Biblical Counseling Series: The Theological Foundations of Biblical Counseling

Sin is anything you do that displease God or makes God sad. However, Sin goes deeper than that. Sin clouds everyone’s heart and mind. Sin truly darkens unredeemed people’s mind and casts the unredeemed people’s mind into foolish thinking. Their foolish thinking leads to foolish character and their foolish character leads to foolish actions. The human mind and heart are blinded from God’s Truth because of their sin nature. Everyone, including counselees, has sinned. Romans 3:23 states, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” When anybody, including counselees, they are living in sin and defiantly rejects the notion of God, they are eternal separated from God. The separation of God and man, due to everyone’s sin nature, is like crossing the Royal Gorge without a bridge. Isaiah 59:2-3 (NASB) states, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken falsehood, Your tongue mutters wickedness.” So, when everyone lives in their iniquities(sins), they are eternally separated from God through a spiritual death. Romans 6:23a states, “For the wages of Sin is Death.”

However, God is a merciful God by providing you a way to escape the punishment of sin. He sent his only begotten son to save everyone, including counselees, from their sins. Whoever believes in this truth that Jesus Christ died for everyone’s sin and rose on third day, receives the gift of eternal life. Two Scriptures backs this up. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” John 3:16 states, “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.”

Once everyone accepts this truth, they are on their way to be called Children of God. John 1:12-13 (NASB) states, “But as many as received Him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” So, once everyone repents of their sin and believes in Jesus Christ, they are on their way to be biblically discipled. Nothing else can help you enter heaven. It is only by Jesus Christ you can enter the heaven and receive the free gift of Eternal life. John 14:6 states, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” It is only by Jesus Christ that everyone, including counselees, can know and love God. Ephesians 2:8-9 also confirms this truth. Ephesians 2:8-9 proclaims, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” It is only by Jesus Christ that you can be saved, not a result of works. When everyone understands knows and love Christ, it can lead to the right character. When everyone has the right character through the power of Jesus Christ, it can lead to the right actions. This is the theological foundation of Biblical Counseling in a nutshell. This description is essential to know while reading Caring for Souls and Covenant to Care. 

References

Adam, J. (2018). “What is ‘Nouthetic’ Counseling?” Nouthetic Studies. Accessed August 24, 2020. http://www.nouthetic.org/about-ins/what-is-nouthetic-counseling

Evans, L.(1982). Covenant to Care. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Shields, Harry and Gary Bredfeldt. (2001). Caring for Souls: Counseling under the Authority of Scripture. Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

Langham, Dr. R.Y. Ph.D. (April 19th, 2019). “Christian Counseling.” Therapy Tribe. Accessed August 24, 2020. https://www.therapytribe.com/therapy/christian-counseling/#:~:text=Christian%20counseling%2C%20also%20known%20as,you%20deal%20with%20life’s%20challenges.

Lisle, Dr. J. (October 1, 2010). “Faith vs. Reason.” Answers in Genesis. Accessed August 24th, 2020. https://answersingenesis.org/apologetics/faith-vs-reason/

Zuckerman, Ph.D. P. July 28th, 2014. “What Does ‘Secular Mean?” Pyschology Today. Accessed August 24, 2020. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-secular-life/201407/what-does-secular-mean#:~:text=To%20be%20secular%20is%20to,non%2Dreligious%20groupings%20or%20associations.

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