Eternal election.
(De electione aeterna sive de praedestinatione)
The doctrine of eternal election, or Election of Grace, has been variously posed within dogmatics. Some have treated it already in the doctrine of God, especially in the doctrine of the decrees of God (de decretis divinis).1665) Others have thought that with the doctrine of God's grace in Christ there is a suitable place for the doctrine of eternal election, because eternal election is an Election of Grace.1666) Still others treat it according to the doctrine of the way of salvation before the doctrine of the church.1667) This is also a fitting place because eternal election stands in causal relationship to the church.1668) We let it follow the doctrine of the church and can cite as a reason for this that in Scripture men who have become members of the Christian church through faith are addressed as elect.1669) Then we want to express by this position that in Scripture the doctrine of the Election of Grace is not given a central but a serving position. It serves the exposition of sola gratia, as has already been shown in the summary exposition of the doctrine of the appropriation of salvation and is to be further expounded here. We will only remind you that the dogmatic grouping of the Christian doctrines is relatively indifferent as long as the doctrines are merely drawn from Scripture.1670)