Absolutely true.
Another truth is that God alone is the Judge of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12)
It's always been amazing to me that while in His own agony, Jesus could hear the faith of the thief on the cross beside Him, know the sincerity in his heart and proclaim his salvation. Not another living person would have believed him to be 'saved'.
I think this is an example of just how little doctrine a person needs to believe in order to receive God's grace and gift.
While Christians can understand that the doctrine of a particular group is error laden, multitudes who fellowship with them may believe enough of the truth for salvation but have not paid close enough attention to the other teachings sufficiently to pollute their faith and cancel out the Grace of God extended to them.
I think in this regard Christians should be careful to not be so disagreeably insistent on everyone eating meat that has been offered to idols only to cause their brother to sin. I Corinthians 8:1-13. While their doctrine is correct it is not purity of doctrine that saves and a Pharisaical attitude can turn them against Christ.
What an embarrassment if when Christ asks them why they didn't accept Him when they were given a chance they say I didn't want to be like "Joe the jerk Christian" who said I had to do this and believe that and become just like him. I didn't want to have to become a jerk to be a Christian."
Its God's grace through faith. The Pharisaical spirit will pollute God's grace and make purity of doctrine necessary for salvation. The Jesus lead spirit will tell the story, let the Holy Spirit convict and convince and demonstrate a loving life.
Christian apologetics is a useful tool when employed with the Spirit of love rather than the I'm right and your wrong because... spirit of the Pharisee.
I think the two biggest surprises in heaven will be:
1-The people who aren't there that we thought would be and
2-The people who are there that we thought wouldn't be.
The Jesus lead spirit will tell the story, let the Holy Spirit convict and convince and demonstrate a loving life.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
While God does judge the thoughts and intents of the heart, Hebrews 4:12 is a salient verse in that is speaking of the written words of God, not the Word of God...Seems kinda strange I suppose...
The words in the book will judge you...Why??? Because you must believe the words in the book...The book is our means of God communicating to us...Note:
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Unbelief in what??? Unbelief in what God tells us thru the scriptures...
The (written) word of God pierces our bodies and separates the soul and spirit from the joints and marrow...
The written words of God are alive...They are the voice of God...
It is our duty to proclaim these words of God to the world...
There are many spirits gone out into the world...Can we rely on the Holy Spirit alone to guide us??? How do we know it is the Holy Spirit guiding us??? God says to 'prove all things'...We must prove all things by the words of God, the scriptures...