No Christ, No Election: Why Calvin Made Choosing Always Christ-Centered

Calvin takes this preposition with all seriousness, drawing from it profound theological implications. For Calvin, it is not possible to speak of election without speaking of Christ. Election is not an abstract concept that exists independently of Christ. It is always christocentric. Christ is not merely the instrument through which election is executed, although he certainly is that. Rather, Christ is the very reason why election exists. God elects in Christ because Christ is the primary object of divine election. Calvin affirms that Jesus Christ is the supreme elect, the one upon whom God’s eternal purpose rested from before the foundation of the world. The incarnation of the son of God, his death and resurrection, his exaltation at the right hand of the father. All of this was part of God’s eternal plan. And it is in Christ, the supreme elect, that all other elect are chosen. We are elected in and through Christ. This understanding has profound implications. It means that there is no election that escapes Christ, no salvation that does not pass through Christ, no divine choice that is not founded in Christ. When God elects us, he elects us not for ourselves but for Christ. Our election is secure because it rests on the infallible person of Christ, not on our own qualities or merits, which are fallible and inconstant. Calvin also emphasizes that it is through Christ’s death and resurrection that election becomes effective. that election becomes effective. Election is eternal in its decree but temporal in its realization. It is through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that redemption promised by election is consummated. Ephesians 1:7 confirms this. In him we have redemption through his blood. The forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace.