All posts by Len Joson

What Are the Indicatives and Imperatives of Grace in the Bible?



In English grammar, the indicatives and imperatives are verbs that denote mood. Indicatives are statements of fact or reality while the imperatives are used to give “orders, commands, warnings or instructions.”

In the Bible, the indicatives are statements of what are already true in Christians even at the present time. On the other hand, the imperatives are usually the responses that are expected of Christians in view of the indicatives. These two usually go together. This pattern can be found in Scripture. It is helpful if we are aware of this fact. They go hand in hand.

Unfortunately, some people misunderstand and tend to emphasize one over the other. Some may emphasize the indicatives while disregarding the imperatives and vice versa. The Bible on the other hand clearly shows that both are important.

The imperatives are our responses to the truth of who God is as revealed in Jesus Christ and who we are in him. In view of the truth of God’s good news in Jesus Christ (indicative), we cannot but respond joyfully, positively and even enthusiastically (imperative).

It’s about relationships. God has initiated this relationship with us by reconciling us to himself (indicative). As a positive response to this loving relationship, we gladly welcome God’s loving embrace with joy and excitement and embrace the Lord in return (imperative)! This is not a mechanistic, legalistic response to the conditions of a contract. This is a loving relationship between God and the Christian. It is a loving response in a loving relationship between God and the Christian.

Paul said that it is the grace of God that teaches us to say “No! to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12). The good news of grace (indicative) teaches us and compels us to resist ungodliness and to live upright and godly lives (imperative).

We should have a balanced view about the indicatives and imperatives in the Bible and not tip to one side or the other. Both are important as shown in Scripture.

Examples of Imperatives and Indicatives of Grace

Example 1:

Indicative:  God has in Christ already reconciled the world to himself. This is already true. (2 Cor. 5:18-19).

Imperative: Since this is already true that all have already been reconciled in Christ, our response is for us to be reconciled back to God! (2 Cor. 5:20). Through Paul’s letter, we are encouraged to not just accept the truth about our present reality in Christ but to also respond joyfully and positively by actually getting reconciled back to God. Our response should not be looked upon as a forced response or obligation due to the demands of a legal contract but a loving response to a wonderful good news. That’s the way to look at it. It is a loving relationship between God and man — not a contract.

Example 2:

Indicative: According to Paul, Christians have already been raised in Christ (Col. 3:1). That is already their present status in Christ. It’s already a reality.

Imperative: Since that is already the truth and reality for Christians, therefore Paul urged them to set their hearts on things above. (Col. 3:1-2).

The indicatives of grace do bring along with it the imperatives of grace. Both go hand in hand and should both be emphasized as we share the good news to others. Again, it should not be looked upon as a forced obligation to be fulfilled due to a contract. Rather, it is a loving response to a loving and gracious God.

Example 3:

Indicative: Christians have already died in Christ. Their life is hidden with Christ in God. Christ is the Christian’s life. Christians will appear with Christ in glory. This is the Christian’s truth and reality right now as well as their future destiny (Col. 3:3-4).

Imperative: In view of the Christian’s reality in Christ, Paul urged them to put to death sin which are in them. This is not sin management in order to be saved. Paul was reminding Christians to act according to who they really were in Christ. (Col. 3:5). A positive, joyous response is expected because of the wonderful good news of who Christians already are in Jesus Christ.

Example 4:

Indicative: Christians have already taken off the old self and have put on the new self (Col. 3:9-10). This is the present status of Christians.

Imperative: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Col. 3:12-13).

Example 5:

Indicative: Christians are already children of God. That is their present truth and reality in Christ. That is who they are in Christ. They will be like Christ with glorified bodies at his second coming — future reality (1 John 3:1-2).

Imperative: In light of who Christians are in Jesus Christ, in light of the hope of a future resurrection and glorification, John was urging them to purify themselves! (1 John 3:3). Those who are sinning are practicing lawlessness or wickedness (1 John 3:4).

