Austin Bible Church
The Grace Apparatus for Perception is a grace system of spiritual comprehension empowered by the filling of God the Holy Spirit where the Holy Spirit controls the soul of the believer. The Holy Spirit’s power enables the believer to understand, learn, and apply the whole realm of Bible doctrine, the Word of God, regardless of the level of human intelligence or education.
Learning the Word and understanding it depends upon who and what Jesus Christ is, not who and what we are. He has provided everything necessary for taking in the Word and converting it to applicable epignosis doctrine. The grace apparatus for perception was designed by God the Father in eternity past to fulfill the purpose of learning doctrine by grace. Eph. 3:16-19; Job 32:8.
“that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19, NASB)
“"But it is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.” (Job 32:8, NASB)
The Church Age believer begins at salvation to learn all that God has provided based on the saving work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. The mechanism of spiritual learning takes the ignorant believer and enables them to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18.
“but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18, NASB)
There are two categories of faith in learning the Word of God, the mind of Christ - faith perception and faith application. Faith perception is learning Bible doctrine. Faith application is taking the believed Bible doctrine in the right lobe of the soul and applying it to life’s situations and decisions.
Stages of the Grace Apparatus for Perception
The stages of the grace apparatus for perception are:
Stage 1: Communication of the Word of God by a pastor-teacher to his congregation using ICE (Isagogics, Categories, Exegesis) principles of Hermeneutics.
Stage 2: Receptive comprehension under the ministry of the Holy Spirit whereby the believer understands the spiritual information (Bible doctrine) being taught by the pastor-teacher. The Holy Spirit teaches the believer’s human spirit and then transfers that academically understood spiritual information to the believer’s left lobe of the soul as gnosis.
Stage 3: Faith-perception where God the Holy Spirit converts gnosis Bible doctrine into epignosis Bible doctrine and transfers that believed spiritual knowledge into the right lobe of the soul.
Stage 4: Application of epignosis Bible doctrine to life’s situations and decisions. Epignosis doctrine is the only divine viewpoint that can be applied to life.
Stage 5: Spiritual growth in the fulfillment of the plan of God for the believer’s life. Only epignosis Bible doctrine results in spiritual growth and occupation with the person of Christ.
Stage 1
Stage 1 of the grace apparatus for perception is the communication of the Word of God by a pastor-teacher to his congregation using ICE (Isagogics, Categories, Exegesis) principles of Hermeneutics. This communication can be in a local church to the assembled believers or in non-face-to-face situations using available recording and communication technology.
Isagogics is the basic principle of interpretation of the Bible within the framework of its historical setting or prophetical environment. The Bible must be interpreted in the framework of its own historical setting, in the time in which it was written and in the original languages in which it was written; i.e., Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Isagogics means that the pastor must become a biblical detective and interpret each verse and passage by reconstructing the life and the customs of those ancient times as they relate to the words and usage of the words in the Bible in the original languages. The meaning of a word in the ancient languages is determined by its usage.
Categories is categorical teaching by comparing Scripture with Scripture to determine doctrinal classification. This is called categorical teaching and must include consideration of dispensational theology. Without dispensational theology, interpretation and application becomes confused and fails to “accurately handle the Word of Truth.” A biblical subject may be taught in a number of passages, but each one will add something that the other does not. This involves tracing a subject through Scripture to determine more information about that subject. 2 Tim. 2:15; Isaiah 28:10; Isaiah 28:13; 1 Cor 2:13-14.
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15, NASB)
“"For He says, 'Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there.'"” (Isaiah 28:10, NASB)
“So the word of the LORD to them will be, "Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there," That they may go and stumble backward, be broken, snared and taken captive.” (Isaiah 28:13, NASB)
“which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” (1 Corinthians 2:13-14, NASB)
Exegesis is the analysis of the Bible verse by verse within its grammar, syntax and etymology of the original languages. You cannot correctly interpret Scripture from English translations; only from the original languages. This analysis involves not only the verse itself, but the verse as it relates to other verses in context. Grammar involves the features of a language considered in all its parts - alphabet, tense, mood, and voice. Syntax is putting together the features and the application of grammar so the pattern and the precise meaning is readily understood. Etymology is how the word was used at the time in which it was written.
