No work of ours could/can make possible eternal life. It is only by God’s grace.
Nothing we do adds to the finished work of Jesus, for only He could make possible our inheritance.
IOW, Jesus has opened the gates of heaven, His sacrifice was sufficient to do that and His mission is finished.
There is a vast difference between these two statements,
There is nothing a sinner can do to gain heaven.
There is nothing a sinner must do to gain heaven.
One says that only Jesus could open the gates.
The other says that only the sinner can choose to walk through them.
Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. As long as we produce good fruit, we remain on the vine. If we do not produce good fruit, we are dead branches and will be cut off.
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
John 15: 4-7
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples.
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Would that also be true of someone who does not have membership in the CC?
You have been most eloquent in defense of the Faith. Thank you.