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.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matt. 7:21-22

Jesus said to a certain ruler of the Jews, a man who had, “religion,” perfected, who did all the, “right,” things:

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:3

This man thought that, having, “religion,” down to a fine art, he would receive salvation.  But, even then, he came to Jesus because he did not feel, deep down, within his heart, an absolute certainty regarding his future.  He, “hoped;” he did not know.  He was honest with God!

Many people have, “grown up in the church,” or have believed in the existence of God all their lives.  They may pray to Him every day, and perhaps read their Bible.  They’re good people, and they feel that they have, “fulfilled all righteousness.”

But one thing remains undone.

Jesus said,  

3 "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

John 3:3

It’s not what a person does or believes that saves him.  Scripture says that:

22  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Titus 3:22

And it’s not believing in God that will save us:

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

James 2:19

Jesus said that we must be born again; we must be made into a new creature!  We must receive the spark, or the Spirit of God into us, to make our spiritually dead person (as a body without life) into a Spiritually living person.  Without that spark of Spiritual life, we are like a dead body being dressed up to look pretty.  It doesn’t matter what one does to or with a dead body; if it’s not alive, it can’t be a person living for and pleasing God!