The enabling power of God the Holy Spirit illuminates the pastor-teacher so he will comprehend the doctrine he is studying. No pastor can teach what he does not understand. Interpretation is the pastor's verbal expression of Bible doctrine to the congregation under the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
In a public assembly in a local church or at Bible classes, the communicator is a pastor-teacher. To an unbeliever, the communicator may be any believer, or a believer with the spiritual gift of evangelism. A Sunday School teacher is a communicator of Bible doctrine. Any communicator must be filled with the Holy Spirit and the believer listening must be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The believer must be motivated by positive volition to hear the communication of Bible doctrine. They must be filled with the Holy Spirit to learn and understand Bible doctrine being taught. Actually, the Holy Spirit is teaching your human spirit and your pastor-teacher teaches you. The believer must have focused concentration and self‑discipline. When you lose your motivation, you lose your spiritual growth.
Stage 2
Stage 2 of the grace apparatus for perception is receptive comprehension under the ministry of the Holy Spirit whereby the believer understands the spiritual information (Bible doctrine) being taught by the pastor-teacher. The Holy Spirit teaches the believer’s human spirit and then transfers that academically understood spiritually information to the believer’s left lobe of the soul as gnosis. The believer must be filled with the Spirit for the Holy Spirit to be able to teach the human spirit. Eph. 3:18-19.
“may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:18-19, NASB)
This is taking knowledge (gnosis) into the mind (nous). This will be head knowledge, it is not spiritually applicable. However, this knowledge is a must because it must be perceived, understood, and then either believed or rejected. The mind at this point is a staging area where either faith or unbelief can be applied. 1 Cor. 2:14; 1 John 2:27; 1 Cor. 2:10; James 1:23.
“But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” (1 Corinthians 2:14, NASB)
“As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” (1 John 2:27, NASB)
“For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10, NASB)
“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;” (James 1:23, NASB)
Receptive comprehension means that under the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit and with enough epignosis Bible doctrine already in the right lobe’s frame of reference, you actually understand the doctrine being taught.
Gnosis information cannot result in spiritual growth nor can it be applied to experience. Gnosis doctrine is waiting for the believer’s faith to cause the Holy Spirit to convert it into epignosis. When the unbeliever hears the Gospel, the Holy Spirit acts as a human spirit so that the unbeliever can understand the spiritual information being communicated – the issue of salvation, and exercise personal faith in Jesus Christ. There are a few doctrines which an unbeliever can comprehend as purely academic information such as the four divine institutions. Here, the Holy Spirit is not involved. It is purely human comprehension and intelligence. An unbeliever can be patriotic, can understand nationalism, can understand the function of marriage, family and freedom. So also can a believer out of fellowship.
Positive volition and your attitude toward doctrine is very important. This means you need to be objective to set aside anything that you find disenchanting about the communicator such as his attire, how he speaks, or his personality. You need enough objectivity to be able to focus on the teaching.
Concentration enables you to give undivided attention to the speaker without mental or overt distractions. Let’s say you have some person who is in your line of vision whom you don’t like, whom you love, who has a baby, or a stranger and you try to figure out who it is. You then lose the continuity of the message. Some of you may get so tangled up with the personality of the pastor-teacher that you don’t hear what is being taught. Some Bible doctrine subjects will fascinate you, others will not.
Comprehension comes from positive volition and concentration. It does not mean, however, that just because you are filled with the Spirit that you understand everything the pastor says. For comprehension of some advanced doctrines, you need a frame of reference filled with related doctrines in order to understand them.
At this point you do not have to agree or disagree with the Bible doctrine being taught. You only have to understand what is taught! You may be suspicious of it. You may have never heard of it before (no frame of reference). Your previous pastor may have never taught that doctrine. It may sound completely new to you. Someone else may have taught something that was different or you read something different in a book.
Believers may be suspicious of what is being taught. You must first understand a doctrine before you can either accept it as truth or reject it. Once you understand it, then you can make a decision.
