The Heart of Christian Surrender and Obedience
Christian surrender and obedience involve a profound submission to God's will, exemplified by Christ and commanded throughout scripture [1, 2]. This posture is not merely outward conformity but stems from an inward transformation, characterized by a "broken spirit" and a "contrite heart" [7, 10].
Obedience to God is impossible without faith [2]. It encompasses obeying God's voice, his law, and specifically, obeying Christ and the gospel [2]. This includes keeping his commandments and submitting to higher powers [2]. The scriptures emphasize that obedience is superior to sacrifice, as seen in 1 Samuel 15:22 [2]. Christ himself serves as the ultimate example of obedience, as he was obedient even to death, as described in Philippians 2:5-8 [2]. Angels also engage in obedience to God [2].
Surrender, or resignation, is presented as a response to God's sovereignty and love [1]. It involves submitting to God's will in all circumstances, including the prospect of death, loss of possessions, loss of children, chastisements, and bodily suffering [1]. Christ demonstrated this resignation in Gethsemane, praying, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will" (Matthew 26:39) [1]. The wicked, in contrast, are described as devoid of such resignation [1].
Self-will and stubbornness are explicitly forbidden in scripture, stemming from unbelief, pride, and an evil heart [4]. These negative traits manifest as refusing to listen to God, his messengers, or even parents, and rebelling against God and resisting the Holy Spirit [4]. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of God giving his people "one heart and one way," indicating a unified desire to follow him [12].
The connection between surrender and obedience is deeply rooted in the concept of knowing Christ. Obedience is a clear indicator of one's relationship with Christ; without it, one does not truly belong to him or love him [9]. As individuals obey Christ's commandments, their love for God and knowledge of him mature, leading to a life lived in union with God and demonstrating love for others [9]. This is reflected in the instruction for servants to obey their masters "in the simplicity of your heart, as to the Christ" (Ephesians 6:5, YLT) [6].
The church itself is described as subject to Christ, its head, and is purchased by his blood [5]. The love Christ has for the church is immense, and believers are called to a similar measure of love and obedience [11]. The prayer that God would "lead" or "make straight" hearts reflects an Old Testament expression, signifying a desire for alignment with God's will and the practice of patient endurance, just as Christ endured [8]. This endurance is particularly relevant in times of persecution, which believers are warned to expect, as all who live godly in Christ will suffer [3]. Such persecution often originates from ignorance or hatred of God and Christ, or from mistaken zeal [3].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Obedience to God — Commanded -- De 13:4. Without faith, is impossible -- Heb 11:6. Includes Obeying his voice. -- Ex 19:5; Jer 7:23. Obeying his law. -- De 11:27; Isa 42:24. Obeying Christ. -- Ex 23:21; 2Co 10:5. Obeying the gospel. -- Ro 1:5; 6:17; 10:16,17. Keeping his commandments. -- Ec 12:13. Submission to higher powers. -- Ro 13:1. Better than sacrifice -- 1Sa 15:22. Justification obtained by that of Christ -- Ro 5:19. Christ, an example of -- Mt 3:15; Joh 15:20; Php 2:5-8; Heb 5:8. Angles engaged in -- Ps 103:20. A characteristic of saints -- 1Pe 1:14. Saints ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Persecution — Christ suffered -- Ps 69:26; Joh 5:16. Christ voluntarily submitted to -- Isa 50:6. Christ was patient under -- Isa 53:7. Saints may expect -- Mr 10:30; Lu 21:12; Joh 15:20. Saints suffer, for the sake of God -- Jer 15:15. Of saints, is a persecution of Christ -- Zec 2:8; Ac 9:4,5. All that live godly in Christ, shall suffer -- 2Ti 3:12. Originates Ignorance of God and Christ. -- Joh 16:3. Hated to God and Christ. -- Joh 15:20,24. Hatred to the gospel. -- Mt 13:21. Pride. -- Ps 10:2. Mistaken zeal. -- Ac 