Problem of Double Jeopardy (Timothy Ministry).
God the Holy Spirit so supernaturally directed the human writers of Scripture, that, without waving their human intelligence, individuality, literary style, personal feelings or any other human factor, His own complete and coherent message to man was recorded in perfect accuracy in the original languages of Scripture, the very words bearing the authority of divine authorship. The literary style of the human author would include a variety of literary devices and figures of speech. Furthermore, there is nothing in the definition of inspiration which precludes the human authors or even God the Holy Spirit from making use of literary devices. See the Basic Doctrine of Inspiration (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); the Doctrine of Inspiration (HTML) (PDF) (WPD); and the Study of Inspiration (HTML) (PDF) (WPD).
The virgin birth is a doctrine which is essential Christianity. The importance of the virgin birth is based upon the concept that the sin nature is passed down through the man. Because Jesus is born of a virgin, He did not inherit the sin nature. It is not a part of his genetic makeup.
Secondly, the virgin birth is prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 9:6, so this had to be fulfilled by the Messiah. See the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ (Grace Bible Church) (Doctrine.org).
The Way; the Way of God; the Ancient Way, the Way of Yehowah
The way (the way of God, the way of Yehowah) is a designation of the faith practiced in the Jewish Age and, to some degree, in the Age of the Hypostatic Union. This was the spiritual life of the believer prior to the giving of the Holy Spirit. During the Church Age, this same walk would be called the Christian way of life or the Christian walk. The Way of God (HTML) (PDF) (WPD)