In the path to personal victory, and in Exchanged Life Counseling, a vital checkpoint is Total Surrender. In the GFI Conference and Workshop we use the Total Commitment page that lists relationships and rights that need to be relinquished to God. Of course, this commitment is not made in an attempt to be saved, because Jesus’ work on the Cross is finished and the believer is saved by grace through faith apart from works (Eph. 2:8,9). Nor is this commitment required to maintain our salvation. Rather it surrender is our reasonable response to “the mercies of God.” The biblical text we use on the Total Commitment page is Romans 12:1,2. This is the Amplified Classic translation:

“I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God…”

The aorist tense and imperative mood in Greek mean that we are exhorted to make a wholehearted presentation of ourselves to our Redeemer. There is also a need for continual surrender as well (Luke 9:23), but that intentional daily cooperation should flow from one’s grace-based salvation, identification and consecration experiences.

In Handbook to Happiness, Dr. Solomon listed “Total Commitment” as point 5 in the spiritual blessings section of the wheel diagram. A few years ago, we replaced this term with “identity.” Total surrender principle is now addressed in the recently “Appropriation” wheel diagram as “Relinquishment.” (Thank you to Jeff Barbieri for helping develop to Appropriation diagram. Chuck approved of these updates in 2019.)

Why this change in the Total Commitment sequence and diagrams?

1. Notice that the other four blessings in the spirit area of the believer’s wheel diagram are grace-gifts at salvation. Although Dr. Solomon (and I) had surrender experiences years before experientially entering into identification, focusing on surrender before teaching the Gospel of identification can be misunderstood as self-effort rededication.

2. Notice that Romans 12:1,2 comes after Romans 5:12-8:39 [the Gospel of identification] in the flow of that epistle.

Writers from yesteryear confirm the importance of consecration as a response to a greater appreciation of the gospel:

“God asks us to present our bodies as living sacrifices to Him (Rom. 12:1). Until we have done this, there is nothing else we can do. But notice that this exhortation comes after Romans Six. There is a reason for this order—crucifixion comes before consecration. Uncrucified self refuses to be consecrated (to say nothing of God’s refusing to accept it). That is why so many people with all sincerity walk down the aisles again and again, consecrating uncrucified self to God.” (quoted by Miles Stanford)

“We must learn to know God and to love Him. Then we will not have to struggle to move into consecration. The heart will lead into it. A lover never thinks about giving himself to a loved one. He cannot do otherwise. He loves to do it. Is there not here a key to consecration?” -C.A.Coates

One of the most appreciated resources we use when exploring surrender is The Pineapple Story (video and book) by Otto Koning. It’s both funny and convicting (IBLP.org)

Laura Story’s music video is an example of surrender: “Open Hands.”

So as you write and share your “three Cross Testimony” remember to describe surrender to God’s will as a grace-based decision. And as you guide your disciple/counselee, discern how to convey surrender as a grateful response, enabled by the Holy Spirit, in light of the wonderful blessings of redemption and identification.

J.B.W.