I don’t know of any doctrine in Scripture as misunderstood as the doctrine of our divine election as children of God. Calvin is always associated with election and predestination, but his views are usually misrepresented. For Calvin, the doctrine of election was a source of great comfort. While this blessed truth has many facets which are difficult, if not impossible, to understand, there is sweet comfort in the truth that we are loved by God as His dear children out of the wonder of His sheer grace.

Our sin has left us unable to choose Christ – but God, who is rich in mercy graciously grants the gifts of faith and repentance and we, in turn, run to Christ. Calvin writes: “But if we have been chosen in him, we shall not find assurance of our election in ourselves; and not even in God the Father, if we conceive him as severed from his SOn. Christ, then, is the mirror wherein we must, and without self-deception may, contemplate our own election.”

We need have no sleepless nights wondering if we are God’s children. Our election or salvation “has a human face; the face of Jesus…What comfort!” (Don McKim)

Rejoice today, that by grace we are able to say: “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine!”