What is Biblical Counseling?

The topic of counseling brings a variety of things to mind for many people. At Covenant Counseling when we refer to counseling we are speaking specifically about Biblical, or nouthetic, counseling. We believe that the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, are the only authoritative rule of faith and practice.

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

"I am the LORD your God,

who teaches you to profit,

who leads you in the way you should go. (Isaiah 48:17)

The Bible is God's Word. God's word has always been authoritative: at the time of creation we read, "God said... ...and it was so." God's word spoke all things into existence; His word established His people; His word accomplishes His purposes. "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," (Hebrews 1:1-3) In the gospel of John we read, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-2, 14)

Jesus, the Son of God was that Incarnate Word. Knowing His time was near to return to the Father, Jesus said, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:16, 17a, 26) We see the work of the Holy Spirit of God in the Scriptures: "knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20, 21)

Understanding this work of God, we confidently say that the Scriptures are sufficient for counseling. All matters of life can be discussed and understood within the framework of God's Word. We can know what God requires. We can understand right and wrong. God has provided us a source of immutable truth, His Word, the Bible. It is there that we find that "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence," (2 Peter 1:3).

Knowledge of God, and faith in Him, is the channel through which "everything" pertaining to life and godliness is conveyed to us. This knowledge is not something inherent to our human nature. It is, however, obtainable through an understanding of the Scriptures as the Holy Spirit of God gives illumination. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we have an even clearer explanation of God's Word and its application for our lives, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." The value of the Scriptures is clear, so also is its power: "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12). Our Sovereign God provides completely for the needs of His children; and He uses His Word.

We see Jesus' will expressed in John 17:17 for how our lives would be changed, as He prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth."

We need truth from outside ourselves to make sense of life. The earliest example of this is found in the book of Genesis, where, after God created man (male and female), He gave them instruction concerning themselves and the life around them (and that before the fall!) If Adam and Eve did not have this knowledge created within them, but needed God's counsel to understand, how much more do we need the counsel of God today to make sense of life? He continues to give us that much-needed instruction through His Word, the Bible.

Humankind is incapable of producing this Biblical insight apart from God's revelation. We cannot look to others or ourselves as the authority for evaluating our moral dilemmas. Our human hearts are deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). The occasions when human counsel can be trusted and relied upon are only when they align themselves with God's Word. Therefore, the only trustworthy basis for wise counsel is the Bible.

We see Jesus' will expressed in John 17:17 for how our lives would be changed, as He prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth."

Not only did God create us to be dependent upon counsel, He created us to be changed by it. Counsel comes in many forms; our lives are always developing, either for good or for bad. In Romans 12:2 we see that contrast vividly as God instructs, "Do not be conformed to this world,[a] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." As we see that Adam was created to be dependent upon God's counsel, we also see the resultant tragedy of his choosing to follow Satan's counsel. Adam's life of potential joy and freedom became a life of slavery to sin, fear, ignorance, and ultimately death. There are only two types of counsel: Godly and ungodly (Biblical and secular); they are in opposition to one another. Godly counsel originates from the Creator, the God of hope; ungodly counsel originates from the Deceiver, the father of lies. Any counsel that is something other than God's counsel is called "the counsel of the wicked" (Psalm 1:1).

God explains His purpose in the changes that take place in our life; He is conforming us into the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29).

God tells us in His Word that "for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28). That's all things! The One whose eyes saw our unformed body (Psalm 139:16), who created our inmost being, and knit us together in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13), knows all the details of our life.

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. (Psalm 139:1-4)

Not only does our God have full knowledge, He is sovereign! "The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all" (Psalm 103:19). Our God has all knowledge and all power and loves us more than we can comprehend. We read in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." He tells us that He "will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). When we understand that God is at work in us, "conforming us to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29), and that He "causes all things to work together for good" (Romans 8:28) to that end, we have great hope!

Jesus said, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:26-27).

God explains His purpose in the changes that take place in our life; He is conforming us into the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29).

God-exalting

God is praised in Psalm 138:2 as the psalmist proclaims, "you have exalted above all things your name and your word." Again, we read, in Job 36:22, "Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?" Our desire is that God would be exalted through the ministry of Biblical Counseling here at Covenant Counseling because we rely solely on Him and His Word to teach us what is best for us, and to direct us in the way we should go.

Christ-centered

Much in the world today would dare to compete with God and His provision for His children; all concepts, methods, systems, etc. that claim to achieve what God has given us His Word to do must be opposed. God's Word tells us, "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." (Colossians 2:8-10). "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19). Clearly, our provision is in Christ!

Joy-filled

As the reality of these truths take hold in your life, not only do you find hope, but you have inexpressible joy! Reflect on what the apostle Peter wrote; understand the reason for and the reality of this joy!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:3-9)