The Names of Jesus - Elmer Towns

COUNSELOR
Another of the birth names of Jesus is “Counselor.” The world was brought to ruin by the
counsel of the serpent in the garden of Eden. That ruined race can be restored only by another
Counselor who advises men in the counsel of God. If Satan is the Counselor of ruin, Jesus is the
Counselor of restoration. The significance of this name of Christ is clear in Scripture by the fact
that Christ Himself needs no counsel (Romans 11:33,34); He is described as the fount of all
wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 8:14), and is presented as imparting counsel to those who
seek it (Psalms 16:7; 73:24; Isaiah 25:1; 28:29). As we study the Scriptures, the qualifications of
this Counselor and the quality of His counsel become increasingly obvious. But only when we
discern and apply His counsel to life does He become our Counselor.
The Qualification of the Counselor
Most contemporary Christian counselors today affirm there are three basic qualifications
of a Biblical and effective counselor. Based upon passages such as Romans 15:14 and Colossians
3:16, they argue that the Christian counselor today must be characterized by a knowledge of the
meaning of Scripture as it applies to their personal life, a goodness or empathetic concern for
others, and enthusiasm for life and wisdom—that is, the skillful use of Scripture in ministry to
others for the glory of God.
If this is what Scripture requires of a counselor, obviously, then, Christ excels in each and
every prerequisite. One of His relative divine attributes is omniscience, the fullness of all
knowledge. As God, He alone is truly good. He is also the personification of the wisdom of God.
He is the Counselor par excellence, for He is the only One who fully meets the qualifications of a
counselor.
The Character of His Counsel
Isaiah described the nature or character of His counsel with the words “wonderful in
counsel” (Isaiah 28:29). A survey of the Biblical references to the counsel of the Lord indicates
five aspects of its character.
First, the counsel of Christ sets controls. It controls in the sense that it guides the steps of
the believer (Psalm 73:24) and establishes him in that which continues (Proverbs 11:14; 15:22;
19:21; 20:18).
Secondly, the counsel of Christ is creative. It is interesting to note how often the concept
of creation stands in close proximity to a reference to the Counselor (Isaiah 40:14,26; Romans
11:34,36). This is an important principle for us to remember. Just because the will of God for
someone else in similar circumstances requires a certain course of action does not mean that it is
God's will for everyone in that same situation. We must learn to let God be God and be creative
in His counsel.
Also, the counsel of the Lord comforts: “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth
the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel” (Proverbs 27:9). Jesus in His role as
Counselor is one of the implications of the name Paraclete, which the New Testament applies to
Him as well as to the Holy Spirit (I John 2: 1, translated “advocate”). In both cases, one of the