Doctrine of Gap

July 17, 2010

DOCTRINE OF GAP

THE GRACE APPARATUS FOR PERCEPTION
I. Introduction and preliminary considerations.
A. As one observes the world, it quickly becomes evident that believers and unbelievers view
the world around them in very different ways.
B. The fact that perceptions are quite dissimilar may be observed in the ways in which believers
and unbelievers operate and conduct their lives.
C. It is further evident that there are significant theological differences among the various
groups in Christendom, which this doctrine is designed to explain, at least in part.
D. This doctrine is foundational to effectively living the Christian way of life, since an understanding
of it is theologically critical to having a sound biblical anthropology.
II. Definition and description of terms.
A. Pertinent vocabulary and definitions.
1. Dichotomous is a technical term that describes the status of all unbelievers, who are in
possession of only a physical body and soul.
2. Trichotomous is a technical term that describes the status of all believers, who possess
the physical body, soul, and human spirit.
3. yuciko,j (psuchikos) is an adjective that is used 6 times in the New Testament; it refers
to the natural physical life that is possessed by both men and animals.
a. It deals with physical life, which is manifested in breathing, and pertains to the
natural world and what belongs in it; this is in contrast to the spiritual world and the
realities in it.
b. It is used once as a technical term to refer to the unbeliever, who is governed by the
physical realities of life, and not by the Spirit of God. ICor. 2:14
c. The acrostic NAP is used to refer to the natural apparatus for perception, which can
only perceive those things that come through the five senses; the natural man cannot
perceive or understand spiritual things.
4. sarkiko,j (sarkikos) is an adjective that is used 7 times in the New Testament; it means
that which belongs to the flesh, that which is fleshly.
a. It is derived from the Greek noun sa,rx (sarx), and refers to the physical substance
that covers animal and human bodies. ICor. 15:39
b. The adjective is used to refer to the believer that lives under the influence and/or
control of his fleshly nature. ICor. 3:3
c. Since the sin nature is located in the genetics of the flesh (Rom. 7:18), this term is
used to denote a believer that is under the domination of the old sin nature/STA.
5. pneumatiko,j (pneumatikos) is an adjective that is used 26 times; it refers to that which is
spiritual. When used of believers, it refers to one that is spiritual, one that is in
fellowship, ruled by the Holy Spirit, with the sin nature isolated.
B. The acrostic GAP is an abbreviation for the grace apparatus for perception; it is used to refer
to the internal constitution of believers following salvation, as well as the entire system for
the perception and metabolization of Bible doctrine.
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C. Grace is not only the title and policy of God’s plan, it is the basis for the perception of God’s
Word.
D. Grace is the method by which the believer receives God’s blessings; man’s requirement for
apprehending God’s grace is positive volition expressed through the system of faith, which is
a non-meritorious system of thinking in which the merit lies in the object.
E. Since God operates through a system of grace and faith in order to reveal Himself, human
systems of perception that rely on factors other than grace should be dismissed.
1. This specifically refers to human systems of learning that are based on human intelligence
alone.
2. If a high IQ was required in order to perceive and understand Bible doctrine, then logically
only those with a high IQ could learn the truth and make the maturity adjustment.
3. Paul makes it quite clear that cosmic systems of wisdom were of no value when it comes
to perceiving and apprehending the truth of God. ICor. 2:1,8
4. In fact, as we will document, the very nature of unbelievers makes it impossible for them
to perceive and believe the truth, apart from Divine intervention.
F. The grace apparatus for perception consists of two elements, coupled with one mechanic for
rapidly becoming spiritual.
1. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which each believer received at the point of salvation
as part of the salvation package.
2. The human spirit, which is regenerated at the point of salvation (Tit. 3:5); this restores the
trichotomous state that Adam had prior to the fall. IThess. 5:23
3. The rapid recovery system of rebound, which provides spiritual cleansing and instantaneous
forgiveness of sins committed after salvation. IJn. 1:9
4. This mechanic is the means by which one regains fellowship with God, which puts the
Holy Spirit in the position of rulership, and isolates the sin nature.
G. God provides the grace apparatus for perception so that each believer might learn those
things that are freely given by God, and come to a complete knowledge of the truth. ICor.
2:12; ITim. 2:4
H. When a believer is in fellowship, functioning under the grace apparatus for perception, and
learning Bible doctrine, we also use the term GAP to refer to process.
I. The believer is able to GAP the truth, but the unbeliever can only NAP the truth, which
makes the true perception of God an impossibility.
