Let's Completely Surrender To Jesus
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesWhen Japanese General Yoshijiro Umezu came into the presence of General Douglas MacArthur, on board the battleship Missouri to sign the Instrument of Surrender on September 2, 1945, he extended his hand. It was reported that General MacArthur clasped his hands behind him and said very firmly, “Your sword, Sir.” General Umezu unsheathed his sword and handed it to General MacArthur. General MacArthur then turned the Instrument of Surrender toward General Umezu and said, “Your signature, Sir.” General Umezu leaned forward and affixed his signature to the document. Only when this final gesture of surrender was completed, did General MacArthur extend his hand. In the years following that historic surrender, General MacArthur led the United States in assisting Japan in their rebuilding process.
In a similar way, it is only when we completely surrender to Jesus, that he gives us the power to rebuild our spiritual lives once devastated by sin (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – NKJV; Hebrews 10:16-22 – NKJV. In praying for the Ephesian brethren (Ephesians 3:16-17 – NKJV), Paul desired they:
“be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love….”
Thus, the Lord has made available to us this tremendous transforming power through His system of faith or will (cf. Romans 10:17 – NKJV; Romans 12:2 – NKJV). As Christians, this power is to come into and remain in us for the totality of our lives. In Romans 12:1 – NKJV, Paul tells us of this transforming power:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
This transformation does not come automatically. Just as the rebuilding of Japan was a long and on-going process after World War II, the transforming process in our lives continues until the day of our death (Ephesians 4:22-24 – NKJV; Colossians 3:8-10 – NKJV; cf. Philippians 3:12-17 – NKJV; 2 Timothy 4:7-8 – NKJV).
Part of what the phrase “living sacrifice” means is described in 2 Peter 1:2-4 – NKJV (Emphasis mine):
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, as his divine power hath given to us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
From the above passages of Scripture, please note that we must have knowledge of the One who called us by his own glory and virtue. This knowledge acquaints us with those “exceeding great and precious promises” which in turn leads us to be “partakers of the divine nature.” Let us note that all of the above described spiritual blessings hinge on the word “knowledge.”
The only way to gain Bible “knowledge” or a “knowledge” of Jesus Christ is through a diligent study of the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15 – ASV; cf. Acts 8:35 – NKJV; Acts 17:11 – NKJV).
Study can take many forms, such as the reading of the Scriptures, reading gospel tracts and publications, listening to gospel tapes, doing research regarding Bible questions and teaching (Acts 17:11 – NKJV), attending Bible classes, gospel meetings, Vacation Bible School, etc.
In closing, let us ask ourselves these four questions: “Have we tapped into the spiritual power that is available to us? Are we presenting our bodies a living sacrifice? Are we a partaker of the divine nature?” The only question remains: “If not, why not?”