Example 6:

Indicative: According to Paul, Christians had already received the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:15). Again, that was their present status in Christ. This is the indicative statement.

Imperative: Therefore, Paul said that these Christians had an “obligation” to live according to the leading of the Holy Spirit and not according to their sinful nature (Rom. 8:12). This is the imperative statement.

These are just some examples I gathered randomly from the Bible. The Bible is filled with the indicatives and imperatives of God’s grace. Both are important and they usually go together. The indicatives of grace does indeed bring about the imperatives of grace. Again, this is not about a legal contract but about a loving relationship between God our Father and with us his children in the Lord.

For Further Reading:

Updated: 8/8/17

On Tribal Costumes



I had the chance to visit a youth summer camp held recently at the Malasag Eco-tourism Village in Cagayan de Oro. One of the evening activities at the camp was the Dance Night and the attire for that night was on tribal costumes. I was able to take a few shots. Here it is:

I was fascinated by the rich color of this Moslem attire.
I was fascinated by the rich color of this Moslem attire.
I'm not sure what specific tribe this costume represents but it's from Mindanao.
I’m not sure what specific tribe this costume represents but it’s from Mindanao.
I'm not sure what tribe this one is but the lady sure is beautiful haha!
I’m not sure what tribe this one is but the lady sure is beautiful haha!
I think the headress suggests it's from Cebu.
I think the headress suggests it’s from Cebu.
From Mindanao.
From Mindanao.
The costume is from one of the tribes in Mindanao.
The costume is from one of the tribes in Mindanao.
A Moslem attire
A Moslem attire
Typical Moslem attire in Mindanao
Typical Moslem attire in Mindanao

Cebu Pacific Special Flight!



A few months back, I was really amused as I read about a lucky Austrian tourist who had a whole commercial flight all by himself! He was the only passenger for that flight from  Manila to Boracay. No one else showed up.

It never occurred to me that something similar to that  would also happen to me and my  two friends just a few months later!

Last May 8, we were the only three passengers for this evening Cebu Pacific flight from Cebu to Manila! What a treat! For about an hour or so, we were VIPs on board a special flight — a “chartered flight” on a huge private jet for three special passengers haha! And may I add, complete with four lovely ladies for a cabin crew and two pilots of Cebu Pacific!

Paula-1260032
This lovely lady has a pleasing personality. And I found out she is a beauty queen in her province.

It was already the evening of May 8 and I think that most of the passengers were in a rush to reach their destinations right away because the following day, May 9,  was election day. I guess they all wanted to make sure they can vote the next day.

Many of them I think have re-booked themselves for earlier flights or maybe they have cancelled their flights. That left me and my two companions to have a whole plane all to ourselves haha!

Khai-1260044
This lovely lady told me we have the same home province.

From the boarding area, it was amusing to me that we were escorted like VIPs all the way to the bus  that would bring us to the plane. On board the plane, four beautiful ladies — the whole cabin crew! — were all smiling and ready to serve us haha! They actually had a good time too! They were also amused just as we were to have only three passengers in a huge jet plane. So we had a group photo with them. They also took selfies of themselves and with us.

Khai-1260048
And I found out that this lovely lady is a schoolmate of one of my young friends. Isn’t that interesting? Small world!

I actually had a great time too photoshooting in the sky with the four lovely Cebu Pacific cabin crew. They were great photo subjects and I got their permission to photoshoot. What a great opportunity for an amateur photographer! Oh well, it was a unique experience and we all enjoyed it.

This lovely lady told me her dad also loves photography just like me. She even checked my camera shots. She also sent me a group photo of us.
This lovely lady told me her dad also loves photography just like me. She even checked my camera shots. She also sent me a group photo of us.
This is a group photo of us sent to me by this lovely lady who took the shot from her smartphone. Thanks a lot beautiful lady!
This is a group photo of us sent to me by this lovely lady who took this shot from her own smartphone. Thanks a lot beautiful lady!

