Charles Hodge, On Our Union with Christ

“As to its origin, it is of God – because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus. It is of Him; He was the efficient cause. It is to be referred to Him alone that you are in Christ. Your conversion or saving union with Christ is not due to yourselves; it is not because you are wiser or better or more diligent than others that you are thus distinguished. That which is the turning point in theology and therefore in religion is here most explicitly asserted. And it is not only asserted, but it is declared to be God’s purpose to make it apparent and to force everyone to acknowledge it. He so dispenses His grace to make people see with regard to others and to acknowledge with regard to themselves that the fact that they are in Christ – true Christians – is due to Him and not in themselves.” (I Corinthians, pg. 45)