We attended a conference in Toronto some years ago and were surprised by the number of unfamiliar words we heard among the Canadians.

We were instructed to queue up for lunch — a new term for us — and offered biscuits (cookies) for dessert. Our friends unloaded their luggage from the boot (trunk) of their car and informed us that what we Americans call the hood is really the bonnet!

While visiting England a few years later, we discovered all sorts of interesting language differences between us and our friends on the “other side of the pond,” as they say. What we call a driveway they call a parkway, and, since you park a car on it, they confidently conclude that their term makes perfect sense.

One dare not ask for the restroom (I got teased), but the “loo.” Diapers are nappies, sweaters are jumpers, a truck is a lorry, and french fries are chips. Something you like is the bee’s knees, a mischievous person is cheeky (an apt description, I think), and a nice chat is a chin wag. Something good is “brilliant,” and, if it shocks you, you are “gobsmacked.”

By the time we traveled to Bangladesh, we were excited to expand our international vocabulary. We immediately discovered that the thumbs-up sign, which means good to us, is a serious insult there. When I extended a friendly hand wave to children, they responded shyly, clinging to their mothers. I later learned that the waving motion is used by adults to call a child to come to them.

We worked on their traditional greeting, “assalam waleykum,” which means “peace be with you.” Young girls at a school we toured burst into merry giggles over our American-accented attempts at greeting them.

I learned not to make eye contact with my elders (considered dishonoring) and to give a polite nod while placing my hand over my heart. “Dhonnobad” means “thank you” and was easily mastered. The Bangladeshi’s appreciated of our efforts and praised our simple progress.

Each of those people groups had unique customs and language differences for us to discover and learn, or we would miss out on really “knowing” them.

I remember that, when I was searching for God with a deep longing to really know Him, I bumped into what I now call “Christianese.” There are words interwoven in the Christian faith that were unfamiliar and I did not understand what they meant for me personally.

Here are some important ones defined in basic terms:

Grace: In simple terms, it is God’s undeserved favor. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).” There is nothing we can do to gain entrance into heaven but by His grace.

Salvation: Acts 4:12 explains that “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).”

Justified: Jesus took upon himself the punishment we deserve, and, in Him, we are declared free from the consequences of our sins. “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God (Romans 5:8-9).”

Sanctified: God’s Holy Spirit indwells every believer and works within to make us more Christlike (Romans 8:29). Philippians 1:6 promises “that he (God) who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Imputed: God credits us with Jesus’ righteousness — that free gift is not based on anything that we do except to accept it in faith (belief) (Ephesians 2:8). In exchange, our sin is credited to Jesus, who took upon Himself the sins of all who put their trust in him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Born again: Jesus described that spiritual rebirth in John 3:16: “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” That describes the transforming, regenerating gift of eternal life that opens our spiritual eyes and gives the right to enter the kingdom of God.

I will never forget Dec. 28, 1978, the day when I began to understand the meaning of those words. I had hit bottom and, with nowhere to look but up, I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ and became born again.

It was as if a light was turned on within me and a heavy weight lifted off my life.

He is real!

Michelle Smith serves alongside her husband, Gary, as part of the leadership team of New Life Christian Fellowship. She founded Purely Women Ministries with the purpose of helping women of all ages discover their true identity as women of God. She can be reached at michelle@newlifealpena.org.