III. The documentation for this theological position is found in the book of First Corinthians. ICor.
2:9-13
A. Paul loosely quotes Isaiah 64:4 to document his position that Divine wisdom, and the perception
of that wisdom, does not come from human sources. Vs. 9
B. He logically moves on to say that God must choose to reveal what He thinks, or mankind
would never perceive God’s wisdom. Vs. 10
C. He points out the fact that only the real you knows at any given time what you are thinking.
1. This gnomic expression (short sayings that express basic truths) is one with which a
thinking person would not argue.
2. While a man knows what he thinks, no one knows what another person thinks, unless that
person chooses to reveal his thoughts.
3. Anyone can cover his true thoughts with an overt façade, which may simply be designed
to disguise his thinking and motives. Prov. 26:24-26
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D. Therefore, the logical conclusion is that the only one that can truly know what God thinks
would have to be God Himself. Vs. 11b
E. The Third Person of the Godhead is not only privy to what God thinks, He is the One whom
God has appointed to reveal that information to mankind. Vs. 10
F. The anthropopathism of searching is used to indicate the omniscience and veracity of the
Holy Spirit, Who faithfully and accurately communicates the thinking of God to the human
race. Vs. 10b; Jn. 16:13-15
G. The spirit of the world refers to the thinking that dominates the fallen world, manipulated
and deceived by Satan. Vs. 12
1. The cosmic, human systems of education, wisdom, and philosophy, which are based on
human systems of intelligence, are not sufficient to provide mankind an accurate understanding
of God and His plan.
2. The natural apparatus for perception is the only means of perception that unregenerate
humanity has available.
3. However, the NAP system is contaminated with the genetic STA, which can only distort
the truth, and tends to reject the things of God.
4. Therefore, those dominated by the spirit of the world and the natural apparatus for perception
cannot accurately perceive or understand the things of God.
5. While the principle of human intelligence is not bad in itself, those that have only cosmic
wisdom tend to be arrogant and reject spiritual realities. Vs. 14
6. Percentage wise, not many of those with great human intelligence possess positive volition.
ICor. 1:26
H. One of the primary reasons each believer received the indwelling ministry of God the Holy
Spirit at the point of salvation was so that he could learn the thoughts of God. ICor. 2:12
1. The fact that we have received the Spirit who is from God is documentation for the indwelling
ministry of the Holy Spirit.
2. This Spirit is distinct from and antagonistic to the spirit of the cosmos, governed strictly
by human systems of thinking that view the Divine viewpoint as foolishness. ICor. 2:14
3. The purpose clause is introduced by i[na (hina), which is followed by the subjunctive
mood of the verb know; this is designed to convey the fact that the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit is not the only issue in learning God’s truths. Vs. 12
4. Other factors that must be considered are the volition of the student, his willingness to
orient to God’s system, humility, consistency, having a qualified teacher, and whether or
not he understands and uses the mechanic to isolate the sin nature.
5. The doctrines that comprise the faith are freely given to us by God through the teaching
ministry of God the Holy Spirit, which indicates that grace is still a most important aspect
of learning the thoughts of God.
I. Although God the Holy Spirit is the ultimate teacher of doctrine, He has chosen to communicate
to Church Age believers through human communicators. ICor. 2:13
J. Those that reject the authority of the pastor-teacher, who was established in his canon by the
Holy Spirit, manifest a rejection of the very system that the Holy Spirit has established. Acts
20:28; IPet. 5:2
K. Verse 13 also documents the fact that God has chosen to communicate His plan using a particular
vocabulary, which is designed to communicate spiritual doctrines by means of technical
spiritual language.
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IV. The natural man. ICor. 2:14
A. The natural man is a term that is used by Paul to refer to the unbeliever that resides in the
realm of spiritual death, ruled by the genetic sin nature. Rom. 5:12,21
B. Since he lacks the grace apparatus for perception (he has no human spirit and is not indwelled
by the Holy Spirit), he is incapable of discerning or assimilating spiritual information.
C. Paul makes it clear that he cannot understand them; this means that he cannot come to the
knowledge of the truth since he is incapable of receiving, learning, or grasping the significance
of spiritual information.
D. The only exception to this reality occurs at the point of gospel hearing, when the Holy Spirit
acts to present the issues related to salvation. Jn. 16:7-9
E. Therefore, it is not productive to attempt to discuss any area of the Divine viewpoint with an
unbeliever; the gospel is the only doctrine that he can grasp.
F. While an unbeliever may have a predilection for religion, philosophy, science, psychology,
or any other discipline, he ultimately views the Divine viewpoint as foolishness.
G. He may cover his thoughts with polite and measured responses; nevertheless, he finds the information
to be lacking in truth or credibility, since he does not possess the ability to evaluate
spiritual matters.
