Now that I’m 75....I’m really working on doing good....hoping that God will just look at my recent behavior.
You should be counting on God to look at none of your behavior abd only at Christ. That is the only way to be saved
“recent behavior”..
I hope He only considers my best behavior. Like the last 1.2 seconds of writing this post. Whoops...See I lied..
I hope that was facetious, since salvation cannot be obtained by doing more good works than evil, nor can one actually merit eternal life. But instead the penitent believer is "accepted in the Beloved" on Christ's account, with effectual obedient Abrahamic heart-purifying regenerating faith being counted for righteousness. And which obedience results in rewards under grace, that of God rewarding believers for what He enabled and motivated one to do, which you otherwise would not have done .
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, (Romans 4:3-6)
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (Romans 4:19-21)
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (Psalms 34:18)
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:7-9)
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13)
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. (Hebrews 10:35)
Thus the exhortations to continue in the faith, versus willfully departing from it and thus from God, which is all on us. Gal. 5:1-4; Heb. 3:12; 10:25-39)
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (Hebrews 3:13-14)
And unless we are thus converted and finally persevere in this faith, God will judge us for all our sins in damnation, (Rv. 20:6,11-15) thus He works to chastens us unto repentance.
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:31-32)
Glory to God for His faithfulness.
All it takes to separate someone from God is ONE sin. Adam and Eve disobeyed just one simple command and that was it. Sin and death entered the world and they needed a redeemer.
The good news, however, is that Jesus already took care of that. He died in your place so you don't have to. The record of your sin debt to God can be erased and you can have right standing before God.
Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 2:13-14 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Trust in Jesus to save you instead of your own works and He will.
Acts 16:27-31 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Romans 10:9-13 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Only Jesus can pay the penalty for your past, present and future behavior.
John 5:24
IF you have been born again by believing on Whom God sent for your deliverance, then GOD remembers your sin no more. IF you have been born again, then The Life of GOD is abiding in your spirit even though your flesh will go on sinning until it is swept away in the receiving of a new body and soul to fit your eternal alive spirit ... at The Departure of the Body of Christ / Body of ALL believers in Him and His Grace to you. For it is GOD WHO is in you ...