One-Page Explainers

Good news — the announcement that Christ died, was buried, and rose again: God’s saving power, to be believed and obeyed. (euangelion)

God’s undeserved favor, freely given and never earned — it saves those who trust Him and trains them to live godly. (charis)

More than belief: trust, conviction of the unseen, and faithfulness — a settled confidence in God that obeys. (pistis)

More than regret: a change of mind that turns from sin to God and proves itself in a changed life. (metanoia)

To “say the same thing” — agreeing with God: owning Christ before others and owning our sin before Him. (homologeo)

A comparative map of who is baptized, how, and what it means across the major Christian traditions. (comparative)

A birth from above, of water and the Spirit — God’s work making a person a new creation. (anothen, John 3)

“Missing the mark” — falling short of God’s glory and rebelling against Him: universal, enslaving, deadly, yet answered in Christ. (hamartia)

Release by ransom — captives set free because a price was paid: the blood of Christ. Ours now, complete at the resurrection. (apolutrosis)

The change from enmity to peace — God bringing enemies back to Himself through the cross, received by us and proclaimed. (katallage)

The sacrifice that turns away wrath — Christ the mercy seat, where blood answers sin. God’s own provision, in love. (hilasmos)

To be declared righteous — God’s verdict of acquittal, by grace through a living, obedient faith. Paul and James together. (dikaioo)

Being set apart as holy — already done in Christ, and an ongoing growth in holiness God works and we pursue. (hagiazo)

God’s rescue in Christ alone, by grace through faith, in three tenses: saved, being saved, and shall be saved. (soteria)

God’s “placing as a son” — believers made His own children and full heirs, by grace through Christ, sealed by the Spirit. (huiothesia)

Not a force but God — a divine Person who speaks, teaches, and can be grieved, given to indwell and seal believers. (pneuma)

“God-breathed” — Scripture breathed out by God through Spirit-carried men: living, true, unbreakable, and sufficient for every good work. (theopneustos)

God’s initiative to gather a people in Christ, called through the gospel — the great debate flagged neutrally. (eklektos / kaleo)

Not a building but a people — “the called-out,” Christ’s body, bought with His blood, both universal and local. (ekklesia)

A comparative map of the spectrum from transubstantiation to a symbolic memorial across the traditions. (comparative)

Speaking to God — asking, thanking, interceding, praising — in Jesus’ name, according to God’s will, and in faith. (proseuche)

Bowing before God, due to Him alone, in spirit and truth and a life of service. (proskuneo / latreia)

God’s reign — reign more than realm: already here in Christ, not yet complete, entered by the new birth. (basileia)

The bodily raising of the dead — grounded in the risen Christ. At the last day all rise, to life or judgment. (anastasis)