Introduction to the Hub Resource
The Hub Resource was constructed to equip you, in biblical counseling and discipleship relationships, to more effectively minister to others. It is meant to help you identify and gain a basic understanding of many of the various issues and topics that will come up as you counsel. This resource points you to relevant stories and verses from the Bible to help you provide effective, accurate, and thorough advice. It also suggests questions to ask your counselee, things to “put off” and “put on” in relation to their sin and their struggles, and provides resources for further and deeper study, for either you or your counselee.
This resource can be used as a quick-reference guide when a topic surfaces during a meeting with someone or to help you prepare for an upcoming meeting when you have the time to prepare and understand the issue(s) at hand. In a traditional counseling scenario, you are preparing a message for your counselee each week—a message that will be prepared and delivered specifically for them; a message that will be interactive and will involve as much learning as teaching as listening. This material is designed to aid you in preparing for each one of your conversations. This resource is also helpful in providing relevant homework for your counselee each week. Homework will involve, among other activities: Bible stories to study; verses to read and mediated on; Scriptures to memorize; and books, or other resources, to read, listen to, or watch.
Included is a detailed 15 week curriculum that helps you know where to start and what to do in a counseling or discipleship relationship. This curriculum is intended to give you the confidence to help others identify, uncover, and work through the source of their struggles, with the deep truths of God’s Word, in a practical and relevant way.
This resource is organized around four main sections:
Philosophy of Biblical Counseling—learning the “how” and “why” of biblical counseling
Theology in Counseling—incorporating the theologies of God, Satan, sin, salvation, and sanctification into your counseling
Specific Counseling Topics—navigating the main issues or problems you will help solve with your counselee
General Counseling Topics—navigating the secondary issues that will surface as you work through your counseling cases
The first section, Philosophy of Biblical Counseling, is intended for you to gain a deeper understanding of biblical counseling, the philosophy of the Biblical Counseling Hub, and how to apply this resource to counseling situations.
Sections 2-4 are intended to prepare and equip you for effective counseling cases.
Each of these four sections includes multiple topics—each topic its own page—that you can access from the resource-home-page or from links in the individual pages. Each of the specific and general counseling-topic pages (sections 3 and 4) has a section of “putting off” and “putting on,” from Ephesians 4:22-24. We will work with our counselees to put off: Satan, temptation, sin, slavery, false teachers, idols, selfishness, anger, gossip, foolishness, pride, blaming God, and guilt and shame; and put on: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, eternity, repentance, sanctification, fruit, spiritual disciplines, identity in Christ, healthy emotions, and spiritual gifts. Each of these topics will help you effectively guide your counselee toward truth and freedom.
Here is a visual of how to work through the material in sections 2-4. In a traditional counseling scenario, our counselees will usually come to us with an issue or a problem they would like us to help them solve—often one of the specific topics listed below combined with one or more of the general topics. In more of a discipleship context, we will often start with the theology topics and identify encumbrances as we continue to meet. Our role as biblical counselors is to point them to the cross of Christ and the Word of God. Almost always, these issues, problems, or encumbrances will be a result of sin—either their own sin or someone sinning against them. You will help them understand that their own sin requires repentance while another’s sin against them requires forgiveness. This union of sin, their issue(s), repentance, and forgiveness is captured in the horizontal section of the cross. Gaining victory over their issue(s) or encumbrances, as well as the ability to repent of and forgive sin, requires the healing power of the Gospel and ongoing sanctification, captured in the vertical section of the cross.
(This page has a tendency to load slowly, so please keep scrolling past the cross!)
Here is a sample from the resource written to address the issue of failure. In the paid version, all the bolded words and phrases will link to the corresponding page.
Failure
Failure is an inescapable reality of the human experience, manifesting itself in various aspects of our lives and leaving a profound impact. Whether it be personal, professional, or spiritual, failure has the potential to shape us in significant ways. It can stem from our own shortcomings, external circumstances, or a combination of both. The effects of failure can be far-reaching, permeating our self-esteem, confidence, and overall sense of purpose. It can leave us feeling anxious, discouraged, defeated, depressed, questioning our worth, or blaming God. Yet, within the depths of failure lie opportunities for growth, resilience, and ultimately, redemption.
