Does God expect perfection? Is there a different body than the church that will be judged? "Friends of the bridegroom" possibly?
Judgment begins at the house of God, the church. Tribulation works patience, patience works experience, and experience works hope which makes not ashamed, for the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.
There are various levels of discipleship. When a person enters into the kingdom of God having repented and been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and received the Holy Ghost, they become servants of the Lord, but do not know what their Lord does. They learn obedience through sufferings just like the captain of our salvation did in the days of his flesh; that after they have suffered for a while, are established and made perfect as stated by Peter.
"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." (
1 Peter 5:10).
In
Matthew 7, Jesus stated that not all that said to him "Lord, Lord" would enter into the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of heaven being the higher level of glory for the church who were stated to be in the kingdom of God, having the Holy Ghost. Paul also mentioned the good works that is required of the church who was ordained to good works before the foundation of the world. "Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (
Hebrews 13:21).
Is there more that is required of the church as the body of Christ in order to make heaven than just
Acts 2:38, or do we have to go on unto perfection, full maturity, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, unto a perfect man; being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ by denying worldly lusts, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, the body having crucified the flesh with the affections and the lusts? Consider Paul's statement: "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." (
Hebrews 6:1,2).
In my opinion, we that are Apostolic tend to think that we are saved as an act rather than a process, not realizing that we are being transformed by the renewing of our minds that we may prove what is that good and acceptable will of God that we may be presented blameless at the coming of the Lord, both in spirit, soul, and body.
The righteous is the church, the body of Christ. "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (
Romans 5:19).
Only the righteous are saved. "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." (
Matthew 25:46).
The righteous are the ones that enter into the kingdom of heaven. "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." (
Matthew 13:43).
It is through sufferings with Jesus in which we will reign with him and be counted worthy of the kingdom of God. "Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer." (
2 Thessalonians 1:5).
It is the righteous that the Lord's providence is over and he hears. "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." (
1Peter 3:12).
We cannot be deceived thinking that God does not require good works. "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." (
1John 3:7).
The talk of a believer alone will not suffice, for we must love not in word and tongue, but in deed and in truth. But for the most part, Christianity has become void of the cross, for he that follows the Lord must first deny himself, go pick up his cross, and follow Him...IMO