H. The wisdom of the natural men is linked to natural life on earth, dependent upon human abilities
and IQ, and tied to the fallacious thinking of demons. James 3:15
1. The “wisdom” that permeates the cosmos is called earthly, indicating that the organized
systems of human wisdom are tied to the earthly scheme of things; it is contrasted with
the wisdom that comes from Heaven.
2. The fact that it is natural demonstrates that it comes from the realm of unbelievers, unregenerate
men that are dominated by their sin natures.
3. The final adjective, demonic, documents that the earthly systems of wisdom and philosophy
are consistent with the thinking of fallen angels. ITim. 4:1-3
I. He is finally contrasted with the spiritual man, the regenerate man, the believer possessing
the grace apparatus for perception and metabolized doctrine.
J. Finally, the natural man cannot effectively question/evaluate/judge the spiritual man, since he
lacks the frame of reference or the internal apparatus to do so.
K. Further, neither the natural man, nor the carnal believer, can effectively judge the positive,
advancing believer, since the STA always prejudices the evaluation.
V. The grace provision for learning the plan of God in the Church Age.
A. In order to communicate His thoughts to the human race, God has chosen to record His revelation
in the objective words of the Scripture.
B. Therefore, the first aspect of God’s grace provision for learning His plan is the formation
and preservation of the completed canon of Scripture.
1. The thoughts of God were communicated, through the principle of revelation, to positive
men that were enabled to record the Divine revelation without any error or imperfection.
Ex. 17:14; Jer. 30:2; Rev. 1:11
2. This mysterious process was not as simple as mere dictation; it did not override the volition,
personality, history, or any other aspect of the human author.
3. This process resulted in an inspired text that was free from human error (doctrine of inerrancy),
and whose inspiration extended to the very words of Scripture. IITim. 3:16
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4. Throughout the course of human history, other positive believers gathered the inspired
material, and rejected that which was spurious.
5. The final result was the completed canon of Scripture, which has been preserved in the
sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments in accordance with the promise of Jesus
Christ. Matt. 5:18, 24:35
C. God has provided the only authorized environment for the dissemination and teaching of His
Word in this dispensation.
1. The local church, not any other organization, is the medium, which God Himself has
chosen and established to advance His plan. ICor. 4:17; ITim. 3:15
2. Face-to-face teaching is the format that God has ordained, and is superior to all other
forms of communication. IIJn. 12
a. The apostles recognized that their own epistles to local churches were not the ideal;
they simply served to encourage believers in the interim until the apostle could be
personally present. IThess. 2:17-18, 3:2,10
b. If the written correspondence from the highest ranking authority in the Church Age
was an inferior form of communication, where does that leave other forms of communication
like books, television, radio, etc.?
c. Beyond that, apart from active personal participation in a local church, one cannot effectively
fulfill many of the Royal imperatives. Heb. 10:25
3. The independent, autonomous local church, with a pastoral form of government is the
norm that is promoted by the New Testament; denominations are not.
a. Denominations (as well as other aberrations) undermine the principle of authority,
and the Royal Chain of Command.
b. Denominations often pressure the pastor-teacher to parrot the doctrines of that denomination,
rather than teach all the doctrines contained in the Word of God.
c. The fear of excommunication from the denomination has led most to avoid the truth
of certain matters, and teach only the doctrines that are accepted or approved by the
denomination.
d. Therefore, sound ministries have left the denominational camp; they are willing to
bear the reproach of teaching the whole purpose of God. Heb. 13:13: Acts 20:27
4. Those that reject the principle or function of the local church are obviously out of touch
with the very dispensation in which they live (the Church Age), and cannot ultimately be
successful spiritually.
a. Spiritual mavericks, loners, or renegades, who become a law to themselves, reject authority,
and reject God’s system, often continue to manifest the delusion that they are
pleasing to God. IITim. 3:8-9,13
b. Further, they will learn at the Bema seat what the positive, adjusted believer has
learned and embraced in time; one must compete according to the established rules.
IITim. 2:5
D. For the vast majority of the Church Age, God has provided each local church with precisely
one spiritual leader as part of grace. Eph. 4:7,11; Rev. 2,3
1. As is consistent with the pastoral analogies in the New Testament, each flock (congregation)
can only have and respond to one shepherd. Jn. 10:4-5; ITim. 3:1
2. The pastor-teacher is selected by God the Holy Spirit, established in the appropriate canon,
and supported throughout his ministry. Acts 20:28
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a. This principle demands that any man that is prepared for the ministry not resort to inappropriate
tactics in order to obtain a congregation; he must be humbly willing to
wait until such time as the Holy Spirit brings him together with his congregation.
b. This also indicates that the pastor-teacher is not simply an employee that may be
hired and fired like other employees; believers need to understand the principle that
lifting a hand against God’s appointed leader is not only wrong, it can be dangerous.
ISam. 24:6; IICor. 10:7-11, 12:21-13:2
c. Although the pastor-teacher is the ranking authority in the local church, God has provided
deacons to support him in the administration of the local church. Acts 6:1ff
d. While the pastor-teacher may rely on the insight of other positive believers (deacons
and those in the congregation at large), he alone is responsible for shepherding and
teaching the congregation. IPet. 5:1-4
3. God supernaturally supports, sustains, and guides the positive pastor-teacher; the pastorteacher
that diligently seeks to fulfill his ministry before the Lord will be blessed with insight,
understanding, the knowledge of where to teach, what to teach, and how to teach.
Matt. 7:7-11
4. God has always used human communicators in every dispensation, each of whom was
different in personality, style, experience, etc.; however, each of them possessed an active
sin nature. James 5:17
a. One man is not only responsible to feed the flock and look after their spiritual wellbeing;
he is fully capable of providing sufficient doctrine to get his sheep to maturity.
ITim. 4:16
b. Those that reject the principle of one, spiritually appointed pastor-teacher often do so
with the arrogant suggestion that one man cannot teach them the truth and take them
to maturity.
c. This type of believer often manifests his spiritual instability and inconsistency with
the assertion that only he can really determine what the truth is; therefore, he becomes
his own teacher!
d. How can any believer know that he can trust one man with his spiritual well-being?
Ask Noah, Moses, Elijah, or Paul.
e. All communicators must be evaluated on the content of the teaching; other factors
such as personality, likes, dislikes, hobbies, etc. are not part of that criterion.
E. As stated previously, there is one mechanic provided in the GAP process; God has provided
the rapid recovery system of rebound. IJn. 1:9
F. This is the only method by which a believer with a functional and active sin nature can regain
fellowship with God, learn His plan, and be prepared to execute within that plan.
VI. The stages of GAP.
A. The first stage of GAP begins with the pastor-teacher and the study-teach routine; this is
comprised of private study and public proclamation. IITim. 2:15
1. The pastor-teacher must himself be a positive believer, who desires to know the truth,
and seeks the necessary wisdom. James 1:5
2. He must be prepared spiritually, intellectually, and academically to interpret the word of
God; this involves knowledge of the languages of Scripture, biblical history, sound hermeneutics,
and a good doctrinal foundation.
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3. The acrostic ICE has been commonly used to refer to the proper approach; however, in
terms of actual order EIC is more accurate.
a. The first step in this process is the study of the Scripture from the original languages
in which they were written.
b. This allows the pastor-teacher to ascertain the correct translation he must determine
the meaning of every word, phrase, sentence, paragraph and book in the context in
which they were written.
c. The second step, isagogics, refers to the fact that one must understand the historical
context in which a particular passage was written.
d. The final step is the categorization of the individual doctrines that are taught throughout
the Bible; all doctrines must be harmonized, since Scripture does not contradict
Scripture.
4. The pastor-teacher must be intellectually honest with respect to his doctrinal grid; he
should not be inordinately bound to his own thinking, but must be willing to let the text
speak for itself.
5. Following his prayer for wisdom and preparation in the study, the next step in this
process involves teaching the Divine viewpoint to his congregation.
a. This is to be done in the authorized environment of the local assembly.
b. A careful study of the New Testament demonstrates that teaching was done via monologue,
which is still the finest way to communicate information to a receptive audience.
1.) Jesus largely executed His teaching via monologue, and did not respond kindly to
interruptions. Matt. 5:1-7:27; Lk. 11:28
2.) Paul executed his teaching ministry via monologue. Acts 20:7-11
3.) The term o` lo,goj (ho logos), which is found at the end of verse 7, has the sense
of a speech.
4.) The very Greek term kh/rux (kerux—herald) is most often translated preacher,
and denoted an official that was charged with delivering public monologues or
proclamations for kings, magistrates, or military commanders.
5.) Each pastor in Revelation 2 and 3 was evidently to read the message from the
Lord, and deliver it to his congregation.
c. While the physical location of the assembly in not the critical issue, the pastor-teacher
should seek to establish and maintain an environment that is as conducive to learning
as it can be.
1.) The environment should be as free from external distractions as possible.
2.) The pastor-teacher is not to tolerate distractions from those that are assembled; he
is to enforce good manners, poise, and overt humility.
