Boldness Before God in Christ’s Election

More strongly than Calvin, Beza thinks when dealing with the “elect” [“electi”) [sic] of particular persons with particular names. He directs his interest toward what is going on inside them, their questioning and receiving answers, their unsettledness followed by quiet resolution and then more unsettledness in their souls, the entire process of strange ups and downs, back and forths, which constantly goes on there. -Karl Barth, The Theology of the Reformed Confessions, 121-2

This is what happens when election is thought of in “Latin” terms, in abstraction from both its objective and subjective ground in the Godman, Jesus Christ. This type of dualism, or competitive relationship with God, necessarily works from a turn to the subject mode of navel gazing on my innards as a step prior to looking to God in Christ. It results in a vicious circle of uncertainty before God; the exact opposite of what the author to the Hebrews said we should do in constantly coming boldly into the throne room of God.

2 thoughts on “Boldness Before God in Christ’s Election

  1. You’ve well said that “this type of dualism” correlates to “a competitive relationship with God”. Moreover, doesn’t such a self-related turn manifest the essential nature of a spirit of idolatry?

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  2. @Richard, for sure. And that’s the point of it being that dreaded term, Pelagian. It is that self-determined, self-possessed existence wherein all we can do is worship ourselves. That is until the disruptive grace of Christ confronts and contradicts us down to our cores and finally into His for us.

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