Glossary: Doctrinal terms

Twenty-nine doctrinal terms have been used, either directly or indirectly in this booklet. This alphabetical glossary will help you understand their usage in this booklet and other studies on my church's web site at www.doctrinalstudies.com

ADAM’S ORIGINAL SIN (AOS) (Rom.5:12-21) Adam’s disobedience to God’s mandate in the Garden of Eden resulted in death (Gen.2:17). Consequently, Adam’s corrupt nature (OSN), spiritual and physical death as well as culpability for his sin were passed to all mankind. (1 Cor.15:22).

ADULTERY (Heb.13:4) The act of engaging in sexual relations with a partner, where either partner is married to another, thereby breaking the exclusive relationship of the married individual(s) to his / her own mate.

AGAPE LOVE (Eph.5:25-28; Col.3:19) The Christian husband is commanded to love his wife with the unconditional and sacrificial love of God by means of the Indwelling Holy Spirit.(1 Cor.6:19-20; Gal.5:16-25)

ANGELIC CONFLICT (AC) (Eph.6:10-17) Unseen warfare in which the forces of Satan (fallen angels) war against the forces of God (Jesus Christ, elect angels, and believers).

BIBLE DOCTRINE (BD) (2 Tim.3:16-17) The promises, principles and tenets that God provides for man in the Bible. Holy Scriptures which describe God and His plan of grace and which are intended to be understood, believed and applied to life's experiences. Inhale and exhale of the Word of God (BD) is the primary means of the Believer’s spiritual growth. (2 Pet.3:18).

CARNALITY (1 Cor.3:1-3) The Believer’s absolute status of being out of fellowship with God because of unconfessed sin (1 John 1:9). In a state of carnality the believer loses the filling of the Indwelling Holy Spirit and his OSN dominates the thoughts and desires of his heart. (Rom.6:12-14; James 1:14-15)

COPULATION (1 Cor.6:18-7:2) For Christians, all sexual activity is designed for marriage (Heb.13:4). Marital copulation has been designed by God for both recreation and procreation.

DIVINE INSTITUTIONS (DI) (1 Pet.2:13-17; 1 Tim.2:1-6) Four conventions, established by God in order to perpetuate the human race and maintain order. These four Divine Institutions are (DI#1) freedom (free will), (DI#2) marriage (husband and wife), (DI#3) family (parents and children), and (DI#4) nationalism. (government, military, schools, business).

DIVINE VIEWPOINT (DV) THINKING (1 Cor.2:14-16; Col.3:1-2) Beliefs and attitudes that align with the plan of God as outlined in the word of God. It includes Believers thinking Bible Doctrine (BD) and unbelievers thinking divine institutional principles recorded in the Bible (DI). (Acts 14:15-18; 17:22-32)

FAITH CYCLE (Rom.4:18-21) The process of taking Bible Doctrine (BD) from the written page to the Believer’s soul for application. The four stages to the faith cycle are as follows: hearing (Rom.10:17); believing (Heb.4:2); applying (2 Cor.5:7); and completing by trusting God to fulfill His Word .(James 2:22)

FELLOW HEIRS (1 Pet.3:7-9; Rom.8:15-17) The Christian husband and wife are fellow heirs of the grace of life as the results of grace salvation. They are equal in Jesus Christ (Gal.3:26-29) but not in Divine Institutions (DI). (1 Pet.3:1-7)

FORNICATION (1 Cor.6:18-7:2) Engaging in illicit sexual activities apart from one’s own wife or husband including adultery, autoerotism, voyeurism, bestiality, and homosexuality. (Rom.1:22-27)

GRACE (Eph.2:8-9) The sum total of God’s provision for man; all that God is free to do as a substitute for man in love by means of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Rom.3:23-25)

GOSPEL (1 Cor.15:1-4) The good news for mankind about grace salvation on the basis of faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as a substitute for the penalty of the sin of the world. (John 1:29; 3:16-18; Rom.1:16)

HEADSHIP (Eph.5:23) Christian husbands are promoted by God’s saving grace from rulership (Gen.3:16) to headship authority of marriage (DI#2). Headship is part of the chain of divine authority. (1 Cor.11:3).