Spiritually, when we continually struggle with the same sinful patterns or fail to live up to our own spiritual expectations, it can create a sense of defeat and a questioning of our worthiness or ability to change. This cycle of failure can be demoralizing and sap our hope for transformation, leading to:
A sense of unworthiness: We may feel unworthy of God's love and forgiveness due to our repeated failures. We may believe we have exhausted God's grace and mercy, leading to feelings of shame and self-condemnation.
Loss of confidence: Consistent failures can erode our confidence in our ability to live a godly life. Doubts may arise regarding our capacity for change, leaving us feeling trapped and hopeless in our struggles.
Distance from God: Repeated failure can create a perceived distance between us and God. We may feel unwelcome or undeserving of God's presence and intimacy, resulting in a diminished sense of spiritual connection.
Loss of purpose: Spiritual failure can make us question our purpose and calling. We may struggle to see a meaningful path forward, feeling stuck in a cycle of defeat and wondering if we can ever experience spiritual growth.
Comparison and isolation: Seeing others seemingly succeed spiritually while we grapple with repeated failure can lead to feelings of isolation and discouragement. Comparisons to others' progress may amplify our own shortcomings and reinforce a sense of hopelessness.
It is crucial to remember that God's grace is greater than our failures and that hope can be found even in the midst of repeated spiritual struggles. Here are some key points to address and combat discouragement and hopelessness:
Emphasize God's unconditional love: Let us remember God's unfailing love and His willingness to forgive. We need to understand that our worth is not determined by our performance but by God's grace and His redemptive work.
Encourage perseverance: We should persist in our spiritual journey despite setbacks. Let us remember that spiritual growth is a lifelong process and that setbacks are opportunities for learning and growth, not reasons for despair.
Offer support and accountability: Seek support from a trusted community of believers who can provide encouragement, accountability, and guidance. Fellowship and shared experiences can alleviate the sense of isolation and offer hope.
Focus on renewal and restoration: Let us understand that God specializes in renewal and restoration. With God's help, transformation is possible, even in the face of repeated failures.
Highlight Biblical examples: We can find hope and inspiration in stories of biblical figures who experienced repeated failures but ultimately found redemption and restoration.
In general, it's important to remember that failure is not a reflection of our worth as individuals. Instead, it's an opportunity to learn and grow, providing significant positive effects on us as individuals in the following areas:
Resilience: the ability to bounce back from difficult situations and continue moving forward. When we fail, we're forced to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and try again.
Perseverance: Success is rarely achieved on the first try, and most successful people have experienced failure at some point in their lives. However, what sets successful people apart is their ability to keep trying even when they fail. By persevering through failure, we can develop the grit and determination we need to achieve our goals.
Perspective: When we fail, we're forced to take a step back and reevaluate our approach. This can give us a fresh perspective and help us see things in a new light. By looking at our failures as opportunities for growth and learning, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Humility: It's easy to get caught up in our own successes and forget that we're not invincible. Failure can be a humbling experience, reminding us that we're all human and that we all make mistakes. This can help us become more empathetic and compassionate towards others, as we begin to understand that everyone experiences failure at some point in their lives.
Failure is not final! It’s not the end of the road, but rather a stepping stone. Failure can and should lead to increased reliance on the Lord and growth in our faith and trust in His will for our lives. By the grace of God, the renewing of our minds through the Word of God, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we don’t have to remain in a pattern of failure. By redirecting our focus from our failures to God's faithfulness, we can find renewed hope, strength, and a fresh start on our journey.
Questions to answer with our counselee
Explain to me the ways you feel you have failed.
What choices did you make that led to the failure? Were there any warning signs or red flags that you ignored?
What were the consequences of the failure, both for you and for others involved?
How have you responded to the failure? Have you taken responsibility for your actions, or have you been defensive or in denial?
What are your feelings about the failure? Are you experiencing guilt, shame, anger, or disappointment?
How has your relationship with God been affected by the failure? Have you turned to him for comfort and guidance, or have you pushed him away?
Have you repented of this failure (if applicable)?
How can you make amends for any harm that was caused by the failure?
