A Framework of Biblical Counseling: Part 2

Foundations for Counseling

I remember when I first entered the church, I started hearing terms like “worldview” and “producing fruit.” I had no clue what they truly meant; I just thought it was some kind of Bible scholar jargon. As I matured a bit, I began to realize that these words held real significance, and they were far more important than I had initially believed. Worldview is something we must take seriously because it is the view from which we will live. “A worldview is a network of presuppositions (which are not verified by the procedures of natural science) regarding reality (metaphysics), knowing (epistemology), and conduct (ethics) in terms of which every element of human experience is related and interpreted.” In other words, our worldview serves as the foundation of our beliefs about the world, which influences our actions. Therefore, having a biblical worldview is foundational for Christians, particularly for counselors who guide those who are likely to hold a false worldview.

But what about “producing fruit”? Fruit is something that is produced as we grow and mature, much like a fruit tree. It can be viewed both negatively and positively. In the negative sense, bad fruit is produced when evil emerges from our hearts, the root from which everything is nourished. In the positive sense, good fruit is produced by the goodness that flows from our hearts. Paul teaches in Galatians that the “fruit of the Spirit” is cultivated within us and reflected in our outward actions (Gal. 5:22-23) as Christians. Jesus also states that His disciples will be recognized by the fruit they bear in their lives (Matt. 7:16). Therefore, the fruit we produce in life represents the expression of our hearts, as our hearts are the source of everything we think, say, and do (Matt. 15:18-20). Essentially, the counselor must adopt a biblical worldview that aims for the heart of their counselee to cultivate good fruit.

In this article, my goal is to establish foundational principles for our counseling that are essential for every believer to understand in order to cultivate a biblical worldview and bear fruit for the glory of God. First, we must grasp the world around us and ourselves, from which our worldview arises. Second, I aim to aid our understanding of the purpose of our counseling, providing the reminders we all need, which become the motivation for living before God. Third, I will discuss how the Holy Spirit assists us in living rightly by sanctifying us and helping us produce good fruit in our lives. Although not exhaustive, these are some of the foundations upon which our counseling should rest.    

Counseling for a Worldview

While many books have been written on the basics of developing a worldview, this article will not be exhaustive, but I want to focus on a few basic ideas regarding worldview. First, we must live for something and according to something. I appreciate Westminster Catechism Question and Answer 1 for this. It states, “What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Our purpose is to do “all things to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).” But how can we know if what we are doing is truly for the glory of God? This is a common question, similar to, “How do I know the will of God for my life?” Dr. John Henderson puts it this way, “The Word of God is the ‘the truth’ (John 17:17), alive and active in our hearts (as yeast in dough), able to transform (1 Thess. 2:13), make wise, convict, comfort, heal, restore, and judge. The Word of God helps us discern good from evil, truth from falsehood, and everything else necessary for fruitful life before God and one another.” So, we live for the glory of God in all things according to the Word of God.

Second, if we are to live for the glory of God in all things according to the Word of God, we must also understand the story of redemption—the gospel of Jesus Christ—from Genesis to Revelation. As God created the world we inhabit, He also made mankind in His image (Gen. 1-2). Unfortunately, mankind fell into sin due to the disobedience of one man (Gen. 3); thus, we are all dead in sin, just as Adam was (Rom. 5:12-14). Knowing this, God had a plan in the person of Jesus Christ, who would come to live perfectly among His people and bear the penalty for sin so that through Him, we might find life (Rom. 5:15-17). Because of Christ’s work in bringing reconciliation to all who believe, we will one day dwell in heaven for eternity, praising God in all righteousness, where there will be no more tears, pain, suffering, or sin (Rev. 21:4).   

Third, we must adopt a Biblical worldview on suffering. Once more, Dr. John Henderson offers insightful words: “Suffering is the inevitable byproduct of life in a fallen world. It is the context for normative human life, and a means God uses to expose, speak to, redeem, and sanctify our souls.” So, while suffering can arise both internally and externally within our hearts, it can be painful; however, it can also bring about good as God works through it for the benefit of His people (Rom. 8:28-30). Paul additionally reminds us that suffering can be a reason for rejoicing when we view our struggles through the lens of God using them for our good (James 1:2-4).

Lastly, we need to have a biblical understanding of who we are as humanity, created in the image of God. Our human nature consists of the inner man and the outer man. We agree with Jesus when he tells us that it is the inner man, the heart, from which we speak, think, and act (Matt. 15:17-20). However, the context in which we live also influences our inner man, which is why we need the truth of God’s Word to guide us in all things. Our sinful nature, inherited from Adam, is real, and it drives our hearts. Thus, we cannot blame our sins on external circumstances. We must address the root of our problems, and that is the goal of the next section: getting to the heart of the issue.

