Jesus meant what He warned. So did the Apostle Paul.
Romans 2:1, ". . . Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. . . ."
Matthew 23:13, ". . .But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. . . ."
Do you know the context of these two passages? If so, please interpret them so we see how Paul and Jesus were applying the sentences you quoted.
Far too often, we pluck a sentence out of context to have it say something that is inaccurate.
Here's my example of verse without context:
"
And he said to him, 'All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.'"
I suggest, therefore, that you are not handling the Word of God correctly in either Romans 2 or Matthew 23 unless you fully consider the context and argument being made in both books.
Tell me, what overarching subject is Paul addressing from Romans 1 to Romans 11? That will help you understand what Paul is doing in Romans 2.
When God takes an individual out of being "in Adam" and transfers them spiritually into Christ's spiritual body, they are made alive together with Christ. Thus a spiritually "dead" individual is made spiritually alive by the washing of regeneration (regeneration = made alive). Since in an unholy sinful state we are separated from our holy God, the "washing" removes whatever was "unholy" such as what God held against us.
The OT saints did not immediately enter the kingdom when they obtained approval by faith. No, they had to wait in "Abraham's bosom" to be made perfect after Christ died on the cross.
In Matthew 23:13 Jesus says some individuals were "entering the kingdom" but were prevented from going in.
Thus a process, or sequence of steps, is utilized in order to gain entry. We know the final step, God transfers the person from the realm of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son, Colossians 1:13. And we know, from 2 Thessalonians 2:13 that our being set apart (the sanctification by the Spirit) is the action God uses to make His choice of individuals for salvation.
Therefore if God credits our "faith in the truth" as righteous faith, He bestows His gracious blessing of salvation by setting us apart spiritually in Christ.
No! Utterly worthless hogwash.
You wrote: "
Thus a process, or sequence of steps, is utilized in order to gain entry."
Salvation has always been by grace alone. No sequence of steps necessary on the part of man to cause God to approve and admit entry.
You are providing a twisted version of the Judaizers in Galatians as your teaching, which Paul rightly called anathema. I know you don't see this. In fact you will complain and claim I am false. Such a claim by you would be the false claim.
Every Old Testament saint, from Adam to the cross, was saved by God's grace and given the gift of faith to believe in the Promised One who would redeem them.
*Hebrews 11:13-16*
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
*Hebrews 12:1-2*
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
*1 Peter 1:3-12*
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
