By Pastor Patrick Cho

Matthew 1:18-25 is the account of the angel declaring to Joseph that Mary would give birth to a Son, that He should be called Jesus, and that He would save the people from their sins. It is in this passage that Jesus is referred to as the “Immanuel” of Isaiah 7:14 – He is God with us. As prophesied in the Old Testament, Jesus was born of a virgin and came to be the Savior of the world. “God with us” is a beautiful title for Jesus. By grace, the second Person of the Trinity, the God of all creation, humbled Himself and came into this world taking on human flesh. While Matthew directly speaks of this wonderful truth as the fulfillment of what had been revealed to Isaiah 700 years before Christ, the first chapter of John’s Gospel also describes what it means that God is with us.

John 1:1-3 begins by establishing the deity of Christ. He is everlasting having been with God in the beginning. As the Scriptures testify, “…from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Ps. 90:2). There is none like God who was even before all of creation. There is only one God (Deut. 6:4), but He exists in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Son, who John refers to as the Word, enjoyed perfect fellowship with the Father in the beginning. He was with God, but John clarifies that He Himself was God. Jesus, the pre-existing One, was from the beginning before He ever came to this earth.

John continues by stating that all of creation came to be because it was created by Jesus. This also is a declaration of the deity of Christ. There is only one Creator. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). God is the Creator and He is distinguished from everything else He has made. There will forever be a Creator / creature distinction. Whether in this life or in the life to come, He is our Creator God and we are His creatures. John writes that Jesus is not one of God’s creatures, even though He became like us. He is Creator God and nothing else exists that hasn’t been made by Him.

Having concretely established Jesus’ deity, John then explains that “the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). He is Immanuel, God with us. Eternal, infinite, almighty God took on human flesh and “tabernacled” (Gr. skenoō, “to have one’s tent”) among us. Just as God met with His people in the days of Moses at the Tabernacle, so Jesus took on human flesh to dwell among us. This was to show us the glory of God. Moses had asked to see God’s glory (Exod. 33:18), but God did not allow it. John writes that no one has ever seen God (John 1:18), but we are able to gaze upon the glory of God in the face of Jesus (cf. 2 Cor. 4:6). Jesus took on human flesh to show us the Father (John 14:8-9) and to explain Him to us (John 1:18).

Another reason Jesus took on flesh and dwelt among us was because we live in darkness, and He came to shine as the light of the world. At creation, God said, “Let there be light. And there was light” (Gen. 1:3). The light was separate from the darkness. So in John 1:4, the light of Christ shines in the darkness of this world, and the darkness does not grasp or overcome it. Without the light of Christ, we would be left in the dark. God is the one who illumines our hearts to see the truth of Christ (John 1:9). His light overcomes the darkness.

This Christmas season, we will be reminded that Immanuel came when Jesus was born to Joseph and Mary on that first noel. Because the language of Isaiah’s prophecy has become so familiar, perhaps it is easy to lose its significance. Jesus was not like us but He became like us. He is the Creator of all that is, almighty God, and yet He condescended and humbled Himself and took on human flesh. He did this to show us the Father that we might know Him, and to shine the light of the truth in our sin-darkened hearts. This is why John writes that all who would believe in Him could become the children of God (John 1:12).

It is truly remarkable that in God’s love He would be willing to provide salvation in this way to those who rebelled against Him in sinful defiance. We who are deserving of His righteous indignation and eternal judgment find grace and forgiveness in His Son. While we celebrate His coming this Christmas season, let us not forget that He was born that He might die. He took on human flesh that He might be our representative on the cross. He is our Immanuel in that He reconciles us to the Father through His death and resurrection. Christmas is not just a celebration of the birth of Jesus. It truly is a celebration that God made salvation possible because He loves us and came to be with us.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

While our Sunday services actually began in December 1998, this fledgling church was still getting things organized and figuring out how the various ministries were going to operate. Thus, the official inaugural Sunday for San Diego Lighthouse Bible Church was scheduled for May 2, 1999. It was a wonderful celebration seeing the ministry get off the ground. Pastor Chris Mueller came to preach for us, our first church leaders were installed, and our charter members were sworn in. Guests came in from all over to encourage us and celebrate together with us. There was a great feeling of jubilation that weekend!

A week later, the crowds were gone. Our small group of believers immediately felt the weight that comes with the daunting task of church planting in San Diego. While the group was significantly smaller, the worship was no less sincere. We were not just going through the motions of church ministry. We were offering our lives and service to the Lord.

We didn’t have everything figured out. We had no denominational affiliation nor were we planted by another church ministry, but we resolved to depend on the Lord every step of the way in faith and prayer. The church committed itself to maintaining a high view of God and a high view of His Word. We promised to be peacemakers and pursue God-honoring forgiveness and reconciliation in case of conflict. Our great desire was to shine the light of Christ in our community and even to the ends of the world.

Recently, the Lighthouse San Diego church family was overjoyed to celebrate 20 years of ministry. It is hard to believe that 20 years have gone by! Our anniversary weekend was a tremendous blessing especially because it was a sweet reunion and time of worship together with members visiting from all the Lighthouse churches. We were pleased to have both Dr. John MacArthur and Pastor John Kim preach for us. It was sweet to hear testimonies and words of encouragement from Pastors Mark Chin, James Lee, and John Kim, the other Lighthouse Alliance pastors. What a blessing to remember all the manifold displays of the Lord’s faithfulness over the years.

But now that a couple weeks have passed since that anniversary celebration, we are back to our normal routine. Sunday services and midweek fellowships continue. As the excitement of the major milestone wanes, it is good to remember once again what we committed to as a ministry from the outset: that we are not just going through the motions of church ministry. We are not simply maintaining some program. That in whatever we do, in whatever ways we serve, we offer that service to the Lord in worship.

What is most encouraging about being part of a church family that has changed drastically from the small group that met 20 years ago? Although many of the old faces have now moved away and a slew of new faces have come in, the people remain committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ, taking the gospel to the ends of the earth through church planting ministry, and establishing this ministry on our love for the Lord and for each other.

Praise God for how He has carried us these 20 years! Praise God for His unending faithfulness and love. Praise God for the truth that His purposes cannot fail and His church will prevail. We obviously don’t know what the next 20 years might bring. There will probably be some pretty encouraging and even amazing moments. There will probably also be some significant challenges. May the Lord continue to walk with us and give us the wisdom and strength to be faithful and endure even through hardship.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

On Sunday mornings at Lighthouse, we have been walking through a biblical understanding of marriage. I hope it has been a helpful series and that whether you are married or single, you would live as a man or woman who seeks to honor Christ by being the man or woman He calls you to be. One of the specific topics we covered was the abuse of headship and the sin of being harsh towards your spouse. Specifically for husbands, godly leadership requires gentleness and tender affection (cf. Eph. 5:28-29; 1 Pet. 3:7). There is no biblical warrant for treating one’s spouse with harshness.

The call to biblical headship does not mean you can demean or insult your wife. It doesn’t mean your wife is a doormat for you to tread over. The position of biblical headship does not permit you to manipulate, use, or control your wife. Before her call to submit to you, she has been called to submit to her Lord and Savior. She should be expected to come alongside you to help you, even if that means lovingly and graciously correcting you and calling out sin in your life. Of course, wives can also be harsh towards their husbands. By the grace of God, Scripture is sufficient to walk us through repentance. What does this look like?

Whether you have a habit of harshness towards your spouse or you are looking to turn from a single instance, here are some steps to help you respond in a God-honoring way:

1. Confess your sin to God.

• Understand that your sin is first and foremost offensive to God’s holiness.
• Sadly, we are often more at ease confessing our sins to a holy God than to other sinners.
• Bear in mind that prolonged, unrepentant sin may be a sign of unbelief. In light of ongoing unrepentant sin, it is important to evaluate whether or not you are in the Lord.
• Stop making excuses for yourself. Stop blaming others. Stop blaming your past. Own your sin and confess it honestly, thoroughly, specifically, and humbly.

2. Confess your sin to your spouse.

• This is about being a biblical peacemaker.
• For the glory of Christ, get the log out of your own eye (Matt. 7:3-5).
• It is important that you see your sin for what it is. Cultivate a heart to hate what God hates.
• You may have developed a pattern of telling your spouse that he or she is the real problem in your marriage. Even if your spouse has issues that need to be addressed, it does not justify your harsh treatment of them.
• Show your spouse that you can own your faults. That can instill hope in the relationship.

