I believe that Jesus would say that salvation is by following him (a commitment that is equivalent to what Paul referred to as faith), which means caring for others and showing it in action, humility and repentance, and forgiving others.
Both Jesus and Paul, while saying that we would be judged by our actions, were clear that we had to start with motivation. Jesus spoke of caring about others and obedience to him, Paul about faith. Without that, we get into legalism, which Jesus and Paul in varying ways condemned.
About Paul, it’s worth pointing out that justification was by faith, but not salvation or judgement. Indeed many scholars will tell you that Paul taught justification by faith and judgement by works.
My sense is that both aspects have to be there, that salvation consists of a life that includes both proper motivation (faith, obedience and love) and the resulting action, and that we get in trouble if we omit either.
Note by the way that Jesus seems to have emphasized positive action. That is, for him we would be judged by whether we made a difference for others, and not by whether we sinned, as sin is normally understood by Christians (which is violating rules). He certainly opposed sin, but didn’t speak of people ending up rejected because they sinned too much, but because they were useless to others, failed to obey his message, or because they failed to forgive others.
(RE: In bold...) Really?? Hedrick, it is so important to read the Bible. Scripture seems to say something else...The Gospel of Jesus Christ promised to come with power to cause us to be overcomers.
1 John 5:4 “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
Romans 8:2 For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death
James 1:5 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
1 John 3:6-10
No one who abides in him keeps on sinning;
no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him,
and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
Hebrews 10:26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
James 1:14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
1 Timothy 2:19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”