Is Christ the cause and foundation of election?
Turretin’s answer: No. We deny this against the Arminians and Lutherans.
Some teach that God chose people because He first chose Christ, and that individuals are elected only in Christ as the ground or cause of election.
Turretin asks:
Is Christ the cause, reason, or foundation of God’s eternal election of individuals?
His answer is No—and he explains why very carefully.
Election is God’s eternal choice of certain people to salvation.
It took place before the world began (Ephesians 1:4)
It is an act of God’s will, not a reaction to anything outside Him
It is free, sovereign, and gracious
Election answers the question:
Why are some saved and not others?
Turretin insists we must be precise here, because confusion at this point leads to serious doctrinal error.
Turretin denies that Christ is the cause, foundation, or reason why God elected certain people.
Why?
Because election logically comes before Christ’s mediatorial work.
God did not elect people because of Christ; rather, Christ was appointed because God had already elected people.
In other words:
Election is the cause
Christ’s mission is the means
Salvation is the result
Turretin stresses order, not time.
God freely chose certain individuals (election)
God appointed Christ to redeem those chosen
Christ accomplished redemption for them
The Spirit applies salvation to them in time
If Christ were the cause of election, this order would be reversed—and Scripture does not allow that.
Turretin leans heavily on Scripture:
“He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world… having predestinated us…”
“In
Christ” does not mean Christ is the cause of election.
It
means:
Christ is the sphere
Christ is the mediator
Christ is the means through whom election is carried out
Paul does not say:
God chose Christ first, and then chose us later because of Him.
Rather:
God chose us, and ordained Christ as the way we would be saved.
Arminians argue:
God elected Christ
Whoever later believes in Christ becomes elect
Turretin replies:
This turns election into a reaction to human faith
It destroys the certainty and sovereignty of election
It makes election conditional and changeable
If election depends on faith, then faith—not grace—is the real cause.
Some Lutherans say:
Christ is the foundation of election
God elects because of Christ’s merit
Turretin responds:
Christ’s merit belongs to redemption, not election
Merit presupposes a purpose to save
That purpose is election itself
You cannot say Christ earned election, because election is what sent Christ in the first place.
Turretin is very careful here. He does not minimize Christ.
He says:
Christ
is the executor of election
Christ is the mediator of
election
Christ is the means by which the elect are saved
Christ
is the head of the elect
But:
Christ
is not the cause of election
Christ is not the reason God chose
some and not others
The cause of election is found only in God Himself.
So what is the cause of election?
Turretin answers clearly:
The good pleasure of God alone
Scripture agrees:
Romans 9:11 – “Not of works, but of Him who calls”
Ephesians 1:5 – “According to the good pleasure of His will”
2 Timothy 1:9 – “Not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace”
Election flows from:
God’s will
God’s grace
God’s purpose
Nothing outside God moves Him to elect.
This doctrine protects:
God’s sovereignty – He is truly free
Grace – salvation is undeserved from start to finish
Assurance – election does not rest on unstable human faith
Christ’s honor – His work actually saves those chosen for Him
If Christ is made the cause of election, then election loses its meaning—and grace is weakened.
God chose people before Christ came
Christ came because God had chosen people
Election is the source
Christ’s work is the means
Salvation is the result
We are chosen unto Christ, not because of Christ.