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Romans 15:14, And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.
Believe it or not, I’m here today because of this verse and the good providence of God. Let me explain. Back in the 60’s and 70’s churches and pastors were sending Christians with problems to secular counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists. Dr. Jay Adams, a professor at Westminster Seminary at the time, began asking the questions, “Doesn’t the Bible have all we need to live a life pleasing to God? Why send Christians to the ungodly to learn how to handle life problems?” Jay studied the Scriptures with these questions in mind and wrote a book entitled “Competent to Counsel.” It was published in 1970 and based on the phrase in this verse, “able to admonish.” That book and Jay’s teaching launched the biblical counseling movement that is still going strong today. Jay called it “nouthetic counseling” because the word admonish is the Greek word noutheteo. It was later changed to “biblical counseling” since few people knew what “nouthetic” meant.
Meanwhile after I graduated from Grace Theological Seminary in 1978 and began pastoring a church in North Vernon, Indiana, I took biblical counseling training based on Jay’s teaching. This was the most helpful training I had ever received in learning how to apply the truths of God’s Word to my own life as well as helping others. I’m still learning. This training gave me confidence in the power of God’s Word to help God’s people to change and grow in their Christian lives.
Around 1990 here in Evansville, several couples became concerned about psychology creeping into churches. They decided God would have them plant a church committed to the sufficiency and authority of Scripture. Through a series of events, they contacted me. We compared notes and realized we were on the same page of commitment to the sufficiency of Scripture for all of life. We moved to Evansville around 1991 and we’re still here. If it wasn’t for this verse and the ministry of Jay Adams, I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t be here.
Romans 15:14, And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able (capable, competent) also to admonish (counsel) one another.
Let’s open this verse with a series of four questions to guide us: What does “admonish” mean? Who needs this admonishing ministry? Who is to be doing it? What qualities do you need for this ministry of admonishing one another?
1. WHAT DOES “ADMONISH” MEAN? The word translated admonish or noutheteo literally means “to place in the mind.” It includes bringing the Word of God to someone’s attention to help them grow or deal with a problem that God wants changed. It is motivated by a heart of concern to help another person grow and change spiritually. It has a family element to it. Let’s look at a series of verses where it is found.
In Acts 20:31 Paul is talking to the elders of Ephesus:
“Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.”
In 1 Corinthians 4:14 he reminds the Corinthians of his fatherly concern:
“I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.”
In Ephesians 6:4, admonishing is the responsibility of parenting:
“And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.”
In Colossians 1:28 and Colossians 3:16 Paul joins admonish with teaching and wisdom:
Colossians 1:28, We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
Colossians 3:16, Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:14 it concerns believers who are stepping out of line, rejecting God’s authority:
“We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”
What do we learn from these references? First, this ministry of admonishing is always out of a deep love for the person being admonished. Paul addresses them as “my brethren,” a loving recognition of their being saved and members in God’s family. He adds, like a loving and encouraging father, “I’m convinced you are capable of ministering to one another in an effective way.” Steve Lawson notes how “intensely positive” Paul is in this verse.
When people come to Christ, they still have life problems, they come with sinful habits; their thinking needs correcting. So where do they go for help? Does Paul send them to the pagan Roman professionals? Did Moses send struggling Israelites back to the wise magicians of Egypt for counsel? Did Jesus send Peter to the Pharisees or Sadducees to get help for his issues? Christ said, “I came that you might have life and life more abundantly.” “If you continue in My Word, you’ll know the truth and the truth will set you free!” (John 10:10; John 8:31-32).
Admonition or biblical counseling involves three things.
1. There is a problem that needs to be corrected, determined by God’s Word.
2. The means of correcting the problem is by presenting the truth of God to the person. The word literally means to influence the mind and conscience with the Word of God.
3. The goal is always that the person might change and learn how to handle the problem in ways that please God. It is simply one believer caring enough to help another believer with his burden, giving him God’s Word to help him grow and change for God’s glory.
