From the Order of Salvation
The process in which God transforms guilty sinners into sinless beings who once again reflect His holy character. In Biblical theology, God justifies sinful human beings by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ, God's Son.
Justification
The philosophy that holds that every event, action, and decision results from something independent of the human will. Everything has been predetermined by outside forces, which human beings do not have the free will to resist.
Determinism
Literally, "the study of God." ________________ is studied from revelation within nature (= general revelation), Scripture (= Biblical ______________), organized human categories (= Systematic _____________), and through the studies of scholars throughout history (= Historical _________________), among other branches of _______________________.
Theology
The study of the universe as a totality; theory of the origin and structure of the universe.
Cosmology
A logical fallacy in which the conclusion is included in the premise, essentially repeating the original claim as evidence. The reasoner begins with what they are trying to end with. The premises are just as much in need of proof or evidence as the conclusion. As a consequence, the argument becomes a matter of faith and fails to persuade those who do not already accept it. "It's time to go to bed because it is your bedtime" is an example. A is true because B is true; B is true because A is true.
Circular Reasoning
________ refers to a sinners becoming "one" with God through faith in Jesus, God's Son. The closest analogy in human relationships occurs in marriage, where, according to Genesis 1, "a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife, and the two become one flesh." The Bible thus describes ____________ with God symbolically as a marriage between God and his people Israel (Hosea and elsewhere in the OT), whereas in the New Testament the church is referred to as "the bride of Christ." Along the same lines, the Book of Revelation symbolizes God's final reconciliation with His people as "the marriage supper of the Lamb." Also at play is our inclusion into the unity of God's triune nature, as Jesus describes throughout John 17--"that they may be one as we are one."
Atonement
In philosophy, a worldview in which human beings live in a world governed by laws of nature which human beings cannot violate without suffering damaging consequences. It allows for free will but not free will without consequences.
Naturalism
The study of the Holy Spirit--God's spiritual presence with and within His people. Key passages to ponder in Biblical ________________ include Ezekiel 36:22-36; John 14, 16; Romans 8; and Acts 2 (among others). In John's Gospel, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the Paraclete, who would come after Jesus' resurrection. The functions of the Holy Spirit include convicting of sin, reminding of what Jesus had taught, inspiring prayer (Romans 8), leading to repentance, enabling the work of God's people, facilitating faith (Acts 3:16), and giving birth to the church in Acts 2.
Pneumatology
The study and explanation of purpose or design in history, reality, and the universe.
Teleology
This logical fallacy occurs when an arguer attempts to reach a conclusion by evoking pity from the listener. For example, "If I lose this case in court, my reputation will be shot and my children will suffer shame and lose their financial security."
Appeal to Pity Fallacy
The final stage of the Order of Salvation in which a person inherits an eternally transformed glorified body and enters into the kingdom of God for eternal life in the new heavens and the new earth.
Glorification
Branch of philosophy that examines the nature of knowledge and justification. Derives from the Greek word epistamai, which means "to know" or "to understand."
Epistemology
The study of salvation. Asks the questions: what are you saved from? What are you saved to? How are you saved? Who does the saving? Why are you saved? What are the features of salvation? The Bible is a book about salvation and is hence "good news." John 20:31 expresses John's sentiments along these lines: "These things have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Son of God and believing have eternal life in His name."
Soteriology
The study of the origin of words, how they have derived from ancient languages, and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.
Etymology
In an argument between two persons, one attacks the other's very person or character traits rather than the logic and substance of their argument. For example, "Dana's position on climate change can't be correct because she works at Walmart and went to a community college in Mississippi."
Argument Against the Person (ad Hominem argument)
________________________ involves a turning away from sin and a turning to God. The Hebrew word shuv for ________________________ depicts this act as a literal "turn" from one thing to another. The same idea is conveyed in the New Testament word epistrepho. The more frequent word for _____________________ in the New Testament, still connoting a turn, is the word metanoia, which refers to a radical change of mind upon encountering God. In baptism, the believer forsakes all other former objects of worship with a comprehensive re-think of reality--a comprehensive change of mind regarding the securities of life and life's ultimate meaning--what's eternally important.
Repentance
Unlike determinism which envisions a causal chain that produces reality, __________ is the belief that all events are determined in advance by objective, inanimate fate regardless of any causal chain. An external force or power called fate governs everything. Individuals have no control over their lives and that their actions are ultimately futile in the face of predetermined outcomes.
Fatalism
The study of Christ. This is one's perspective of who Jesus was and is. It has been approached from many angles throughout Christian history. The New Testament reveals Jesus' identity through His names (Messiah, Son of Man, Son of God, Emmanuel, Logos, Lord, Lamb of God, etc.) and also through Jesus' actions (baptism, temptation, miracles, teachings, prayers, ministry to the ostracized, cleansing of the temple, crucifixion, resurrection, exaltation, etc. The early church councils of Nicea, Chalcedon, Constantinople, and Ephesus later engaged in christological dialog to discern how Jesus the Son related to God the Father and in some cases, God the Holy Spirit--the nature of Jesus' "being" within the Trinity.
Christology
The study of humans around the world and through time.
Anthropology
Instead of addressing the actual position or argument of the other person, the fallacy involves substituting a false, weaker, or exaggerated version that is easier to criticize. By attacking this misrepresentation, the person avoids engaging in the real topic and creates a false sense of superiority and victory in debate. For example, "Pastor Bob has preached three times in a row on the crucifixion. He clearly doesn't believe in the resurrection!"
Straw Man Fallacy
As we learned in our first session on the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), authentic ______________ presupposes steady learning upward toward the restoration of the image of God in us (= glorification: Colossians 1:28; Romans 8:30; James 1:2-4). The Greek word for ______________, mathetes, means "learner." To make ______________, thus means to make learners who are growing in Christlikeness through their educational faithfulness and obedience. ________________ isn't individual self-improvement, though. It involves __________________ of others too. Hence, Jesus' commission to make other _____________ (learners) of Christ, who teach "all that I have commanded you." ______________ thus involves obedience. It also involves authenticity--be baptized in "the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." Baptism = all out marriage to God in permanent covenant relationship = "hook, line, and sinker," "all in," everything surrendered permanent devotion to Jesus as Lord. These things considered, our education is a __________________ pilgrimage toward eternal glorification in the kingdom of God.
Discipleship
The quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable.
Verisimilitude
The study of the principles of how to interpret something, usually a work of literature. In this study, we translate a text of literature into meaning that makes sense in our world.
Hermeneutics
The study of the evolution, development, and functioning of human society.
Sociology
This fallacy is committed when the arguer diverts attention from the subject of debate to a different but closely related topic. They then based their criticisms on the substitute rather than the original argument. For example, "There's a lot of discussion about eliminating pesticides from our vegetables today, but many vegetables are good for us, so we should dismiss these concerns."
Red Herring Fallacy