God chooses those who are in Christ
In this last age, many people preach about “those chosen by God,” yet they often omit the crucial phrase “in Christ.” By doing so, they are able to freely redefine what it means to be “chosen by God,” and in turn present themselves as spokespeople for God. Is this not the very method often used by false shepherds and deceiving theologians to mislead people?
I. All Humanity Is Redeemed Through the Blood of Jesus Christ
Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
1 Kings 8:46 – There is no one who does not sin.
Romans 3:10 – There is no one righteous, not even one.
1 John 1:8 – If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves.
Isaiah 53:6 – We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Ephesians 1:7 – In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
Romans 5:18–19 – Through one trespass, condemnation came to all people; so also through one righteous act, justification and life came to all. Through the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners; so also through the obedience of One, many will be made righteous.
From these Scriptures, it is clear that all people have sinned, yet all may receive redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ.
II. Only Those Who Are in Christ Can Be Saved
Ephesians 2:8–9 – 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.
Ephesians 2:7 – In the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
From these passages, it is evident that salvation is found only in Christ.
III. God Chose Us in Christ
Ephesians 1:4–7
For He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
From these verses, we understand that:
- God chose us in Christ
- God predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ
- We are redeemed through His blood
These truths together reveal God’s plan of predestined redemption.
But who are the “us” mentioned in this passage?
They are those who are described as holy and blameless before God. Therefore, those who are not holy and blameless before Him cannot be regarded as part of those chosen and predestined for salvation.
IV. Jesus’ Definition of Being “In Christ”
John 14:23 – Jesus answered and said, “Anyone who loves Me will keep My word. My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them.”
From this passage, it is clear that only those who obey the words of Jesus truly belong to Him. Only such people can be considered to be “in Christ,” and therefore among those who are chosen for salvation.
Conclusion
A person must keep the word of Jesus in order to be truly “in Christ.” This includes three essential dimensions:
First, a person must confess their sins and turn back to God. In doing so, they are set apart, pursue holiness, and are made holy—thus dwelling in the holy Christ through self-purification in Him.
Second, a person must keep the word of Jesus in order to become a new creation in Christ, putting off the old self and putting on Christ.
Third, a person must continually do the will of God, walk with Him, and follow Christ on the path to the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life.
In this last age, many ministers, in order to conform to worldly culture, avoid speaking about what it truly means to be “in Christ,” and they also avoid teaching these three essential meanings.
As Jesus said: they shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. They do not enter themselves, and they prevent those who are entering from going in.
When the Lord Jesus returns, those who remain in Christ will dwell with Him in the Kingdom and receive eternal life. But those who do not remain in Christ—how can they escape being cast into the lake of fire burning with sulfur?
