Christian Counseling

 

 

God is the creator and sustainer of all.  He is one God who exists eternally as a trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with no division of His essence or being.  (1 Timothy 2:5; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19)

 

Jesus is God who became flesh by the miracle of the virgin birth.  He lived a sinless life, revealed the glory of God, died willingly as a substitute to atone for sin, rose bodily from the grave, ascended to the right hand of God where He is our High Priest, and is one day returning to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.  (John 1:1,14; Matthew 1:18; Hebrews 4:15; John 10:18; 1 John 2:2; Mark 16:6; Hebrews 6:20; Acts 1:9; Revelation 11:15)

 

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God the Father and God the Son.  He reveals Jesus, convicts of sin, draws, and regenerates repentant sinners.  He baptizes, indwells, and seals believers into the body of Christ.  He imparts gifts for Christian service and produces Christian living. (Rom.8:9; Jn.15:26; 2 Cor.4:6; John 16:8; Titus 3:5; Mark 1:8; 1 Cor.3:16; Ephesians 1:13; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Galatians 5:16-24)

 

The Bible, composed of the Old and New Testaments, is God’s inspired and infallible Word.  It is the supreme standard and final authority for all conduct, faith, and doctrine.    (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 40:8; Psalm 19:7-11)

 

Human Beings are created in the image of God as His supreme work and as such have infinite worth and dignity, but by willful transgression became sinful and justly fell under the condemnation of a holy God.  Therefore, all people are in need of Christ’s gift of salvation.  (Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:18-19; 3:23; 6:23)

 

Salvation from sin’s guilt and condemnation is the free gift of God received through repentance and faith in the atonement of Jesus made available through His death and resurrection.  Anyone who puts their trust in Jesus alone and confesses Him as Lord will be imputed with His righteousness, made a new creation, and kept secure eternally. (John 3:16; 1:12; 14:6; Eph.2:8; Romans 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 10:28; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

 

The Church is the body of Christ of which He is the head.  Its members are all who have placed faith in Jesus.  Believers are called to assemble in a local church. The church’s mission is to make disciples of all nations (evangelism), baptizing them (fellowship), and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded (discipleship). The ordinances of the church are believer’s baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of His death.  Its officers are elders (pastors) and deacons.  (Eph.5:19-30; Col.1:18; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; 8:12; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-13)

 

Marriage was established by God and meant to follow His design.  God forms each person in the womb as uniquely male or female, created for connection.  The most intimate and sacred human connection is marriage, which is one man and one woman united as one flesh, portraying the relationship of Christ and the church.  Marriage is God’s only provision for sexual intimacy, and is the foundation of all human society.  (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18-24; Matthew 19:4-9; Mark 10:6-9; Ephesians 5:31-33; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Cor.6:12-20; 7:1-9)

 

Christian Counseling is rooted in Scripture. God is “the Lord who counsels me.” Jesus is “Wonderful Counselor.”  The Holy Spirit the paraclete, called alongside to help and guide us into truth.  Christian counseling is conducted by men and women who are born-again, committed believers in Jesus with a devotion to the Bible as God’s immutable, infallible, and authoritative word.  Christian counselors have been called, gifted, and trained for the profession of counseling and approach it with a biblical worldview that informs and guides whatever therapeutic model they employ.  (Exodus 15:26; Isaiah 9:6; John 14:16-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:11,14; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:24; Hebrews 4:12; Hebrews 10:24-25)