What we expected to be just another ordinary flight back home turned out to be quite a unique experience. Thanks to the lovely Cebu Pacific ladies for allowing me to have an on-the-spot photoshoot in the sky with them. It was quite a flight!



The Holy Spirit: Another Comforter



I used to believe that the Holy Spirit is merely the power of God and that’s it. But later on, I was given more illumination by the Holy Spirit to know him better. I now believe that the Holy Spirit is not just merely power but that the Holy Spirit is God.

It would take a great deal of in-depth study to deal with this topic but in this blog, let me just focus on one point regarding the term “another Comforter”  used by Jesus in the King James Version of the Gospel of John. By studying this term, we will hopefully understand that the Holy Spirit is truly God and not just merely the power of God.

Who is the Paraclete?

In both 1 John 2:1 and John 14:16, the word translated Comforter or Advocate comes from the Greek word, parakletos. Other Bible translations or versions render it also as Helper, Paraclete or Counselor. Let us just use the word Comforter of the King James Version since it’s familiar to all.

Both passages come from the same author, John. The context is quite clear in 1 John 2:1 that John is referring to the Lord Jesus Christ as the Comforter. This is not in doubt.

But on the other hand, it is also quite clear based on context in John 14:16-17, 26 and John 15:26 that the Comforter being referred to here by Jesus himself is the Holy Spirit and not himself. Jesus made a clear distinction between himself and the Holy Spirit. Who then really is the Comforter?

Jesus is Our Comforter

Well, as I understand it in plain English (not my native language), Jesus Christ is our Comforter. When Jesus said “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (KJV John 14:16-17, 26), I take it to mean that Jesus was referring to himself as the Comforter while he referred to the Holy Spirit as another Comforter. That is quite clear in this passage, I think.

The Holy Spirit is Another Comforter

Dr. K. J. Stavrinides with me and my wife in February 1994 in Tagaytay, Philippines.

A Greek theologian, Dr. Kyriakos Stavrinides explained this very important word another to all the ministers of the Worldwide Church of God gathered during a conference in Tagaytay, Philippines sometime in 1993-1994. He said that there are two Greek words that Jesus could have used for the word another namely, 1)alloswhich means another of the same quality and status and, 2) heteros which means another of a different quality and status.

Jesus chose the Greek word, allos. He clearly meant that the Holy Spirit was of the same quality and status just like him! Jesus could have used the Greek word, heteros but he did not! Jesus knew what he wanted to say and what he meant! And John wrote it that way! Clearly, the Holy Spirit is God just like Jesus is God.

As a native Greek speaker, Dr. Stavrinides explained that that is the only way to understand it in Greek.

Jesus is the Paraclete and the Holy Spirit is another Paraclete of the same quality and status whom Jesus sent after he went back up to heaven. They are one with the Father. The Father and the Son are in us because the Holy Spirit is in us to comfort us, guide us and lead us until Christ be formed in us.

There is no doubt in my mind. The Holy Spirit is God!

Featured photo above: Ardent Hot Springs, Camiguin Island, Philippines. By Veejay Joson

Differing Forms of Spirituality

All One in Christ

We are all one in Christ. God loves all of us regardless of whether one is a Jew or Gentile, male or female, a freeman or a slave as Paul said. We are all beloved of God. We are his children and he wants us to be included into his life and love for all eternity. We are all created equal in this sense.

Different Temperaments, Personalities

But when it comes to Christian spirituality, we are somewhat different. We each have our own unique ways of connecting to God which may differ from others. This is because we have different personalities and temperaments. Some would love to spend their time studying God’s word and would even enter the seminary to further study and learn more and more about God and his  Word, the Bible. For some others, they focus more on acting and doing. They want action right away. They want activism. For some others, they want to connect to God through worship singing or maybe by fasting and overnight prayers.

These differences can become a source of misunderstanding among church members when one imposes their brand of spirituality on others. It’s good to be aware of the various forms of spirituality.

