Where I would differ with my friend annalex is in saying it is grace only (sola gratia) by which we are saved. That is, only through and by God's total grace do we come to know Him and persevere. We do nothing to cooperate or effect our salvation as much as we would like to think we do.
If you are truly in Christ you will never falter to a point of total rejection simply because Christ will substain you. He is the Shepherd that guard His sheep even from ourselves. For this we praise Him.
"He is the Shepherd that guard His sheep even from ourselves."
Out of curiosity, where is this in scripture?
Of course we do; you yourself mentioned a requirement about getting "approved" through the study of the Scriptures, although so far you have not answered me when I asked how is that different from salvation (by grace, of course) with works (see 7796). The gospels and the epistles are filled with excoriations what to do and how to behave. These are all calls for cooperation with grace.