I agree. The point is that the bible isn't exactly clear on the issue.
It is clear on this one --
Matt 7 and Romans 2
Matt 7
"
not everyone who SAYS Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven - but he who DOES the will of My Father" Matt 7 and then follows the illustration of those who hear the words of Christ - but fail to do what they are told - the house built on sand.
Romans 2
13 for
it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when,
according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
...
25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but
if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 So
if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter
of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law? 28 For
he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
1 Cor 6
9 Or
do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor
the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed,
And clear on this one -
1 John 2
3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4
The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
1 John 5:2-4
2
By this we know that we love the children of God,
when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For
this is the love of God, that
we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
And clear in Romans 6
Romans 6
15 What then?
Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that
when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of
obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in
further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
And it was pretty clear here -
OSAS does not survive 1 Cor 9 "I buffet my body and make it my slave lest after preaching the Gospel to others - I myself should be disqualified from it"
And this was "clear as a bell" -
Romans 11
13 But
I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I might move to
jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will
their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the first piece
of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant,
remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root
supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, t
hey were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for i
f God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity,
but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness;
otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also,
if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for
God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural
branches be grafted into their own olive tree?