Here you are going down the road and you see your buddy off the side with a flat tire. So, you pull over to help him get his spare tire out and on the car so he can continue to go down the road also. Now you may have a flat tire tomorrow, so you aren’t puffed up or proud about your tire changing ministry. You were just glad to help. Often admonishing is not a big deal. You may just need a little help, some wisdom from a brother or sister, an encouragement to do what God says.
2. WHO NEEDS THIS ADMONISHING MINISTRY? Usually when you think of counseling, you think of people who are over the edge or ready to jump and this is a last-ditch effort. Guess who needs this ministry? You do! I do! We all do. We are to admonish one another. This is simply part of the privilege of being in the body of Christ. We are to love one another, care for one another, encourage one another, be subject to one another, bear with one another, forgive one another, and we are to admonish one another.
Sometimes the issues are big. Someone’s marriage is falling apart. A family is in turmoil. Fear, anger, depression are controlling. But often we just need a loving nudge, a Scripture to get us back on track. We purchased a dishwasher a while back. Two guys carried it in on those nifty shoulder dolly straps, got it all hooked up, everything looked good. After they left, we tried to open the door. It wouldn’t open. We couldn’t find a release button. We were at a loss and needed a nudge. We called the guys, “How do we open this door?” “Pull on it.” “We have. It still isn’t opening.” “Pull harder.” Bingo! Sometime later I was trying to remove a flat tire from my vehicle. I had it jacked up, took off the lug nuts, tried to pull off the wheel, and it wouldn’t budge. I pried off the little cap in the middle thinking maybe I’m missing something. Nothing there. I finally called the tire store. “How do I get this tire off this vehicle?” “Pull on it.” “I have pulled. It’s not budging.” Then I got the counsel I needed. “Pull harder. Sometimes they get rusted fast.” I pulled harder. Bingo! Off she came. Sometimes we just need a spiritual nudge, not some huge, big deal, just a “pull harder.” You just needed to hear what God says and how to apply it.
Haven’t you had a brother or sister come up to you and help you with something in your Christian life? This is part of God’s plan for your sanctification. Genuine love cares enough to stop and help you with that flat tire, right? Listen to the Proverbs.
Proverbs 27:5, Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed.
Proverbs 27:6, Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
Charles Bridges in his commentary on Proverbs wrote, “Rebuke, kindly, considerately, and prayerfully administered, cements friendship, rather than loosens it.” Who needs to be counseled and admonished and warned from time to time? We all do! How’s your marriage? How’s your thought life these days? You guys maintaining your purity? How’s your time in God’s word?
Nathan had to confront David one day. There was a problem. David was guilty of adultery. Nathan came to him, painted a picture for him to see his own fault, and then delivered God’s message, “You are the man!” How did David respond? “I have sinned!”
Who needs it? We all do. Biblical counsel is part of discipleship. Often counsel is indirect. You may be listening to someone else talking about how God helped them solve their problem and you’re thinking, “Whoa, that’s my problem” and you listen carefully to see how God helped him solve it. Friends, we’re in the family of God, our goal is to grow and change to become more like Christ, and receiving admonition or biblical counsel is part of getting there.
3. WHO IS TO BE DOING IT? If we all need admonishment from time to time; so, who is to do it? Guess? You are! This is Paul’s whole point in this verse. He is persuaded that they themselves can do this ministry. He isn’t talking just to the leaders of the church. He’s talking to the entire church. It’s true that pastors and elders and shepherds have a greater responsibility here. Paul spent three years counseling the Ephesian elders.
But here Paul is talking to the entire church in Rome. He hadn’t even met them, but he’s convinced since they have received all the truth in this great book of Romans, they are qualified to help one another grow and deal with life problems. Paul’s not talking about being busybodies, about laying personal opinions and preferences on one another, or sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. We aren’t talking about digging up dirt on people or even going looking for problems in people. Here’s an example of what Paul’s talking about.
Titus 2:3-5, Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
If you’re a believer, then this ministry is for you. Husbands admonish their wives. Wives admonish their husbands. Wait. Wives counsel husbands? You better believe it. Your husband or wife will tell you the truth when others may be tempted to overlook an area in your life that needs change. Of course, they’ll be very gentle and humble about it, assuring you they’re only saying this because they love you! It can be hard to receive. Sometimes, like a dentist, you need to numb up the area before you stick the needle in. “Hey Jim, could I share something with you that might be hard to receive?” “Sure, Lance, what is it?” “Well, I may be wrong, but I’ve noticed…” and there you go with the needle of truth delivered in a loving, caring, confidential way.
4. WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU NEED FOR THIS MINISTRY OF ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER? Here’s what Paul says in the second part of verse 14: I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.
You are full of goodness. Not just a little but full. The word is used for a net full of fish or a sponge full of water. It’s that inner desire to be used by God to bless and help others. It’s esteeming others as more important than yourself, loving others, wanting the best for others. I asked Lindsey Hester (the Hesters are moving) if I could share her kind comments about our church. She wrote, “As we embark on this new chapter, we are immensely grateful for the love, support, and prayers of our EBC family [that’s goodness]. Your presence in our lives has been a source of great love, which we will carry with us as we embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for our family. We love you all.” Full of goodness, wanting the best for others.
You are filled with all knowledge! Paul assumes the best of them. This knowledge isn’t just academic knowledge. He’s talking about the biblical knowledge of God and man. Who God really is and what man’s condition is. You need to understand sin’s deceptive ways in our hearts. You don’t want to be giving worldly, secular counsel. Believers need a growing grasp of the content of the Bible. You need to know where to go for answers to life issues and sins and trials. You need to grow in understanding progressive sanctification. Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3 just burst with life-transforming truth, full of put offs and put ons. Keep reading, keep studying, keep learning. Not to puff you up, but to humble you and motivate you to minister to others. We all need to become more and more biblically literate. Do you know the books of the Bible? We had to learn them in seminary.
You also need wisdom, developing the skill of applying God’s truth to life. Knowledge is the “what God wants.” Wisdom is the “how God wants you to apply it.” Colossians 3:16 says “with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another.” Start with yourself. Wisdom comes from God. How do you put off anger or bitterness or impurity and put on kindness, compassion, forgiveness? We all have so much to learn! And everyone is fighting the flesh in one way or another. Wisdom is growing in understanding people. You know how you understand people? Look at your own life. First Corinthians 10:13 says no temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man. Remember Adam and Eve when they sinned in the garden? What did they do? They ran, hid, covered, and blamed, “The woman You gave me made me do it.” We sinners have been covering, blaming, and excusing ourselves ever since! There’s wisdom in understanding that.
One other quality is so important that without it these others are useless. You see it in Galatians 6:1 – humility or gentleness. Without this gentleness or humility there is no true biblical love.
Galatians 6:1-2, Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
Someone you know has gotten stuck in a spiritual ditch, God has allowed you to be aware of it, and he needs to be restored. With a gentle or humble spirit, you are going to meet with him and try to restore him to useful service in the body of Christ. You who are spiritual means any believer who isn’t currently stuck in a ditch. You are full of goodness, some knowledge, wisdom, and with that humility, looking to yourself first, you go prayerfully seeing if you can assist this brother. But you do it with great humility, realizing you too could be caught in a sin and need help. It’s hard to receive counsel from an arrogant, holier-than-thou know-it-all. Your brother’s tire is flat today, but yours may be tomorrow. You’ve got to get the log out of your own eye before you go trying to help bear another’s burden.
SO WHAT?
Folks, I envision a body of believers here whose hearts are full of goodness, with a growing grasp on the Word of God, who aren’t busybodies or blasting people with the Word. I picture our church as people filled with Spirit, who love Christ and love others who are in Christ, who are gentle and caring enough to speak the truth in love and help one another with life problems. When relationships are broken, or marriages are failing, or habits are enslaving, hearts are anxious or depressed, or decisions need to be made and counsel is needed, we know God has given us all we need in the Bible, and we can help one another find those answers and apply them in our lives for God’s glory and our good!
Of course, all of this is for genuine, born-again, repentant believers in Christ. If you haven’t come to Christ, that’s your first step. The Scriptures contain a treasury of truth for living a joyful, victorious life over sin and handling problems for God’s glory, but first you need Christ. He is the door to those treasures, but you must come through the door by faith in Christ.