Question: You said it is unbiblical to teach that salvation can be lost if one fails to live a good ...

Question: You said it is unbiblical to teach that salvation can be lost if one fails to live a good enough life. What about the story Jesus taught about forgiveness in Matthew:18:21-35 [21] Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? [22] Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. [23] Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. [24] And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. [25] But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. [26] The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. [27] Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. [28] But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. [29] And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. [30] And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. [31] So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. [32] Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: [33] Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? [34] And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. [35] So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
See All...? Can we actually claim salvation if we cling to unforgiving and bitter attitudes? It seems to me that God does require certain fruits from our lives in order for us to meet the requirement for forgiveness, sonship, and heaven (Jn:15:2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
See All..., Lk 13:24, Mt. 7:21-23).

Response: There is no question that although I can’t earn my salvation, if the salvation Christ provided must be kept by my living a good enough life, then I will be able for all eternity to share the glory with Christ for my being in heaven. He provided my salvation; I kept it. What I do is then equally essential with what He does.

In the passage to which you refer, as well as all of the others which deal with the holiness, goodness or charitableness of life we as Christians are to live, the required good works are presented as evidence of our salvation, not the means by which we either earn or keep it. There is no conflict between Paul and James. Paul clearly tells us that salvation is by grace through faith and not of works (Eph:2:8-10 [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
See All..., etc.). James just as clearly tells us that the evidence that we are saved comes through works. This does not mean that with no good works we are not saved, as 1 Corinthians 3, which we dealt with in the first “Q&A,” says, “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss [of reward]: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (v 15).

Note carefully that James is not saying that we are saved by works, but that a professed faith (“though a man say he hath faith” - 2:14) that is not evidenced by works is dead and cannot save. James is warning us that a mere profession of faith can be empty, from the lips but not the heart, and that if we are not willing to live what we profess, then it is likely that we are not saved at all because our faith is not genuine.

Christ is giving us another and very practical example. He is saying that if I have truly received the grace of God, then I will be gracious to others. He is challenging us to examine our professed faith. How can I expect God to forgive me when I am not willing to forgive others? There are people who claim to be Christians, yet they have nursed a grudge, hatred, animosity against others for years because of the wrong someone has allegedly done to them. Christ here and elsewhere says that such a person needs either to repent and allow God’s love to work in his heart the same forgiveness of the other that Christ has effected for him, or he should admit that he is not saved at all.

Thank you for your question. It is an important one and should cause us all to reexamine our hearts before God. “[F]orgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us” (Lk 11:4); “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses” (Mk 11:25-26).