Saturday, October 11th, 2014.
The best advice when counseling relationships is the doctrine of the cross.
This is why my counseling hours are Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings.
The preaching of the cross describes salvation using relationship terms like reconciliation and redemption.
It describes how to deal with being wronged with words like atonement and forgiveness.
Most importantly it describes how God does not expect the offending partner to provide any of it. It is by God’s grace that our relationship to him has been reconciled, and our transgressions have been forgiven.
God has called us to peace in our relationships with others (1 Cor 7:15).
If you have been wronged then the wrongs should not be ignored, but God has provided the way for the relationship to continue: grace.
Jesus Christ was crucified to provide what sinners could not.
In your relationship, when you are in the right and the other has wronged you, crucify yourself and give grace. This is how you show love.
God commended his love toward us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Rom 5:8).
The best free relationship advice is to believe the gospel, and let it work in you.
Good doctrine produces good behavior and good relationships (1 Cor 15:33).
For His glory,
Justin “crucified counsel” Johnson