3. Confess your sin to others.

• This isn’t about shaming you and exposing your faults. It is about getting the help and accountability that you desperately need. Sin loves to remain in the dark, but we are called to be children of light (Eph. 5:8, 11).
• Do you feel guilty about the way you treat your spouse? Or do you feel justified?
• Don’t allow your sin to remain hidden. Talk to a church leader, a small group leader, or an accountability partner. Be sure to talk to someone who will treat your sin seriously.
• Watch out for a heart of self-preservation.

4. Get good accountability.

• Consider seeking biblical counseling through the church or an outside counselor.
• Especially if this is a consistent sin that has persisted for some time or if it has caused significant damage to your relationship, do not continue living as if you have the strength to stand alone.
• The Lord has given the church to one another as a gift of grace. This is one of the reasons He calls us into a body.

5. Study passages of Scripture about anger, oppression, gentleness, humility, self-control, and love.

• Get in the Word. Let your mind be bathed in Scripture. Know clearly and specifically what God thinks of your sin and how He expects you as His child to respond to it.
• Understand better what God’s will is for your life. Remember that ultimately you are living not for yourself or your spouse or your marriage, but in obedience to Him because He is God.
• Consider walking through good books addressing the topic of anger and abuse. Do this with your accountability partner.

6. Develop good habits.

• The process of sanctification often involves putting off sinful thinking, behavior, and speech, and replacing it with what is Spirit-filled, God-glorifying, and edifying to others (Eph. 4:22-24).
• Put off the poisoning speech of harshness and instead affirm your spouse. Use your tongue to build up and not tear down (Eph. 5:29).
• Instead of complaining about how your spouse fails to meet your expectations, give of yourself and serve your spouse.
• Practice dying to yourself. This is understandably difficult in application. Learn to give up “you” time to spend with your spouse. Convince her that your marriage is a priority to you.
• Get in the habit of talking about spiritual things – what you are reading, learning, being challenged in, etc. One practical way is to talk through the Sunday sermon during lunch after church. You can do this alone, as a couple, or with others.
• Pray daily with your spouse (not counting meal times).

7. Serve in the church.

• The heart of harsh or abusive treatment of others is self-centered pride.
• Turn away from that sin – call it what it is, hate it, and purge it from you.
• Replace it with a love to God and to others.
• Self-orientation can be replaced with God-orientation and others-orientation (Matt. 22:37-40).
• Serving others with a right attitude is a practical way to show biblical love and to take your heart’s focus away from yourself (Phil. 2:3-4).

8. Rest in the hope of Christ.

• Trust in God’s forgiveness.
• Believe that the Spirit can cause you to change.
• Hope in the fact that your marriage can be sweet and beautiful.
• By loving your spouse the way God calls you to love him or her, it may motivate your wife to submit to your lead more willingly and joyfully, or your husband to lead with greater godliness and love.
• Keep in mind that you and your spouse will not be perfect through this process. There will be setbacks, backsliding, and stumbling, but don’t lose heart. Trust that God is working it out in His time and plan.

Remember that we can’t do this on our own. Our hearts are naturally inclined to rebel. We need the gospel and the Spirit of God to transform us. But in Christ, we can think differently and live differently. Do you know Jesus? Do you trust Him? Whether you are married or single, male or female, you need Jesus. Pray that the Lord would be gracious to bring about this change in you (before focusing on how your spouse or others need to change), patiently waiting on Him to strengthen your bond.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

With the dawn of a new year, I recently thought about the church and what my greatest burdens are for this congregation. During this time of reflection, I came across 3 John 4, which states, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” This verse aptly summed up my heart. My burden and great desire for the church is that the members would be walking well in the truth. Just like a loving parent wants the very best for his children, I understand that God is the very best — the greatest and sweetest pursuit — for our members.

