神的永恆揀選與我們的自稱為義 - 約翰．加爾文 (John Calvin)

「揀選，就是那最終極的明證，證明我們不能夠聲稱我們自己擁有任何的義。」（加爾文）

摘錄自：Reformation Commentary on Scripture: Galatians, Ephesians (Downers Grove, IL; IVP Academic; 2012) p. 241.

原文段落摘錄：

「"… even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. "– Eph. 1:4

God’s eternal election is the basis both of our calling and of all the benefits that we receive from him.  The timing of our election shows that it had to be free and could not have depended on any works of ours. 

Holiness and blamelessness are the fruits of election. Those who are not elect retain their natural disposition, which cannot change except by divine intervention.  This verse is also a reminder that there is no room of licentiousness among the elect, because holiness of life is tied to the grace of election.   Nor does this mean that we attain perfection in this life. We have the goal set before us, but we do not reach it until our race is done. Why do some people think of predestination as a useless and even poisonous doctrine? No doctrine is more useful, as long as it is handled properly, as Paul does here. It reveals the infinite goodness of God and gives us our knowledge of his mercy.   Election is the ultimate proof that we cannot claim any righteousness for ourselves.」

「就如神從創立世界以前，在基督裡揀選了我們，使我們在他面前成為聖潔，無有瑕疵；」（以弗所書1章4節）

神永恆的揀選是我們的呼召和我們從祂那裡獲得的所有益處的基礎，我們被揀選的那個時刻，正好顯明揀選是白白的，也不可能取決於我們任何的功德。

聖潔和無有瑕疵是揀選的結果，那些未被揀選仍然保留著他們天生的情性，那些情性除非神的介入是不可能改變的，這節經文也是對那些蒙揀選的一個提醒，提醒他們沒有任何放蕩的空間，因為，聖潔的生命是與揀選的恩典捆绑在一起的，當然，這並不表示我們的生命達到完美，在我們面前有這個目標，但是，直到我們跑完了當跑的路，我們是達不到這個目標的。為甚麼有些人會認為預定論是一種無用甚至有毒的教義呢？沒有教義是有用的，除非它被正確的對待，就好像保羅在這裡所做的那樣，它彰顯了神無限的良善，也給了我們有關祂的慈愛的知識。揀選，就是那最終極的明證，證明我們不能夠聲稱我們自己擁有任何的義。