by Paul Tautges
People often ask me how biblical counseling differs from other approaches to soul care. Here’s a summary I’ve been teaching for almost two decades, which I hope will help you grow in understanding sanctification. This week, look up the Scriptures listed and meditate on God’s abundant provision through the Spirit and the Word. See how each piece fits together. This study will be a healthy meal for your soul.
Biblical counseling believes:
1. The Bible is the all-sufficient source of Truth.
- Scripture is pure truth (Ps. 119:140, 160).
- Scripture is sufficient to identify the deepest needs of our soul, and meet them (Ps. 19:7-11; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
- Scripture is the instrumental means the Spirit uses to transform us from the inside out, even sanctifying our motivations (John 17:17; 2 Cor. 3:18; Heb. 4:12).
- Scripture is the judge of all man-made philosophy and theory, as to whether or not it is accurate, corrupts the gospel, or diminishes Christ (1 Cor. 2:11-16; Col. 2:8-10; 2 Cor. 10-4-6).
2. Man is totally depraved, accountable to God, and responsible for his thoughts and actions.
- Man’s heart is wicked and deceitful (Jer. 17:9).
- Man’s heart is motivated by love for self, and is addicted to sin (Gen. 6:5; Rom. 6:13).
- Man will give an account of himself to God (Rom. 14:12; 1 Pet. 4:4-5).
- Man is responsible for his own temptation and sin (James 1:13-16).
- But man can be rescued and redeemed by Jesus Christ—becoming a new creature in Him (2 Cor. 5:17).
3. God’s goal for every believer is to be like Jesus Christ.
- The Christian life begins with regeneration, being born-again by the Spirit through the Word of truth, the gospel (John 3:1-8; 1 Pet. 1:3).
- God has predestined believers to become conformed to the image of His Son, thus this is God’s goal (Rom. 8:29).
- God is renewing the believer’s self into the image of Christ, as we put off the old and put on the new (Col. 3:9-10; Eph. 4:17-32).
4. The Holy Spirit is the agent of heart change, which produces change of behavior.
- The Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of Jesus Christ as we behold Him in the Word (2 Cor. 3:18).
- The Holy Spirit progressively trains us in godliness and develops new attitudes and lifestyle as we walk in the Word (Gal. 5:22-25).
5. Every Christian is fully equipped in Christ for godliness, but submission to God’s training is required.
- God’s power is sufficient to live a life that is pleasing to Him, having already been accepted in Christ (2 Pet. 1:2-7; Eph. 1:6).
- God will finish the sanctifying work which He began at conversion, but not without the personal discipline of the believer (Phil. 1:6; 2:12-13).
- Suffering is one of the chief means the heavenly Father employs to train us in godliness and discipline (Heb. 12:4-11).
6. Sanctification is a process requiring ongoing repentance and personal discipline toward godliness.
- Discipline the thoughts of the mind (Rom. 12:1-2).
- Discipline the desires of the heart (James 4:1-3).
- Discipline the habits of life (Eph. 4:22-32).
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