The Educational Affairs Committee of Grand Lodge has published an evangelistic leaflet entitled 'Know Surrender' as part of our programme of Christian outreach.

KNOW SURRENDER

Know Surrender

As a worldwide organisation, the Orange Institution is committed to civil and religious liberty. Foundational to its origins is the conviction that only through the Lord Jesus Christ can we find a right relationship with God .... with His Word, the Bible, as the only yardstick for the conduct of daily living.

'No surrender' to anything less may be our battle cry, but behind the marches and banners .... the sashes and the drums lies an essential call to surrender .... a call to which each one of us must respond ....

Seek Help

King William III, Prince of Orange and his army came ashore at Carrickfergus in 1690 to lead Protestant forces to victory against the Jacobites at the famous Battle of the Boyne. Today however, our 'battles' are quite different ....

.... our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12

But victory can be ours in the struggles of everyday living ....

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:5

Yet to know this, and the peace of God in the midst of unemployment, broken relationships, ill health and bereavement, we must first find peace WITH God. And the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way ....

.... I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

Admit Defeat

With its roots in the Reformation, the Orange Order is unashamedly Protesant, and as such there is no place for hostility towards the Roman Catholic Church or other Faiths. The actions of the few rather than the many may have brought accusations of bigotry and sectarianism, but as God looks at our lives we'd have to admit that each one of us is far from perfect ....

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:8

And one day, even the best of us will be called to give an account ....

.... man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment ....

Hebrews 9:27

Thankfully God has provided a 'way of escape'.

Only through living a pefect life was His Son, Christ Jesus, 'good enough' to pay the price for all our wrongdoing ....

Receive Mercy

Over the years there have been many examples of Orangemen showing great courage in the face of adversity. But the greatest act of selfless love took place 2000 years ago on the barren hillside known as Calvary. The Lord Jesus Christ, God in the form of man, gave His life on a wooden cross .... taking the punishment that we deserve ....

.... God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us ....

2 Corinthians 5:21

Yet the 'benefits' of this are not thrust upon us automatically. To 'get right' with God we must be ready, with His help, to turn away from all we know to be wrong ....

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness ....

1 Peter 2:24

.... and in seeking forgiveness .... and asking the risen Christ Jesus into our lives to become our Saviour and Lord, we're given a completely new beginning ....

.... if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Know Surrender

Loyalty to the Crown and governing authorities is a vital principle embodied within the creed of Orangeism. Yet above all is the loyalty and commitment which the Lord Jesus asks from all who would be His true followers .... real sacrificial surrender ....

.... If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

Luke 9:23-24

Of course, the Lord Jesus is no man's debtor and to all who are ready to accept this challenge He promises true freedom and fulfilment ....

.... if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John 8:36

.... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10

Make Peace

Peace processes and political initiatives have their place, but the greatest need of each one of us is to know peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ .... so we can say ....

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility ....

Ephesians 2:14

We're then in the best possible position to make peace with others ....

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you .... Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts ....

Colossians 3:13 & 15

The Orange Order has a proud and colourful history, yet the essence of true Christianity is not found in traditions, ordinances or ceremonies, but in the Lord Jesus Christ ....

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

.... whoever does not believe stands condemned already ....

John 3:18

Therefore, NOW is the right time to Know Surrender!

If you would like copies of this leaflet please contact Grand Lodge advising the number of copies required. These will be supplied free of charge though if anyone wishes to make a donation they may do so to assist this work.

Bible quotes are taken from the New International Version, however a small number of copies are available in the King James Version. If you would prefer this translation please advise us accordingly.

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