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IMO, if a heathen acts with love and mercy toward his neighbor, it can only be by the same grace by which a Christian acts with love and mercy. So, yes, I do believe a heathen's acts of love and mercy are the equivalent of a Christian's acts of love and mercy. Neither has buried the talent (grace) God has given him; rather, each has appreciated it.

This is the point.

God allowed His only Son to die to make it possible for you to avoid having to pay for your sins yourself.

No matter how many good works you (or anyone else) does, you cannot do enough to balance out the non-acknowledgement of the death of the only begotten Son of God.

JESUS' death, and thus, His unique identity, must be acknowledged or you will die in your sins.
"I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM He, you shall die in your sins" (John 8:24).
That's JESUS, by the way.