The Apostle John is writing to his friend Gaius and gives examples of his faithfulness:

1. The first way Gaius demonstrates that he is walking in the truth is through his love for the brethren, co-laborers of John who are doing the work of the gospel. John makes a general statement of his acts of love, “whatever you accomplish for the brethren,” which implies that his acts of service were many and various. What is notable about Gaius’s hospitality was that it was provided to strangers. Of course, many would gladly care for friends who stop by for rest on a long journey, but Gaius cared for those he did not know. This provision and care for the brethren flowed out of his love for the Savior.
2. The second way Gaius demonstrates walking in the truth is seen in John’s exhortation to imitate what is good (v. 11). John warns him against evil reminding him that those who are of God do good. This is consistent with the Lord’s instruction in the Sermon on the Mount that a tree is known by its fruit (Matt. 7:17-20). Every person who is truly in Christ will do the things that are fitting with the gospel. But the one who persistently walks in evil without repentance “has not seen God.” John gives this warning to Gaius to encourage him to continue in the things he is already doing. Besides in the final greeting (v. 15), this is the only command in the letter.

As a pastor, I am often in the unique position of knowing much of what our members struggle with. I am aware of the conflicts, various sins, doubts, and struggles that beset our members’ lives. In my prayers, I ask the Lord to bring our people to a place of spiritual strength and health. It is always difficult to hear that one of our members is not doing well. But there is great joy in hearing about our members who are growing and thriving, seeking to live out God’s truth with faithfulness and perseverance. In this new year, may we all strive to set the best goals of pursuing Christ, that we might have more of Him and less of the world.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

As the song goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” It seems like each year Christmas comes a little sooner, and for Christians, the secularization of the holiday can become a bit tedious. Everywhere you turn, there is red and green as far as the eye can see. Suddenly, anything you drink has a tinge of peppermint. Though the Christmas trees, lawn ornaments, and house lights can be fun and festive, they do seem to detract from the central theme: that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15).

It is worth noting that believers are never commanded to celebrate Jesus’ birth. The Bible doesn’t require that Christians observe any religious holidays. In fact, the Bible explicitly makes clear that Christians are not bound by holidays and festivals at all! So why do we put up the decorations? Why do we sing the carols? Why do we gather together as family and exchange gifts? The holiday certainly provides families and friends a wonderful occasion to come together in love. While children may or may not understand the intention, Christmas promotes hospitality and sharing. (There’s also the opportunity to stuff yourself with a lot of good food!)

But the chief reason remains that the holiday reminds us to be thankful for the advent of our Lord. Christmas is the season for joy – a holiday where we can celebrate not only that Jesus came, but especially what He came to accomplish. In this sense, Christmas and Easter really go hand in hand. We celebrate that God in His amazing grace provided a way of salvation through His Son. Jesus was born in flesh, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose again that we might be forgiven and redeemed!

I would be remiss not to mention that these holidays also afford us wonderful opportunities to share Christ with others. There are some who would never think about coming to church, but who would consider attending during Christmas and Easter. Many unbelievers who know the general reason Christians celebrate this holiday may honestly not know everything there is to know about it. It gives us a chance to ask people, “Can I share with you why it’s so meaningful to me?” So whether or not you love pulling out holiday decorations and singing songs of Christmas, there is still a world full of people who need to hear the message. Let’s all consider how we can faithfully proclaim the gospel of our Lord this season.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

People by nature are blame shifters. When Adam and Eve were first confronted about their sin in the Garden, they did not immediately own up to their sin. Adam was quick to blame his wife (and even God) for causing him to disobey the Lord’s command, Eve passed the blame onto the serpent, and people have since tended to follow in their footsteps. Our proclivity to minimize our guilt and excuse our sin is inherent, inherited from our original parents.

No one likes the feeling that comes with being held accountable for their wrongdoing. It isn’t pleasant to be called out for your sin. But as pride-swallowing as it is, this is a ministry of love that we desperately need. When you take time to consider the importance of accountability, you also start to understand how much it is a ministry of grace. Let us walk through at least three reasons:

