For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
James Kraft
Salvation is a free gift from God that cannot be earned. Discipleship is for rewards in heaven. Act 16:31. The thief on the cross. Faith alone apart from works which cannot save a sinner.
The GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE. Romans 6:23. Romans 3:26-28 For He is the just and the justifier of them that BELIEVE in JESUS. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? By the law of works? Nay, but by the law of FATH. Therefore we conclude a man is justified by FAITH apart from the deeds of the law.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (First Corinthians 15:3-4) for it is the POWER of God unto salvation to everyone that BELIEVETH, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The second we trust Jesus as our only savior apart from any works or action, He imputes His perfect righteousness to us, and will no more impute sin to our account. Romans 4:6-8.
Romans 4:2 If Abraham were justified by works, he would have something to glory in, boast in, but not before God. Abraham believed God and was justified by faith alone.
He was justified before men by works. But not before God.
Jesus did all the saving we are going to get. All we have to do is believe He did it for us.
First John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God, that ye may KNOW YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
We know we have eternal life because God cannot lie. John 6:47. John 6:37-40. Romans 6:23 The GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE. Paid in full. No longer condemned to hell. John 3:18. Sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. Ephesians 1:13-14. Ephesians 4:30. And grieve not the Holy Spirit in whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
IF we could do one work that would save us, then Jesus died in vain. Jesus paid it all and we paid 0. You cannot boast in 0.
Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house. The GIFT of God is eternal life. John 3:18.
Salvation is free, rewards in heaven are earned by believers. First Corinthians 3:11-15. If we have done nothing for Jesus, we will have no rewards in heaven. Wood, hay and stubble will be burned up, but all believers have eternal life. God cannot lie. John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that BELIETH on me HATH EVERLASTING LIFE. Present tense.
No one ever got saved by following Jesus. We are saved because He paid our sin debt in full, and GIVES us eternal life as a free GIFT. Romans 6:23. The GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE by a one time faith alone in Jesus alone apart from any works or action which can not save us.
Romans 11:6 Amazing grace, Jesus paid it all and we paid 0. The GIFT of God is eternal life. Paid in full by Jesus finished work on the cross plus nothing and minus nothing. Eternal life is a free gift from God by faith alone in Jesus alone.