In the Bible, the imperative to the believer gives instruction on how to live and walk. It is a part of sanctification. However, imperative commands are grounded upon indicative statements. “This is who you are [indicative]; now, live this way [imperative].” If we are going to understand the work of God in the gospel, we understand that the indicative always precedes the imperative.

When we consider the Biblical doctrine of sanctification, it is important to recognize how the doctrine is often portrayed in Scripture. It is organized first around who we are and then second around how we should live. The Bible first establishes who the believer is in Christ and makes statements as to the objective reality. Second, the Bible uses that objective reality to motivate us and bring commands for how we should live. Theologians have called this pairing the “indicative and the imperative.”

Strictly speaking, indicative and imperative are grammatical terms. However, these terms point us to a larger reality of the work of God in accomplishing our sanctification. The terms provide an ordering structure to how the Bible portrays and commands sanctification. In grammar, the indicative mood is used to make statements and describe facts. “I am writing this essay” is a statement in the indicative mood. The imperative mood is the grammatical category used to give commands or instructions. My editor saying to me, “Write an essay on sanctification” is an imperative or statement of command. He did not make a statement of fact but gave instruction to follow.

In the Bible, the imperative to the believer gives instruction on how to live and walk. It is a part of sanctification. However, imperative commands are grounded upon indicative statements. “This is who you are [indicative]; now, live this way [imperative].” If we are going to understand the work of God in the gospel, we understand that the indicative always precedes the imperative.

If we make the imperative come before the indicative of who we are in Christ, we have a form of legalism or works based salvation. Even believers can fall into a trap of using instruction and commands in a legalistic fashion when they make the obedience of the commands determinative of who we are. Bringing the commands first can load up a heavy burden upon the person.

At the same time, others have so emphasized the indicative that they never bring the commands of Scripture to bear in their life. Whenever someone sees God’s commands as only ever burdensome, even upon the believer, contrary to 1 John 5:3, they do not understand the good and necessary role of the imperative as it flows from the indicative. “Who we are” in Christ should always lead to a “live this way” since you belong to Christ. This indicative/imperative relationship is why in the Bible sanctification includes more than simply “getting used to my justification” or “letting go and letting God.” God brings good commands that are to be lived out as one in union with Christ.

One of the most helpful chapters in the Bible where we see this indicative/imperative dynamic in Scripture is in Romans 6. Paul begins that chapter responding to those who might say because of grace and justification, we do not have to obey God but can live in sin.

Rom. 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

In the passage, verses 3-11 are essentially one long series of indicatives telling us “this is who you are in Christ.” Let’s highlight a few key statements of the indicatives:

Rom. 6:3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Rom. 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Rom. 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Rom. 6:7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.

In verse 11, we see in particular the relationship between the indicative and the imperative. Paul brings an imperative: “consider yourself” but it is grounded on who he has been outlining the believer to be: because of their union with Christ, the believer has died with Christ and risen to new spiritual life in Christ.

Read More