FROM THE PEN OF PASTOR WALT SNYDER

BASIC DEFINITIONS

GRACE: The divine attitude of unmerited love toward sinful humanity. The free gift of salvation, given by God to mankind.

MERCY: The application of grace on people.

ATONEMENT: Reconciliation. Sinful mankind made "at one" with God through the work of Christ.

JUSTIFICATION:

VICARIOUS SATISFACTION: Christ satisfied the justice of God and the demands of the Law in our place, and we share in it as though we had done it ourselves.

PERSONAL UNION: The divine and human natures of Christ united in one person.

ACTIVE OBEDIENCE: Christ perfectly kept the Law of God for mankind.

PASSIVE OBEDIENCE: Christ suffered and died for our sins, as His Father willed.

HUMILIATION: Christ did not always or fully use the divine powers which were His as God, though He possessed them in His human nature. Normally considered His state from conception/incarnation through His death and burial.

EXALTATION: That Christ did (and does), according to His human nature, use fully His divine powers. Normally considered His state from His descent into hell and resurrection onward through eternity.

Definitions based on those in What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults © 1994 by Walter W. Snyder and Walter P. Snyder. Oshkosh Church Supply, Oshkosh, WI.

THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD

The Attributes of God: those characteristics peculiar to Him are manifold. And while we may use some of these terms of men in a wider sense, in their narrow, perfect sense, they may be attributed only to God. Some of the attributes of God follow:


a. ETERNAL (Without beginning or end)
Psalm 90:2 "...from everlasting to everlasting you are God." [NIV]

b. IMMUTABLE (Unchanging)
Malachi 3:6 "I the LORD do not change." [NIV]

c. OMNIPOTENT (Almighty, All Powerful)
Genesis 17:1 "I am God Almighty..." [NIV]

d. OMNISCIENT (All-knowing)
John 21:17 "[Peter said:] 'Lord, you know all things.'" [NIV]

e. OMNIPRESENT (Present everywhere at the same time)
Jeremiah 23:24 "'Do I not fill heaven and earth?' declares the Lord." [NIV]

f. HOLY (Sinless and hating sin)
Leviticus 19:2 "I, the LORD your God, am holy." [AV]

g. JUST (Completely fair)
Deuteronomy 32:4 "A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is
He." [AV]

h. MERCIFUL (Full of pity and compassion)
Psalm 145:9 "His tender mercies are over all His works." [AV]

i. GRACIOUS (Loving beyond measure) 1 John 4:8 "God is love." [AV]

Definitions taken from What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults ©1994 by Walter W. Snyder and Walter P. Snyder. Oshkosh Church Supply, Oshkosh, WI.

Write to Pastor Snyder, if you wish.