Being saved by grace is one of the most misunderstood concepts of all Christendom. It is true that salvation does come through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The problem is that many suppose this to mean that all mankind will be saved into the kingdom of heaven. This just simply is not the case.
Matthew 7:21
21 Not every one that saith‍ unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth‍ the will‍ of my Father which is in heaven.
Although Salvation into the kingdom of heaven comes by way of grace through Jesus Christ, who won the right to grant mercy, this does not mean that Christ will grant mercy to all. Only to those who repent and do the will of the Father will Christ Jesus grant the mercy to enter the kingdom of His Father. Although works do not save us, Christ requires them of us before he will grant the mercy necessary to enter the kingdom of heaven.
James 2:14-26
14 What doth it‍ profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother‍ or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye‍ warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give‍ them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it‍ profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith‍ by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils‍ also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith‍ without works‍ is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified‍ by works, when he had offered‍ Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works‍ was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed‍ God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend‍ of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works‍ a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab‍ the harlot justified‍ by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them‍ out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit‍ is dead, so faith without works‍ is dead also.
Works are required of us in order to have faith in Jesus Christ. But although they are required, they are not what saves us. It is only in and through the grace of Jesus Christ that we are saved. However, Jesus requires that we have faith unto good works before his mercy will be applied unto us.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace‍ are ye saved‍ through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is‍ the gift‍ of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk‍ in them.
Many use the first two verses of the above verses to justify the idea that we are not required to do works. But this is not what the verse is saying. It is saying that we are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ through faith in his name. As James tells us, faith without works is dead. This is why this verse also says "that not of yourselves". Verse 8 is telling us that we are not saved by works even though they are required before we can be saved by grace. It is not saying that works are not necessary but that we are not saved by those works. Nobody can boast that they saved themselves via works. The works are only part of showing faith in Jesus Christ. They are not the saving part. The grace of Jesus is the saving part after we have shown faith in him. Thus verse 10 tells us that we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works and that we should walk in them. Many apostates under the law of Moses believed that by virtue of being born into the house of Israel and by keeping the law that this would save them. They did this without faith in God. A true faith which is a strong belief in Christ unto good works is required of us. But this does not even save us. It is Jesus' requirement of us before he will save us with his mercy into the kingdom of heaven.
All of us will receive the grace of being resurrected and receive immortality. But eternal life, i.e. a life in the presence of the Father in his kingdom, is only granted to those who repent of their sins and keep the commandments of God.
My firm belief is that Hitler will not be found in the kingdom of our Father in Heaven.
.... For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction."
