Additionally, the publican was saved by crying out, “ God be merciful to me, a sinner.”
And there were some people to whom Jesus said, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”. and I don’t recall that any of them said or did some church or religious thing.
Because it’s the response of the heart to the call of God.
He meets us where we are, as we are.
We don’t have to clean ourselves up, go somewher special, do something special. Just cry out to Him. He sees our heart and responds to that.
It's troubling, though, that the same crowd that cried out Hosanna to Jesus on Palm Sunday, five days later was yelling "Crucify him!" A person must persevere in the faith. Paul warned us about this.
We do have to obey Him. Or not?