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I see this said, but I can’t understand that logic.

Christ fulfilled the “sacrificial laws”, those of sacrificing animals to signify the death of a sacrificial lamb. Jesus was the fulfillment of that law. An animal didn’t need to be slaughtered to point to a future sacrifice. Jesus was that sacrificial lamb for us.

The “Sacrificial laws” ended at the cross.

The observance of the Ten Commandments did not end.

Did murder suddenly become acceptable because Christ died on the cross? Did theft, adulty, covetry, and the other laws suddenly stop being wrong? Of course not.

The Ten Commandments were still in force.

As for our good works earning us a way to heaven, you’re right. There’s no way to heaven except through Jesus Christ. We cannot be perfect and “buy” our way in through acts. However...

You’ll never sell me on the idea we get to do anything we want, and we’ll still be saved. I can’t murder, rape, steal, and do many other things and be saved. Even then, if true repentance enters in, you can be saved, but the repentance must be real and we must try to live a good life after that.

What is baptism all about? It signifies dying to sin, and being reborn in the nature of Jesus Christ. Once baptized we move forward trying to do God’s will, live a good life, and reign in our sinful desires.

Are we going to make it? Will we be perfect? Of course not. We’re human. We make mistakes daily and try to do better. God does not want us to develop ulcers over the attempt to avoid sin, but He does expect us to continually improve our character to live as good a life as we can.

Jesus didn’t die on the cross to give us carte blanche when it comes to committing all the “fun” sins we want.

If we love Him, we keep His Commandments.

Let me close with this thought. If we sin freely in our course of life here on earth, what joy will there be in heaven for us?

We need to learn to live as if we are in heaven already. When we enter paradise, we’ll be right at home.