When it comes to the new life that is offered to us in the gospel there is a crucial dynamic that needs to be remembered and that it is always gospel first and then us. Theologians note that Paul talks about the gospel first (what is sometimes called the indicative) and only then addresses the kind of response that we are called to make (the imperative). Both of these elements are needed to understand our new life because if we only have the truth about what happened to Jesus without any response from us then we end up with a form of cheap grace and if we only have a focus on our lives without it being grounded in Jesus then we end up with a form of moralism or legalism, which makes it about our effort and not grace. We also need to be careful to get the order right, that it is about Jesus first and then us, for any response we make must be rooted in what Jesus has first done on our behalf.

Gospel Indicatives = What God has already done on your behalf in Christ.

Gospel Imperatives = What you are to do as a result of being in Christ

The above might be a bit confusing and so here are some examples that might help clarify what I am trying to get at.

• Colossians 3:3-5 You have died (God has) … put to death therefore whatever is in you that is earthly (You should)
• Galatians 5:1 – Christ has set us free (God has) … don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery (you should).
• Ephesians 5:8 – In the Lord you are light (God has) … Live as children of light (you should)

Have a read of Romans 6:1-7 and see if you can see these things in the passage.

‘Paul’s ethical structure of the indicative and the imperative can be summarized by this statement: “Become what you are in Christ.”

Dennison