Sometimes it is presented that in order to enter into a victorious Christian life, we must make a "total surrender" to God. This is considered a second blessing after conversion where, by an act of decision, we enter into the higher life of victory. The positive thing about this view is that it encourages us to be submissive to God and live successfully over sin. But it is inadequate and gives many false impressions.

1. That we can turn on the Spirit's power to work automatically in our lives.

2. That holy people are born along in a state of psychological passivity.

3. That we may uncritically trust our thoughts and feelings as from God if we have handed over ourselves to God.

4. That while Christ lives in us, our personal self-hood should be in abeyance.

Problems either implicit or explicit, legitimate or those that can be easily inferred, in the two stage view:

1. Since all Christians have already died to sin (Romans 6), we should not tell people to "surrender to God to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and then you will gain your victory over sin." Rather, we should tell them to "recognize that you died to sin and were raised to new life when you believed and strive to keep living this out, asking for God's help.

2. Makes us appropriate power in the wrong way. Makes us look to our surrender rather than the objective reality of our death and resurrection with Christ.

3. Implicitly denies that at conversion, all Christians broke with the power of sin.

4. Makes justification and sanctification, new birth and holiness, two separate blessings that occur at different times.

5. Thus, there are two separate salvations on this view. First, from penalty of sin. Then, later, from the power of sin. But Scripture teaches that we are saved from the penalty and power of sin at conversion (Romans 6).

6. It separates sanctifying faith from justifying faith. Instead, the same faith that justifies, sanctifies. Yes, faith grows, but it is still the same faith. Thus, no crisis decision is necessary, no second blessing is needed. We/ve already made it. Being filled is simply a matter of continually living out our faith which began at regeneration.

7. It tends to lead us to think of only two levels of sanctification: those at the bottom class, and those in the upper class who are fully sanctified, who have put sin completely to death and now live above sin. Instead, we are never at the top. There is always more sin to conquer. The damage in thinking that there isn't is that you won't try to conquer and find your sin if you don't think that it is there

8. Thus, it begets spiritual pride. Makes us think that we are mature as a result of a single decision when we really have a lot of growing to do. Instead of continually striving for greater sanctification, it makes us try and maintain our already "perfect" surrender and sanctification.

9. Fosters spiritual pride by dividing Christians into two classes--an upper class and a lower class.

10. Implies that we have complete victory over all known sin as long as "Christ is on the throne."

11. How can you deal with your sin if you think its gone?

12. Encourages a false sense of maturity.

13. Implies that one can have Christ as Savior without having Him as Lord.

14. Seems to really make us Lord, since we are the ones who determine when Christ is on the throne and when He is off the throne.

15. Incoherent Arminianism--do we really have the power to "switch God on and off"?

16. Tendency to think that after the crisis to "surrender all," sin just magically disappears and we just naturally don't sin. Instead, sin doesn't just go away, but we must consciously strive to kill it each day.

17. Makes us inward looking and ruggedly introspective, focusing on our faith rather than Christ

18. Focuses too much on avoiding sin and not enough on doing righteousness.

19. Tendency to think that we need impressions telling us what to do before we can act. Instead, we are to do all the good we can,ruled by wisdom.

20. Tendency to think that the Holy Spirit works automatically.

21. Tendency to ignore that sanctification is a process.

22. Replaces the true means of grace with a formula

23. Consecration Christianity wrongly implies that sanctification is not by means (John 17:17), but by consecration, by momentous "commitments." It involves not simply individuals in isolation but the entire community of God's people Ephesians 4:16.

24. Tends to forget that all of our holiness comes from Christ: 1 Cor. 1:30. "The righteousness and holiness which is developed in us--which ultimately conforms us to God's moral character--flows out of the person and work of Christ....The only thing you can call your very own is your sin and rebellion . All the good in you or done by you has as its origin the work of Christ. That the foundation of the Christian life is the work of Christ has been obscured in our day by an over emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit in sanctification. What has been forgotten is that the work of the Spirit is to apply what Christ accomplished in His atonement."

1. Constantly wonders if there is something wrong with their faith.

2. Keeps trying to re-surrender for power, thinking that the previous time either has worn off or wasn't done right.

3. One becomes depressed, discouraged, highly introspective, and feels guilty as they find it isn't all they thought it would be.

4. Many others listed above.

We can only expect people to grow as they:

1. Understand the truths of God's word

2. Experience the joy and comfort that comes from those truths

3. Seek to apply those truths in everyday life.

Go back to Contend for the Faith.

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