Foundations of Biblical Counseling: Part 4

The Suffering Heart and the Gospel

“Understanding the good news of God’s redeeming love in Jesus Christ, and knowing how to share it, will always be critical to biblical counseling. It’s the essence of biblical counseling.”

In our journey through this series of entries, we’ve been diving into the vision and mission behind biblical counseling, along with the beautiful narrative of God’s Word that supports it. Now, I’m excited to explore why placing the gospel at the heart of counseling is so essential! Bob Kellemen notes, “We can only change because of Christ’s saving grace that has already changed us and because of Christ’s sanctification grace that motivates and empowers us to change.” Biblical counseling really focuses on embracing the amazing transformations Christ has brought to individuals through the gospel. It’s not just about facilitating change; it’s about celebrating the truth of the indicatives, from which the imperatives will flow naturally. Let’s make it a habit to remind ourselves of both these wonderful aspects!

When we bring the gospel into the counseling room, it’s important to focus on three key aspects: first, we need to express what we mean by the gospel clearly; second, we want to make sure the counselee fully understands it; and third, it’s crucial for the counselee to realize they can actively live out the gospel in their life. Thanks to what Christ has already accomplished for us and within us, we can embrace living for Him, even amidst our challenges and hardships, because there is always hope for a brighter future. I want to focus on three key aspects in this entry: The gospel defined, gospel implications, and the gospel lived.

The Gospel Defined

So, what is the gospel? This word, gospel, gets thrown around a lot anymore and, as such, has lost much of its meaning among professing Christians today. For many, the “good news” part of the gospel, that Jesus died for us, is taken in isolation, away from the bad news that Jesus died for a reason, and that reason is our sin. So, let’s begin by tracing the good news back to the beginning so that we might come to a better understanding of the good news.

Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” As we reflect on the beauty of creation, we remember that it all began with God, who made everything good in His perfect love. After creating the world, God created man and bestowed upon him a meaningful purpose: to care for and nurture the creation (Gen. 1:26) and live in loving fellowship with Him. This harmonious relationship was a beautiful gift, a paradise of connection. However, when the serpent deceived Adam and Eve they chose to eat the forbidden fruit, sin entered the world and, with it, a painful disruption of that perfect fellowship. This act resulted in a chasm between us and God, leading to alienation (Isa. 53:6a). Today, as we navigate through life, many of us feel the weight of that separation. Yet, it’s important to remember that in our struggles, God’s love for us remains steadfast, offering hope for reconciliation and restoration to His embrace.

Because God is holy and righteous, He longs for us to obey His will. His holiness reflects the profound love and justice He has for all of humanity. Due to this deep desire for purity and righteousness, there exists a gap between us and our Creator when we stray into sin. This gap is often understood as God’s wrath towards sin, which can be viewed as God’s heartfelt disapproval of our rebellion that led us away from Him. Rather than seeing this as harshness, we can understand it as a divine longing for us to turn back to Him to restore what has been broken.

Although challenging, this message is part of the truth that invites us to repentance. Jay Adams says, “The kindest thing to do is to tell the truth… Jesus came to forgive and defeat sin.” Recognizing our need for repentance, we can genuinely appreciate the beautiful gift of grace extended to us through Jesus Christ. This leads us to the extraordinary “good news” of restoration and hope.

In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have reconciliation with a holy God. Reconciliation is “The bringing together of alienated persons; the saving work of Christ and a ministry given believers.” Through the incredible love and selfless sacrifice of Christ, we have the beautiful opportunity to be reconciled with God; the barriers that once separated us are broken down. This gift of reconciliation is made possible through faith alone, a precious gift from the risen Christ, who, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, invites us into the loving embrace of the household of God (Eph. 2:8). Our repentance and obedience flow naturally as fruits of this faith growing within us. Ultimately, we are promised a future where we will dwell with our loving God, enjoying perfect communion with Him forever (Rev. 22:3-5). “The gospel is, among other things, the sum of everything that can be truthfully said about Jesus Christ, and we can’t possibly get to the end of it in this lifetime.” But what does all of this mean for us today?

Gospel Implications 

While the gospel carries numerous implications, I would like to highlight three that encompass a broader picture of the smaller ones. First, the good news reminds us that we each have a unique purpose in this world. As Jesus sends His disciples—and us—out to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28), He calls us to share the same good news and hope with others. Second, this good news assures us of an eternal relationship with a loving and everlasting God, who desires to walk alongside us through every moment of our lives. Lastly, the gospel transforms us from the inside out. As believers, through faith, we are continually renewed and changed, reflecting the grace we have received. The gospel not only grants us life; it extends a beautiful invitation to embrace a meaningful, purpose-filled life.

Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, he lovingly entrusted one last charge to his disciples, which we refer to as the Great Commission. In this profound moment, Jesus encourages his disciples to share His love and message of hope with the entire world, preaching the gospel, baptizing believers, and nurturing them in the teachings of the Scriptures (Matt. 28:16-20). As Christians, this beautiful calling extends to us, reminding us of the precious truths we have received from the Apostles, passed down through Scripture. The Apostle Paul passionately declares that it is this gospel message that holds the transformative power to bring salvation and change to those who are lost (Rom. 1:16).

