It will always be useful to remind us of the meaning of Bible words. The reason is obvious, for if we do not know what a Bible word means, we can hardly do what the Bible instructs in that context.
I have had university students in my classes who were neither stupid nor incapable of reason. Yet, when they read such passages as Acts 2:38, “Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost,” they did not always know what some of those words meant.
Some of these words do not have the same definition in our modern dictionary that they had when they were spoken or written. Therefore, we need to take a look at some of those words:
Repent
A modern dictionary defines the word repent thus: “regret; grieve for sin or crime; contrition.” While these words are included in the meaning of this vital word, they fall short of the biblical meaning. From a Greek word, this term means, “to change one’s mind or purpose, always, in the New Testament, involving a change for the better” (W. E. Vine). It is certainly far more than merely feeling sorrow, though that is part of the word. Taking all that the Bible says of this word, it indicates a recognition of sin, a sorrow for sin, a change of mind concerning one’s behavior, and a change of life or action resulting from that change of mind. John the baptizer said, “bring forth fruits worthy of repentance,” Matthew 3:8. Note this inclusive definition: “A change of mind, motivated by godly sorrow, that leads to a change for the better.”
Faith
Skeptics and agnostics enjoy playing games with this word. Atheism says “faith is believing something that no one in their right mind would ever believe.” Superstition and faith are synonyms, according to these doubters, but Christians, above all people, must be rational, logical thinkers. We must examine all the facts before reaching a conclusion. Christians are told not to be unreasoning, but to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear,” 1 Peter 3:15. Hear this: Faith does not close the eyes and take a blind leap, but faith reaches only those conclusions warranted by the evidence.
Sin
Sin is defined in clear and simple terms:
- “Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law,” 1 John 3:4.
It is not something inherited from an ancestor, Ezekiel 18:20. It is not merely an error in judgment. It is not a violation of human tradition. It is transgression of God’s will, whether intentional or not. It is rebellion against God’s will. “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin,” James 4:17. However, ignorance does not remove our culpability for our actions, Luke 12:47. If that were so, we should hide the gospel from the lost instead of taking it to them, as we must. No, we must not hide the gospel, but lovingly teach it to all who will hear.
Christian
In 1 Peter 4:16 we read, “If a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.” Acts 11:26 says “the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” A Christian is someone who belongs to Christ, and if we are Christians we are “heirs according to the promises” of God, Galatians 3:29. One who is a Christian will be like Christ and follow in His steps, 1 Peter 2:21-22, but the word Christian is not defined by the term “Christ-like.” It means to belong to Him, to be His, to be “in Christ,” Galatians 3:26-27.
Being a Christian means more than doing good deeds or sitting in a church building singing hymns. Lots of people will check that box on a survey form, but that doesn’t mean God calls them a Christian in His book. If you are a Christian, it is because you have submitted yourself to Christ, have become His disciple, and are now raised to “walk in newness of life,” Romans 6:3-6, Colossians 3:1-17.
This is more than just an academic study of words, for these are words chosen by the Holy Spirit in His process of “inspiration.” Knowing these, we can be more effective Bible students, and we can give assistance to others who want to know what God’s precious Word means.
