10 More Words Every Christian Should Know (and Be Able to Explain)

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A robust understanding of the nature of God, his redemptive plan in Christ, and the duties of the Christian life will give us peace, confidence, and resoluteness in a world filled with anxiety, doubt, and shifting standards. We will also be more effective in sharing the gospel with unbelievers.

Our “10 Words Every Christian Should Know (and Be Able to Explain)” post featured key words to help believers grow in love for all Christ has done for them. Here are 10 more words to know in order to "be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Pet. 3:15). Definitions are taken from the Westminster Confession of Faith, Westminster Larger Catechism, Westminster Shorter Catechism, and Heidelberg Catechism.

1. God

“God is a Spirit, (John 4:24) in and of himself infinite in being, (Exod. 3:14, Job 11:7–9) glory, (Acts 7:2) blessedness, (1 Tim. 6:15) and perfection; (Matt. 5:48) all-sufficient, (Gen. 17:1) eternal, (Ps. 90:2) unchangeable, (Mal. 3:6, James 1:17) incomprehensible, (1 Kings 8:27) every where present, (Ps. 139:1–13) almighty, (Rev. 4:8) knowing all things, (Heb. 4:13, Ps. 147:5) most wise, (Rom. 16:27) most holy, (Isa. 6:3, Rev. 15:4) most just, (Deut. 32:4) most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. (Exod. 34:6)” (Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 7).

2. Trinity

“In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost: (1 John 5:7. Matt 3:16–17, Matt. 28:19, 2 Cor. 13:14) the Father is of none, neither begotten, not proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; (John 1:14, 18) the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son. (John 15:26, Gal. 4:6)” (Westminster Confession of Faith 2.3).

3. Covenant

“The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, (Gal. 3:12) wherein life was promised to Adam; and in him to his posterity, (Rom. 10:5, Rom. 5:12–20) upon condition of perfect and personal obedience. (Gen. 2:17, Gal. 3:10)” (Westminster Confession of Faith 7.2).

“Man, by his fall, having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, (Gal. 3:21, Rom. 8:3, Rom. 3:20–21, Gen. 3:15, Isa. 42:6) commonly called the covenant of grace; wherein He freely offers unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ; requiring of them faith in Him, that they may be saved, (Mark 16:15–16, John 3:16, Rom. 10:6–9, Gal. 3:11) and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life His Holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to believe. (Ezek. 36:26–27, John 6:44–45)” (Westminster Confession of Faith 7.3).

4. Fall

“Our first parents, being seduced by the subtilty and temptation of Satan, sinned, in eating the forbidden fruit. (Gen. 3:13, 2 Cor. 11:3) This their sin, God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory. (Rom. 11:32)” (Westminster Confession of Faith 6.1).

“By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion, with God, (Gen. 3:6–8, Eccl. 7:29, Rom. 3:23) and so became dead in sin, (Gen. 2:17, Eph. 2:1) and wholly defiled in all the parts and faculties of soul and body. (Tit. 1:15, Jer. 17:9, Rom. 3:10–18)” (Westminster Confession of Faith 6.2).

5. Sinfulness (Original Sin)

“The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, (Rom. 5:12, 19) the want of that righteousness wherein he was created, and the corruption of his nature, whereby he is utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite unto all that is spiritually good, and wholly inclined to all evil, and that continually; (Rom. 3:10–19, Eph. 2:1–3, Rom. 5:6, Rom. 8:7–8, Gen. 6:5) which is commonly called Original Sin, and from which do proceed all actual transgressions” (James 1:14–15, Matt. 15:19)” (Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 25).

6. Heaven

“The communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death is, in that their souls are then made perfect in holiness, (Heb. 12:23) and received into the highest heavens, (2 Cor. 5:1, 6, 8, Phil. 1:23, Acts 3:21, Eph. 4:10) where they behold the face of God in light and glory, (1 John 3:2, 1 Cor. 13:12) waiting for the full redemption of their bodies, (Rom. 8:23, Ps. 16:9) which even in death continue united to Christ, (1 Thess. 4:14) and rest in their graves as in their beds, (Isa. 57:2) till at the last day they be again united to their souls. (Job 19:26–27)” (Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 86).

7. Hell

Whereas the souls of the wicked are at their death cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, and their bodies kept in their graves, as in their prisons, till the resurrection and judgment of the great day. (Luke 16:23–24, Acts 1:25, Jude 6–7)” (Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 86).

8. Providence

“God's providence is his almighty and ever present power, whereby, as with his hand, he still upholds heaven and earth and all creatures, and so governs them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, indeed, all things, come to us not by chance but by his fatherly hand” (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 27; Lord’s Day 10).

9. Sacrament

“The sacraments are holy, visible signs and seals. They were instituted by God so that by their use he might the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the gospel. And this is the promise: that God graciously grants us forgiveness of sins and everlasting life because of the one sacrifice of Christ accomplished on the cross” (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 66; Lord’s Day 25).

10. Perseverance (of the Saints)

“They, whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved. (Phil. 1:6, 2 Pet. 1:10, 1 John 3:9, 1 Pet. 1:5,9)” (Westminster Confession of Faith 17.1).

Related Articles:

• 10 Words Every Christian Should Know (and Be Able to Explain)

• Christian Basics: What Are the Five “Alones” and Why Do You Need to Know Them?

• 8 Covenants in the Bible and What They Mean for You Personally Today

• 2 Kinds of Covenants in the Bible You Need to Know

• Got Peace Right Now? 7 Things You Need to Know About Your Justification in Christ

• 10 Facts You Need to Know about the Reformation (Rumors and Legends Dispelled)

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