Big Words Of The Bible

“Adoption through propitiation.”

This is, perhaps, the most succinct summary of what the gospel is. To most of us, however, it’s also incomprehensible. It comes from JI Packer’s incredible book “Knowing God,” by the way, and in it’s original context it was his way of summarizing the gospel in just one sentence. He was a gift as a theologian and church leader and had the gift of brevity.

For those of us in the pews, however, what do some of these bigger words in Scripture mean? Sanctification? Selah? Eucharist?

I remember coming to faith in Christ as an adult and having no idea what so many of the words Christians used actually meant. For the summer of 2026 we intend to dive deep on these oft-used but seldom-defined words.

Of course, the bigger goal, as always, is to ultimately see how they point us back to Christ.

It was because he satisfied God’s wrath (propitiation) that we can be welcomed into God’s family (adoption).

That’s what the gospel is.

And that’s our hope.

Gospel
(Sean Nolan, Jun 14 2026)

Salvation
(Sean Nolan, June 21 2026)

Redemption
(Nathan Love, June 28 2026)

Transgression & Iniquity
(Sean Nolan, July 5 2026)

Wrath
(Sean Nolan, July 12 2026)

Amen & Selah
(Sean Nolan, July 19 2026)

Messiah
(Sean Sewak, July 26 2026)

Propitiation
(Sean Nolan, August 2 2026)

Justification
(Sean Nolan, August 9 2026)

Eucharist
(Sean Nolan, August 16 2026)

Sanctification
(Ray Pierce, August 23 2026)

Discipleship
(Greg Belcher, August 30 2026)