For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
James Kraft
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life.
After we receive the free gift of eternal life, we still reap what we sow in this life and in heaven.
Old Testament. Deuteronomy 22:28-29. If a man find a damsel who is a virgin, who is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; Then the man who lay with her shall give her father fifty shekels of silver and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her he may not put her away all the days of his life.
New testament. Salvation by grace our sin debt is paid in full and we can no longer be condemned, John 3:18, and where sin abounds grace much more abounds.
But we still reap what we sow in this life and in heaven. We can be chastened by the Lord as children of God, John 1:12, and lose our rewards in heaven. First Corinthians 3:11-15.
James Kraft
Galatians 2:21 I do not void the grace of God, for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
First of all, God gave us His law to prove we are all sinners. Romans 3:23. It is when we know we are all sinners and have no way to pay our debt to God that we accept His free gift of eternal life. Jesus paid the debt and set us free. John 3:18.
We have got the wrong idea. That if we keep Gods laws and do good works, God owes us heaven. That is false.
Unbelievers believe adultery is wrong. But not committing adultery does not save a sinner.
We are saved because Jesus died paid our sin debt in full and we can no longer be condemned to hell because of what he did for us, not by anything we do or do not do. Man can do nothing to save himself. We have all broken Gods laws. Jesus died to pay the debt we owe God so we do not have to go to hell to pay for our sins.
Romans 4:5-8. We are saved by Faith alone in Jesus alone apart from any works or action. John 6:40. Our sin debt is paid in full. John 3:18.
Unbelievers are brought to Jesus to be saved by grace. Believers should keep Gods laws to keep from the chastening of the Lord, and for rewards in heaven.
We are not saved by keeping Gods laws or doing good works. We are saved because Jesus paid the debt we owe God to save us from hell.
To many believe they are saved because we keep the law. Jesus is the only one who kept the law perfectly so He could be our savior.
Romans 3:26-28. No boasting in heaven.