1. It is loving for brothers and sisters in Christ to point out sin in your life. The Bible warns against surrounding yourself with people who are only going to coddle you and tell you what you want to hear. Consider Proverbs 27:6, which states, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful [lit. profuse or abundant] are the kisses of an enemy.” If I did not love you, I would allow you to continue living in a manner that is displeasing to God. But because I love you, I should call out your sinful decisions. This should be done in love (1 Cor. 13:1) and with a spirit of gentleness (Gal. 6:1).
2. When someone confronts you because of your sin, they are potentially saving your life from destruction. James 5:19-20 talks about restoring a sinning brother who has strayed from the truth. V. 20 states that in doing so, you “save his soul from death.” If I did not love you, I would let you develop habits and indulge in sin that would eventually lead to your destruction. But because I love you, I am called to point out destructive behavior in your life especially if I sense that you are blind to it or calloused and hardened.
3. This needs to be a regular part of life because sin is a regular part of your life. It is not that we are keeping a close eye on one another in order to catch those moments that we sin. The church is so much more than a sort of spiritual police force looking to catch perpetrators. In fact, we should be known more for the ways that we build up, encourage, and bless (Prov. 16:24; Eph. 4:29; Rom. 12:14). But the fact remains that we sin, often repeatedly and in visible ways. Hebrews 12:1 speaks of the sin “which so easily entangles us.” Because sin is easy, friends serve as an invaluable ministry as a second set of eyes to keep watch over our lives. When we are tempted to stray, they can lead us back to what is right. When we fall, they can help pick us up. Read Hebrews 3:12-13. The verbs and pronouns in that verse are all plural. It is the church’s responsibility, when a person falls into sin, to call that person to repentance and encourage them to do what is right.

The church needs a constant reminder of the offensiveness of sin. God loves righteousness, but He hates sin. By the grace of salvation through faith, He has removed the penalty of sin from the believer. Those who are in Christ no longer need to fear any condemnation because this salvation is secure (Rom. 8:1). But sometimes there is a tendency with those who enthusiastically affirm and embrace sola gratia (the doctrine of salvation by grace alone!) to diminish the ongoing work of God in the believer to crucify the flesh (Gal. 5:24) and promote righteous living in sanctification. One helpful and needed defense that God has provided against personal sin is the grace of Christian accountability.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

There has been a lot of talk recently in evangelical circles about social justice and the gospel. The dialogue has particularly ramped up since the publishing of the “Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel” (which I happily signed). Much heated exchange has taken place between those who want to guard against “mission drift” in the church with the incorporation (and even substitution) of social issues into the gospel message and ministry, and those who want greater awareness of real or perceived social injustices.

Sadly, it seems there is a lot of talking past one another and not enough helpful dialogue. Kevin DeYoung writes a helpful article explaining some of the disconnect – a disagreement on definitions. Evangelicals are divided on the definitions of terms such as racism, justice, micro-aggressions, intersectionality, etc., and this makes it very difficult to address these issues or potential solutions. There may never be agreement for the various sides of the debate. There may never be agreement on what the real issues are or how to combat them. Regardless, no matter how you define terms related to social justice, the church should be united on the gospel. There is no question that all Christians in this debate should agree on what is or is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.

by Josh Liu

Every person (and counseling system) operates on a presupposed worldview. That set of beliefs form a system through which a person interprets his observations, thoughts, experiences, actions, feelings, past, values, problems, etc. Therefore, it is critical to establish or define the biblical counselor’s worldview—this series introduces the underlying theology that makes biblical counseling biblical.

Previously, we have examined the authority and sufficiency of Scripture and general revelation, particularly as it relates to biblical counseling and secular psychology. There is much confusion on the subject of biblical counseling and secular psychology. Some confusion may be caused by a misunderstanding of God’s common grace.

Common grace is God’s undeserved goodness to all persons. Common grace, in contrast to special grace, is called “common” because it is directed to all mankind; its benefits are applied to the whole human race regardless of spiritual regeneration, people group, location, or time. [1] For example, God blesses and provides necessities to all persons (cf. Gen. 9:9-16; Ps. 145:9; Matt. 5:45). Special grace refers primarily to saving grace (i.e., the grace shown to forgive sinners and provide eternal life; cf. Titus 2:11); thus, common grace does not save sinners. Scripture emphasizes four benefits of God’s common grace: (1) temporarily restrains sin and mitigates sin’s damaging effects; (2) enables all persons, believers and unbelievers, to enjoy beauty and goodness in this life; (3) allows sinners time to hear the gospel and repent; and (4) allows any “good thing” to occur. [2]

First, God’s common grace temporarily restrains sin in a way that mitigates the full expression of man’s depravity. Most people consider Adolf Hitler to be the most wicked human being—the doctrine of human depravity concludes that each person is capable of the wickedness of Hitler (cf. Rom. 3:10-12, 23). Yet the doctrine of common grace reminds us that God sovereignly restrains the full expression of a person’s depraved nature through God ordained means such as the person’s conscience (Rom. 2:15), parental guidance (Prov. 2:1-5; 3:1-2; 13:1-2, 24; 19:18), and civil government (Rom. 13:1-5). During the Tribulation period, however, God will remove His restraining grace (2 Thess. 2:7; Rev. 6:4).

Second, God’s common grace allows unbelievers and believers alike to enjoy the beauty of creation (see Matt. 5:45; Acts 14:15-17; 17:25, 28). God blesses all persons with a spectrum of experiences. We experience a variety of tastes or flavors, smells, textures, colors, emotions, personalities, and memories. Man can be overwhelmed with awe of God’s creation—from the power of natural events, geological formations, stars and galaxies to the complex design of microbiology (see Job 39:1-42:6; Pss. 8; 139).

Third, God shows common grace by delaying judgment, providing sinners an opportunity to repent (Ezek. 18:4, 32; Rom. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9, 15). Take, for example, a judge sentencing Adolf Hitler—a criminal clearly guilty of crimes against humanity. How do you think people would respond if the judge released him after his conviction? We would anticipate an uproar that a judge would commit such injustice. Yet, all of us, in our depraved nature, are guilty and condemned of our unrighteousness by God’s perfect righteousness (Rom. 1:18). We all deserve immediate judgment. Yet God shows grace by delaying judgment.

Lastly, God’s common grace allows any good thing to occur. While creation became corrupt by the fall, man does not only experience pain, toil, thorns, and thistles (Gen. 3:16-18). God allows genuine enjoyment of good things (see Ecc. 3:12-13; 5:19). Also, unbelievers can do “good things” (i.e., that which aligns with God’s moral standard, Rom. 2:14-16). However, “good things” cannot be evaluated apart from God’s righteousness; so, the “good things” that unbelievers do cannot please God (Ps. 51:16-17; Is. 64:6; Matt. 7:21-23; Rom. 3:10-12; Heb. 11:6).

The above study is significant since Christian proponents of secular psychology and/or Integrationism may argue that the doctrines of common grace and general revelation support the validity of secular psychology complementing or driving Christian counseling. While a specific application or benefit of God’s common grace allows secular psychologists to observe true information about the human condition, unbelievers cannot glorify God with that information (1 Cor. 2:14). In other words, God’s common grace is applied to all persons in which “God restrains the effects of their depravity, allowing them to understand and apply, to some degree, the mechanics of providence.” [3] So, secular psychology is able to observe true pathology (e.g., biological processes, organic problems, health, etc.) and discern mental processes (e.g., beliefs, emotions, motivation, memories, etc.). However, human depravity corrupts the interpretation of those observations. Therefore, while God’s common grace allows observation of true information in creation, man’s corrupt mind refuses to honor God in understanding and responding to those observations righteously (see Ps. 14:1; Rom. 1:21; Eph. 4:18).

Some might still object and elevate psychology (even widely understood as a “soft science”) as an objective authority. People may be confused by biblical counseling’s opposition to secular psychology, perhaps, due to a misunderstanding of God’s common grace and general revelation. It is commonly argued that God reveals truth in creation and gives grace to understand that truth, which supports the validity of secular psychology. Scripture indeed supports the understanding that God’s common grace and general revelation interact to support true scientific inquiry and research. However, while creation (general revelation, Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 1:20) is complete and observable by all persons in varying degrees (common grace), unbelievers require regeneration and illumination by the Holy Spirit (saving grace, 1 Cor. 2:14) to interpret creation rightly according to Scripture (special revelation, Ps. 19:7-9; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet 1:3, 19-21). Thus, examining bibliology and revelation necessarily concludes that Scripture is the exclusive authority for biblical counseling’s methodology, content, and practice.

[1] Michael Vlach, “Theo 3 Course Notes,” TH705 Theology III (Lecture Notes, The Master’s Seminary, Sun Valley, CA Fall 2015), 106.

