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Have I lived the way he taught in the New Testament? That is what counts.

UG, that sounds an awful lot like it depends on WHAT you are DOING will determine your fate, instead of what HE has ALREADY done.

NIV John 4:37-39
37. Thus the saying `One sows and another reaps' is true.
38. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
39. Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did."

NIV John 5:39-40
39. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,
40. yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

NIV John 6:27-29
27. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
28. Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
29. Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (Simple!)

Around and around and around we go...Christ died for my sins. I will live eternally because of His sacrifice. However, faith without works is dead, (and the converse can be said: works without faith is dead.) Why did Christ say to live his commandments? No, my works alone will not save me, and I realize that. But my faith in his atoning sacrifice does and will, but I must also do everything in my power to make sure I live a Christ-like life. And then He will make up the rest.