There’s not a single passage in the bible that uses the word surrender. Yet, in 1986, the great songwriter Judson van DeVenter penned one of the greatest hymns of all times. “All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give … I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”
The word surrender is used 30 times while the word all is mentioned 46 times. For 5 years Judson struggled with the idea of leaving his public teaching profession and entering into the full-time field of evangelism. Finally ‘he surrendered all’ and would go on to preach all across the US, England and Scotland while also having an impact on Rev. Billy Graham.
Why would he use a word that the bible itself doesn’t use? I can’t say for sure having never met Rev. DeVenter, but there are some scriptures and definitions that pique my interest at such an idea.
To surrender means to cease resistance to an enemy and submit to their authority.
Submit means to yield to the authority or will of another.
Romans 5:10 says For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to shod by the death of His son….
Before Salvation we were enemies of God. The bible says we can not serve two Masters, so if we are not serving God then we are opposed to God, which is the very definition of an enemy. But isn’t it amazing that God doesn’t treat us like enemies. Instead, “while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”. An enemy would not sacrifice himself for his opponent. This is why we are enemies of God but He is not our enemy. Instead, as a loving Creator He watches over us and guides us, leading us to a moment of decision to surrender to Him.
Notice that the definition of surrender has two parts. The latter says, “and submit to their authority”. To surrender you must cease AND submit. Yet submitting is not a one time deal. We can cease to be enemies all at once, but submitting is a continual process.
James wrote to Christians telling them to submit ourselves to God. There’s the assumption that there has already been a moment of surrender, but those who have surrendered need to be reminded often of the necessity of submitting.
A freed servant can get easily high minded, forgetting about the days of his bondage. It will cause a lack of submission. That lack of submission causes tension in the relationship.
Husbands with non-submissive wives find it difficult to dwell under the same roof. Parents with non-submissive children have great difficulty in training them. Too often complacency gives way to non-submissive behavior.
And when two entities are not dwelling together in peace and unity they feel as enemies.
Seems as if surrender is a fitting word for this hymn after all. Not that we can once again become enemies with God after we have been reconciled to Him through Jesus, but if there is not a continual submission to Him we can begin to exhibit behaviors of an enemy.
All to Jesus I surrender. ALL! All day, every dall we need to submit our wills to His will. This is the only way we will exude behavior that shows we will ever love and trust Him!
The true enemies of God need to see the children of God living in full submission to Him. So that when it comes time for them to surrender they will have no hindrance on our part.