B. The second step in this process is for believers to take in the Word of God in the authorized
environment.
1. This begins with believers assembling together. Heb. 10:25
2. Each believer is responsible to comply with the overt decorum necessary for conducting
Bible classes; however, he is to supply true humility. James 1:19-21
3. Each believer is responsible to judge himself rightly, ensuring that he is in fellowship
with the sin nature isolated. James 1:21; IJn. 1:9
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4. The objective at this stage is to get the information into the analysis center of the soul, so
one can accurately evaluate the information apart from STA discoloration or contamination.
5. This requires that each believer is positive, assembled, humble, in fellowship, concentrating
on the information, and seeking to comprehend it.
6. Each believer must then consider the information and documentation, reflect on it, and
determine if it is sound.
a. A believer should not reject information simply because it is new, or because he has
not heard it previously.
b. Believers should not reject information based on the absurd notion that another pastor-
teacher has not taught it.
c. Each believer must be very careful not to reject information that goes against him
personally; each believer has his own STA problems, and the pastor-teacher is to reprove,
rebuke, and exhort from time to time.
d. The goal is to simply evaluate the information in an intellectually honest fashion, see
if the documentation is sufficient, and if it harmonizes with other truth.
C. The third stage of this process is applying faith to the doctrine taught.
1. The first thing each believer must do is listen to the entire teaching with an open mind
before attempting to evaluate it or pass judgment on it. Prov. 18:13
2. Positive volition places its faith in the truth that is taught; negative volition rejects the
truth and may seek to rationalize rejection of the doctrine.
3. As a believer applies faith toward the truth, he reprograms the brain computer with the
Divine viewpoint of life. Prov. 3:3, 7:3; Rom. 12:2
4. The believer uses this information to form a new frame of reference (Eph. 4:23), a new
conscience that is programmed with God’s norms and standards (ITim. 1:5,19), and the
new man grows. IICor. 4:16
5. The ability to understand doctrinal concepts grows in proportion to one’s frame of reference
and level of spiritual advance.
D. The fourth stage in this process is the application of the doctrine learned.
1. All doctrine that the believer learns will be tested. IPet. 1:6-7
2. Failure to apply the doctrine learned not only results in sin (James 4:17), but will hamper
spiritual progress toward the maturity adjustment. Heb. 5:12-14
3. Application of the doctrine one has learned is called justification by works (James. 2:14-
26); however, it must be recognized that this does not refer to Ph1 justification, which involves
the imputation of God’s righteousness apart from works. Rom. 3:24,28
4. It should be evident that each of the previous three stages is necessary for one to produce
Divine good and accrue the attendant SG3; in that regard, eternal rewards are contingent
upon the doctrine one learns in Bible class.
E. The fifth stage of GAP is the maturity adjustment. Mk. 4:28
1. It is important to recognize that spiritual maturity is a goal, but it is not the end for the
positive believer.
2. The final objective for the mature believer is to complete his course by running his race
to the end of his Ph2. IITim. 4:7
3. Maturity is a state of spiritual growth that is attained over time as a result of faithfully
hearing and applying the Word of God. Eph. 4:13; James 1:25
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4. The goal of all adjusted communicators is to present mature believers before the Lord at
the Bema Seat. Eph. 4:12-15; Col. 1:28
VII. Various forms of negative volition are capable of undermining the entire GAP system.
A. Since the process for each believer begins with the proper instruction, any believer that places
his faith in an unbelieving pastor-teacher will suffer loss. Matt. 24:45
B. Those that fall prey to unscrupulous teachers that have gone negative, such as Hymenaeus
and Alexander, will not ultimately grow to maturity. ITim. 1:19-20
C. The believer that refuses to assemble manifests that he is unwilling to hear the truth. Heb.
10:25
D. The believer that assembles but fails to isolate the sin nature will distort the truth of doctrine
along the lines of his sinful trends, and may not grow beyond a point. James 1:21
E. The arrogant believer makes himself an enemy of God; this is manifested by an unwillingness
to receive the Word being implanted with humility. James. 1:21, 4:6
F. The believer that assembles but does not apply faith toward the truth manifests a refusal to
believe. which will hinder or destroy spiritual growth. Matt. 21:32; Jude 1:5
G. The believer that assembles and believes the doctrine, yet does not follow through and apply
the doctrine, comes under temporal and operational death. James 2:17-20
H. Negative volition at any point in the GAP process effectively destroys the process of spiritual
growth, and may result in the appropriate form of Divine judgment. ICor. 11:31-32 cf.
IIThess. 2:12
“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.”
ICor. 2:12-13