For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
James Kraft
All men are sinners. Romans 3:23. But believers have His perfect righteousness imputed to us by faith alone in Jesus. Romans 4:5-6.
The thief on the cross was saved by faith alone in Jesus alone apart from any works. Romans 4:5 Romans 3:26-28.
Sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. Ephesians 1:13-14. Romans 11:6. No one can earn heaven. The GIFT of God is to them that BELIEVE, Trust in Jesus alone apart from any works
Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the Holy Spirit in whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
John 3:18 Believers and unbelievers. What is conversion? It is repentance. We go from unbelief to belief. We change our mind from trusting in what we do or do not do to save us, to trusting in Jesus finished work on the cross to save us.
We can not tell a believer from an unbeliever because we can not see the Spirit of God in them.
Second TImothy 2:19 Nevertheless, the foundation of God is sure, having this seal, Ephesians 1:13, the Lord knoweth them that are His.
The wheat and the tares. The wheat or are those who have trusted Jesus alone apart from works for the free GIFT of God.
The tares are those that are trusting in what they do or do not do to earn heaven by their own works. They believe they are saved by keeping the law and doing good works. Galatians 2:21. Romans 3:26-28.
They boast in what they do instead of what Jesus did for us.
Matthew 7:15-23. But Lord, Lord, look at what we've done? Jesus says, depart from me I never knew you. You never did the will of my Father in heaven. John 6:40 and John 6:29. You trusted in what you did to save you, Not on my one blood sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. First John 2:2
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. John 6:47 Jesus said it, we believe it, and that settles it. John 3:18
First Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness, but unto us who are saved it is the POWER of God.
First Corinthians 1:21 For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching to save them that BELIEVE. John 3:18. You either are saved by Gods word, or you are not. John 6:40.
God will separate the believers from the unbelievers at harvest time. The Rapture of the Church. First Corinthians 15:51-53 and First Thessalonians 4:13-18.Those who have believed are declared righteous by God even though we are all yet sinners. Colossians 2:13. Romans 4:6.