Individual Election is In Christ

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;

(2 Timothy 2:11 NIV)

Corporate election is a vast subject. Much good material on it is available at www.evangelicalarminians.org

It is often asked how election relates to us as individuals. Election relates to us as individuals based on our position or identification in union with Christ. In our text above, Paul tells Timothy that if we died with Jesus, we will also live with Jesus.

Now let's think about that momentarily...You might say, "How could I have died with Jesus?" "He lived so long ago!" One of the chief doctrines of Paul is Identification. I am absolutely convinced that the doctrine of Identification is the most neglected doctrine in the Church today. Everyone has a primary message in their ministry, and I am no different. My message is, and I think always has been, the message of Identification.

What does it mean to be Identified with Christ? Paul lets us in on this vital truth in several places. One of my favorites is 1 Corinthians 6:17, "But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit." Just as a man unites himself with his wife, and the two become one flesh, Paul states that when we join ourselves to the Lord Jesus by faith, we become one with Him spiritually. We become a part of His body, which is the Church. The Church has taken the place of the physical body of Christ, and Jesus is said to be the head of his "new" body, the Church. The Church then is the body that carries the head around where He wants to go.

When we join ourselves to Christ's body by faith, then all that is true about Jesus becomes true for us. He perpetually stands in our place. This is called Penal Satisfaction. Jesus became our substitute. He became what we are: sin, flesh and blood (2 Cor. 5:21, Phil. 2:7) that we might become what He is: righteous, holy, unblameable...

The Scripture says that Jesus ever-lives to make intercession for us. Intercession literally means to "stand in the gap." Jesus lives forever, and forever He stands in our place. He did not simply do this on the cross, but does it now in heaven. He is our High priest forever and our advocate. What is true about Jesus is true about me, because I am in Christ.

"I am crucified with Christ..." Paul says. How so? Because I am now in Christ's body by faith, then I can say that I was crucified with Him. Not only that but I was buried with him, resurrected with Him, ascended with Him, and now seated with Him in heavenly realms. Thus, Paul can correctly say that if we died with Him, then we will also live with Him.

Election is no different. It is Jesus Christ who is the elect One (Mt 12:18; cf. Isa 42:1, 6; 1 Pet 2:4). I am chosen "in Him," Paul says in Ephesians. Why did He choose me? Was it because of something I did? No. The question could also be asked, "Why was I crucified with Christ?" The answer is because I have joined myself to the Lord by faith through the empowerment of the Gospel. God chose that Christ would be all these things, and thus, since I am identified with Christ, then I am all these things as well.

Election is a positional truth in Christ. God did not choose Robert Mackey. God chose Christ. Since Robert Mackey is in Christ, then I can rightly say that God chose Robert Mackey. Furthermore, since I am in Christ, I can also rightly say what the Father has said about Christ is also true about me: "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased."

If more Christians knew about Identification, it would put a complete end to our constantly trying to measure up so that God will like us. God's justice was completely satisfied on the cross, and God's satisfaction is fully justified in me because of the cross.