Shall We Sin?

And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Matthew24:22 ESV)

Jesus is speaking to the apostles of the day of the desolation of abomination, a day that will signal Christ's return.  Jesus tells us that these days are so horrific that if they were not limited, no human would survive. The reason they are cut short is because of the elect.

Many find unconditional election offensive because it contradicts the unbiblical teachings of universal salvation. We know not all will be saved; many will spend an eternity in hell. In this passage in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus uses the word 'elect' to solidify the truth of the doctrine. The term 'elect' refers to those chosen by God for salvation, based not on their merit or actions, but on God's sovereign choice. The word elect comes from the Greek word ἐκλέκτος ('eklektos'), which means chosen or elect.1 From the original Greek translation, it is clear that Jesus used the word "elect" to describe the chosen children of God.

In this verse, Jesus tells us several important things. First, the doctrine of unconditional election is correct. Secondly, the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is also accurate. The 'doctrine of the perseverance of the saints' refers to the belief that those who are truly saved will continue in faith and good works until the end of their lives. The abomination of desolation will be cut short, and the saints will persevere through this destructive time.

We in Christ will not see this day from an earthly perspective as we will be raptured before the tribulation. The 'rapture' refers to the belief that believers will be taken up to heaven, escaping the tribulation. We know this as Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” We will be spared those days. But we will not be the only ones. The gospel will continue to be preached, and many of the elect, living in the tribulation, will still come to Christ. Salvation is available right up until the end, when God’s total destruction of creation will usher in the new heaven and earth are ushered in. There must be total destruction; if there were not, those who refuse Christ would contaminate the new heaven and earth, just as we have done in the past.

Many say they believe in Christ and yet go on sinning, believing they will have time to reconcile with God. Wrong; we have no idea if we will breathe our next breath. Salvation comes through faith in Christ and our repentance for our sins. As Paul wrote in Romans, What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? (6:1-2). Having died with Christ, we cannot go on living in sin. Paul also wrote,  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (6:12-14) The urgency of repentance is upon us, and we must take responsibility for our actions.

We must repent for our sins. With the strength of Christ and the Holy Spirit in us, we can turn from those things that separate us from God over time. Do not wait to reconcile yourself to God. Accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ and submit to His Lordship, repent for your sins, and receive salvation through Christ. Our only hope is in the finished work of the Son of God, a promise that brings comfort and security to our souls.

Grace and Peace.

[1] James Strong, Strong's Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville:

Thomas Nelson, 2009) 1588.