@ Countryangel, please read this.
But here's a Lutheran response (Scripture passages are provided in case you want them):
1) You don't do anything to be saved. Salvation isn't something you can achieve by trying hard enough, doing the right things, thinking the right things, or believing the right things. Salvation is God graciously saving you, by sending His Son, the Lord Jesus, who suffered death on the cross for all our sins, and who rose from the dead as victor over sin, death, hell, and the devil. It is only Christ who is our salvation. Salvation is therefore by grace alone, that is, by the abundant kindness and generosity of God which He has for us. God acts upon us to grant us faith, faith to trust in Christ, and we receive this faith as a gift from God, not of ourselves, through the preaching of the Word and the Sacraments.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast." - Ephesians 2:4-9
The other person who refuted this post is correct, this post is utterly false and unbiblical. (Note: I didn't use the words heresy or fallacy). Belief and faith is just the start of your Christian walk with Christ. Where you end up, either in heaven or hell is 100% based on your works, in obedience with what Christ has given us to follow in the bible.
First let's cover the scripture he used: Ephesians 2:4-9. He left out the most important verse from that scripture, which is verse 10. By accepting Christ, we are required to do good works as an act of our faith. It's a reflection of our willingness to turn away from sin by doing good unto others instead of doing bad.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Belief and faith is just the start of your Christian walk with Christ. Where you end up, either in heaven or hell is 100% based on your good works toward others.
If you look at all judgements ahead by Christ and God, nowhere in the bible does it reveal a person judged by their faith, it's 100% on your works: your good deeds helping others. Jesus taught us in the
Matthew 25:31-46. Here it reveals we are required to show love for others to meet His requirement for eternal life. Those with no works,
Matthew 25:41-46 are sent to eternal punishment: hell.
Every judgement mentioned in the bible all reveal two similarities: everyone will be judged by their works and no one will be judge by their faith. "Absolutely no one!" It's because our works is the reflection of our faith. The rule is simple, if you have faith, prove it by your works:
Matthew 3:8, Romans 2:13, James 1:22, James 2:20, James 2:24.
Absolutely nowhere in the bible, old or new testament, will people be judge on their belief, it's 100% works: the works you have done for God and Christ. Belief and faith is just the start of your Christian walk, where you end up is by your works. Good deeds toward others: labour of love.
Matthew 25:34-36
34 Then the King will say to those on his right,
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
Matthew 25:41-46
41“Then he will say to those on his left,
‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’
45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’
46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Revelation 20:11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is
the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,
according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man
according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
People also need to be highly careful who they choose to listen to concerning salvation. There will be differences in opinions due to their denomination because some have based their salvation on a faith alone system, disregarding others teachings and writings in the bible about good works.
MUST READ AND ACCEPT EVERYTHING written in the bible, especially the things Jesus said. Jesus will be the One that decides who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. Just remember this simple rule: You start with faith, you end with works.