A short(ish) explanation of some strange words.
Apostolic
Something that follows the true and genuine teaching of the apostles about the Gospel (Ephesians 2:20).
Baptism
Baptism is a sacrament. The outer visible sign is the washing of water. It represents the inward spiritual grace of repentance and faith in Jesus.
Baptism marks the cleansing from sin that Jesus’ death makes possible. It points to the new life that God give us through the Holy Spirit. It reminds us that Christ has made us members of his body the Church
Catholic
Worldwide, or universal, not limited to one type of church, place, or culture.
Communion of Saints
“Friends of Jesus who are united by their love for God, their fellowship with Christ, and their life in the Spirit. It includes both friends of Jesus who have already entered heaven, and those who still struggle on the earth.”[1]
Bible
God’s words to us (2 Tim 3:16-17). It is a book that tells us about God. It is one big book made up of sixty-six smaller books. Through these sixty-six books we see who God is, what God is like and how He works to bring about His kingdom.
God
God is the Creator and sustainer of everyone and everything. He is all powerful and everywhere. He is holy, love, goodness, truth, wisdom, justice, and mercy. He is one God and three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are the same substance, equal in power and glory.[2]
God – The Father
God the Father made everyone and everything, both visible and invisible.
God – The Son
The Word made flesh. Fully God and Fully Man. He has saved and redeemed us through his life, death, resurrection and ascension.
God – The Holy Spirit
Our advocate and guide. He is at work in us revealing sin and pointing us to Jesus. He equips and enables us to follow Jesus.
Friends of Jesus
People who put their faith and trust in Jesus. They seek to follow him with their whole lives and obey Jesus’ commands. Another name for friends of Jesus is disciples of Jesus.
Fellowship
Mutual interest, generosity, participation, sharing, and partnership with God and other friends of Jesus because of the Gospel.
God’s Mission
To seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). So that they tell all the wonderful things God has done (1 Peter 2:9).
Gospel
Jesus is Lord of everyone and everything. He has saved and redeemed us from sin (Romans 10:9).
Holy
Set apart for God. Also describes the character of God.
Incarnate/ Incarnation
God the Son came to earth and took on humanity. So now God the Son is fully God and fully human.
Justification
It is God’s forgiving sinners and treating them as if they had never sinned.[3]
Liturgy
A formal or set pattern of worship.
Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament. In the Lord’s Supper we have physical reminders of Jesus’ all-sufficient sacrifice. It not a re-sacrifice Jesus. Jesus’ death was only once and for all time. Rather the bread represents Jesus’ body broken for us. The wine represents Jesus’ blood shed to cleanse us from sin.
Eating the Lord’s supper reminds us that Jesus has made us right with God. In Jesus we are united. In Jesus we are a new creation. In Jesus we are citizens of the kingdom of God.
Neighbour
Jesus says that everyone is our neighbour (Luke 10:25-37).
Repentance
Being sorry for our sin, turning away from it and towards God. So that we take actions to live following his way.
Sacrament
An outward and visual sign of an inward and spiritual grace. There are two sacraments, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. Both were given to us by Jesus. They represent God’s grace to us and are used by God to assure us of his grace.
Salvation
At the cross Jesus stood in our place. He suffered the consequence we deserve for our sins. So that all who have faith in Jesus are saved.
Sanctification
It is God the Holy Spirit’s work making sinners holy in heart and conduct.[4]
Sin
Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world he created, rebelling against him by living without reference to him, not being or doing what he requires in his law—resulting in our death and the disintegration of all creation.[5]
Worship
Our response to God’s awesome glory, power, and love. It is not limited to singing songs of praise, it covers every part of the way we live (Romans 12:1-2).
[1] Bird, Michael F.. Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction (pp. 1052-1053). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.
[2] New City Catechism Question 2
[3] Shorter Catechism Question 50
[4] Shorter Catechism Question 51
[5] New City Catechism Question 16