The Imperative Mood refers to the intent of a verb of command. Simply put, these are imperative that you do them.
1 Peter 1:13-16 KJV
13) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14) As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
As brother @Johann has been putting before my eyes recently, the New Testament is replete with Imperatives, commands that are to be kept.
In this passage alone,
Mark 1:14-15 KJV
14) Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15) And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
The consequence of failure to obey is clear, you shall perish in your sins.
To the son or daughter of God, what is the consequence of failing to keep all of the imperatives? Are all these 1000+ imperatives given to become a new kind of Law that will condemn us if we fail to keep it?
I think when we read these, it's easy to mentally add to what we are reading, "or else!" That there must be a consequence of failing to keep them. And we know the condemnation of failing to keep the Law, condemnation! But in Christ we are not condemned. In Christ we are delivered from the wrath to come.
Does there have to be an "or else"? Are we under threat to obey? Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, what is our proper fear? Condemnation and loss of eternal life? Falling short of the spiritual maturity we could otherwise be realizing? Meaning that we are failing to reach the potential God has in mind for us?
Or missing the deep joy and peace we would otherwise know in a walk of enduring fruitfulness? A life filled with and characterized by Christian love?
Jesus saved us to liberty and commands us how to live that liberty. This is not a reconfigured New Testament Law that will condemn you if you do not keep it. This is how God speaks to the runner of the race, with Imperative, Run the race to win!
Much love!
1 Peter 1:13-16 KJV
13) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14) As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
As brother @Johann has been putting before my eyes recently, the New Testament is replete with Imperatives, commands that are to be kept.
In this passage alone,
- gird up the loins of your mind,
- be sober,
- hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you . . .
- be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
- Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Mark 1:14-15 KJV
14) Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15) And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
The consequence of failure to obey is clear, you shall perish in your sins.
To the son or daughter of God, what is the consequence of failing to keep all of the imperatives? Are all these 1000+ imperatives given to become a new kind of Law that will condemn us if we fail to keep it?
I think when we read these, it's easy to mentally add to what we are reading, "or else!" That there must be a consequence of failing to keep them. And we know the condemnation of failing to keep the Law, condemnation! But in Christ we are not condemned. In Christ we are delivered from the wrath to come.
Does there have to be an "or else"? Are we under threat to obey? Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, what is our proper fear? Condemnation and loss of eternal life? Falling short of the spiritual maturity we could otherwise be realizing? Meaning that we are failing to reach the potential God has in mind for us?
Or missing the deep joy and peace we would otherwise know in a walk of enduring fruitfulness? A life filled with and characterized by Christian love?
Jesus saved us to liberty and commands us how to live that liberty. This is not a reconfigured New Testament Law that will condemn you if you do not keep it. This is how God speaks to the runner of the race, with Imperative, Run the race to win!
Much love!