Page 33 - Biblical Counseling I Textbook

someone does not have the Holy Spirit, he does not belong to God. The indwelling Spirit is essential for change.
True change is based on the holiness of the Holy Spirit (see E. 1. below).

Every believer needs growth in appropriating the new identity we have in Christ.
There are many dangers associated with an increased knowledge of the Bible and with increased time of service
within the church. The human heart is bent toward self-righteousness, and we must learn to do battle with this
every day. With increased “maturity”, we are tempted to forget that we, too, need to grow in our understanding
of our new identity in Christ. We are tempted to believe that we have arrived, that we have understood, and this
is death to our souls. All of the disorders we experience in our souls, all of the disorders we see in our behaviors,
result from a failure to live out of our identity in Christ. If we understand this, we will know where to lead our
own heart and the hearts of others. We will run to Christ.

The imperatives of God’s Word must be grounded in the indicatives of the gospel.

• Begin with and return to the truths of the gospel.
• Do not neglect the imperatives; they are necessary for change.

Change is empowered by the Holy Spirit through the means of grace. The power for change is the indwelling
Holy Spirit. It is He who overcomes our flesh (Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:17).

Paul says in Romans 8:13 that it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we put to death the deeds of the body.
We must never disconnect change from the work of the Holy Spirit, yet this is commonly done in our own lives
and in counseling. When we do not intentionally connect the change process to the work and power of the Holy
Spirit, we teach ourselves and others that we can change ourselves, and this is dangerous. It will lead to despair.
The change required of us is a supernatural change. Consider that love, joy, peace, patience, etc. are fruit of the
Holy Spirit!

Consider that the Spirit we’ve been given is holy, and that He is at work to produce holiness in us. The word we
translate as sanctify could also be translated as make holy . We must learn to rely upon His power in us for
2
change, and we must lead others to rely upon Him for change.

What are the means of grace?
1. God’s Word (John 17:17)
2. Prayer
3. Fellowship with other believers (Acts 8:29; 2 Tim. 2:22).

• In the corporate gathering.
• By corporate celebration of the ordinances of baptism and communion as signs.
Baptism and communion are both signs and seals of our faith; and, when practiced correctly,
serve to nourish the church and grow the church. Consider that these things are covenant
reminders much like the ring is a reminder of marriage and marriage vows.
• By mutual encouragement and mutual care outside of the corporate gathering (2 Tim. 2:22)

2 The Greek verb ἁγιάζω (hagiazo) is most commonly translated with some form of the English verb sanctify. The adjective
form of this word is ἅγιος (hagios) and is commonly translated with the English adjective holy.

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