As Christians are we really saved through faith in Jesus Christ alone? If that's really true, then why do we have to repent for our sins? And doesn't the scripture in the Book of Revelation about unbelievers,abominable,liars,murderers,idolterers and those who commit sexual sins not inheriting the Kingdom of God contradict with the we are saved through Christ alone theory?
Allison, you have asked a really good question and I am pleased and blessed to be able to speak to it with you.
The Bible teaches us that salvation is actually a "process. Yes, we are saved the very moment we place our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, however that is only the 1st step.
That 1st step is theologically referred to as "Regeneration" and some people also call it Justification. It means that we have been "Saved" from the punishment of sin by the coming judgment of God.
The 2nd step then is called "Sanctification". Some say that means we are being saved from the power of sin as we live out our lives today.
Then the 3rd step then is "Glorification" which is also referreded to as being saved from the presence of sin.
All of that then can be wrapped up in the popular teaching of......"We have been saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved".
All of that is then involved and seen in
Repentance of the sinner, as that is the only way we know a man has been saved and that is by a "changed life"!!!!
A changed life as seen from repentance then results in that person then having a desire to please God in that he now wants to do good works, not to be saved but as a result of being saved.
Now as for Rev. 21:8 which you used.
Please understand that the Bible does not say that good works qualify you
for heaven and neither does the Bible say that no works or bad works keep you
from heaven. Also, there is NO such thought in the Bible as "theory". ......It is what God said and that is it. We either accept the Bible as God's Word or we do not but theories simply do not apply to its teachings.
Then consider the Bib le fact that
No works do not bar us from Heaven. That would be salvation by works. Rev. 21:8 describes those who do not know God. Good works cannot earn us eternal life. A spiritual birth is necessary for eternal life which is regeneration and that is the act of Repentance.
Hebrews 9:27-28.................
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation”.