MONOGAMY (Gen.2:24; Matt.19:4-6) Divine Institution of marriage (DI#2) is between one woman and one man at one time.

NEW MAN THINKING (Eph.4:22-24) The pattern of divine viewpoint thinking (DV), emitting from the regenerated spiritually mature soul (Heb.5:13-14; Eph.4:11-14). It is being transformed by the renewing of the mind to the will of God. (Rom.12:2)

OLD MAN COSMOS DIABOLICUS (OMCD) THINKING (Matt.16:21-23) Beliefs and attitudes according to the standards of Satan’s world system that are opposed to divine viewpoint (DV) thinking established by God in His word. (1 Tim.4:1-5) A pattern of worldly thinking, emitting from the soul, characterized by OSN beliefs. It is being conformed to worldly thinking of Satan’s system. (Col.3:5-10)

OLD SIN NATURE (OSN) (James 1:14-15) That integral part of every human, residing in the cell structure which constantly emits lusts towards sinful thoughts and actions. (Gal.6:7-8) The OSN was acquired through Adam (AOS) and is subsequently passed down genetically through the male sperm in procreation. (Rom.5:12) Jesus Christ was the only exception because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and not Joseph. (Luke 1:34-35)

PLAN OF GOD (Eph.1:3-14) The sum total of God’s will for the human race throughout human history. Its central core is God’s desire for the salvation of every member of the human race (2 Pet.3:9) and that every Believer be conformed to the image of His Beloved Son. (Rom.8:29)

POSITIONAL TRUTH (PT) (2 Cor.5:17) The Believer’s permanent position in the resurrected, ascended Lord Jesus Christ on the basis of grace salvation. The Believer’s position in Christ takes effect at the moment of grace salvation through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.(1 Cor.12:13; Gal.3:26-29)

SALVATION (Rom.1:15-16) The instantaneous act of God’s grace occurring at the moment of faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ (Eph.2:8-9). The instantaneous result being that every Believer receives at least 50 things that can never be lost in time or eternity.

SCAR TISSUE (Eph.4:17-19) The hardening of the heart of a Believer or unbeliever resulting from choices that are negative to the will of God (Heb.3-4). The hardening of the heart damages the soul for intimate relationships with both God and people.

SPIRITUALITY (Gal.5:16-17) The Believer’s absolute status of fellowship with God by means of the Indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Cor.6:19-20; Eph.5:18). It results in the Holy Spirit’s influence upon the Believer’s thoughts and desires of the heart (Rom.8:5-8) and prayer life. (Rom.8:26-27; Jude 1:20)

SPIRITUAL GROWTH (Heb.5:13-14) The progressive stages of growth resulting from the inhale and exhale of milk and meat Bible Doctrines to human experience.(1 Pet.2:2) It is evidenced in the Christian way of life in the world, home and marriage, both privately as well as publicly. (Eph.5:1-4)

SPIRITUAL MATURITY (Eph.4:12-16) The process of being conformed to the image of Christ through the cycling of Bible Doctrine by means of faith (Rom.8:29;1 Pet.2:2; 2 Cor.3:18). The spiritually mature Believer is motivated to posses the mind of Christ by putting off worldly thinking. (Phil.2:5)

SUBMISSION (Eph.5:22; Col.3:18) The Christian wife is commanded to submit (hupotasso) to her husband’s position of headship to be protected by the chain of divine authority. (1 Pet.3:1-6; 1 Cor.11:3)

REGENERATION (John 3:3-7; Titus 3:5-7) The supernatural work of the Holy Spirit at the moment of grace salvation. It imparts eternal life and sonship to the human spirit. (Rom.8:15-17; John5:24)

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