Glossary

Acolyte Acolytes are responsible for lighting and extinguishing the candles on the altar. Lighted candles remind us that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. John 8:12 states, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” The two candles on the altar reminds us that Jesus was both human and divine. Advocate One who pleads another’s cause, who helps another by defending or comforting him. Alpha and Omega A term for God and Jesus found only in the book of Revelation. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. It means God is eternal and over all. Amen The Hebrew meaning is “Let it be so.” It is an expression of faith used to confirm and support. Atonement The meaning of the word is simply at-one-ment, for example, the state of being at one or being reconciled, so that atonement is reconciliation. Jesus Christ offered His life as the ultimate atonement. The word is used to denote that the act of Christ’s death in itself means satisfaction. To make atonement for one is to make satisfaction for his offences. Baptism Baptism means to dip, immersion, sprinkling, and washings. The Church uses a water baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost as a symbolic sign of the change that has taken place in a believer’s heart. In the Pentecostal baptism “the apostles were not dipped into the Spirit, nor plunged into the Spirit; but the Spirit was shed forth, poured out, fell on them, came upon them, sat on them.” That was a real and true baptism. In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus tells His Disciples to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Christian A follower of Christ; A “Christ-one.”

Covenant A contract or agreement between two parties. Doctrine A set of beliefs or teachings. Election The Scripture speaks of the election of individuals, and nations chosen by God to office, honor, and privileged for a specific purpose. For example, God chose Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, the Apostles, and the Hebrew nation for the positions they held. There is also an election of individuals to eternal life. Evangelism Spreading the Gospel. Glorification The Christian Doctrine that in heaven every believer will be like Christ. Grace Grace refers to God’s love, forgiveness, favor, kindness, and friendship towards us even though we do not deserve it. The Law in the Old Testament was given through Moses and grace and truth come through Jesus Christ. Grace is most often associated with other terms having to do with salvation. It is related to election, the gospel, justification, and sanctification. Grace is a free gift by which we are saved. Hallelujah In Hebrew Hallelujah means, “Praise ye the LORD.” In Latin it means “alleluia.” Holy Communion Holy Communion is the body and blood of Jesus Christ given with bread and wine for us to eat and drink in remembrance of Him. Holy Communion was instituted by Christ. Faith Belief and trust in God. Trust is a key component. Faith also means to feel secure. All who believe in Christ will be saved.

Justification It is the judicial act of God, by which He pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law. In addition to the pardon of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; and so the person justified is declared to be entitled to all the advantages and rewards arising from perfect obedience to the law. Narthex Narthex comes from a Greek word meaning the front of the church. Pentecost The day of Pentecost is noted in the Christian Church as the day on which the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. Propitiation Christ is called the “propitiation for our sins.” Christ is “the propitiation,” because He took God’s punishment for our sins. By becoming our substitute and assuming our obligations He expiated our guilt, and covered it, by the punishment He endured and His perfect sacrifice. Reconcile To reconcile is to restore a relationship. We are separated from God by our sin. When we accept the sacrifice that Jesus made for our sins on the cross, we are reconciled with God. Redemption The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. There are many passages in the New Testament, which represent Christ’s suffering under the idea of a ransom or price, and the result thereby secured is a purchase or redemption. The debt against us is not viewed as simply cancelled, but is fully paid. Christ’s blood or life, which He surrendered for them, is the “ransom” by which the deliverance of His people from the servitude of sin and its consequences is secured. Repentance True repentance means a change of mind, purpose, and life, to which remission of sin is promised. Repentance consists of (1) a true sense of one’s own guilt and sinfulness; (2) an apprehension of God’s mercy in Christ; (3) an actual hatred of sin and turning from it to God; and (4) a persistent endeavor after a holy life in walking with God in the way of His commandments.

Revelation It is an uncovering, unveiling, or disclosing of something hidden. The book of Revelation is the revealing of Jesus Christ and what He intends to do. Righteousness Harmony with God, His will, and with others. Goodness and perfection. Salvation Salvation is the gift of eternal life that God offers us. Sanctification God working to make us more and more like Jesus Christ - pure and holy. Trinity A word not found in the Bible, but used to express the doctrine of the unity of God as subsisting in three distinct Persons - The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Some Christians describe the trinity as God as the Mind, Jesus as the Body and the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of God.

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