BIBLICAL & THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
E - F - G

E

Election
The divine activity by which God determines His will and providence for the world based on His own sovereignty, from the Greek eklegomai, meaning, literally, "to choose something for oneself".  Examples: (1) Choosing the Nation of Israel (Gen 18:19-20, Dt 7:6, 2Ch 6:5-6, Is 41:8, Rom 11:25-27).  (2) Choosing individuals for salvation (Jn 15:16, Eph 1:4-14, Mt 22:14, Mk 13:20, Rom 8:33).  (3) Choosing individuals for specific tasks (Ex 31:2,St 21:5, 1Sa 16:1, 1Ch 28:10, Ps 105:26, Acts 9:15).   (4)  Various other blessing and judgments (Am 3:7, Rom 9:14-21, and hundreds of other "This is what the sovereign Lord says" or "Declares the sovereign Lord" verses).

Eschatology
Branch of theology which deals with the study of the end times, or last days, from the Greek eschaton meaning "end".

Eternal Life
Never ending life in heaven in the presence of God (Jn 11:25).  All Christians currently possess eternal life, even though the final manifestation won't occur until the "Resurrection of the Believers".

Exegesis
The discipline of interpreting and determining the author's intended meaning of passages of Scripture.

Expiation
The cancellation of, or the release from the penalty of sin.  This was accomplished by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  See also propitiation.

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F

Faith
Belief and trust of a person in God.  Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Heb 11:1).  Faith is not blind assent, but a confident trust in God for our future based upon what He has done in the past.  Faith is the instrument of our salvation (Eph 2:8-9).  See also Saving Faith.

Fall, the (aka Fall of Man)
The act of the original sin by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3).

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G

Glorification
The final state of our salvation (heaven), when our sanctification will be complete (Rom 8:30, 1Jn 3:2).

God
The personal supreme being who is  creator, ruler and sustainer of the universe.  He is one God and three Persons: Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit.  He is eternal (without beginning or end), benevolent, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscience and immutable.  (See also Trinity).

Gospel
The central Christian message of the "Good News" (Gr euanglion) of God's saving activity through the life, ministry, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus the Christ.  The English word comes from the Anglo-Saxon godspell, meaning "Good Story".  Gospel also refers to the first four books of the NT ( Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), and to a distinct literary genre.

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