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Election, the Source of the Church (1)

Election is a rich, comforting word to the child of God. Those who read, understand and love the Bible appreciate the frequency and significance of such words as election, elected, elect; choose, chosen; predestinate, predestination; foreknow, foreknowledge; and beloved. The truth and consolation of election is especially known and embraced in Reformed churches for it was rediscovered and preached powerfully at the sixteenth-century Reformation and set forth clearly in the Reformed creeds, notably the Canons of Dordt (1618-1619) and in particular its first head of doctrine ("Of Divine Predestination").

Usually we think of the election of individuals: God’s choice of particular sinners to eternal life in Jesus Christ. This is true and vitally important, but it is not the whole of election, for election is also corporate. The Bible teaches both the election of individual persons and the election of the church, the body of Christ: God "hath chosen us [i.e., the church] in him [i.e., Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love" (Eph. 1:4).

So how do we relate God’s election of individuals and His election of the church? First, elect individuals alone are the members of the elect church. Second, the election of particular persons serves the elect church; the individual serves the communal. As the election of individuals serves the elect church, so the election of the church serves the elect Christ (for in all things He has the pre-eminence; Col. 1:18) and the election of Christ serves the glory of the electing God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes people wonder why there is a world at all. Why is there something rather than nothing? The answer is creation: God freely willed to make the universe.

Here is a similar question: Why is there a church at all? Given the fall, why are not all men, head for head, unbelievers? Why are there some regenerate persons who worship the true God? Moreover, why is there a church in all ages? Why is there a true church in various places and not others? Why is the church the size it is and not bigger or smaller? Why does it consist of certain people and not others? The answer to all these questions iselection! Election determines the existence of the church, its continuance, its location, its size and its membership. From top to bottom, the church is controlled and shaped by God’s gracious, unconditional election in Christ. Thus the Reformed churches have spoken of election as the cor ecclesiae, which is Latin for the heart (cor) of the church (ecclesiae). Heart is here used as the source or origin. (Think of Proverbs 4:23: "out of [the heart] are the issues of life.") Election is the heart or source of the church, including its existence and continuance, and its location, size and membership.

Thus from election we even gain a definition of the church: the company of the predestinate (or the elect). Wycliffe and Hus (building on Augustine) used this truth in their battles with the Roman Church. This view of the church was picked up and developed by the Reformers and their successors to this day. Is not this a glorious name for Christ’s church? The company of the predestinate! This is the church of which all true believers are members. Rejoice, beloved members of the church, for "your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20)!

Let us now demonstrate that election is the cor ecclesiae from the opening verses of Ephesians 1. In verse 1, the Ephesian church is addressed as "the saints which are at Ephesus … the faithful in Christ Jesus." This church is "blessed … according as [God] hath chosen us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world" (3-4). Verse 5 also states that it has been "predestinated." So why was there a church in Ephesus? Why was it the size it was and with the membership it had? It was all according to God’s eternal election. Election was the source and heart of that church, as it is of every true church in whatever age or country.

We ought not let the canonical significance of Ephesians escape us. The theme of this epistle is the church as the body of Christ. This glorious subject is developed throughout the six chapters of Ephesians. So how does this great letter on the church as the body of Christ begin, after its salutation (1:1-2)? It blesses God who has blessed His church according to eternal election, for we have been "chosen in [Christ] before the foundation of the world" (4) and "predestinated" (5). In other words, the epistle starts with the truth of election as the heart of the church (cor ecclesiae). This is the first thing that the Ephesian church (and the NT church, in general) needs to know about itself, that it is elect in Christ. Everything in Ephesians about Christ’s church flows from, and must be understood in the light of, its eternal election. Indeed, in all our reading of the Bible and in all our thinking about the church, its election in Christ is fundamental, for it is its source and heart!

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Additional Info

  • Volume: 11
  • Issue: 5
Stewart, Angus

Rev. Angust Stewart (Wife: Mary)

Ordained - 2001

Pastorates: Covenant Protestant Reformed Church of Ballymena, Northern Ireland - 2001

Website: www.cprf.co.uk/

Contact Details

  • Address
    7 Lislunnan Road
  • City
    Ballymena
  • State or Province
    Co.Antrim
  • Zip Code
    BT42 3NR
  • Country
    Ireland
  • Telephone
    (01144) 28 25 891851
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