I asked previously
Will my faith save me? in response to this my email correspondent stated.
Further to your reply - it still looks like salvation by effort to me.

Unless you are saying the Pastor never accepted the work of Jesus on the
cross as a substitute for all his past, present and future sins.

It looks like this indeed may have been the case. After all when told he was going to hell his answer did not include anything about trusting in Jesus death. All I can say about this is It is indeed faith alone that saves but the faith that saves is never alone. Also, to quote another cliche 'Jesus came to save us from our sins not in our sins'

When we understand grace unforgiveness and flagrant persistant sin that is deliberate become simply inconceivable to us.

I will never forget the resonse of a boy in sunday school who was singled out for me and given a choclate. I did not tell him why I chose him, but he and everyone else there knew he had been the naughtiest child there that morning, the other kids yelled 'Thats totally unfair' as I gave him a vivid illustration of grace. He just sat down and became the best behaved child there that morning.