If we could go to heaven simply for "doing good" we'd all make it to heaven.
Jesus is the only way to heaven.... one becomes righteous by accepting Jesus. To do good but not believe in Jesus or God is in vain. This Scripture is referrencing where God separates the sheep from the goat. The righteous are at his right hand. This is also proof that not everyone who says Lord Lord will make it to Heaven, for they will cast out demons, pray to heal others, etc, but have no Love in their hearts, i.e., not caring for the poor or doing good IN ADDITION to being righteous.
Reading in context is vital to the quest in understanding God's Word.
Sometimes I read out of context, as well...
God Bless you.
I actually read it in context, which is why I very rarely just quote a verse, but rather quote as much of the chapter as will reveal the context in which the message was used. The point Jesus was making was his sheep, those that will not be cast in hell, will be those who echoed his life on earth. He was as clear as can be, and I don't think there's any way to misunderstand what he meant. He was saying one way he will purge his church of the hypocrites will be by looking at the fruits of those who claim to belong and only those who followed in His footsteps will make it to heaven.
Our definition of "accepting Jesus" may not be God's definition. I am sure there are people that died during Jesus time here on earth, who learned from Him what they needed to go to Heaven. They "sold all they had and followed him" and never got to hear the message about being saved that was written about later on in Romans (“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” Romans 10:9), nor would it make sense to them if they'd heard it because Jesus hadn't died at the time they were living and hearing him. Also, it seems like the modern church has come up with this "model prayer" that one must say to be "saved", when all it takes is to confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus and believe that God raised Him from the dead. And what does it mean to confess? One definition of "confess" is "to declare faith in or adherence to". And you are to do this with your mouth. Does there have to be an audience? I don't know. I don't see where it says that.
I have seen "saved" people break the law of God and continue do so. I have seen people who don't mention being saved but they appear to bear fruit that makes one give glory to God just because. Jesus warned us:
15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
(
Matthew 7:15-23)
So while I understand the New Testament's post-Jesus teachings about not setting foot in heaven unless one is saved, I think we cannot ignore Jesus' teachings on the matter. A bad tree cannot bear good fruit and a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, "thus by their fruit you will recognize them," Jesus said.
I find it interesting how many times Jesus touched on entering his kingdom:
13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. (
Mark 10:13-16)
And how would little children receive the kingdom of God? How do children receive anything new you give them. With awe, and wonder, and humility, and excitement, and hunger, and innocence, without suspicion, but rather with faith and trust....
I guess we'll never know whether Michael got saved. But if we are to pay attention to anything Jesus taught, it was that by their fruits we will know those that belong to His flock. That's different from doing good deeds to get a reward or doing good deeds to earn a license to heaven. It is doing good deeds because you cannot help yourself. It just is what comes naturally to you, coz you're that good tree that bears nothing else but good fruit. When people say, "If I could go to heaven by doing good" w/r/t that verse, they totally miss the point Jesus was trying to make. Using cause and effect: The cause in Jesus example is not a desire to go to heaven so you do good (the effect)--which is what that remark is saying. The cause in Jesus example is our good hearts that cannot help but bear good fruit (effect).
So *shrug* while I may never know what Michael confessed with his mouth or whether he believed God raised Jesus from the dead, I saw him bear a lot of good fruit.
I went off on everyone on that board.... Isn't is our job as followers of Christ to intercede and reach out in LOVE, it doesn't matter if you are famous or not. Let's not forget the thief on the cross. Michael could be chilling in heaven now we do not know. It just rubbed me the wrong way how so called "Christians" were praising his death. Every since then I no longer call myself a "Christian" because that word is now synomous(sp?) with hypocrites. I like to call myself someone who follows what Christ taught and how he lived.
I don't know if Michael is saved or not, either. 
