Did the slave owners who believed in Jesus wind up in a better place than the non-believing, non-slave owning people who did really good deeds but could not wrap their brains around 1800+ year old code words?
Good question. On one hand, God’s grace is unearnable. “Really good deeds” doesn’t earn one eternity with God. On the other hand, strict adherence to orthodoxy and legalism often replace love, and are counted as godliness by many. The Pharisees were good examples of this. They strictly abided by all the laws and traditions and doctrines and practices, but they had filthy hearts...and Jesus called them out on it.
