Note 55 at Mt. 7:21: Jesus makes it very clear in these statements that it's the doers of God's will, not just the professors, who enter into the kingdom of heaven. This same principle is stated in many other scriptures (see ref. v at this verse), and the whole second chapter of James is devoted to this subject.

However, there is an apparently opposite teaching in the Word, which is just as well documented (Examples: Gen. 15:6; Dt. 9:4-6; Mt. 9:11-13; Jn. 8:4-11; Rom. 3:22-24; 4:4-5,16; 5:2,8,17; 9:10-12; 10:3-13; 11:6; 1 Cor. 15:10; Gal. 3:1- 3,7,9-12,21-26; Eph. 1:5-12; 2:8-9; Ti. 3:4-7) that states we are justified by faith in what Jesus has done, and not according to our goodness. None of us are good enough (Rom. 3:23). God's standard is perfection (Jas. 2:10). Therefore, we need a Savior (Rom. 8:3-4; Ti. 3:4-7).

Both of these doctrines are true, and, instead of contradicting, they complement each other. We are saved by grace through faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9; Ti. 3:4-7), but saving faith is never alone (Jas. 2:26). Just as gold can be distinguished from other look-alike metals by examining its physical properties, so true faith can be distinguished from mere profession by examining fruit (vv. 16-20).

It is very dangerous to make a final judgment of someone's spiritual condition (v.1), because we look on the outside while God looks on the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). But for the purpose of discerning so that we might be used, we can use a person's actions as an indication of his spiritual condition (see note 46 at Mt. 7:1, p. 83).