Christ Church

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Wordly Wisdom from Nathan Turner

Don't Just Stay in the Indicatives, You Must Move to the Imperatives

Is Gospel knowledge useful if nothing changes? Is knowledge of Christ truly beneficial if a life is not transformed? What happens if our knowledge or teaching never progresses beyond just that, mere knowledge.
We are content with being right. Winning an argument is our supreme happiness in a contentious world. Pick a side and dig a trench. Empty philosophies. If the Gospel was only ideas, only truths that brought no change of behavior, no obedience, no sacrificial service, no witness to a dying world, no action, then it would be an empty philosophy too.

But the teachings in the Bible are not mere teachings, mere philosophy. All teaching in the Bible is meant to bring about transformation. There are truths, which can label as "Indicatives" (as they are statements that indicate truth, or ideas). But these are not given in isolation. They are given to move to the "Imperatives". The word "therefore" often clues us in when the gospel writers are moving from indicative to imperative. On the basis of THIS GREAT GOSPEL TRUTH, you must OBEY IN THIS WAY.

Since you have been saved by Christ, you must be conformed to His image. Paul's letters are full of this. Often, the first part of a letter will be "indicative" and the second half will be "imperative" (Romans and Ephesians).

So what are we to do? Read the Bible. See what Christ is calling you to. But let us be wise to start this one:

"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matt 28:18-20

Since all authority on Heaven and Earth has been given to Jesus, let us obey Him and go make disciples. We don't follow an empty philosophy after all.