Biblical Counseling is a ministry of God’s word found in the 66 books of the Bible or Scripture. It is build on the foundation of truth that flows from Scripture. It is not build on man’s wisdom but comes from God.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Proverbs 14:12
God’s Revelation
“When Scripture speaks, God speaks.”
B.B Warfield.
Biblical Counseling is founded on God true word found in the Bible. God created man in his image, as the creator, his self-revealed Word (Scripture) is the ultimate resource into the inner workings of the soul and what human flourishing looks like. Scripture alone is sufficient to help hurting people respond to the problems of the world as they mature and are conformed into Christ’s image. Biblical Counseling seeks to reorient disordered desires, affections, and behaviors toward a God’s design of creating humans in his image. God speaks to each of us and to each of our struggles and victories in life.
Scripture is God’s special revelation that is God-breathed and is profitable for teaching, rebuking and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). All knowledge of God proceeds from his self-revelation in Scripture. God reveals himself as a God who acts by speaking (John 1:1). Scripture was written by many authors over a period of over a thousand years, but God states that it is his own. Jesus spoke of Scripture as “from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). Scripture is inerrant and infallible in its original manuscripts, and it does not deceive and is trustworthy in its present state. We can trust what the bible says because it is from God
Authority of God’s Word
Biblical Counseling is based on the authority found in Scripture. Scripture is authoritative because it flows from God’s own sovereignty and authority. Biblical Counseling speaks the truth in love and applies Scripture to the need of the moment by comforting the suffering and calling sinners to repentance.
Trinitarian
As a ministry of the word, Biblical Counseling is trinitarian. Though the words trinity, triune, and trinitarian is not found in the Bible, it accurately summarizes the teaching of Scripture of who God is. A Trinitarianist view of the Godhead is required for right understanding of all Christian doctrine and knowledge. Biblical Counseling must likewise be based on this Trinitarian view of the Godhead. Each person of God is seen acting in the Christians life to help them better reflect the image of God. God the Father sent God the Son to die on our behalf to redeem us and rescue us. God the Holy Spirit is sent as a helper to those who put their faith in God the Son. When we pray, we pray to the Father through Christ our mediator by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Definition
The working definition that we are using is:
Biblical counseling is the personal discipleship ministry of God’s people to others under the oversight of God’s church, dependent upon the authority and sufficiency of God’s Word through the work of the Holy Spirit. Biblical counseling seeks to reorient disordered desires, affections, and behaviors toward a God-designed anthropology in an effort to restore true worship of God and right fellowship with others. This is accomplished by speaking the truth in love and applying Scripture to the need of the moment by comforting the suffering and calling sinners to repentance thus working to make them mature as they abide in Jesus Christ.
Truth in Love – ACBC Podcast
This is part 2 of a multi-week series on What is Biblical Counseling.