Sermon Tone Analysis

Definitions

indicative /ɪnˈdɪkətɪv/

■ adjective

1 serving as a sign or indication.

2 Grammar denoting a mood of verbs expressing simple statement of a fact.

imperative

■ adjective

1 of vital importance.

2 giving an authoritative command.

Change Begins by Understanding and Applying the Gospel

A. Some wrongfully start with the imperative-what we must do for God, which leads to moralism.

Which is unbiblical and it’s destine for failure.

Especially in the New Testament biblical pattern the bible typically begins with the indicative, that is what God has done for us in Christ, as the grounds for the imperative and that is what we do as a result.

1. Scripture begins with the indicative, what God has done for us in Christ, as the ground for imperatives.

Rom1-11; Eph1-3; .

You see this most clearly in the epistles of Paul where for example in Ephesians chapters 1-3 are description of the gospel, what God has done for us in Christ.

Then in chapters 4-6, it’s okay, therefore.

Then in chapters 4-6, it’s okay, therefore.

Likewise in Colossians, the first two chapters are about what God has done for us and then three and four, put that into application.

1. Scripture begins with the indicative, what God has done for us in Christ, as the ground for imperatives.

Rom1-11; Eph1-3; .

(ESV) — 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—

The way we are to walk is the way we learned Christ.

He’s talking about how this new self has been created by the new birth.

2. Specific New Testament exhortations are grounded in the gospel.

(ESV) — 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—

(ESV) — 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

(ESV) — 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

(ESV) — 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

(ESV) — 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

(ESV) — 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

(ESV) — 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Even in the very practical section it keeps going back to the fact, how can I forgive, it’s because God in Christ has forgiven me.

It’s the Gospel that enables me to do this.

Only a Christian is capable of the kind of change we are seeking.

3. Of course this implies that only Christians are able to change according to the will of God.

(ESV) — 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

The unbeliever is incapable of living out the gospel.

(ESV) — 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith.

For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

(ESV) — 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

(ESV) — 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

4. What about cases in which unbelievers appear to change (i.e.

lose weight, quit smoking, no longer drunkards)?

It’s true that unbelievers are capable of exercising self-discipline in order to get what they want out of life.

The issue is motive.

The motive is not for the glory of God but rather he’s working so that someone would think more highly of him.

The heart idols remain.

This is not the change that God seeks.

The change that God seeks is whatever we do we do for His glory.

The change we seek is out of the heart that every sin comes, and then the change we seek is the heart is changed and as the heart is changed, behavior is change but then that behavior is motivated by a zeal for the glory of God.

(ESV) — 43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.

44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’

And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.

45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first.

So also will it be with this evil generation.”

(ESV) — 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith.

For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

(ESV) — 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

(ESV) — 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

5.

The change we need is inward and Godward.

(ESV) — 14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”

17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable.

18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding?

Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?”

(Thus he declared all foods clean.)

20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him.

21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.

23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

(ESV) — 20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?

23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

B. We and our counselees need to comprehend that who we are in Christ is the basis for the changed lives we want to live.

(ESV) — 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

(ESV) — 1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

(ESV) — 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

1.

Some think of the gospel exclusively for justification, but don’t see its relevance for sanctification.

(ESV) — 3 Are you so foolish?

Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

My observation of many believers is when it comes to justification, justification takes place when we believe, you understand that you’re a sinner, you trust Christ’s atonement, the sole ground of your forgiveness before God.

God declares you righteous through faith.

Many people look at that(Gal 3:3) as the beginning of your Christian life, you are justified by faith alone in this gospel, but they don’t understand the relevance of the gospel for sanctification for growth.

Then they(counselees)get the idea that they are sanctified by their works and they are laboring in their own strength to become better.

We are born Pharisees.

It’s the most natural thing for us to go back to the law.

2. The gospel is just as important for your sanctification as it was for your justification.

You need to preach the gospel to yourself everyday.

We need this reminder of the gospel because if left to ourselves we will keep going back to the law as the means of how we think of ourselves and justifying ourselves.

We are also tempted to think that God accepts me on how well I’m measuring up.

There are many women who are prone to a form of perfectionism.

They think they have to achieve the mom and the wife, the woman, I’m all for those things, but when they have in their mind two things:

God won’t accept them based on how well they do at that, they lost sight of the gospel.

God has accepted you based upon Christ and not that.

(ESV) — 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

God accepts us in Christ.

The other harm that comes as a result, is when we fail we either lower the standards so far that it doesn’t resemble the bible anymore then finally you can do it and feel good about yourself which is pride, or there is going to be despair because your not able to meet that standard still and your utterly discouraged.

3. Some nouthetic counselors move too quickly to the imperative, without placing enough emphasis on who we are in Christ and how the gospel relates to change.

We need to explain to our counselees better cause I think most of them are quite ignorant of how the gospel itself relates to change and who we really are in Christ.