Thursday, 27 March 2014

Sufficiency of Scripture in Counseling | ACBC Exam Question #24

  Are the Scriptures sufficient for biblical counseling?  Explain your position.

Yes.  Sola Scriptura!  God’s Word provides all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).  The Bible contains all God’s revelation necessary for a person to understand how to please and glorify Him in this present life.  It is also therefore the sufficient resource for a counselor to lead another (counselee) through the issues of life; providing answers, hope, and help in every situation a person may face.  “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
“The meaning [of “perfect”] is that [Scripture] lacks nothing [for] its completeness; nothing in order that it might be what it should be.  It is complete as a revelation of Divine truth; it is complete as a rule of conduct….  It is absolutely true; it is adapted with consummate wisdom to the [needs] of man; it is an unerring guide of conduct.  There is nothing there which would lead men into error or sin; there is nothing essential for man to know which may not be found there.”1
                The Word of God is the only tool with which I am equipped to counsel, actually I am just leading them to the one who is the “Wonderful Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6).  God says; “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8)  The Bible, God’s Word alone is truth (Psalm 119:160) unchanging (Isaiah 40:8), living and active, discerning hearts (Hebrews 4:12), eternal (1 Peter 1:25)….. What other counseling source can make these claims?  Society’s morals shift, psychology finds new theories, and our feelings lead us in all kinds of directions.  We need truth, we need a moral compass, we need hope, we need help.  The God of the universe has provided all this in His Word; it’s foolish to look further, it is sufficient, it is superior to all other schools of thought.  “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.  The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.  The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.  They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.  Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7-11)

1 “Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms, Vol. 1”, Albert Barnes, page 171

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