Faith=Surrender What does having faith in Jesus as one’s Savior look like in real life? Scripture describes faith as a wholehearted trust in Christ personally (Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9). Not merely faith about Him; faith in Him. Note the difference: If I say I believe some promise you have made, I am saying far less than if I say I trust you. Believing in a person necessarily involves some degree of commitment. Trusting Christ means placing oneself in His custody for both life and death. It means we rely on His counsel, trust in His goodness, and entrust ourselves for time and eternity to His guardianship. Real faith, saving faith, is all of me (mind, emotions, and will) embracing all of Him (Savior, Advocate, Provider, Sustainer, Counselor, and Lord God). Those who have such faith will love Christ (John 8:42; John 14:15; Romans 8:28). They will therefore want to do His bidding. How could someone who truly believes in Christ continue to defy His authority and pursue what He hates? In this sense, then, the crucial issue for lordship salvation is not merely authority and submission, but the affections of the heart. Jesus as Lord is far more than just an authority figure. He’s also our highest treasure and most precious companion. We obey Him out of sheer delight. So the gospel demands surrender, not only for authority’s sake, but also because surrender is the believer’s highest joy. Such surrender is not an extraneous adjunct to faith; it is the very essence of believing. * * * Your Turn Has your delight in obeying God continued to grow? Have you found yourself looking forward to whatever adventure He asks you to trust Him in?
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 16:18:21 +0000
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