I have noticed a repeating theme. Matthew 7:21-23 is often…

I have noticed a repeating theme. Matthew 7:21-23 is often quoted on this site as a remedy against the “faith alone” group and the felt heretical repercussions of this. I would like to ask a question to the group. Do you feel this verse is #1) talking about false faith and therefore urging us to true obedience or #2) talking about false actions stemming from the belief that God saves us b/c of our faithfulness? My thoughts…. Before the fall of man, man was complete in God-both knowing God’s words and doing God’s will. These verses therefore serve as a corrective for those who falsely trust in themselves like Cain and ancient Israel who started to trust in their background and history that gave them a right to claim God. They also serve as a corrective for the self righteous who think like Cain that the sacrifice of their goodness is enough…”If I am just radical enough in obeying the words of Jesus I am saved….NO!” (Eph 2:8-9) Only through true faith as given by Christ and taught by the apostles does our faith prove genuine, and this is a “faith alone” justification that leads to true obedience (“doing” joined to “hearing” God- the reunification of man to God like before the fall but not perfect on earth thank goodness!). Only those who hear God’s voice can obey, but doing religious things like Cain (who ignored God’s complete justification in Christ) does not make us right with God when done to justify ourselves. The right sacrifice of Abel didn’t justify him, but demonstrated his faith. Am I orthodox or heretical here? By the way I am borrowing this from a theologian from the 20th century, Dietrich Bonhoeffer from his work Ethics.