Now I’m not an English major, that’s probably more than obvious if you’ve read any of this stuff. I stink at the rules of grammar and punctuation. I don’t use commas well (should that be good?) – way too many. I’m one big run on sentence – that’s why I use so many commas. I love dashes – they separate my thoughts. I just can’t stand quotes – where do they begin? where do they end? one mark or two? punctuation inside or outside the quote mark? – that rule seems to be ever changing. I do love me some dot-dot-dots…because many times my thoughts are left hanging because I’ve moved on to my next thought already and just don’t have time to complete the last thought…What brought up this subject? Sinclair Ferguson:
In the grammar of faith, all the imperatives in God’s word (commands: “this is what you are to do”) are rooted in indicatives (statements of fact: “this is what God has done, or will do, for you and in you”). Gospel grammar works like this: it is because of what God has done that, therefore, you are to be this or do that.
I read this the other day and immediately thought about my own use of grammar and punctuation. Of course, I was looking at his quote and thought he may have broken a few of the rules too. But the two things that jumped out at me were the words indicatives and imperatives. It’s good for us to learn new words once in a while and today’s the day.
Imperative means absolutely necessary. I think we can all agree that God’s Word is filled with imperatives. Things we must absolutely do. Things that are absolutely necessary. Requirements. Commands. Indicatives are demonstrations, indications, to point out, to show. Sinclair explains it perfectly – because of what God has done we are to be this or do that.
Sinclair calls these words the logic of the gospel. Each command given by God has reasons. So how does the logic of the gospel work? I think it goes something like this:
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:37-38
Imperatives – what we must do – NOT JUDGE, NOT CONDEMN, FORGIVE. Indicatives – what God has done – He has not judged, not condemned, He has forgiven us.
Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
Luke 23:34
That’s logical, right? Let’s try another…
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:16-17
Imperatives – what we must do – BELIEVE. Indicatives – what God has done – LOVED, GAVE, SAVED. God has demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son to save us. The logic: We Believe because God says His Son will save us and we will not be condemned. We can see that in Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection on the cross. That’s logical, right?
Wednesday
What must we do because of what God has done?
Read 1 Peter 1:13-21
What must we do? What has God done?
Thursday
What must we do because of what God has done?
Read Romans 5:1-11
What must we do? What has God done?
Friday
What must we do because of what God has done?
Read Isaiah 53
What must we do? What has God done?
Saturday
What must we do because of what God has done?
Read Hebrews 13:15
What must we do? What has God done?
Sunday
Pray the Lord will open your mind to the Word of God. Pray that He will give you understanding of His Word so that you can apply the Word to your life.
Monday
What must we do because of what God has done?
Read Romans 12:1-2
What must we do? What has God done?
Tuesday
Read Matthew Chapters 5 and 6. Pick two logic lessons and write down what must we do and what has God done?
IT’S LOGICAL
