Fixed Inner Consciousness

By Arthur J Licursi – 3/15/06– built upon thoughts expressed by Norman Grubb’s writings

 

(NOTE: As we read, you will note that there is more than one Greek word for our one English word “know”.)

 

Norman Grubb uses the term “fixed inner consciousness”, in his writings, as the culmination of what I call “mature faith”. This is a “full conscious knowing” (Greek, epiginosko) of ones true relationship to the Lord as their Father; who unconditionally loves him or her, and is overseeing all the happenings of their lives – for their eternal good.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 

Such a fixed knowing is the core of unshakable faith or mature faith. Such faith is the expression a new, ever-present, latent, consciousness. Is this to be gained or experienced on the soul-life (psuche) level of mind or, is it a spirit-life (Zoë) function?

The “fixed inner consciousness” is a level of knowing that springs initially from the human spirit (Zech 12:1, Prov 20:27) of all who have been regenerated and thereby joined to the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit (God’s) is spirit (human).

 

To have a “consciousness” is to “know something”. Yet, such a “fixed inner consciousness” is not initially of soul’s mind. Rather it is outgrowth of the “initial innate, intuitive, sense-knowing” (Greek eido) gained at regeneration. It grows to become a new and ever-present “consciousness”, which Grubb calls the “fixed inner knowing”.

 

“Knowing” (ginosko, experiential knowing) in Bible terms means “being mixed with the thing we know.” – meaning, it has become part of us. This is why the word “know” is used when speaking of sexual intercourse as in Genesis 4:1 “Adam knew Eve”. Eve became part of Adam; thus, they had an “intimate personal knowing”. It is not to know about something by wrote learning, but rather to know something or someone intimately.

By example, such “knowing’ may be seen on a human temporal or secular level. A competent professional man “knows” his profession and can operate at ease in it; as a carpenter, plumber or teacher, etc. He has come to a “fixed inner consciousness” of his profession. I recall my mother could knit while watching television – her knitting had become fixed, spontaneously automatic.

The most valuable sort of knowing (fixed inner consciousness) is a knowing that comes by the work of God’s Spirit within the spirit and lives of all the regenerated children of God.

 

First, we, the redeemed of Christ, enter into this faith-knowing in seed-form when Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  Thus, we see that it is God’s work to bear witness in us to bring us to the fixed inner consciousness. Though this is fact for every child of God, only those who press onto see God in all the happenings of their life come to gain the “fixed inner consciousness” of which Grubb speaks.

Philip. 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

 

When we gain that initial innate “sense- knowing” (eido, knowing gained at regeneration) by the “Spirit bearing witness with our spirit” and then come to realize “He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit” with Christ (1Cor 6:17), we have gained a knowing that has been confirmed by experiential knowing (ginosko, coming to know by ongoing experience). We then have come to a more mature form of “fixed inner consciousness” – mature faith.

 

Actually, we only really believe that which we see have come to with the eyes of our spirit. Ephes. 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. Upon coming to see by means of our spirit, we then cannot help but believe or trust that which we have seen. It is for this reason one cannot easily commit to somebody else’s vision of anything – we must come to see for our selves.

 

In time we learn to discern between that which is of our soul and that which is of our spirit (Heb 4:12). We no longer will confuse emotional disturbances or rational questionings of the independent soul of man for the stillness of a “fixed spirit-knowing”. For “we know” that “we know” that “we know”— which was John’s final emphasis in his great first epistle (1 Jn. 5:18-20).

1 John 5:20 And we know (eido, a sense knowing by the spirit) that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding (dianoia, thoughtful knowing of mind), that we may know (ginosko, an experiential knowing) him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even (that is) in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Having such fixed knowing, we then live by the inner knowing in all the outer confrontations of life. As we see through our outer circumstances to His hand in all things, we enter into those knowings of faith that He is actually doing this or that, regardless of all outer appearances, for our eternal good. This is the mature form of faith Grubb calls the “fixed inner consciousness”.

Such “knowing” and living, which is by the inner fixed fact of our spirit-being, is called by Jesus, “eternal life” or the limitless divine life (see John 17:3). This is on another dimension than rational thinking; and yet is the realized fact for everyone born of the Spirit of Christ, whether in seed form or full-growth mature form.

 

How do we start?

We need to hear. Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of God. Usually we come to faith in the Lord by having heard the word of the Lord. The word “word” in this verse is not merely words as text on paper. In Greek it is “rhema”, meaning the spoken spontaneous or living word. 1 Cor. 1:21 the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching (proclamation) to save them that will believe. Rationality of thought and considering any empirical evidence never brings us to Christ. It’s only faith that comes by hearing the living word that has such an effect.

 

You may say you don’t have such faith. Paul tells us every man has been dealt a measure of faith.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

 

Thus we all have faith – none is without faith. The problem is our “faith is in ourselves” (not the Savior) and so “we think more highly of ourselves than we ought” (Rom 12:13 above). If we but cast our measure of faith upon Jesus Christ and reach out to receive Him, we will immediately gain His indwelling life. His life comes to us with the innermost sense-knowing that starts us on the journey toward a “fixed inner consciousness” as the fullness of faith, which is unshakable. Therein is the basis of the rest and peace to our souls, as Jesus promised.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

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