Imperatives - Indicatives = Death

I just finished the 12 Commandments of the Shepherd (Pastor) of Hermas.  There were some irresolvable issues that I couldn't reasonably deal with because of my own lack of understanding of the prevalent doctrines at the time. However one thing that I did notice (This would be my vote why The Shepherd was not canonized.) was the departure from the Apostolic model of exhortation, that being establishing indicatives prior to imperatives.

The model of exhortation in The Shepherd was:

You are not ____________ .  You should be _______________.  

Therefore, do or else!

That is clearly an Old Covenant rather than a New Testament view of living a life pleasing to God.  A great example is Paul's letter to Corinth:

 

“for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8–10, ESV)

 

You are now children of light, therefore walk as children of light.  He did not say, "Walk as children of light, so that you might become children of light."  Paul and the Apostles did give imperatives (= what you should do), but they do so only based on indicatives (= what God has done). To reverse the order is to bring hopelessness and despair.

 

As I said, this misappropriation of grace would be reason enough for me to exclude this material from the Canon!