Jesus said that only those who listen and obey His Father’s commandments were His brothers and sisters. He said this right in front of His mother, Mary, and personal family members. Excepting Christ and obedience to the Word of God is the only membership card to the exclusive family of God.
Once you receive Christ as Lord and Savior, you can not use or cheapen God’s grace as a “get out jail” free card. Paul says we become slaves in obedience to Christ. It is a spiritual journey that grace affords for the development of Christ’s disciples. You can not waffle between the pleasures and comfort of the world and the sacrifices necessary in your life to follow Jesus. There will be hard choices along your journey that will test the metal of your convictions.
The greatest measurement of love is personal sacrifice — including offering up your life. Every Christian is called to martyrdom for the Kingdom of God. You may not give up your life in the great testimony of a public crucifixion, but you will give up your life in some form of obedience for the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom.
In the patience and testing of our faith, we will experience trouble. But glory and praise be to God, for our eternal reward is heaven. There we find rest and comfort as part of God’s “forever family” in the presence of Jesus.