Matthew 7:21-23
[21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
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The key word is never.
We don’t have a case of insufficient works but of an absence of salvation backing them. You can go to hell in a pew.
I agree.
We need to get right with the Lord. He will help us. He has promised to do so.
It is my belief that part of Satan’s complaint was that God asked too much. It just wasn’t fair. It was impossible!
Part of God’s vindication will be this (purely my opinion).
Those who have died in Christ will rise up forgiven of their sins to be taken with God to sin no more.
Those who are alive when Christ comes back, will be saved as they are. Some will still be imperfect but trying.
My perception is that there will be very troubling times just before Christ returns. Christians will be persecuted much like early Christians were.
It is my perception that during this trial by fire, those who remain faithful to the teachings of God despite them, may in fact become perfect in God’s eyes.
They will not have earned their salvation, as only Jesus could provide that having never sinned, but I wonder if God won’t be vindicated by these people who have chosen to live Godlike lives in their trial by fire.
Food for thought, but I am not trying to convince others of this. What comes will come, and it matters not to me if this is fanciful or reality, only in that what serves God most is what I would hope for.