What can you learn from the failure? Are there any patterns or habits that you need to change?
How can you move forward from the failure in a positive way? Are there any opportunities for growth or new beginnings?
Stories to consider
Peter
The story of Peter's denial of Jesus is a well-known account in the New Testament. According to the Gospel of Matthew (26:69-75), Mark (14:66-72), Luke (22:54-62), and John (18:15-18, 25-27), Peter denied knowing Jesus three times on the night of Jesus' trial before his crucifixion.
In Matthew's account, Peter was recognized by a servant girl as one of Jesus' followers and denied it, saying "I do not know what you are talking about" (Matthew 26:70). He denied it again to another person and then a third time, even swearing an oath that he did not know Jesus. Immediately after his third denial, the rooster crowed, and Peter realized what he had done and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:74-75).
This event shows Peter's weakness and his fear of persecution. He had boasted to Jesus earlier that he would never deny him, but in his moment of weakness, he did exactly that. However, Peter's story doesn't end with his failure. After Jesus' resurrection, he appeared to Peter and the other disciples and forgave Peter for his denial (Luke 24:34, 1 Corinthians 15:5).
In fact, Jesus restored Peter to a position of leadership among the disciples. In John 21, Jesus appears to the disciples after his resurrection and has a conversation with Peter in which he asks him three times if he loves him. This conversation serves to both restore Peter's relationship with Jesus and to commission him to lead and care for Jesus' followers (John 21:15-17).
Peter's denial of Jesus serves as a reminder that even the strongest and most faithful of us can fail. But it also reminds us that God's grace and forgiveness are available to us, and that our failures do not define us. Like Peter, we can experience redemption and be restored to a position of service to God and others.
Adam and Eve
The story of Adam and Eve's disobedience is found in the book of Genesis (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-24). God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden, giving them dominion over all the animals and plants in the garden. He also gave them a commandment not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
However, Satan, in the form of a serpent, tempted Eve, saying that if she ate from the tree, she would become like God, knowing good and evil. Eve took the fruit and ate it, and then gave some to Adam, who also ate it. As a result, they realized they were naked and tried to hide from God.
God confronted Adam and Eve about their disobedience, and they both tried to shift the blame to someone else. God pronounced a curse on them and on the serpent, and banished them from the Garden of Eden.
The story of Adam and Eve's disobedience shows the devastating consequences of sin. They experienced shame, fear, and separation from God. Their sin also affected all of creation, leading to a world full of pain, suffering, and death.
However, even in the midst of this tragedy, there is a glimmer of hope. God promised that one day a descendant of Eve would crush the head of the serpent, overcoming sin and restoring the broken relationship between God and humanity (Genesis 3:15). This promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who came to earth to live a perfect life, die on the cross for our sins, and rise from the dead, conquering sin and death (Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28). Through faith in Jesus, we can be forgiven of our sins and restored to a right relationship with God.
King David
The story of King David's failure is found in 2 Samuel 11-12. David was a man after God's own heart, chosen by God to be king of Israel after Saul. He was a successful military leader and a just ruler, but he had a moment of weakness that led him to commit adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his soldiers, Uriah. When Bathsheba became pregnant, David tried to cover up his sin by bringing Uriah back from battle and encouraging him to go home to his wife, hoping that he would think the child was his. When that plan failed, David had Uriah placed in the front lines of battle, where he was killed.
David's sin was exposed when the prophet Nathan came to him and told him a story about a rich man who took a poor man's only lamb. David was outraged at the injustice, but Nathan revealed that he was the rich man in the story, and that he had taken Uriah's wife and had him killed. David was convicted of his sin and repented, saying "I have sinned against the Lord" (2 Samuel 12:13).
David's failure had consequences for him and his family. The child born to Bathsheba died, and David's other children experienced violence and conflict. However, David's repentance and humility are also a powerful example to us. He did not try to justify or hide his sin, but acknowledged it and turned to God for forgiveness. In Psalm 51, David wrote a heartfelt prayer of confession and repentance, asking God to cleanse him and create in him a pure heart.
