Romans 6 is one of the most common passages of Scripture used in teaching about Christian baptism. These verses reach far beyond baptism and teach about our new life in Christ.
Difficult Spiritual Counseling
After reading Romans 6 it is puzzling to find church people lacking in spiritual vitality. How would you counsel each of the following friends of yours? What questions might you ask to lead them to consider their relationship with Jesus Christ?
Don’t Inspire Them, Rather Instruct Them
It is a mistake to attempt to inspire these people to perform like better Christians. But this is often the approach taken in preaching at them and counseling with them. They themselves often expect to hear this, and may even comply in hope that something good may happen.
We can’t counsel or convince people into union with Christ. God alone does this. And this teaching is exactly what we need to make known to them. 1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV “And because of him you are in [have a relationship with, united with] Christ Jesus.”
We don’t want to frustrate and confuse people about their relationship with Christ. We want them to make their own comparison of their lives with the experience Scripture describes for a true Christian. Let them think and wrestle with their souls before God.
While we wait, and probably have many more Gospel conversations with them, we pray for God to give His grace. As it has been our experience described in 2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Romans 6:4–7 ESV “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.”Our union with Christ is a mysterious and powerful personal relationship. And it is through this union that we receive all the benefits of our salvation and new life.
Difficult Spiritual Counseling
After reading Romans 6 it is puzzling to find church people lacking in spiritual vitality. How would you counsel each of the following friends of yours? What questions might you ask to lead them to consider their relationship with Jesus Christ?
- A professing believer for 30 years, who is a pleasant and morally good person, but one without much visible Christian growth. What is going on here?
- A professing believer who continues to live in certain sins, and appears unconcerned about this, or only mildly bothered. Why should they be concerned?
- A person who wants to believe in Jesus Christ, but doesn't want too much of a changed life. What are they missing?
- A person who wants a changed life, but does not want to believe in Jesus Christ. How much change can they expect?
Don’t Inspire Them, Rather Instruct Them
It is a mistake to attempt to inspire these people to perform like better Christians. But this is often the approach taken in preaching at them and counseling with them. They themselves often expect to hear this, and may even comply in hope that something good may happen.
We can’t counsel or convince people into union with Christ. God alone does this. And this teaching is exactly what we need to make known to them. 1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV “And because of him you are in [have a relationship with, united with] Christ Jesus.”
We don’t want to frustrate and confuse people about their relationship with Christ. We want them to make their own comparison of their lives with the experience Scripture describes for a true Christian. Let them think and wrestle with their souls before God.
While we wait, and probably have many more Gospel conversations with them, we pray for God to give His grace. As it has been our experience described in 2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
No comments:
Post a Comment