[2] John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue eds., Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Biblical Truth (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017), 488; Michael Vlach, “Theo 3 Course Notes,” TH705 Theology III (Lecture Notes, The Master’s Seminary, Sun Valley, CA Fall 2015), 106-07.

[3] Jeffery Forrey, “Where Do We Find Truth?” Scripture and Counseling, edited by Bob Kellemen and Jeff Forrey (Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 2014), 73.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

God is truth. He is absolutely reliable in what He says and His promises are sure. There is no error in Him. He cannot lie and does not change His mind (1 Sam. 15:29). He abhors falsehood (Ps. 5:6), and does not abide with those who deal falsely (Ps. 24:4). In Psalm 31:5, the psalmist can confidently commit his life to Yahweh, the God of truth. Jesus told the disciples that He was the truth, the only way to the Father (John 14:6). The Holy Spirit is also referred to as the Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13).

In truth, God has revealed the way to eternal life. This life is in His Son (1 John 5:11-12). Specifically, those who place their trust in Jesus for salvation and in humility seek forgiveness for their sins are promised God’s pardon and new life in Him (John 3:16). Our salvation is not based on our own merits or deeds but is entirely a gift of God’s grace (Eph. 2:8-9). We cannot work our way to Him – we cannot be good enough because there isn’t a soul on earth that is good (Rom. 3:10-12) or that has done good (Isa. 64:6). Our sinful hearts taint all that we are and do. God is our only hope of salvation (Acts 4:12). This is the truth.

Considering the truth of God, it is unspeakably offensive to Him and what He has revealed to promote a false religion which offers false hope. God provided a way of salvation and forgiveness for sinful men by sending His only Son to die a sinner’s death. If He would be willing to give so much to save unworthy sinners, how repugnant it must be to Him for us to claim there could be another way. That belittles the cross and so belittles the Son of God. All believers ought to be wary of false, man-made religion and weed any hint of it out of their hearts.

So what are some of the hallmarks of man-made religion?

Every false religion is ultimately a turning away from the truth of God. It involves rejecting God’s revealed Word and elevating man’s wisdom and laws above God’s. In this sense, all man-made religions boil down to an issue of authority. Will you trust what God has spoken in Scripture or will you turn to some other authority? This error is not limited to people of different faiths. It is the same root problem at the heart of atheism or agnosticism.

This is not only a problem with those in false religions. This form of unbelief can creep even into Christians’ hearts when they insist on making choices or holding beliefs that are based on anything other than God’s Word. This sin is offensive to God because it puts sinful men in the place of God, and substitutes God’s impeccable Word for flawed human reasoning. We see this in practice when people commit to following their heart, doing what is right in their own eyes, or pursuing their gut or what feels good.

Man-made religion also fosters an attitude of entitlement towards God. When your hope rests in your own accomplishments and merits, this breeds self-righteousness. And self-righteousness always looks for a reward. This is not a system built on grace. Christians are exhorted to always be thankful. This makes sense because grace produces gratitude. In contrast, self-righteousness breeds a sense of privilege, entitlement, and promotes the lunacy that somehow God owes us.

Man-made religion also feeds the insatiable heart of sinful pride. Self-righteousness attracts praise from others. It is easy to give in to falsehood when others follow your lead and affirm your wisdom. It is easy to be drawn away by the applause of men. This is why Ephesians clarifies that salvation is by grace and not works, lest anyone should boast (Eph. 2:8-9). If people could work their own way to heaven, all we would be doing is boasting about it.

Finally, man-made religion is offensive to God because it leads others away from life-giving truth. God has revealed the truth of the gospel in His Word and all believers are called to proclaim it to others. We are supposed to be bearers of the only message that leads to life. A false message leads people to their destruction.

Again, this is an error that even believers need to be careful not to fall into. When your word is the ultimate authority in your life or when your voice is louder than Christ’s, then you are serving your own interests above the Lord’s. This is an expression of heart worship. You are treating yourself as God. As Christians, our heart’s desire ought to be to humble ourselves before Him and exalt Christ alone as Lord and God of our lives.

by Josh Liu

Every person (and counseling system) operates on a presupposed worldview. That set of beliefs form a system through which a person interprets his observations, thoughts, experiences, actions, feelings, past, values, problems, etc. Therefore, it is critical to establish or define the biblical counselor’s worldview—this series introduces the underlying theology that makes biblical counseling biblical.