David's story also shows us that God can use imperfect people for his purposes. Despite his failure, David remained a faithful servant of God and a great king, leading Israel to many victories and establishing Jerusalem as its capital. He is also known for his poetry and his role in preparing the way for the coming of Jesus Christ, who is descended from his line.
In summary, the story of David's failure reminds us of the importance of humility, repentance, and trust in God's grace. It also shows us that even great leaders can fall, but that God can still use them for his purposes if they turn back to him.
The Woman at the Well
The story of the woman at the well is a powerful example of Jesus' love and compassion towards those who have experienced repeated past failures. This account is found in John 4:1-42.
The woman at the well was a Samaritan woman who had come to draw water from the well. Jesus, who was sitting at the well, asked her for a drink. This was surprising to the woman since Jews and Samaritans did not typically associate with each other.
As they began to converse, Jesus revealed that He knew about the woman's past failures, including the fact that she had been married five times and was currently living with a man who was not her husband. Despite her sinful past, Jesus did not condemn or judge her. Instead, He offered her living water, which would quench her spiritual thirst and lead to eternal life.
The woman was surprised by Jesus' offer and asked Him to give her the living water. Jesus then revealed that He was the Messiah, the One who had come to save and redeem humanity. The woman was amazed and believed in Jesus' words.
In this story, we see Jesus' love and compassion towards the woman, despite her past failures. He offered her salvation and eternal life. Additionally, Jesus commanded the woman to go and tell others about Him, which she did. This story highlights the power of Jesus' love and His desire to redeem and transform even those who have experienced repeated past failures.
The Woman Caught in Adultery
The story of the woman caught in adultery is found in John 8:1-11. One day, Jesus was teaching in the temple when a group of scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Him who had been caught in the act of adultery. They stood her in front of everyone and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What do You say?"
The scribes and Pharisees were testing Jesus, hoping to find a way to accuse Him. But Jesus responded by stooping down and writing on the ground with His finger. When they persisted in asking Him, Jesus stood up and said, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Then He stooped down again and continued writing on the ground.
One by one, starting with the oldest, the accusers began to leave, until only Jesus and the woman remained. Jesus asked her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" The woman replied, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on, sin no more."
In this powerful encounter, we witness Jesus' profound mercy and grace. While the woman had been caught in the act of a serious sin, Jesus did not condemn her. Instead, He offered her forgiveness and a fresh start. Jesus did not minimize the seriousness of her sin, but He also acknowledged the imperfections and sins of the accusers.
This story highlights several important lessons. First, it reminds us that no one is without sin. Jesus' response to the accusers exposes their own sinful hearts, leading them to withdraw their accusations. It humbles us and reminds us of our need for God's forgiveness and grace.
Second, it reveals Jesus' unconditional love and compassion. Despite the woman's sin, Jesus saw her worth and offered her forgiveness. He did not excuse or condone her actions but showed her a way out of a destructive lifestyle.
Lastly, Jesus' command to the woman to "go and sin no more" reflects His desire for her transformation. His forgiveness was not a license to continue in sin but an invitation to a new way of life. It demonstrates the call to repentance and the power of Christ to enable us to overcome sin through His grace.
The story of the woman caught in adultery serves as a powerful reminder of Jesus' love, forgiveness, and transformative power. It encourages us to approach Him with our failures and sins, knowing that He offers us forgiveness, restoration, and the strength to live a life pleasing to Him.
Verses for study
Romans 3:23: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Proverbs 24:16: "For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity."
Hebrews 4:15: "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin."
James 3:2: "For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well."
Psalm 37:23-24: "The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand."
Psalm 73:26: "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Proverbs 16:18: "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Luke 22:32: "but I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail; and you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
1 Corinthians 10:12: "Therefore let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall."
Philippians 3:13-14: "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Put off | Put on
"to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness" (Eph. 4:22-24 ESV)
Put off: Satan; temptation; sin; slavery; false teachers; idols; selfishness; blaming God; guilt and shame
Put on: God; repentance of my sin or forgiveness of another’s sin; Jesus; repentance unto salvation; Holy Spirit; sanctification; fruit; spiritual disciplines; identity in Christ; healthy emotions
** In the paid version, all of the above topics will link to their own page.**
In our counseling, the ultimate goal is to replace the idols of the heart with the things of Christ. We will do this through the process of putting off the old things and putting on the new things through the renewal of our mind. For example, as we work with the counselee who is struggling with failure, we might realize that we need to help them put off guilt and shame and put on the good news of Jesus. Below is a sample of one of the theology topics in the Hub Resource that will help you prepare to teach this truth.
