Some people will believe that they are saved by believing that they will be judged as a believer by faith. Some believers accept that the Holy Spirit will need to witness that they are a child of God and wait for this judgement to know that they will have eternal life. There is no right or wrong way of doing this and it is up to the believer.
What does the scripture say about how we can live our lives as a believer.
(John 8:31)
“ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.”
(ESV version)
“If you abide (do) in my word, you are truly my disciples”
(John 14:15)
“If ye love me, keep my commandments”.
(Matthew 16:24)
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
My comments-
This means choosing to not sin when we are tempted and using the faith to resist this temptation.
(John 13:35).
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”.
(John 6:29 )
“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
(John 6:47)
“ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
(Matthew 22:37-40)
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
What Jesus says about eternal life for believers.
(John 11:25-26)
“ Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
(Matthew 7:21-23)
" Not every one 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.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity"
(Revelation 2)
"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."
(Matthew 7:13-14)
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
(Luke 23:39-43)
“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
My comments-
This story is about the two criminal men on the cross with Jesus and Jesus gave one of them who was repentant the promise of eternal life in heaven.
The thief was in great pain when he acknowledged Jesus. He was also sincerely repentant and Jesus being God the Son knew this to and was capable of saying so. Today this may look like somewhat deathbed conversions.
I think salvation is possible with these type of conversions. However, they too will need to be judged to determine to see if they were truly repentant and also if they had a change of heart and acknowledged their wrong doing. It is God who knows their hearts in the end and if sincere repentance was made.
The church of England view on this seems to be that this can happen death bed conversions, but you shouldn’t count on this as an insurance to get through at the last minute. The Orthodox church views are similar as well.
(2 Corinthians 5:8)
“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
(Romans 8:13-16)
“For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put
to death the deeds of the body, you will live. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”
My comments-
The Holy spirit we are taught in the faith will bear witness to at the end that we are children of God and they will have a witness from the spirit. The Holy Spirit’s witness is intended to be over a course of someone's faith (this can over a shorter span to for those who adopt over a shorter span of time). A believer will be guided by the Holy Spirit to have assurance that they are children of God during their journey with their faith. If you are working with them and not on the path to salvation they should guide you on this and help you if you are ready to work with them. They will have a witness to at the end of your life to that you are a child of God and if they do this you will be given eternal life with Christ.
What happens after the 2nd Judgement for believers at the judgement Seat of Christ .
(John 5:22)
“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement unto the Son.”
(2 Corinthians 5:10)
“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad”.
These events are suggested in (Revelation 19:7-8) and (Revelation 22:12) "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be".
Christ will determine if we go to heaven or the New Earth after the 2nd Judgement.
Catholics believe in purgatory before entering God's kingdom for some believers but this isn't stated directly in the Bible, but they use scripture for this basis. These scriptures are used for the Biblical basis for purgatory. (1 Corinthians 3:10–15) (Matthew 12:32) (2 Maccabees 12:44–46).
