Election, Assurance, Church Membership and John Calvin

In some evangelical circles, even of the Reformed type, anxiety attacks over personal assurance of salvation and whether or not church members are “really saved” are frequent.

In Reformed Churches the question of when non-communicant members should become communicant members has been asked countless times. Do they know enough? Yes, they have been baptized, but are they really called by Jesus? Do they know their sin well enough?

Then there is the issue of the membership itself. Some pastors cannot address their congregations as Christian people, or “people of God,” because they are not really sure if they are elect or called even though they are members of Christ’s church.

Paul’s attitude is completely different however. Notice the introductions to his letters, especially 1 Corinthians.

Calvin commenting on Paul's outlook on the Corinthian Christians said in his commentary, "Every one ought to regard his calling as a token of his election. Farther, although one cannot judge with the same certainty as to another's election, yet we must always in the judgment of charity conclude that all that are called are called to salvation; I mean efficaciously and fruitfully…Now this is needful (Paul obviously deemed it needful for the Corinthian church), in order that their minds might not be disheartened on discovering so many faults, as he comes afterwards to present before their view. The sum of this may be stated thus, - that it is the part of Christian candour to hope well of all who have entered on the right way of salvation, and are still persevering in that course, notwithstanding, that they are at the same time still beset with many distempers. Every one of us, too, from the time of his being illuminated (Heb 10:32) by the Spirit of God in the knowledge of Christ, ought to conclude with certainty from this that he has been adopted by the Lord to an inheritance of eternal life." John Calvin, Calvin's' Commentaries: 1 Corinthians. (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House). Pg, 59-60.

An eight letter word

Our lives, whether we are young or old are before us. But wait, when I say, "our lives" I haven’t got it quite right have I? Wonderfully, and to God’s eternal praise, all in his Son through faith and baptism are his congregation for he has called them to be his. They are designated as the Father’s children, and King Jesus’ servants. They are also are the Holy Spirit’s people. As Israel was chosen and claimed out of Egypt, so are they.

What is the name of our God? I am who I am. “I am the Lord God who brought you up out of the Land of Egypt out of the house of slavery.” As this changed everything for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all Israel so it changes everything for those who are now God's people. Why? In one word election!

In this eight letter word election, which is work of the grace of God, the course of the Christian's life has been set! Yes thier lives are before their own eyes, but it is a life claimed by God, a life in reference to God, a life that must constantly remember and recall, “I am your God and you are my people.”