Good News!
Imagine standing before a judge, guilty of a serious crime you know you’ve committed. The jury has spoken, and now you are awaiting sentencing. You stand before the judge, your heart pounding as you await your sentence. The evidence against you is overwhelming. You know you are guilty, and you are prepared to accept whatever punishment the judge deems appropriate.
The judge looks at you sternly, and then declares you guilty. Your heart sinks as you realize that you will have to face the consequences of your actions. But then the judge does something unexpected. He says that someone has come forward to take the penalty in your place. You are stunned. You can't believe it. You have no idea who this person is or why they would do such a thing.
The judge continues, "This person has paid the price for your crime. You are free to go." You can't believe your ears. You are overwhelmed with gratitude and relief as you realize that you have been given a second chance.
As you walk out of the courtroom, you think about the sacrifice that has been made for you. You know that you can never repay the debt you owe to the person who has taken your place. But you vow to live your life in a way that will honor the sacrifice that has been made for you.
This scenario is reminiscent of the work that Christ accomplished on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Just like you, we are all guilty of sin, and we deserve to face the consequences of our actions. But Jesus took our place and paid the price for our sins. He suffered and died on the cross so that we could be forgiven and set free. All we need to do is repent and believe!
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6,8).
Verses for study
The Incomparable Christ!
Philippians 2:8b-11: He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Colossians 1:15-23: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And although you were previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
Hebrews 1:1-4: God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Preeminence of God/Christ
Isaiah 46:8-11: “For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My plan will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’”
Isaiah 55:1-9: “’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’”
Romans 11:33-36: Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him, that it would be paid back to him? For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Daniel 4:34-35: King Nebuchadnezzar exalts the God of Heaven
John 3:31: “He who comes from above is above all; the one who is only from the earth is of the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.”
Ephesians 3:13-21: that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Jude 24-25: Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Revelation 19:6: Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Jesus’ power
Matthew 8:23-27: “’What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?’”
John 6:1-15: feeding of the 5000
John 16:16-23: Jesus walked on the water
John 5:1-9: ”Jesus said to him, ‘Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.’ Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.”
John 21:25: "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that not even the world itself would have room for the books that would be written."
The power of the Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:3-9: For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep.
2 Corinthians 4:5-12: But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.
God’s grace and mercy
Lamentations 3:22-23: The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end, for His compassions do not fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
Ezekiel 36:25-27: Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and bring it about that you walk in My statutes and are careful and follow My ordinances.
Exodus 34:4-7: God replaced the tablet Moses smashed in his righteous anger
Jeremiah 31:34: “for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.”
Ezekiel 16:60-63: “Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.
Romans 5:20-21: The Law came in so that the offense would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 9:18-23: “So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”
Substitionary atonement; sacrifice for sin; salvation; redemption; mediator
Genesis 1:26-28: garments of animal skin to cover Adam and Eve
Exodus 12:25-32: Passover remembrance
Isaiah 9:6-7: “For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us”
Isaiah 53:10: “But the Lord desired to crush Him, causing Him grief”
Luke 2:8-14: “’Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”
John 3:1-8: Nicodemus: “You must be born again.”
John 3:14-21: the snake lifted high in the wilderness—John 3:16
Romans 3:22-29: “but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished; for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 5:6-11: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation
Ephesians 2: But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Philippians 3:7-21: But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death
Colossians 1:13-14: For He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 2:9-15: And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Isaiah 6:5-7: “’Woe to me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips.’ ‘Your guilt is taken away and atonement is made for your sin.’”
Titus 2:11-15: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed
Hebrews 9:11-15: But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things having come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by hands, that is, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all time, having obtained eternal redemption. For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant
1 Peter 1:3-5: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 3:18: For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit
Isaiah 11:1-5: “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.”
