Definition of Terms
Rev. Richard A. Bolland
(as published in the Pagosa Springs Sun Newspaper)
Any and every discipline has its own vocabulary. Theology is, of course, no different. For the student of theology, it takes time, energy, and work to learn; just as it takes time, energy, and work to learn the rudiments of physics, biology, medicine, or law. Like many of those just listed, theology is not a mere academic endeavor. It has real, practical and (in the case of theology) eternal ramifications.
Since this column is being presented to the public at large, please permit me to define a few terms regarding the theology of the Christian faith so that our conversations about religion might be more understandable and we just might not talk past each other as often as we seem to do:
1. Law: In the Scriptures, this term refers to the Law of Moses and the Old Testament Prophets, which is summarized by the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai during the exodus from Egypt. The Law gives us a picture of the absolute holiness of God and demands from every man, woman and child that very holiness if they are to be saved. (Mt. 5:48)
2. Sin: Sin is the natural, fallen condition of all mankind from the moment of conception. (Psalm 51:5) This condition alone is sufficient to condemn us in the eyes of God, but to this condition are added our actual sins. Our actual sins consist of every thought, word, and deed which violate not only the Law of God, but the very nature of our Creator Himself. All sins are mortal sins and separate us from God.
3. Savior: In Christian parlance this term is always connected with Jesus Christ. He is our Savior in that He has lived a perfect, sinless life and by doing so, offers to those who trust in Him alone the perfection of His own life as our own. Additionally, Jesus is the Christ, that is the Messiah promised since the fall into sin by Adam and Eve, our first parents. (Genesis 3:15) His death on the cross is a substitutionary and final sacrifice on behalf of all humanity so that the eternal punishment that was due us on account of our sin was fully and completely received by Christ Himself. Those who trust alone in what Christ has done will be saved from the eternal punishment that is due us, because it has already been fully exacted on Christ Himself. Thus the perfect justice of God is completely satisfied.
4. Jesus Christ: This is God who condescends to take on human flesh to bring about the salvation of the world. Even though He was born into human flesh at Christmas, there has never been a time when He did not exist. (John 1:1-14) He is both fully human and fully divine. If we are to be saved both these natures are critically important. If Jesus Christ were not fully human, then no human could live under the Law and fulfill it. (Galatians 4:4-5) But in Christ Jesus a real man does fulfill the Law and give His righteousness to those who trust in Him. If He were not fully God, His death could not possibly be a payment for sin. (II Corinthians 5:21) No mere man can die for his own sins, let alone those of others. To be our Savior, Jesus had to be both fully human and fully divine.
5. Justification: How sinners may stand before a holy and righteous God fully justified is called justification. According to the Holy Scriptures, justification cannot be obtained through human efforts to earn it. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Justification cannot be deserved through obedience to the Law of God. (Romans 3:19-28) Rather, there is only one possible way for sinners to stand in the presence of a righteous and holy God: Through faith (complete trust) in the merits of Jesus Christ the Redeemer of humankind.
6. Salvation: Those who trust in Christ alone are no longer under the condemnation of the Law are said to possess salvation. Salvation, then, is not the product of human effort or Law-keeping for it is Christ alone who accomplishes that for us. Salvation is not the result of a human decision to believe in Christ, for fallen man has no such ability to do so. (Ephesians 2:1-5, II Corinthians 4:1-4, and Romans 5:6-11) Rather, salvation is a totally free gift that God chooses to give us. He does this through the power of His Word, the Holy Scriptures or the Bible. The Word changes stony hearts from unbelief to belief. (Romans 10:17)
These are just a few of the many terms that Christians use. There are, of course, many more, but just perhaps those few offered above will help us all to dialog with more clarity regarding the faith that Christians regard as life itself.
