This article should be the end of religion, but it won't be because people believe what they want to believe regardless of what the scriptures say.
There was only one person that God accepted into heaven, that was Jesus Christ. We are accepted only in him, simply because God is no respector of persons.
The Colossians were glorying in their Christian lives and Paul had to bring them back to the Gospel, so Paul said to them...
"If you have been risen with Christ then seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Set your effections on things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God" Colossians 3:1-3.
"For you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God". "Wait just a minute Paul. Do you mean that God did not chose me to be saved before the foundation of the world?" God is no respector of persons so the answer is NO.
God sees ALL THINGS in his Son Jesus Christ, Colossians 1:20. God chose all of humanity in his Son Jesus Christ, Ephesians 1:4.
When Jesus lived, we lived in him.
When Jesus died, we died with him.
When Jesus arose from to dead, we arose with him.
When Jesus ascended into heaven we ascended with him.
God now sees ALL THINGS in his Son Jesus Christ. That beautifull sinless life that Jesus lived, that is your life. Paul was trying to get the Colossians to see that, this is why he said, "For you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God". And again Paul was trying to get their eyes off of themselves when he said, "When Christ who is OUR LIFE , shall appear, then shall you appear with him in glory" Colossians 3:4.
God does NOTHING individually. All things are done in, by, and through Jesus Christ. "And he (Jesus) is before ALL THINGS and by him all things consist" Colossians 1:17. In the light of this no one has been predestinated (Calvinist). In the light of this no one can be saved by their personal holiness (Catholics). We are saved by being "In Christ". To be in Christ means that you are trusting in Christ alone for your salvation. It is NOT Jesus Christ plus your religion. It is Jesus Christ plus nothing.