13:50; 26:9-11. Is inconsistent with the spirit o”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Will and Stubbornness — Forbidden -- 2Ch 30:8; Ps 75:5; 95:8. Proceed from Unbelief. -- 2Ki 17:14. Pride. -- Ne 9:16,29. An evil heart. -- Jer 7:24. God knows -- Isa 48:4. Exhibited in Refusing to hearken to God. -- Pr 1:24. Refusing to hearken to the messengers of God. -- 1Sa 8:19; Jer 44:16; Zec 7:11. Refusing to walk in the ways of God. -- Ne 9:17; Ps 78:10; Isa 42:24; Jer 6:16. Refusing to hearken to parents. -- De 21:18,19. Refusing to receive correction. -- De 21:18; Jer 5:3; 7:28. Rebelling against God. -- De 31:27; Ps 78:8. Resisting the Holy Spirit. -- ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Church, The — Belongs to God -- 1Ti 3:15. The body of Christ -- Eph 1:23; Col 1:24. Christ, the foundation-stone of -- 1Co 3:11; Eph 2:20; 1Pe 2:4,5. Christ, the head of -- Eph 1:22; 5:23. Loved by Christ -- Song 7:10; Eph 5:25. Purchased by the blood of Christ -- Ac 20:28; Eph 5:25; Heb 9:12. Sanctified and cleansed by Christ -- 1Co 6:11; Eph 5:26,27. Subject to Christ -- Ro 7:4; Eph 5:24. The object of the grace of God -- Isa 27:3; 2Co 8:1. Displays the wisdom of God -- Eph 3:10. Shows forth the praises of God -- Isa 60:6. God defends -- Ps 89:18; Isa 4:5; 49:25; M”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 6:5 (YLT) — The servants! obey the masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to the Christ;”
- Psalms “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. -- Psalms 51:17”
- 2 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Thessalonians 3:5: 3:5 The prayer that God would lead (literally make straight) their hearts reflects an Old Testament expression (1 Chr 29:18; Prov 23:19). Christians are expected to love as God loves and practice patient endurance as Christ endured.”
- 1 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 John 2:3: 2:3-6 Obedience is one clear indication that we know Christ and belong to him. If we do not obey Christ, it is obvious that we do not belong to him or love him. • As we obey Christ and his commandments, our love for God and our knowledge of him will grow toward completeness and maturity. We will live . . . as Jesus did, in union with God and showing love for others.”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 51:17: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,.... That is humbled under a sense of sin; has true repentance for it; is smitten, wounded, and broken with it, by the word of God in the hand of the Spirit, which is a hammer to break the rock in pieces; and that not merely in a legal, but in an evangelical way; grieving for sin as committed against a God of love; broken and melted down under a sense of it, in a view of pardoning grace; and mourning for it, while beholding a pierced and wounded Saviour: the sacrifices of such a broken heart and contrite spirit are the sacrif”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:25: "Thou hast seen the measure of obedience; now hear also the measure of love. Do you wish your wife to obey you, as the Church is to obey Christ? Then have a solicitude for her as Christ had for the Church (Eph 5:23, "Himself the Saviour of the body"); and "if it be necessary to give thy life for her, or to be cut in ten thousand pieces, or to endure any other suffering whatever, do not refuse it; and if you suffer thus, not even so do you do what Christ has done; for you indeed do so being already united to her, but He did so for one that treated Hi”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 32:37: And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. A comprehensive summary of the covenant of grace, which shall be made known to the Jews at the time of their conversion, and the blessings of it applied to them, and bestowed on them; though now a "loammi", Hos 1:9, is written upon them; see Jer 30:21. . Jeremiah 32:39 jer 32:39 jer 32:39 jer 32:39And I will give them one heart and one way,.... "One" and the same heart; the same heart to one as to another; gracious souls, truly converted persons, be they Jews or Gentiles, have the same experience; they have a”