In a previous article on the full sufficiency of Scripture, we mentioned general revelation—which some Christian psychologists use as support for “plundering the Egyptians” (taking anything useful from secular psychology) as a complement to or even higher authority than Scripture to understand and address man’s problems. Biblical counselors must understand God’s perspective on the world around us in order to be guided in how to view psychology.

General revelation is “the general (unrestricted), non-verbal disclosing of God’s existence and perfections (including His truth) to all people by means of nature, conscience, and history.” [1] For example, Psalm 19 begins with, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God…” and Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” Thus, Scripture reveals that God discloses Himself through creation—the world around us. No one can say that there is no proof, or not enough proof, for the existence of God. As a result, all persons are accountable to acknowledging God, giving thanks to Him, and living according to His moral standards (Rom 1:20; 2:14-16). Millard Erickson says,

From the revelation in nature (Rom. 1), man ought to conclude that there exists a powerful eternal God. And from the revelation within (Rom. 2), man should realize that he does not live up to the standard…. everyone should reach the conclusion that he is not fulfilling that standard. In other words, the knowledge of God which all men have, if they do not suppress it, should bring them to the conclusion that they are guilty in relationship to God. [2]

So, the world in which we live in points to God. More than that, reality and true science conform to the revelation of God’s Word. Creation itself testifies of God’s glory (Ps 19:1). External evidence does not prove God’s Word but affirms that which is absolutely true. It can be helpful to see how Christianity is significantly corroborated by science, history, and archaeology. Specifically regarding science (and true observations), Scripture describes a spherical earth (Is 40:22), Earth suspended in empty space (Job 26:7), valleys in seas (2 Sam 22:16), springs and fountains in seas (Gen 7:11; 8:2), oceanic currents (Ps 8:1ff), and the water cycle (Job 26:8; 36:27-28; Ecc 1:6-7).

However, looking at the stars, reflecting on human experiences, or studying molecular biology do not provide the specific knowledge of the gospel message. While our world aligns with reality according to God’s truth, no one can say that our senses and experiences inform us where God’s Word falls short about the reality we live in, thus appealing to secular psychology. While psychology can provide true observations (e.g., general revelation), it falls short of special revelation (Scripture) and is insufficient for life and godliness (see 2 Pet 1:3ff). First, general revelation is non-verbal (Ps 19:1-4). Second, general revelation is limited by the curse on creation (Gen 3:17-19; Rom 8:18-25), man’s depraved nature (Rom 1:21-23), and does not include salvific truth (Rom 10:8-15). Creation has been impacted by man’s sin, giving rise to disease, disaster, death, and decay. Man is willfully and rebelliously blind to God’s truth, even as revealed in creation (Rom 1:21-23; Eph 4:17-19; 2 Cor 4:4). So, if the goal of biblical counseling is ultimately sanctification in Christ, general revelation is insufficient. Special revelation is

the personal and primarily verbal disclosing of God’s existence and perfections (including His will and His truth) by supernatural means to particular selected persons, for various purposes, including (after the fall) bringing people to be saved and worship him aright. Before the Second Advent of Christ, the final special revelation consists primarily of the words of the Bible (Rev 22:18-20). [3]

General revelation and special revelation are inseparable. In Genesis 1:26-30, for example, man was created to exercise dominion over creation (i.e., general revelation; God as creator) and God spoke to man and commanded him to subdue it (i.e., special revelation). General revelation is rightly understood and responded to with God’s special revelation. Both general and special revelation are authoritative—given their respective purposes—since God sovereignly discloses Himself through both creation and direct speech. However, special revelation contains all the truth that God requires man to know, respond to, and be equipped with (Deut 29:29; John 6:68; 2 Tim 3:17). Biblical counselors use the Bible, not primarily the observations of human behavior and thinking.

[1] James Mook, “Theology 1: Section 2: Bibliology, Part 1: General/Natural Revelation,” (Lecture, The Master’s Seminary, Sun Valley, CA, Summer 2014), 33.

[2] Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998), 196-97.

[3] Mook, 33.