Austin Bible Church
God's Grace Provision
God has made provision of His grace for mental illness, but what about physical defects and infirmities that seem to contradict full service for the Lord and the function of the spiritual gift you received at salvation? In the soul of every believer, there is a conflict of being either carnally minded or spiritually minded. We are to exercise positive volition in Christ to deliver us. Rom. 8:14; Rom. 8:24; Rom. 8:6.
“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14, NASB)
“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?” (Romans 8:24, NASB)
“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,” (Romans 8:6, NASB)
We have the divine promise of a resurrection body because we were all placed into union with Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit at salvation. We share all that Jesus Christ has and will have. Gal. 3:26-29.
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29, NASB)
God has made provision for the believer whereby we can overcome our fears and instead focus on our eternal future in Jesus Christ. God has also made provision of an eternal inheritance and for our temporal suffering. Rom. 8:15-17.
“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:15-17, NASB)
The Suffering of Nature
It is not understood widely, but creation is under a terrible handicap, a terrific burden and it groans under its curse given by God as punishment to Adam for sinning. Gen. 3:17-19.
“Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life. "Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."” (Genesis 3:17-19, NASB)
The suffering of nature is used to illustrate the suffering of man. Groaning looks back at the sin of Adam and suffering looks forward to the Second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 8:18-22.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.” (Romans 8:18-22, NASB)
God’s plan not only takes care of the deficiency of the soul, but He also makes provision for the deficiency of the cursed earth and the human body with its defects and blemishes. A cursed earth brings suffering and glory and hopes for or anticipates the manifestation of the sons of God. Rom. 8:18-19; Rom. 8:28.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:18-19, NASB)
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NASB)
A cursed earth is compatible with our old sin nature resulting in pain, thorns, thistles, sweat, and identification with dust. As the cursed earth is no problem to the believer so the thorn in the flesh is no problem to a mature believer. Both are necessary for dependence upon the Lord’s plan. A cursed earth now, but not forever. An old sin nature now, but not forever. Rom. 8:21.
“that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” (Romans 8:21, NASB)
A cursed earth is really under undeserved suffering. What did the earth do to merit this? Nothing. In Romans 8:22, “groans” is συστενάζω (sustenazō) and means an inward, unexpressed feeling of sorrow, to groan together with. “Suffers” is συνωδίνω (sunōdinō) and refers to pain that is very prevalent. The answer to the curse on the present earth is the Millennium when the curse will be removed.
“For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.” (Romans 8:22, NASB)
Suffering from Physical Infirmities
The human body has defects. Congenital defects are those that exist prior to birth. We can also acquire defects through injuries, brain damage, loss of limbs, etc. Defects never stop the plan of God for you. These are prevalent in the human race for the unredeemed and redeemed. These infirmities have perfect provision in the plan of God.
In Romans 8:23, “And not only this” refers to nature and “but also we ourselves” refers to the believer living on earth. The human body’s defects will be cured through our resurrection body.
“And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:23, NASB)
“Having the first fruits of the Spirit” is the appositional genitive of ἀπαρχή (aparchē) and means we keep on having the first-fruits and refers to seven salvation ministries of God the Holy Spirit: 1) the Holy Spirit is the agent of regeneration, 2) the Holy Spirit creates a human spirit for each believer (regeneration), 3) the Holy Spirit places each believer into union with Jesus Christ (Baptism of the Holy Spirit), 4) the Holy Spirit permanently indwells every Church Age believer, 5) the Holy Spirit seals the believer to the day of redemption, 6) the Holy Spirit gives at least one spiritual gift to every believer, and 7) the filling of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:15; Philemon 1:25; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:30; Eph. 1:13; 2 Cor. 1:22; 1 Cor. 3:16-17; 1 Cor. 12:11. See category on Holy Spirit, Seven Salvation Ministries.
"He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit," (Titus 3:5, NASB)
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." (Philemon 1:25, NASB)
"For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:13, NASB)
"Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30, NASB)
"In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise," (Ephesians 1:13, NASB)
“who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.” (2 Corinthians 1:22, NASB)
"Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are." (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, NASB)
"But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills." (1 Corinthians 12:11, NASB)
The first fruits of the Spirit is the down payment on the believer’s inheritance in eternity. The Holy Spirit is the basis of spirituality while on earth. In Romans 8:23, “even we ourselves groan” is the present active indicative of στενάζω (stenazō) and means we keep on groaning and refers to the believer’s suffering in this life for many different reasons. “Within ourselves” means that all suffering is connected with the inner man or the soul. “Waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons” is the present middle participle of ἀπεκδέχομαι (apekdechomai) and means eager anticipation in the right lobe. Eph. 1:14.
