Holy Trinity Ministry

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ST00025 Salvation by Grace Through Righteousness in Faith: Understanding Matthew 24:22 and Matthew 11:27

The Bible teaches that **salvation is by grace through faith**, and this is foundational to the Christian understanding of God's redemptive plan for humanity. However, certain passages, like **Matthew 24:22** and **Matthew 11:27**, highlight aspects of God’s sovereignty, the role of His elect, and His foreknowledge, which help us understand why only the elect are worthy of salvation.

In this discussion, we will explore how salvation is by grace, through the **righteousness** of faith, and how God’s **foreknowledge** and His **election** are connected to His redemptive purposes.

1. **Salvation by Grace Through Faith: The Foundation (Ephesians 2:8-9)**

Before we delve into the specific meaning of **Matthew 24:22** and **Matthew 11:27**, it’s important to grasp the foundation of salvation. **Ephesians 2:8-9** makes it clear that salvation is a **gift of grace**:
*“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”*

Salvation is a free gift from God, given through **grace**—His unmerited favor. We cannot earn salvation by our good deeds or works; it is only by trusting in the work of Christ on the cross that we are saved. **Faith** in Christ’s righteousness is what brings us into a right relationship with God.

This underscores the key point: **Righteousness comes through faith**, and that faith itself is a gift of grace. We are saved because of Christ’s righteousness, not our own, and by trusting in Him, we are justified before God.

2. **Matthew 24:22 – The Elect and Salvation**

In **Matthew 24:22**, Jesus speaks about the end times and the great tribulation:
*“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.”*

Here, Jesus emphasizes that **God’s elect**—those chosen by Him—are at the heart of His plan to shorten the days of the tribulation. This is not just to preserve humanity but specifically to ensure that **the elect**, those who are saved, endure and are preserved for salvation.

The term "elect" refers to those whom God has **chosen** for salvation from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). This election is not based on any merit of their own but on God’s sovereign grace. These are the ones God has determined will be saved, and for their sake, He ensures that they will endure to the end.

The **worthiness** of the elect does not come from anything they have done, but from the righteousness of Christ, which they receive through faith. Their faith is not self-generated but is a result of God’s grace, and their **election** is a demonstration of God’s sovereign will and foreknowledge.

3. **Matthew 11:27 – The Foreknowledge of God**

**Matthew 11:27** says:
*“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”*

This verse highlights the **sovereignty of God** in revealing Himself to humanity. It shows that **knowing God** is not something we can achieve on our own; it is a gift from God, given to those whom Christ chooses to reveal the Father.

This speaks to God’s **foreknowledge**—His divine knowledge of who will come to salvation. God, in His omniscience, knows who will respond in faith to His grace. This knowledge is not passive but active; God knows because He **elects** and **chooses**. Those to whom Christ reveals the Father are the ones who receive the gift of faith and are drawn into a saving relationship with Him.

Thus, in **Matthew 11:27**, we see that **God’s foreknowledge** is tied to His sovereign election. He knows who will be saved because He has chosen them, and He reveals Himself to them through Christ. The elect are those to whom God gives the **gift of faith**, enabling them to believe and be saved.

4. **The Righteousness of the Elect: Worthy of Salvation**

Why are the **elect** the ones worthy of salvation? It’s not because of anything inherent in them but because they are **clothed in the righteousness of Christ**. **Philippians 3:9** says:
*“...not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”*

The elect are **worthy** of salvation not because of their own righteousness but because of the righteousness of Christ, which they receive through faith. This is the essence of salvation by grace. God’s grace calls the elect, gives them faith, and imputes to them the righteousness of Christ, making them worthy of eternal life.

Their **worthiness** is not based on their actions or inherent goodness, but solely on the fact that they have received the **gift of salvation** by grace. God, in His mercy, has chosen to reveal Himself to them, giving them the faith to believe and the grace to persevere.

5. **Grace, Faith, and Endurance**

Salvation is by grace through faith, but **faith must endure**. **Matthew 24:13** says:
*“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”*

This endurance is not something the elect do on their own; it is a result of God’s grace sustaining them. In **Philippians 1:6**, Paul writes:
*“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”*

God ensures that those He has elected will endure to the end, remaining faithful through trials, tribulations, and challenges. This perseverance is a mark of the elect, showing that their faith is genuine and that God is working in them to bring them to salvation.

6. **The Connection Between Election, Grace, and Faith**

The relationship between **election**, **grace**, and **faith** is intertwined. God’s **election** flows from His sovereign grace, and through this grace, He grants **faith** to the elect. This faith is the means by which they receive salvation, trusting in the righteousness of Christ. Their faith, sustained by God’s grace, enables them to endure to the end, making them worthy of salvation.

God’s **foreknowledge** is not a passive observation of future events but an active choice to bring the elect into a saving relationship with Him. This foreknowledge is tied to His will and purpose, and it is the elect who, by grace, are given the gift of salvation.

Conclusion: Salvation by Grace Through Faith and the Elect’s Worthiness**

Salvation is the result of God’s **sovereign grace**, extended to humanity through faith in Jesus Christ. The elect, as described in **Matthew 24:22**, are those who are **chosen by God**, not because of their merit but because of His divine purpose and grace. They are **worthy of salvation** because they have received the righteousness of Christ through faith, and God ensures their perseverance.

In **Matthew 11:27**, we see the deep connection between **God’s foreknowledge** and His election. Christ reveals the Father to those whom He has chosen, and these chosen ones, the elect, are those who place their faith in Him and are saved.

Thus, **salvation is by grace through righteousness in faith**, and only those chosen by God—the elect—are made worthy through the righteousness of Christ. God’s sovereign grace and foreknowledge work together to bring about His redemptive plan, ensuring that those who are saved will endure to the end and be brought into eternal life.