Nobody has to answer to me at all. But, I'm not the one you have to worry about.
Jesus said that, not me. He's the one folks will end up answering to. His statement makes no room whatsoever for "working out your own path to salvation". There is one path. He said it, not me.
It’s the concept of the communion of saints - specifically the Church Triumphant, the Church Suffering, and the Church Militant.