Martin Luther states, “The church is a mouth house, not a pen house, for since Christ’s advent the gospel is preached orally, while before it was hidden in written books. It is the nature of the new covenant and the gospel that it is to be preached and urged orally with a living voice.” The first gospel implication for our lives gently encourages us to lovingly heed the command of Christ himself. Whether we find ourselves in a counseling room, offering support to those grappling with their struggles and suffering, or at work, lending an ear to a co-worker as they share their experiences, the command remains clear: share the gospel with compassion and empathy. 

The second gospel implication focuses on our new relationship with an eternal and holy God. In Christ, we are found by Him (Luke 15:1-32), reborn by Him (Eph. 2:1-7), adopted by Him (Rom. 8:15-17), forgiven by Him (Luke 7:36-50), cleansed by Him (Heb. 10:22), taught by Him (John 6:45), and secured by Him (John 6:37-40). John Flavel, a great Puritan, puts it this way, “He is bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty, a garment to the naked, healing to the wounded; and whatever a soul can desire is found in him.” What a treasure we have in Christ. Everything our souls long for can be discovered through faith in Him, as outlined in the good news we have already presented.

As a counselor, it’s essential that we genuinely understand these truths ourselves and convey to our counselees that, because of the gospel, they are granted a new identity and a renewed purpose. God is always with them, accompanying them on their journey, and nothing can separate them from His love. They are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms (Eph. 1:3-14)! The good news continues to unfold in beautiful ways!

Lastly, the third implication of the good news in our lives is that God doesn’t leave us as we are; God transforms us. John Calvin, one of the great reformers, speaking of our becoming members of God’s household, says, “not only may God speak to our ears, and may his doctrine pierce our hearts, may we be inflamed, may we be remade and renewed, in such a way that the corruptions of this world may be put down, and, as we wish to be owned and acknowledged as his people, may we be able to claim in truth our God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we are joined in order that he may unite us in perfection to God his Father.”

Our transformation aims for a loving union with our heavenly Father, brought about by the gentle, sanctifying work of the Spirit, all made possible through Christ’s incredible love and sacrifice for each of us. This gives us hope that real change is possible in our lives. For those struggling with addictions, who had bad experiences growing up, and those who seem stuck in bad relationships, we have hope for real and everlasting change. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Not only has Christ transformed us for eternity, but the Spirit is also lovingly renewing us every day. All of this is a beautiful gift from God, made possible through the power of the gospel. 

The Gospel Lived

So, up to this point, we have discussed what the gospel is and some of its more important implications for us both now and in eternity. Now, I want to focus on how we can live the gospel daily. According to Charles Spurgeon, “Unless you lead your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel, you will pull down all the witness that you have ever borne for Christ.” In this same commentary, Spurgeon goes on to say that “the worst enemies of the Church are the hypocrites, the formalists, the mere professors, the inconsistent walkers.” In Philippians 1:27, Paul emphasizes that we should conduct our lives in a manner that honors God through the gospel.

We need to recognize sin for what it truly is: a turning away from the love and grace of our holy God in rebellion. At the same time, we must acknowledge God’s holiness as being perfect and unblemished. This understanding encourages us to embrace a lifestyle of ongoing repentance rather than viewing it as a one-time event that completes our spiritual journey. Instead of seeking quick fixes from the world, let us turn to God for transformative healing and a sense of lasting security. Moreover, it’s essential to realize that the gospel invites us to engage with others, fostering connections rather than pulling us away. The gospel grounds us in reality, linking us to a nurturing family within the church, where we can grow, support one another, and mature together as believers.  

The gospel also offers us a compassionate perspective for both this life and the next. In a world that often encourages us toward selfishness and self-absorption, the gospel calls us to turn our focus toward Jesus Christ and consider how our lives can positively influence others. In Philippians 2:3, Paul invites us to embrace humility, reminding us, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Embracing the gospel and its profound implications leads us to see people and their needs through a lens of grace and kindness. The gospel transforms not only our hearts but also the lives of those around us and the environments we create together.

In conclusion, the gospel offers us transformative power—not just to save us but to deeply change our hearts and the world around us. This truth can inspire profound motivation. Christ has accomplished all this out of His immense love for us, not because we need to earn His affection through hard work or striving. The triune God loves you completely and unconditionally. The gospel encourages us to live for the glory of God, shining His light rather than seeking our own. We are blessed with the most powerful motivation available, one that supports us in living authentically and purposefully. This is what our counselees long to hear and truly understand as they come to us, sharing their struggles and vulnerabilities. In Christ, they are provided with everything they need—not just for this moment but for all aspects of life and into eternity.   

Henderson, John. Equipped to Counsel. Association of Biblical Counselors. Pg. 132

Kellemen, Bob. How Christ Changes People. The Biblical Counseling Coalition. Pg. 1

Larson, Knute. I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000, p. 420.

Henderson, John. Equipped to Counsel. Association of Biblical Counselors. Pg. 142

D. Martin Luthers Werke, Kritische Gesamtausgabe: [Schriften]. 73 vols. Weimar: Hermann Böhlaus Nachfolger, 1883–2009. Digital copy online at archive.org.

John Flavel, vol. 2, The Whole Works of the Reverend John Flavel, Volumes 1–6 (London; Edinburgh; Dublin: W. Baynes and Son; Waugh and Innes; M. Keene, 1820), 216.

Beeke, Joel R., and Michael A. G. Haykin, editors. “The Soul of Life”: The Piety of John Calvin. Reformation Heritage Books, 2009, p. 139.

Spurgeon, Charles. Spurgeon Commentary: Philippians. Edited by Elliot Ritzema, Lexham Press, 2014, p. 46.

IBID.