I surrender all?
Again, as I study the Catechism, I am deeply grateful for the contrast and clarity it provides and the discernment it offers that is so distinct and different from the teachings I learned in my youth.
"I surrender all" is a beautiful thought, but it is also self-deception. For those who hang their hopes and assurance on something they have done in coming to the cross, or taking it up... promising, committing, resolving, it becomes crippling, debilitating, troubling, and life-threatening to our souls.
Contrast this popular notion with Heidelberg 114.
"Can those who are converted to God keep these commandments perfectly?
No, but even the holiest men, while in this life, have only a small beginning of such obedience; yet so that with earnest purpose they begin to live not only according to some, but according to all the commandments of God."
Do those in Christ change? Are our desires and behaviors affected? Are we not motivated to obey our Father? Yes to all of the above! But if we're honest, we fail daily to live according to the standard set by our Creator:
"For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all." James 2:10
But total surrender was only accomplished once by one person, *because we have utterly failed as humans to surrender all.
Jesus Christ is that One. His mission statement in coming to earth was "to save His people from their sins". He lived a life of perfect obedience in our place and offered Himself, a sacrifice, one time for the remission of our sins.
This is our assurance. Looking to Jesus, Who has perfectly satisfied for all of your sins and mine, in our place by living and surrendering all for us can only bring us hope and confidence, because our righteousness and holiness are not from us, but outside of us.
"How are thou righteous before God?
Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; (a)
so that, though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them, (b)
and am still inclined to all evil; (c)
notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine, (d)
but only of mere grace, (e)
grants and imputes to me, (f)
the perfect satisfaction, (g)
righteousness and holiness of Christ; (h)
even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; (i)
inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart. (j)
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
(a) Rom.3:21-25,28; Rom.5:1,2; Gal.2:16; Eph.2:8,9; Phil.3:9 (b)
Rom.3:9. (c) Rom.7:23. (d) Tit.3:5; Deut.9:6; Ezek.36:22. (e)
Rom.3:24; Eph.2:8. (f) Rom.4:4,5; 2 Cor.5:19. (g) 1 John 2:2. (h)
1 John 2:1. (i) 2 Cor.5:21. (j) Rom.3:22; John 3:18.
~Heidelberg 60
Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift in the person of Jesus Christ, Who loved us and gave Himself in total surrender for us.
