Returning to God's Definitions

Did you know that God gives us His personal definition for many things in His Word?

It’s essential in a world of self-definition that we as followers of Christ get back to God’s definitions and His original design.

God’s Vocab List

Here’s a list of some of the terms God gives us a definition for:

Faith

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Church

Isaiah 56:8 and Mark 11:17

A house of prayer for all people.

Eternal life

John 17:3

Knowing God and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent.

Gospel

Romans 1:16

The power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew and then to the Gentile.

Kingdom of God

Romans 14:17 and 1 Corinthians 4:20

Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit; not in word, but in power.

Clean

John 13:11

Loyalty, a lack of betrayal.

Align with His Heart

These definitions help adjust our thinking so that it aligns with God’s heart.

We often think of a church as a place for services with worship and a sermon, but God calls It a place for prayer for all nations.

Eternal life is often associated with heaven, but Jesus tells us it is firstly knowing the Father and secondly knowing Him.

The gospel (good news) is usually thought of as a message about Christ and what He did for us, but it’s actually the power of God which brings salvation to those who believe.

What is also very interesting to me is the way Jesus defines “clean.” The Greek word that is synonymous with “pure.”

In John 13, He washes the disciples’ feet and explains that all of them were “clean” except one, Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would betray Him (v. 11). The other disciples definitely had faults—pride, unbelief, stealing, fear, cursing, etc. However, here we see that Jesus defines being clean (also translated pure) as loyalty and a lack of betrayal.

Learn His Ways

I’d like to highlight the importance of humbling ourselves before God so we are able to understand His thoughts and ways. God tells us that His ways are higher than ours, but He also says that He teaches His ways to those who are meek (Isaiah 55:8-9; Psalm 25:9).

Join me in taking God’s vocab quiz through studying the definitions in His Word!