God Chose First: Why Faith Is the Result of Election, Not the Cause

Calvin in commenting on this passage emphasizes that election is an exclusively divine act. The verb chose ecleayi in Greek points to a deliberate and sovereign action of God.This is not a conditional election but an unconditional choice based solely on God’s will. Election is not a divine response to human faith. Rather, faith is the result of this sovereign election. For Calvin, the expression in him ento is absolutely central. Election does not occur separately from Christ. It is made in him or through him. This means that Christ is the foundation, the reason and the measure of divine election. We cannot think of election without thinking of Christ. For it is through him that election becomes effective and is consummated. Christ is not merely the instrument of election but its very heart. The purpose of election according to the apostle Paul and as interpreted by Calvin is that we would be holy and blameless. Adios and Amomos. Holiness here is not understood as a precondition for election but as its result and purpose. The elect are called to live a life of consecration and moral purity as a response to the grace that chose them. This is an important characteristic of Calvinist thought.