“who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:14, NASB)
In Christ, we all have the rights of full sons. This is the adoption of Positional Sanctification. The adoption of Ultimate Sanctification means that in heaven, we have a new resurrection body. The self-consciousness, mentality, volition, conscience and emotions can be affected by the body or sufferings and sometimes you can be reduced to helplessness.
In Romans 8:26 and 2 Corinthians 12:5, “weakness” is ἀσθένεια (astheneia) and means native weakness and frailty, sickness, feebleness of health. These infirmities or weaknesses are defects that cause you to be helpless (i.e., seizures, coma, unconsciousness, etc.) where you are unable to take care of your own body’s processes.
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;” (Romans 8:26, NASB)
“On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses.” (2 Corinthians 12:5, NASB)
Note that Paul in spiritual maturity had a “thorn in the flesh.” He prayed three times for the Lord to remove it. The Lord did not. This thorn could have been a situation that embarrassed him and made it so he could not continue. Something debilitating like an epileptic seizure would be a perfect example. 2 Cor. 12:7-8; 2 Cor. 12:9-10.
“Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-8, NASB)
“And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NASB)
In Romans 8:24, “hope” refers to our confident expectation of eternal salvation based on our faith belief in the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Hope is what is in store for us in our eternal future with God. We are delivered by hope. “Hope that is seen is not a hope” refers to eternity, not our confidence in the spiritual life. Hope is a mental attitude and is the reality of Bible doctrine regarding our eternal future. The human body’s defects on earth do not in any way curtail that hope or service on earth.
“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?” (Romans 8:24, NASB)
In Romans 8:25, “hope” is an extension of the faith-rest life. You apply faith-rest until you are face to face with the Lord. Your perseverance or patience is rewarded. Lots of things in life are based on waiting. For example, the Lord Jesus Christ is waiting for the process of time to solve the Angelic Conflict. Perseverance is a mental attitude and is the attitude of spiritual maturity where Bible doctrine is understood, absorbed, and applied consistently. You are to evaluate suffering in the light of the Bible doctrine in your soul.
“But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” (Romans 8:25, NASB)
Intercession of the Holy Spirit
In what ways can a believer be helpless? A believer can be helpless with mental illness with their volition stuck in neutral. You are helpless when in a coma or when one is unconscious. You are helpless when one is in shock but conscious. You are helpless when an imbalance of hormones occurs. You are helpless when one is paralyzed as in electrocution. You are helpless when one is delirious and in a state of hysteria or panic. You are helpless when an unexpected tragedy occurs which leaves one completely speechless, unable to think.
A coma, a seizure, or being unconscious are all part of the undeserved suffering package. Instead of healing the situation, God gives an extra measure of grace and is thereby glorified. This is beyond your prayer, the Holy Spirit is praying.
Just as the mentally ill person has a provision for no responsibility when they are in neutral volition, to flush the soul, so the physical defect of body is provided for by the prayers of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us and protects us as He indwells our bodies.
The plan of God is greater than the worst suffering life can offer. Grace is always in view in suffering. For the believer who confesses sin to God the Father and is again filled with the Holy Spirit and applying Bible doctrine to the situation, cursing of divine discipline is turned to blessing.
In Romans 8:26, “In the same way” is ὡσαύτως (hōsautōs) in the Greek and means in like manner, likewise. This indicates that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is distinct from and greater than the groaning of creation and believers. It is far superior! “Helps” is a triple compound verb συναντιλαμβάνομαι (sunantilambanomai) where sun is a preposition of assistance, anti is in turn, or in place of, and the root lambanomai means to seize, to assist. It means to support someone who is in a hopeless and helpless situation, to come to the aid of someone, to pray on their behalf.
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;” (Romans 8:26, NASB)
In Romans 8:26, “our weakness” is ἀσθένεια (astheneia) and means our hopelessness (in context), our helplessness, to be weak, to lack strength, to not know what to do, to be impotent, to have lots of inability. It takes thought to pray, to use faith, to apply. There are times when you cannot. The principle here is that the Holy Spirit protects you and prays for you so no one can tamper with your volition when it cannot operate. It is the same principle as children in innocence when they are not yet able to exercise their volition.
In Romans 8:26, “for we do not know” is the negative plus the perfect active indicative of οἶδα (oida) in the Greek and means to not have seen or perceived. This is a strong negative and is used as a dramatic present. The soul is not functioning (self-consciousness, mentality, etc.). “How to pray as we should” is the future middle indicative and means the Holy Spirit benefits us when we cannot benefit ourselves. Prayer from the believer would only be beneficial when the believer can think, but when that is knocked out, the Holy Spirit takes over.
“Pray” is προσεύχομαι (proseuchomai) and means the Holy Spirit is face to face with the Father in intercession for us! The believer cannot confess their sins and they just cannot function! In this situation, the Holy Spirit takes over. The principle here is that you may come out of a period of suffering, not because you know doctrine, but because of the great unseen ministry of the Holy Spirit praying from inside the believer.
In Romans 8:26, “but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us” is the present active indicative of ὑπερεντυγχάνω (huperentugchanō) and means to plead continually on behalf of one who is helpless. This word is only used once in the New Testament. “With groanings too deep for words” means unutterable groanings. The content of the prayer is not given, but the prayer is offered by the Holy Spirit from inside of the believer. You do not pray to the Holy Spirit or to Jesus Christ, only to the Father.
In Romans 8:27, it is God the Father who answers the prayer. “He who searches” is the present active participle of ἐρευνάω (ereunaō) and means to search, to examine and the refers to God the Father who keeps on searching and examining. The Father examines the believer’s spiritual growth and coordinates the intercession furthering the will of God. The Father knows when you can think and when you cannot. The Father keeps track of our soul and knows when it is in shock, in neutral, or in the throes of mental or severe physical illness. “The hearts” is καρδία (kardia) and refers to the right lobe of the soul and “knows” is the perfect tense used as a present of οἶδα (oida) and means that God the Father understands the prayers of God the Holy Spirit.
“and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:27, NASB)
“The mind of the Spirit” refers to prayer as is mental communication, but thoughts were behind those words. “Because He intercedes” is the present active indicative of ἐντυγχάνω (entugchanō) and means He keeps on making intercession. This is a continuous ministry of the Holy Spirit. He is faithful in all generations of believers. “According” is κατά (kata) and means it is according to the norm or standard of Bible doctrine, God’s thinking.
A defective physical body cannot deter the God's grace plan for you. The believer need not be hindered with undeserved suffering. Even the earth is cursed. Your body is defective. All things work together for good. The “all things” are the complete picture. Cursing is turned into blessing in God’s plan. Even the earth will be delivered from its curse, your body from its curse, but in the meantime, we are to live our lives as unto the Lord.
The Believer’s Mental Attitude Under Suffering
The basic mental attitude and orientation to any suffering in life is the Romans 8:28 passage. Anytime a believer is put into a position where they cannot utilize God's grace resources, Romans 8:28 still holds title because of this.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NASB)
The believer is to reflect on God's plan for them with positive volition regardless of a groaning creation and a groaning creature (you). Rom. 8:29-34.
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” (Romans 8:29-34, NASB)
If God be for us, can a tortured creation and a tortured body be against you? Rom. 8:31.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31, NASB)
God’s plan exhibited in love has left no stone unturned in giving you perfect provision. John 3:16; Rom. 8:35-39.
“"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NASB)
“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39, NASB)
What are you to do when faced with congenital defects and a near hopeless situation? You are to accept them in the light of God’s will for you. 2 Cor. 4:7-10.
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10, NASB)
You are mandated to think divine viewpoint with a faith that any defect will be dissolved if it must be, to complete God’s plan for your life. 2 Cor. 4:13-18.
“But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:13-18, NASB)
You are to realize that groaning and death do not flaw God’s plan for you. 2 Cor. 5:1; 2 Cor. 5:4.
“For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1, NASB)
“For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.” (2 Corinthians 5:4, NASB)
You are to watching God turn cursing into blessing. You are mandated to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ - to reach spiritual maturity as your priority in life. 2 Peter 3:18; Rom. 8:28.
“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)
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NASB)