The 12-Steps & Their Biblical Comparisons

1. We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviours, that our lives had become unmanageable.

“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (Romans 7:18)

2. We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13)

3. We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1)

4. We made a fearless and searching moral inventory of ourselves.

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:40)

5. We admitted to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)

6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

“Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10)

7. We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

8. We made a list of all those persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 16:31)

9. We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

“Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift at the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)

10. We continue to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

“So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us, and power to carry that out.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Colossians 3:16)

12. Having had a spiritual experience as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practise these principles in all our affairs.

“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself; or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)