ATONEMENT = Means to cover, cancel or forgive. Atonement means that God covers man’s sin through the substitute death of Christ for sinners (Rom. 5:6-8).
BAAL-ZEBUB = False god of the Philistines also known as Baal (II Kings 1:2-16). Beelzebub in the NT is the same as Baal-zebub in the OT. He is called the “prince of demons” (Matthew 12:24). One of several names used for Satan. The Lord identified him as Satan (Matt.12:26).
BABYLON = It was the capital city of the country from the generation of Noah’s son Ham (Genesis 10:6-10). Babylon is also in the prophetic writings of Revelation 17. Babylon is known throughout history as an ungodly and worldly city that opposes God. It will be destroyed by the Lord Jesus Christ when He returns to earth (Rev. 16:14; 18:2).
BAPTISM = Baptism means immersion (dip), submersion (put under water). John the Baptist preached “repent and be baptized” to follow God (Luke 3:16; Acts 18:24-25; 19:1-7). John the Baptist also baptized Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:13-17). Christians should be baptized to obey God and show other people that they are Christians. Baptism does not save, but it is an identity (ID) only. It is an outward expression of an inward possession of Christ. The first step after salvation is baptism (Romans 6:3-5). There are two ordinances of the church. One is Baptism, a one-time experience. Two is the Lord’s Supper, which is to be practiced “until” the Lord returns.
BISHOP = Bishop means shepherd, overseer or pastor of the church (Ephesians 4:11). Paul sought to appoint a pastor (bishop) over every church (Acts 14:23; 20:17). Qualifications for a pastor were the ability to teach the Scriptures and having a good report (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9).
BLASPHEMY = means to speak in an injurious, cursing, or evil way against God (Psalm 74:18; Isaiah 52:5). Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Spirit) is an unpardonable sin (Matthew 12:31; Mark 12:29).
CALVARY = means a skull. The hillside where Jesus Christ was crucified was shaped as a skull. The hillside was called Calvary and Golgotha. The word Calvary (Greek) appears only once in the Bible (Luke 23:33). The word Golgotha (Aramaic) also means the place of the skull (Mark 15:22).
CARNAL – means flesh. A carnal Christian is a fleshly, sensual person controlled by his desires of the body rather than the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 3:1-3). A Christian can be carnally minded or spiritually minded (Romans 8:6). The Bible refers to different types of people: Sinners – Christians – Carnal Christians.
CHARITY – means love. It is another word in the Bible that simply means love. Christians are to display charity or love that the Lord puts within them after they are saved (Romans 5:5).
CHRISTIAN – the word Christian appears only three times in the Bible (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). The Gentiles called them Christians because they were followers of Christ or Christ-ians. Saved people should follow Christ and be good Christians. All Christians are saved people, but not all saved people are good Christians. It is good when the world calls you a Christian. When people follow Buddha they are called Buddhists. When saved people follow Christ they are called Christians.
CREATION – means to make something from nothing. God created the universe from nothing (Genesis 1:1). Man is able to make but man cannot create. Man makes things from things. The Bible teaches that God is the Creator of all things. Evolution teaches that all things evolved from something already existing.
DEMON – Means an evil spirit. The word “devils” and “demons” are the same. There is only one devil, but there are many demons. They are also known as the fallen angels of the devil (Revelation 12:7).
DEVIL – Means accuser, slanderer or the enemy of God. There is only one devil who is also known as Satan, Deceiver, Liar, Dragon, Antichrist, and Lucifer. He is the leader of all the demons (Revelation 12:7). The Devil and all his followers will be cast into the Lake of Fire to remain forever (Revelation 20:10).
DISCIPLE – Means follower or learner. A disciple is one who follows the teachings of another. Those who followed the teachings of Christ were disciples known as Christians (Acts 11:26).
DISPENSATION – Means different periods of time when God dealt with man. Example: The Old and the New Dispensation or the Dispensation (time) of Law and the Dispensation (time) of Grace.
ELDER – Means an old wise man who was experienced with wisdom to help others make decisions. At one time elders would lead the church in the absence of pastors (I Thessalonians 5:12).
EPISTLE – Means a written message or letter. Many books in the NT were called epistles, or letters. They were written to churches or people by Paul and other leaders. Epistles are known as books of the Bible as the book (epistle) of Corinthians which was written to the church at Corinth; Ephesians to Ephesus…etc.
ETERNAL LIFE – Means a time without end. It means forever, always and everlasting. The opposite of eternal is temporal, not permanent, or passing away (John 10:10).
EVANGELIST – Means one who announces or preaches good news. In the New Testament it represents a specialized type of ministry (Ephesus 4:11) performed by a preacher of the Gospel. Usually a pastor ministers to one church, but an evangelist may minister to many different churches, cities and countries.
FAITH – Means to completely trust and believe God. Faith is needed to be saved and is also needed to serve God. “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be (faith) even as it was told me” (Acts 27:25).
FAITHFUL or FAITHFULNESS – Means a person is full of faith and that he is dependable and trustworthy. Christians are to be faithful stewards or servants of the Lord. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (I Corinthians 4:2).
FALSE – Means that it is not true. It is a lie. False means to imitate or try to copy something that is true. There are false Christs and Christians who try to deceive many (Matthew 24:5).
FASTING – Means to abstain or stop eating food for a period of time. Fasting with prayer is a practice when a Christian has a great burden. The Lord fasted 40 days and 40 nights (Matthew 4:1-2). The word breakfast actually means to break-fast and eat again.
FATHER – Means the first to begin something new. A father begins a new family. Abraham is the father of the Jewish nation (Genesis 17:4-5). A father is the head of the family. God is known as our Heavenly Father, and He is the Head of our family (I Peter 1:3).
FELLOWSHIP – Means to share things together with others who agree with you. Christian fellowship begins when a person is saved. It also means a partner or sharer with others. It means to minister to one another (Acts 11:29).
FOREKNOWLEDGE – Means to know or have knowledge before it happens. Only God has foreknowledge of all things (Acts 2:23).
FORGIVENESS – Means to remove and cancel a wrong. Divine forgiveness is from God as He forgives us (Acts 13:38). Christian forgiveness is Christians forgiving one another of something done wrong. It means to cancel or remove the wrong as though it never happened. It is forgiven (Matthew 6:12). True forgiveness means that I will not bring it up again to you, another person or myself. It has been forgiven.