Six Forms of Spirituality

There are six forms of spirituality which I found helpful in distinguishing what type of spirituality a Christian may have. Knowing these six types has helped me become more respectful and not judgmental of how Christians connect to God based on my personal preferences. I learned about these six forms of spirituality from Dr. Dan Rogers. He got his information from a book, Pastoral Spirituality by Ben Campbell Johnson. May I quote from Dr. Dan Roger’s article:

Evangelical Spirituality

This form of spirituality is usually found in conservative churches with a puritan or revivalist tradition (Johnson 1988, 68). Persons encounter God through his Word by setting aside times for prayer and Bible study on a regular basis. The Scriptures are authoritative, and by studying them one can discern the will of God in order to obey it. Meditation and fasting are also used to seek God’s will and make it one’s priority in life.

Evangelical spirituality has a strong appeal to the sensate and extroverted type of person who likes to have everything in life spelled out clearly. These Christians are usually passionate for God and are willing to work hard and sacrifice their lives. The weakness of this form of spirituality is that it can have a tendency toward legalism and the development of a judgmental spirit.

Charismatic Spirituality

This form of spirituality is found primarily in Pentecostal and nondenominational congregations. Charismatic spirituality is associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and his present activity in the church. God often is experienced through the Spirit. The Bible may mediate the experience of God, but the experience can also be drawn from such activities as small group meetings and charismatic praise and worship services.

Some groups believe that speaking in tongues is the evidence of possessing the Holy Spirit and they seek to exhort other Christians into seeking this experience. This form of spirituality often finds support in group settings where the experience is shared and the gifts practiced. Charismatic spirituality tends to appeal to the extroverted, intuitive, feeling temperament.

Sacramental Spirituality

This form of spirituality is found primarily in the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Episcopal churches. In Sacramental Spirituality, the presence of God is mediated through the sacraments and the liturgy of the church year. The church festivals and celebrations provide the structure; both nature (viewed sacramentally) and history (viewed as God’s unfolding story) contribute to this spirituality. Corporate worship is the focus for strengthening Sacramental Spirituality. Its practice tends to appeal to the thinking, sensate type of temperament.

Activist Spirituality

This practice is found mostly in the left wing of mainline denominations and in various religious issue-oriented groups (e.g., feminist, peace, and ecology groups). However, there is some increase in interest in activist spirituality among some evangelical Christians.

The activist engages God primarily in social service and in political action rather than in church or private devotion. The practice of this spirituality seeks to find solidarity with God who is actively transforming the world. This form of spirituality tends to appeal to an extroverted, intuitive, feeling temperament.

Academic Spirituality

This form of spirituality involves Christians who think about God and systematize their thought, thus expressing their relationship with God through the mind. It tends to be found among scholars, theologians, teachers and studious clergy who express their spirituality in a lifestyle of study, analysis, reflection and teaching. Its practice would appeal most to the introverted, intuitive, thinking temperament.

Ascetic Spirituality

This form of spirituality is found mostly among nuns and priests in religious orders and in Protestant holiness movements. For the ascetic, God is engaged in the daily devotional routine of prayer, meditation and the reading of spiritual literature. The ascetic expresses devotion to God by a life of contemplation and self-denial. It is a simple lifestyle often marked by vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Its practice appeals most to the introverted, sensate temperament.

The Pastoral Task

With these different approaches to spirituality, it is important for a pastor if he is to be successful in leading his church members to Christ to be aware of such differences and also tell his church members about it. Each type has its strengths and weaknesses. Dr. Dan Rogers suggests that pastors should be able to model an “eclectic” type of spirituality if he is to help his members grow to Christian maturity.

Do Not Judge!

This bit of information is also good for all Christians so that we may not judge and berate others because they do not conform to our personal preference of what Christian spirituality is all about.

Source: Leading in Spiritual Formation by Dr. Dan Rogers