There are three reasons for negative volition. You may have no frame of reference for it, so what you do not understand you disagree with. You may have some personality involvement, teaching involvement or love or loyalty for someone else who taught something that was different. Because of your background, you disagree with what is being taught.
When positive volition is on the scene and expresses itself, it will always be in a manner compatible with grace.
Human knowledge such as mathematics, chemistry, geography, medicine, etc. can be understood without the human spirit and applied by the perceptive or left lobe of the mentality of the soul to life’s situations. This route of comprehension and application is only for non-spiritual information.
Stage 3
Stage 3 of the grace apparatus for perception is the believer exercising faith belief or faith perception in the spiritual information understood academically (gnosis) whereby the Holy Spirit transfers the believed doctrine to the right lobe of the soul as epignosis doctrine. Here is the place from which Bible truth is applied. Eph 6:14.
“Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,” (Ephesians 6:14, NASB)
The mechanics of faith belief involve volition and faith. Positive volition results in the formation of epignosis Bible doctrine and its transfer by the Holy Spirit into the right lobe of the soul. Spiritual truths must be first believed which triggers the Holy Spirit’s automatic transfer to the right lobe of the soul as epignosis.
Only epignosis Bible doctrine can be formed categorically into doctrinal rationales for application. Only epignosis Bible doctrine can be applied to life’s challenges and decisions. This stage is critical to fulfilling the plan of God for your life, because only epignosis doctrine can be used in application, causing one’s advance to spiritual maturity.
Stage 4
Stage 4 of the grace apparatus for perception is the application of epignosis Bible doctrine to life’s experiences, situations, and decisions. Epignosis doctrine is the only divine viewpoint that can be applied to life.
This accumulated epignosis doctrine in the right lobe of the soul results in a doctrinal frame of reference or a spiritual IQ in the believer’s soul. This believed doctrine is available for application to life at a moment’s notice, if filled with the Holy Spirit. The purpose of the frame of reference is the comprehension of more advanced doctrine. This also results in the formation of a new spiritual conscience where divine norms and standards are developed in the right lobe. You begin to look at life from the divine viewpoint. This results in the production of divine good. 2 Cor. 10:5-6; 1 Cor. 2:12-13.
“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.” (2 Corinthians 10:5-6, NASB)
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.” (1 Corinthians 2:12-13, NASB)
Stage 5
Stage 5 of the grace apparatus for perception is spiritual growth in the fulfillment of the plan of God for the believer’s life. Only epignosis Bible doctrine results in spiritual growth and occupation with the person of Christ.
As the believer grows spiritually, the Holy Spirit is building an edification complex in the right lobe of the believer’s soul. The edification complex produce stabilized biblical thinking. The only building material for this structure is epignosis Bible doctrine. See category on The Edification Complex of the Soul.
Spiritual growth is called the “renewing of your mind” in Romans 12:2 and “be renewed in the spirit of your mind” in Ephesians 4:22-24.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, NASB)
“that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:22-24, NASB)
Spiritual growth results in human viewpoint thinking being replaced with divine viewpoint thinking which takes on more and more of the thinking or mind of Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 2:16; Eph. 4:25.
“For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16, NASB)
“Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.” (Ephesians 4:25, NASB)
Spiritual growth results in spiritual discernment with less time spend mired in carnality with mental attitude sins. This also means less and less room for false doctrine in the soul. You resolve more and more problems using God's grace resources instead of relying on your human abilities. Eph. 4:26-27.
“BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” (Ephesians 4:26-27, NASB)
Spiritual growth provides discernment in quickly recognizing false teaching. Your prayer content lines up more and more with God's plan for your life. You are able to provide more accurate Gospel information in ways understandable to the unbeliever during witnessing opportunities.
Compartments of the Right Lobe of the Soul
The compartments or areas for storage and application of epignosis Bible doctrine are located in the right lobe of the mentality of the soul. They are:
The Frame of Reference
The Memory Center
Vocabulary Storage
Categorical Storage
The Conscience
Spiritual Growth
Wisdom
See category on The Right Lobe of the Soul.
Systems of Perception
See category on Systems of Human Perception.