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Reference
Glossary of biblical terms
Plain-language definitions of the words every believer should know — each rooted in Scripture. Bookmark this page and return to it whenever a term needs clarifying.
Key terms, A–Z
Adoption
God’s act of receiving believers into His family as sons and daughters, with all the privileges of His children.
Galatians 4:4–5
Atonement
The work of Christ in His death by which He satisfied God’s justice and reconciled sinners to God, bearing the penalty for sin in their place.
Romans 5:11
Faith
Trust in God and in Jesus Christ — resting wholly on Him for salvation. Saving faith both believes the truth and relies on Christ alone.
Hebrews 11:1
Gospel
The good news that Jesus Christ died for sinners, was buried, and rose again — and that all who repent and believe are saved by grace.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4
Grace
God’s unmerited favour toward sinners — His gift of salvation and blessing that is never earned or deserved.
Ephesians 2:8
Holiness
Being set apart to God and morally pure; a chief attribute of God, and the calling of every believer.
1 Peter 1:15–16
Incarnation
The eternal Son of God taking to Himself a true human nature — becoming fully man without ceasing to be fully God.
John 1:14
Inerrancy
The truthfulness of Scripture in all that it affirms; because it is God’s Word, it is without error.
Psalm 12:6
Justification
God’s legal declaration that a sinner is righteous in His sight, on the basis of Christ’s righteousness credited to them through faith — not their own works.
Romans 5:1
Propitiation
The turning away of God’s righteous wrath against sin through the sacrifice of Christ, so that God is both just and the justifier of those who believe.
1 John 2:2
Reconciliation
The restoring of a right relationship between God and sinners, who were formerly enemies, accomplished through the death of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:18
Redemption
Deliverance from the bondage and penalty of sin through the payment of a ransom — the precious blood of Christ.
1 Peter 1:18–19
Regeneration
The new birth — the Holy Spirit’s work of giving spiritual life to those who are dead in sin, making them a new creation.
John 3:3
Repentance
A change of mind that turns the whole person from sin and self-rule to God. It accompanies saving faith as two sides of one turning.
Acts 3:19
Sanctification
The ongoing work of God’s grace by which a believer is progressively set apart from sin and made more like Christ over the course of life.
1 Thessalonians 4:3
Sin
Any lack of conformity to, or transgression of, God’s law — rebellion against God in thought, word, deed, and nature.
1 John 3:4
Sovereignty
God’s supreme rule and authority over all things — His right and power to do all that He pleases.
Psalm 115:3
Trinity
The biblical teaching that there is one God who eternally exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19
This glossary is a starting point, not the last word. For fuller study of any term, see the essential truths and the teaching we point you to at the source.
Words that point to the Word
Every term here finds its meaning in Christ. If the most important word of all — the Gospel — is still unclear to you, start here.