Grace Bible Church
Pastor-Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
The Doctrine of Flaws. Point 1. Definition. Distinction must be made between genetic and environmental handicaps and flaws.
Genetic flaws are the weaknesses with which we are born because of the old sin nature in the cell structure of the body.
PSA 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
PSA 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; These who speak lies go astray from birth.
Environmental flaws are those which we acquire because of where we live and the surroundings that we face.
In genetic handicaps and flaws, human volition is simply not involved. We are just born with a sin nature which has weaknesses and strengths.
In environmental handicaps or flaws, human volition is involved.
Genetic or inherent flaws often manifest themselves through impulsive actions.
The person may be caught off guard and the suddenness of a pressure situation brings out a weakness that you may have never seen in that person before.
Mar 3:21 And when His own people [Gk-family] heard of this [He claimed to be the Son of God], they went out to take custody of him; for they were saying, "he has lost His senses."
Joh 7:5 For not even his brothers were believing in Him.
This verse also tells us that they didn't want Him to speak to them, they wanted to speak to Him!
Per-act-ind of the verb hestekasin - in the perfect tense it means that they have been waiting outside for Him for a long time.
Prin-TLJC taught that His followers are even closer to Him than His natural family and closest relatives.
1Ti 2:4 He wills all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Prin-Relationship with God must have priority over relationship with people.
1Ki 18:21 "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him."
Deu 30:19 I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live,
Jos 24:15 "And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve:
Under spiritual death, people are born with certain flaws or tendencies which become manifest through various pressures or temptations.
They often reveal themselves through impulsive actions rather than deliberate actions.
Pressure means adversity and in times of adversity many believers do not have the spiritual strength or the integrity to apply what they have been taught, many times, for years.
Temptation comes from the old sin nature.
Being tempted in a certain area is not sin, it is only when we choose to give into the temptation that sin results.
Most environmental flaws or handicaps are directly related to the deliberate and conscious function of volition related to temptation.
There are exceptions such as when a baby is born addicted to drugs because of one or both of the parents with their addictions.
Some categories of sin involve both inherent weaknesses in the body plus environmental exploitation of those weaknesses in volitional function; e.g., drug addiction or alcoholism.
a. Flaws inherent in a dormant state and acquired under some circumstance or pressure, called impulsive flaws.
The Jews were going along just fine when all of a sudden the Lord would bring a tremendous test and pressure into their lives and their inactive flaws would become very active.
GAL 3:24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.
When God gave the Law to the children of Israel, is was to remind them how helpless and hopeless they are without the mercy and grace of God.
a. Flaws inherent in a dormant state and revealed by some circumstance or pressure, called impulsive flaws.
b. Flaws which are inherent or acquired. For example, bitterness can be inherent, acquired by the volition in some circumstance, or both.
c. Flaws which are acquired as a direct result of volition responding to the temptation of the soul. These are called environmental or acquired flaws.
They include homosexuality, drug addiction, first degree murder, stealing, and some forms of lying, like pathological lying.
Some people are born angry, and so their anger is impulsive.
Others acquire anger through resentment of their environment; hence theirs is a deliberate acquired anger.
Some people are born angry, and some acquire it through frustration and arrogance, so that first it is impulsive, then it is developed.
While genetics is the source of inherent flaws, temptation is the source of all acquired or environmental flaws.
1. Inherent flaws are there without your consent.
2. Environmental flaws are there with your consent.
While human volition can restrain inherent flaws, volition is not the original source of these flaws (with the exception Adam's volition); spiritual death is the source.
In environmental flaws, human volition responds directly to the temptation of the old sin nature.
Point 2. Biblical distinctions between inherent and environmental flaws.
This is the confusion caused from inherent weaknesses, because they manifest themselves in impulsive behavior.
This is a sign of inherent weaknesses, possibly combined with environmental weaknesses.
Mat 6:1 Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your father who is in heaven
These good intentions are hindered by the overtime work of the OSN with its trends toward evil and good.
Paul is saying if I keep on doing what I do not want to do then I realize that the law is good because it does reveal my helplessness.
The old sin nature is the source of temptation, but also the source of inherent flaws from birth.
Since it takes volition to convert temptation into sin, this verse must refer to inherent sin and flaws.
He is saying that because he has received TLJC, that he is no longer the one alive but Christ is living in him.
Because the nature of God cannot sin, and Christ is in him, Paul has learned to separate the 2 natures.
How can understanding Rom 7:18 actually be a benefit and blessing to the believer?
Before any believer can appreciate the divine solutions to the indwelling problems of the OSN and the magnificent grace of God, The believer must be brought to the end of himself.
Not only has sin been forgiven but the effects of our sin as well.
Psa 32:5 You have forgiven the guilt of my sin;
Psa 65:3 Iniquities prevail against me; but as for our transgressions You do forgive them.
Psa 85:2 You did forgive the iniquity of Your people; You did cover "all" their sin.
Psa 103:10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
Any pressure that frustrates you or causes you to react with bitterness, hatred, implacability, revenge, or self‑pity brings out your inherent flaws.
As you grow in the knowledge of doctrine, there can arise a tremendous conflict in the soul, not from the temptation of the old sin nature, but from the evil, inherent weakness which is there.
The old sin nature is not only the source of temptation, but it is the source of the genetic flaws with which we are born.
Jam 2:13 For judgment {will be} merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.
2Jo 1:3 Grace, mercy {and} peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. Amen.