Aiming for the Heart in Counseling

When aiming for the heart in counseling, we remind our counselees of three important concepts: justification, sanctification, and glorification. Through our salvation in Christ alone, we possess these three aspects and more. However, misunderstanding these elements often serves as an underlying issue in the counselee’s life. When we misinterpret these three concepts, we risk developing false views of ourselves, our purpose, and the completed work of Christ on the cross. Therefore, let’s begin with justification.

Justification is widely understood as the act by which God has declared His people, through the work of Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9), to be forgiven and regarded as perfectly righteous in His sight. Dr. Heath Lambert describes it this way, “Justification is based on the work of Jesus Christ and is the response of God to repentant faith, where he makes a legal declaration that his elect are forgiven of sin and possess his own righteousness.” In simple terms, the doctrine of justification means that, in Christ, we have been cleared of all sin and washed in the pure righteousness of Jesus Christ, enabling us to stand before a Holy God. Due to the justification we receive in Christ, we are at peace with God (Rom. 5:1) and face no condemnation (Rom. 8:1), even when we fail. This should serve as a powerful motivator within our hearts to live for the glory of God in all things.

This perspective on justification helps us understand sanctification. Sanctification is the reality that, through Christ, we are set free from the bondage of sin and now have the freedom to live and grow more like Jesus Christ in all aspects of our lives. Dr. Jay Adams, a pioneer in Biblical counseling, puts it this way, “The gradual process whereby the believer is set apart more and more from sin to God is called sanctification. It covers the entire earthly lifespan from justification to glorification, and is not to be thought of as an act (like justification).” The Holy Spirit, who has been given to us as a seal (Eph. 1:13) and a helper (John 14:26), gradually transforms us throughout our lives into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:17-18). This process of sanctification ultimately leads to our glorification.

Glorification is that final state in which we are in the presence of God forever, more in a perfected state. Again, Dr. Jay Adams puts it nicely, saying that glorification is “The divinely wrought change that takes place in the believer when he dies, whereby he becomes sinless (and especially referring to the resurrection, when he will be made complete in perfection of both body and soul).” In 1 Peter 1:3-5, we are reminded of three key aspects of our salvation: justification, sanctification, and glorification. In Christ, we have been freed from the bondage of sin, clothed in His righteousness, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and renewed in this life through sanctification in preparation for our future glorification in the presence of God. These things should drive our hearts to love God, enjoy God, and glorify God forevermore. This is why we target the heart in counseling; it is the source from which all fruit, whether good or bad, will emerge. With a proper understanding of three aspects of salvation, our hearts should be more inclined toward the things of God.

Producing Fruit in Counseling

In summary, as counselors, we wish to see our counselees bearing good fruit in their lives. By maintaining a proper worldview and focusing on the heart in our counseling, we aim to assist our counselees in understanding the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. I have already mentioned some of these functions, such as being a seal and a helper for all who believe in the name of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is also a teacher of all that pertains to God (Jer. 31:34; John 14:26). The Spirit regenerates (John 3:1-8) and unites us with Christ (Rom. 6:1-14). The Spirit comforts us (Acts 9:31) and strengthens us (Eph. 3:14-16). Furthermore, the Spirit produces all kinds of fruit in our lives, such as repentance and faith (John 3:1-8), sound judgment (1 Cor. 2:12-15), and various other qualities found in Galatians 5:22-23.

Within these foundational views in our counseling, we are able to see that as sinful human beings, our hearts lead us to sin. However, in Christ, we have received forgiveness through justification and are actively being renewed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit into the image of Christ. This is good news! We no longer need to work for our righteousness; it has been freely given to us, and we have the help of the Spirit to live rightly before God in all things. What a beautiful picture of all that is taking place in our lives because of the work of Christ on our behalf! As counselors, let’s remember these foundational beliefs and help our counselees rest in the finished work of Christ through the inner workings of the Holy Spirit.   

DeMar, Gary, editor. Pushing the Antithesis: The Apologetic Methodology of Greg L. Bahnsen. American Vision, 2007, p. 280.

Henderson, John. Equipped To Counsel. Pg. 51

Lambert, Heath. A Theology of Biblical Counseling. Pg. 287

Adams, Jay E. Update on Christian Counseling. Ministry Resources Library; Zondervan Publishing House, 1981, p. 82.

Adams, Jay E. Update on Christian Counseling. Ministry Resources Library; Zondervan Publishing House, 1981, p. 77.