Question: The Bible says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). By faith in Jesus Christ, we are no longer condemned and will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Answer: We like to think our belief in Jesus Christ means we are already in Him. This is our notion. “In Christ Jesus” doesn’t refer to all believers in the Lord Jesus. Actually, most of them are not approved by God. Just as the Lord said, “many are called, but few are chosen.” Among those who are not chosen, some of them only eat the loaves and are filled; some never love the truth, much less practice the truth; some even perform evil against God, especially those religious leaders, most of whom walk the path of the Pharisees and are antichrists; and some are just believers in name. So if we say all who believe in the Lord are in Jesus Christ, this is baseless! So who are the ones mentioned in the word of the Bible, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus….”? They are those who abide by God’s commandments, practice the truth, and obey God. In other words, they are the ones who pursue the truth and gain the life, are able to obey Christ, no longer do evil, and are completely compatible with Christ. Such people are those who are “in Christ.” It’s not true that all believers in the Lord are “in Jesus Christ.” Some believe in God, but God doesn’t acknowledge their belief. For instance, the Lord once said, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done any wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23). Can we say that these people who preach, cast out devils, and do many wonderful works in the Lord’s name are all in Christ? Aren’t they just the ones condemned by God? So, “believing in Jesus Christ” and “being in Christ” are different. Believers who cannot be approved by the Lord are not ones in Christ. This is because God’s work of saving man is not as what we’ve imagined that all believers in God can be saved. Many of them will be eliminated, especially those who sin willfully after they know the true way, like people who steal offerings, who deny God, who betray God, who don’t practice the truth, the fearful, and the fornicators. These people will still be condemned and eliminated. Those who engage in evil will be punished. Just like the Bible says, “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins …” (Hebrews 10:26). So, not everyone who believes in the Lord is in Christ. But they are those who love the truth and pursue the truth, who obey Christ, have true knowledge of Him, and have no notion, no disobedience, and no resistance against Christ, and who can make Christ’s heart his own and can do God’s will. Only they are the ones who are in Christ, who are approved by God, and who can enter God’s kingdom.