We all need to examine ourselves to be sure that we are in Christ, and not just members of a church, playing at being Christian. We may think that we are saved because we go to church, but not all church-goers have been truly, deeply transformed by the touch of Jesus. Are we actually seeking to be his disciples, walking in his footsteps, trying to understand his words, and living according to the Father's will, as He did? Or, are we merely cultural Christians, seeking sanctuary within the church, doing what Christians do, and hoping to get into Heaven someday?
Jesus told a story, a parable about a field sown with wheat that also sprouted with tares --- weeds that grow looking like wheat, until their seeds mature differently. He knew that the Church would appear to be full, but not all would be truly his. They think they will be saved, but their hearts have not been renewed. Their lives superficially look like Christians, but they hide secret sins that are not repented from. They haven't put God first, but cling to the idols of this world seeking their own advantage, rather than what would build his Kingdom. However, Jesus said that we would not be able to tell true wheat from the weeds until the time for the harvest. Only then would his angels be able to separate the two.
And some will come to Me saying, 'Lord, Lord, did we not do great things and mighty works for you, in your name?' And I will say, 'Go from me, you wicked evil doers, for I never knew you.' And they shall be cast into the outer darkness. (paraphrased)
This goes to show that some will pretend to be children of God, doing the works of one who belongs, while yet being unchanged in their hearts and sinning over and over in secret, because they covet the values of this world.
Thus the Lord says, 'I do not see as man sees, looking upon the outer garments, but I look and see what is in a man's heart.' ... The angels can see the difference between the wheat and the tares, but the separation will not occur until we stand before Jesus at the door to Heaven. Do not worry that you may be found unworthy. None are worthy but those who love the Lord and seek to please Him by repentance and obedience, following his words and example. If this truly describes your heart, you are saved. Of course, we keep finding small sins that we confess to Him and repent to forsake them. We will not be perfect until we are given resurrection bodies and the robes of righteousness, as promised, upon our entry to Heaven.
We do not earn our salvation the way other religions demand. Jesus offers that for us as a free gift of grace. That's the only way we can ever be accepted before the infinite, holy, perfect God, our Father, Creator of the Cosmos.
Your sins cause God an infinite amount of pain and suffering. You can never earn enough merit to overcome the infinite pain you cause God by sinning. One sin gives infinite pain, because God is infinite ... but because Jesus is also God, the Son, his sacrifice is also infinite to cover all of our sins, and his infinite mercy offers that same sacrifice for you, if you will accept Him as your Lord and Saviour.
Don't let your pride, trying to earn salvation, be the sin that you don't repent from, continuing to reject his mercy. You can't be good enough because you are created and finite. You can't put out infinite effort and thereby become perfect. You're not supposed to be able to earn Heaven, because God doesn't want us to boast of how we deserved to be saved. God does not owe his respect to any bits of his creation. He saves us because He made us for Heaven, but because He gave us free will, we have to choose to love Him.
Our free will is both God's gift, and our problem, because we misuse it and sin. The result of sin is to be separated from God, to lose Heaven --- spiritual death, and eventually, physical death. But, in his compassion, Jesus offers Himself in your place, and then gives you his righteousness so you can stand in his place on Judgement Day and be saved by his merit. That is a merit that we can never earn for ourselves, but Jesus did it for us.
We only need to trust in Jesus. All He asks is that you come and follow Him, and become his disciple. Let Him place his seal on you so that you can choose to do what is right, rather than following your own selfish interests. That seal is also a gift, given free for the asking: the gift of the Holy Spirit. By giving us the Holy Spirit, Jesus sends another part of Himself, the third person of God, to live in our hearts, where He can speak to us and guide us.
Without the Spirit, we cannot do what is pleasing to the Father. But by listening to Him, we hear what the Father asks us to do. We know the Voice of God because He never contradicts his Word written in the Scriptures, but recalls to us the Law and the prophets, and the stories that reveal who He is. We follow with our obedience, and thus show how much we love Him. Our obedience is not perfect, but the mere fact that we keep trying, and confess our failures, shows the condition of our hearts.
Perhaps the main difference is, we don't obey a set table of rules because they are rules. Rules will never save us. Rather, we obey whatever rules we can because we love God. We know that obedience pleases Him, and that is our whole goal, to do whatever we can to please Him. When Jesus came to live with us, He made the rules both simpler and harder. Simpler to remember and keep track of, but harder to achieve. This was not to cause us to despair, but to require us to ask for help. Each day we need to approach Him for assistance in our daily lives, and the fact that we do, and that we keep trying, is what pleases Him.
We ask for forgiveness when we fail. He expects that and gives it freely, so long as we grant the same to others. And He gives us strength and grace to try to please Him with obedience And when we come to speak to Him, then He knows us, and we come to know Him as well. That is what saves us.
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