Really? If the readers are to go with your logic then why is it that EVERYONE will NOT make it into God's kingdom?
Not everyone will go to heaven because we have to
except the gift of grace that Jesus gave us.
Not everyone loves Jesus, believes in Jesus or even
wants to go to heaven.
As John 3:16 says, who every believes in Him will have eternal life.
If He truly took away ALL sins why will there be a judgement?
So no one will have to worry when Jesus returns?
Judgment for the unsaved. And no, people under the blood of Christ will not have to worry. You know...I thought this was all very clear in the scriptures. The only people still trying to earn their way into heaven are the Jews. Clearly thats not going to work, or why was Jesus' death on the cross even necessary. Why the new, if the old was going to work?
Please understand....those that make it into God's kingdom must DO something different than those that do not!
An action of some sort MUST be performed. Faith alone will not cut it. As God's word says;
Again, you're missing the wonder that is Jesus!! You say "those that make it into God's kingdom must DO something..". You are implying, or even outright stating that you need to earn your way into heaven. You CANNOT do this. You are a fallen, sinful man, we all are.
[10] as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
(Romans 3:10 ESV)
Do you really believe you can stand before God, and when He asks you why He should let you into heaven, expect to be let in only by the strength of
your deeds? It is ONLY through the deeds of the perfect man; Jesus, that we can gain entrance into heaven. This is the ENTIRE point of Jesus coming, living the perfect life, free of sin, and dying in our place. I am so sorry you just can't see this beautiful thing!
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
Please keep this in context.
[Faith Without Works Is Dead]
[14] What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? [15] If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, [16] and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? [17] So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
(James 2:14-17 ESV)
James is saying here that being born again, receiving a new spirit in Christ, it generates a new life! If someone claims to have faith, but his life shows nothing for it, then his claim is false. Real faith generates love, kindness and forgiveness to those around us. We become more eager to help, to share, and to speak of what our God has done for us!
And just so you don't think I'm putting my own spin on this, the Bible has already taught us about faith vs works.
[Israel's Unbelief]
[32] Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,
Romans 9:32 ESV)
(commentary:
Why did Israel fail to achieve right standing with God through the law? They did not pursue obedience to the law in humble trust,
but tried to make it a means of establishing their own righteousness.)
[16] yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
(Galatians 2:16 ESV)
[The Righteous Shall Live by Faith]
[10] For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” [11] Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” [12] But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” [13] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— [14] so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
(Galatians 3:10-14 ESV)