Stephen Robinson in his book Following Christ taught:
The scriptures make crystal clear that proper behavior (works) must be part of our life in Christ. The Savior himself taught, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. . . . Depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21, 23; emphasis added). In other words, merely acknowledging Jesus’ lordship, merely saying the words or making the confession, while refusing to make him our lord by serving him and conforming our behavior to his will—this will not get us into the kingdom. The confession or the acknowledgement must be accompanied by doing the will of the Father in heaven and by not doing iniquity. Jesus explicitly established the undeniable link between salvation and good works: “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments (Matthew 19:17). In John’s Gospel (3:20-21) he is quoted as saying: “Every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (emphasis added). You can’t do evil and be in the light—our deeds and our spiritual condition and destiny are interconnected. Moreover, Jesus also makes keeping his commandments—that is, behavior—a part of abiding in his love: “If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love” (John 15:10; see also 14:15, 21). The necessary link between proper behavior and being “in Christ” is further taught by John: “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him, (John 1:24). Who is truly “in Christ”? Those who keep the commandments! 5 There are those who profess him but will not work for him, those who claim to be sons and daughters but refuse to do their chores. But these, according to the scriptures, are “liars.”
The necessity of good behavior for abiding in Christ is again emphasized by John at John 3:6-8: Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth 6 hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning” (emphasis added).
Finally, the Apostle Paul, who cannot be accused of being anti grace, teaches the necessary connection between salvation and good works in several places, among them 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abuser of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” Period. NO exceptions—not even for Christian adulterers, Christian thieves, or Christian extortioners. In the jargon of my students God will not accept our talking the talk without walking the walk. ~Stephen E. Robinson (deceased) Following Christ (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2019) 352-356 Dwarsligger edition
