Is Jesus preaching salvation through grace or works here?
One of the first things I noticed when I read this is that Jesus effectively says if you call on the name of the Lord you may not be saved, which is in direct contrast to Acts 2:21. In addition, Jesus says that those who will enter the kingdom of heaven are the ones who do the will of the Father, again possibly in contrast with Ephesians 2:8-9. So is Jesus saying that we get into the kingdom of heaven through works and not grace? Absolutely not! Jesus opens this passage by clarifying and expanding on Acts 2:21, i.e. saying, ‘Everyone who calls on the name will be saved? In theory yes, but we know there are many who will just call on the name of the Lord even though they do not believe it. Rather, it would be better if everyone lived in the will of God, which is that they be saved by His grace poured out by the ransom for many, Jesus Christ’ (see 1 Timothy 2:4-5). Jesus then further clarifies himself by using an example that someone may come up and claim, ‘I should be in heaven – just l
