This document discusses the concept of "election" in Christianity and whether Jesus could be a candidate for president. Several Twitter posts argue that #JesusIsMyCandidate because he sacrificed himself, cared for the marginalized, and brought people together. The document then examines what election means biblically, discussing both Old and New Testament views, as well as perspectives from John Calvin and Karl Barth. It concludes that election refers to communities called to serve God and be a light to others, not just individual salvation.

1. Jesus for President:
Election

2. Introduction
•Civility
•Expectations
•Disclaimer

3. #JesusIsMyCandidate
• @SorryIDontParty: #JesusIsMyCandidate
because He already paid the ultimate sacrifice
for us. Did Obama or Romney die for your
sins? Don't think so
• @BrianMerritt: #JesusIsMyCandidate
because of all the democratically elected
candidates in First Century Palestine he seems
the most competent.

4. #JesusIsMyCandidate
• @beccranford: #JesusIsMyCandidate because
he said crazy stuff like blessed are the
peacemakers for they will be called sons of
God
• @raymondafoss: #JesusIsMyCandidate
because he even washed the feet of his
betrayer

5. #JesusIsMyCandidate
• @raymondafoss: #JesusIsMyCandidate
because he cares about the needs of the
children and the marginalized.
• @ryanjpugh: #JesusIsMyCandidate because
in his economy, there is enough for everyone's
need.
• @MAGuyton: Why #JesusIsMyCandidate: 2)
He brings people together by eating and
drinking with sinners (Matthew 9:9-13).

6. Pros and Cons of Jesus for President

7. What is Election?
• To single out, to select, to choose, to take one
and leave another.
• The selection of a person or persons for office
by vote.
• Comes from the Greek word in the New
Testament for those who are chosen—
eklektos.

8. John Calvin & Election
• Unconditional election is the Calvinist
teaching that before God created the world,
God chose to save some people according to
his own purposes and apart from any
conditions related to those persons.
• Double predestination – those who are saved
are called the ‘unconditional elect’ and those
who are not are called the ‘reprobate.’

9. What is Election?
• The construction of the Greek verb for “chose”
indicates God chose us for Himself. That
means God acted totally independent of any
outside influence. God made the choice totally
apart from human will and purely on the basis
of God’s sovereignty.

10. Election in the Old Testament
• Deuteronomy 7:7-8
• Why does God choose Israel?
• Deuteronomy 14:2
• Does God elect Israel to be bearer of his
graciousness and mercy, or is the election of
Israel the end itself?

11. Election in the Old Testament
• Isaiah 46:9-10
• Is God sovereign?
• Psalm 105:43-45

12. Election in the New Testament
• John 15:16
• Ephesians 1:4-5
• Acts 13:48; Romans 8:33
• Rom. 9:6-24
• It does not depend on us – but on God, so
that God can share God’s riches. We play no
part in election. Election was made before We
even came into existence. Election is God’s
choice alone.

14. So what?
• Being part of the elect, the chosen means that
we have responsibilities.
• 2 Timothy 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
• We are elected for a purpose – not our own
purpose, not what we feel like, not what we
want to do. But to God’s calling.

15. Are Christians the only ones chosen?
• John 10:11-18
• 16I have other sheep that do not belong to this
fold. I must bring them also, and they will
listen to my voice. So there will be one flock,
one shepherd.
• We don’t know. But we do know that God
loved us so much that God sent Jesus for the
whole world.

17. Barth’s Challenge of Election
• Barth makes Jesus the object and subject of
both divine election and reprobation: Jesus
embodies God's election of humanity and
God's rejection of human sin. As the electing
God, Jesus elects all of humanity in himself.
And thus, as the elected man, all who are "in
Christ" are elect in him. Non-believers, it is
said, have simply not realized or recognized
their election in Christ.

18. Barth’s Challenge to Election
• Jesus is the Choosing God and the Choosing
Man. He is actively choosing and passively
chosen. Secondly, we know who is “elect”
because in Christ, humankind is chosen for
salvation and God Chooses Jesus for
damnation. Jesus is elected to rejection at the
cross. In this way, Barth believes that Jesus
transforms election and double-predestination
from a division of the saved and reprobate into
a division between human and divine which
God overcomes in the resurrection.

19. Barth & Election
• “Pious egocentricism” – am I saved? What
about me? Will God choose, love, help, save
me?
• Election and predestination are not inherently
about the individual but about the
community.
• Reactions to Barth?

20. In Conclusion
• Election means that both Israel and the
church are called in their different ways to be
‘light to the nations.’
• God elects communities to be God’s people
primarily – Jewish AND Gentile Christian
communities in the Bible.
• Participation in the Christian community is a
sign of our election, as we care about each
other.

21. In Conclusion
• The church is the community of people who
acknowledge, seek, expect, and gratefully
experience the saving grace of God in Christ –
where we are reminded over and over again of
the promises of God.
• Those whom we elect to public office need to
be willing to take on the responsibility and the
burden of being elected, just as we are elected
to be the Body of Christ.

22. Benediction
• Go out into the world, living as chosen and
elected people to be the light to the world.