Foundations for Biblical Counseling

This post is a bit out of the ordinary for me. Nevertheless, I was so struck by the profound implications of a recent study of a passage of Scripture I decided I needed to share publicly what I found there. I hope it will be an encouragement to you, dear friends, as it was to me. 

I have been digging back into some of my biblical counseling (my college major) textbooks lately and remembering with great awe how completely God has provided in His Word everything we need for life and godliness. In preparation for a meeting I had with a friend from church recently, I was searching for a way to encapsulate the foundations for Biblical Counseling using an encouraging passage of Scripture--the idea of God Himself giving us hope that He can change us. I was personally encouraged that God has given us just such a hope in Romans 8:1-17. You may want to continue reading with an open Bible as I have not quoted the text here.

This passage contains some powerfully encouraging facts (for the Christian):

• I am no longer under God’s condemnation for my sin. (v 1)
• I am set free from “the law of sin and death.” (v 2) This means I don’t have to do these things anymore. Sin has no power over me! 

  “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 6:1 (emphasis mine) 

• The Law condemns me since the Law is a perfect standard and is therefore unattainable. With it alone, because of my sin, I could not reach God. I was hopeless. (v 3)  But!, I am no longer dominated by sin. My nature has changed.  When I became a Christian I began to walk by the Spirit, bearing the very seal of God. (v 4) 

  "And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee." 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (emphasis mine)

  
  

  "But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are his,' and 'Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.'" 2 Timothy 2:19 (emphasis mine)

• My mind is set (by God) on the Spirit. (v 6) This is not a matter of mustering up the goodness to keep my mind there by sheer willpower. It is set there by God as a fact of my salvation. (see v 5)
• I have life and peace with God through the Spirit. Notice Paul doesn’t say “to set the mind on the Spirit leads to life and peace” it says “to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” It's already done. No condemnation (see v 1).
• Because I am “in the Spirit” I am not in the state described in verses 7-8 (hostile to God, does not submit, can not submit, can not please God.) (v 9)
• My body is dead because of (my) sin, but the Spirit in me is life because of (Christ’s, not my) righteousness. (v 10)
• God gives me life through the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. Not just eternal life, but life in my "mortal body." I am reconciled to God so that I can live on this earth the way He intended for me to live. Jesus said, 

  "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10 (emphasis mine)

Only after I remember these remarkable facts about my salvation am I urged to change the way I live. In his commentary on Romans, John MacArthur points out, "All biblical exhortations to believers are based on the blessings and promises they already have from the Lord. Without the provisions we have from Him, we would be unable to fulfill the commands we receive from him."

Based on the facts above I am strongly urged to respond:

• by no longer acting as if I have an obligation to live according to the sin that seems, some days, to permeate every pore of my being. (v 12)
• by recognizing that living according to my sin makes me miserable and separates me from God. But even as I resolve to "put off" my perceived obligation to sin I must "put on" a conviction of the truth that by the Spirit I can put to death the deeds of the body and LIVE! (v 13) 

  "...put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and...be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and...put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24

• by not falling back into slavery and fear, but instead choosing to dwell securely in the love of my new adoptive Father. (v 15)
• by recognizing the hope I have: hope for now, that I can conquer sin in my life and live in freedom, and hope for eternity, that I will one day, at last, be glorified with Christ.

I was so encouraged in reading and studying these verses! They give me hope and courage, strength and understanding of my position. They tell me that change is possible, freedom is possible, righteousness and godly living are possible for me to attain. What an encouraging thought! I hope you are also encouraged in that thought today.