My friend writes: Modus ponens is an interesting logical operation. A simple little thing, really. At first, it is kind of confusing. But with a little thought, it is really simple: if its raining, its wet outside. If p, then q. The consequent follows *of necessity*. And...it never fails. Even though simple, it is worth thinking about...alot. Paul has two very important instances of it in Galatians 5: If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Galatians 5:18 and, though he doesnt use the if p, then q form or words, verse 16 is, really, another instance of it: If you walk in the Spirit, you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. In I Corinthians 15:56, Paul makes a very interesting side comment: the strength of sin is the law. What follows from Galatians 5:18 is that if you are under law at all, you are not led by the Spirit. This follows of necessity. That would be an instance of modus tollens, or the denial of the consequent: when the consequent isnt there, the antecedent isnt there: if it is not wet outside, it is *not* raining outside! *Of necessity* this is so! Modus tollens is if p, then q; NOT-q; therefore not-p. In if p, then q, q is the necessary condition for p. Without q, no p. So... IF you are under law, you are NOT led by the Spirit. (the consequent of Galatians 5:18 is not-under law, which with the form of modus tollens--if p, then q; not-q; therefore not-p--not-q becomes not-not-under law, which means under law). The law is good! There is nothing wrong with the law! There was something wrong *with us*! But God *changed* that by giving us a new spirit that *all on its own and without the law* LOVES GOD! --Dan Beverley
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 16:06:55 +0000
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