Isaiah 54:5: “For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the Lord of armies; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth.
Mark 2:17: “And hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’”
Luke 16:19-31: the rich man and Lazarus: “’but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
John 3:36: The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
John 4:10-14: Samaritan woman: Jesus is the living water
John 6:24-71: “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have indeed seen Me, and yet you do not believe. Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing, but will raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.’ So Jesus said to the twelve, ‘You do not want to leave also, do you?’ Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. And we have already believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.’”
John 7:37-39: Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” But this He said in reference to the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Romans 8:28-38: God accomplished everything for us through Christ! Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ!
Romans 16:25-27: Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
Galatians 1:3-5: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.
Ephesians 1: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood
1 Timothy 1:15-17: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 2:1-6: This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time
Hebrews 5:8-10: Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him, being designated by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:26-28: For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens; who has no daily need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all time when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Hebrews 9:27-28: And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
Hebrews 10:8-14: By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
The dual nature of Jesus
Jesus is fully God:
John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Colossians 2:9-10: For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority.
Matthew 8:23-27: “Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, ‘What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?’”
Matthew 14:30-33: When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are truly God’s Son!”
Jesus is fully man:
Luke 2:51-52: And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued to be subject to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people.
Justification by Faith
Romans 5:1-2: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God.
Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Titus 3:5: "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,"
Romans 8:1-11: Therefore, there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
The Gospel walkthrough
What is the Gospel? The Good News of Jesus Christ
Genesis 3:14-15
Genesis 12:1-3
Isaiah 7:14
Isaiah 9:6-7
Isaiah 53:4-12
Micah 5:2
John 1:1
John 1:29
John 14:6
Acts 2:22-24,32-36
Acts 4:12
Acts 5:29-32
Acts 13:36-39
Romans 1:16
Romans 3:10-12
Romans 3:23
Romans 5:8
Romans 5:12
Romans 6:23
1 Cor. 15:1-7
Galatians 3:28-29
1 Tim. 1:15
1 Tim. 2:5-6
Titus 2:11-14
1 Peter 3:18
1 John 4:10
1 John 5:11-12
Rev. 5:9
What the Gospel is not: What we do or how good we are
Matthew 7:21-23
Acts 15:1-2,7,11
Ephesians 2:8-9
·Titus 3:5
What is required of us? Believe in Jesus and repent for the forgiveness of our sins
Matthew 4:17
Matthew 7:13-14
Mark 1:15
Luke 15:10
John 1:12-13
John 3:4-7
John 3:16
John 20:31
Acts 2:37-42
Acts 3:19
Acts 9:35
Acts 9:42
Acts 16:30-34
Acts 17:30-31
Romans 10:9-10
2 Corinthians 7:10
What happens when we believe? We cross over from death to life; we are no longer condemned; we are sealed for the day of redemption
John 5:24
John 10:10
Acts 10:44-45
Acts 26:18
Romans 5:1-2
Romans 8:1-4
Romans 8:32,35-39
2 Corinthians 5:21
Galatians 4:4-7
Eph. 4:30
Titus 3:5-7
1 Peter 2:24-25
Revelation 21:1-5
What if we don’t believe? We are separated from all eternity from the glory of God
2 Thess. 1:8-10
Now what: I would love for us to be so familiar with and so passionate about the Gospel that we preach it to ourselves, each other, and a lost and dying world every chance we get!
Matthew 28:19-20
Acts 1:8
Romans 1:16
Galatians 2:20
Philippians 3:7-9
Romans’ Road:
Romans 1:16
Romans 3:10-12
Romans 3:23
Romans 5:12
Romans 6:23
Romans 5:8
Romans 10:9-15
Romans 10:13
Romans 5:1
Romans 8:1-4
Romans 8:38-39
In the paid version of the Hub Resource, most topics include additional articles (written by Bryan) and a list of resources (books, podcasts, etc.) for further and deeper study.
The articles included under this topic are:
The Gospel
The Doctrine of Substitutionary Atonement and the Implications for Human Guilt Over Sin
The Dual Natures of Jesus Christ and Why this Reality is Crucial for Salvation
An Explanation and Biblical Defense of Justification