It is extremely important to realize that salvation is not just obtained through Jesus, but in him:
`...there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only _in_ and _through_ Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness. (Alma 38:9)`
It is insufficient to believe in Jesus. One must also be like him. It is possible to become like he is:
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
The Lord commanded:
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
While we remain in ignorance of what God knows, how can we be perfect as he is?
We do not become like him instantly. It requires a lifetime of learning, one that invests the consistent application of “all the energy of heart.” This purification process is what enables people to “become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.” (Moroni 7:48)
The Lord will continue to teach all who will continue to listen to him. During his mortal ministry, he prayed that the Father would “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
The Lord’s word sanctifies those who seek after, believe, and live according to it:
`For [my elect] will hear my voice, and shall see me, and shall not be asleep, and shall abide the day of my coming; for they shall be purified, even as I am pure. (D&C 35:21)`
In the day of judgment, we will not be measured by whether or not we asked for forgiveness. We will not be measured by comparing ourselves to others. We will be measured by how well we lived up to God’s available instructions:
16 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?
17 Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord — <u>in that day, and say Lord, our works have been righteous works</u> — <u>upon the face of the earth and that he will save you?</u>
18 Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?
19 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having <u>the image of God engraven upon your countenances?</u>
20 I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil?
21 I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.
22 And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness? Behold, what will these things testify against you? (Alma 5)
Paul described how living by faith is required to be just, or to obtain knowledge of and live according to God’s character. He explained how we are accountable to live the extent we know:
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1)
In the day of judgment, the question will be whether we have sought after and followed God’s word or not:
41 Therefore, if a man bringeth forth good works he hearkeneth unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he doth follow him; but whosoever bringeth forth evil works, the same becometh a child of the devil, for he hearkeneth unto his voice, and doth follow him.
42 And whosoever doeth this must receive his wages of him; therefore, for his wages he receiveth death, as to things pertaining unto righteousness, being dead unto all good works. (Alma 5)
As we humbly and tenaciously seek and implement God’s word in our lives, he will continue to teach us, and we will become more and more like him:
Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God. (Helaman 3:35)
30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.
31 And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments...
32 Yea, come unto Christ, and <u>be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all</u> ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot. (Moroni 10)