BASIC BIBLICAL TERMS
Repentance - (Gr. metanoia) - literally 'change of mind' - turning away from conduct contrary to God's principles,
disapproval for sin motivated by obligatory love (piety)
Conversion - (Gr. epistrofe) - literally 'change of direction' - repentance-based approval for God's principles, positive
assessment of righteous behaviour
Consecration - 1) separation from sin, 2) service for the Word of God in its study, teaching and evangelization
New creation - new mind shaped by development in the knowledge of the Word of God and maturity in its application
Begettal of the spirit - the beginning of the new creation by the spirit of service for the Word of God, which is given to the
elect on the condition of repentance in the name of Jesus Christ
Birth of the spirit - 1) the beginning of the new personality effected by the new creation and its work towards imprinting the
pattern of truth in the character, 2) resurrection to the spiritual nature
Baptism in the spirit - literally 'immersion into the teaching'. Development of character based on maturity of understanding and
application of the truth
Body of Christ - the community of all believers in Jesus Christ
Church - (Gr. ekklesia) - members of the Body of Christ included on the basis of God's election in the present Gospel Age
Royal priesthood - all the called (in the second meaning) who due to the spirit of new birth enjoy the hope for the resurrection to
the glory of the divine nature and the position of kings and priests with Jesus Christ
The elect - believers in Jesus Christ who repent and thus receive the consecrating love agape, which leads them to experience
birth of the spirit
Calling - 1) proclamation of the Gospel inviting listeners to repent and convert to God through Jesus Christ, 2) God's granting
of the spirit of new birth to the elect who listen to the Gospel and repent
Justification - the process of a reform of man's character until full compliance with God's justice. Justification begins at
repentance but its fulfillment requires the experience of birth of the spirit
Redemption - Jesus Christ's provision of the equivalent price for Adam's transgression - the price of perfect obedience to God in
bearing witness to the truth
New Covenant - God's relationship with man based on conditions of justification, and therefore requiring repentance and conversion
which will be accepted by God and which will initiate the process of the real reform of man according to the principles of divine justice