A good example in scripture about obedience in regards to being saved can be found in the parable of the prodigal son.
The prodigal son left (was lost) and lived a hard life. When he finally returned to the father, his fervant desire was to obey his father's commands:
Luk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luk 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
So though the son was given grace by the father he desired to make up for his past behavior by becoming his fathers servant and obeying his commands.
Here are some scriptures that the good Pastor must have overlooked in his studies. They shed some light on whether or not a "saved" person must do something:
Jam 2:15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, Jam 2:16 and if one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them those things which are needful to the body, what good is it? Jam 2:17 Even so, if it does not have works, faith is dead, being by itself. Jam 2:18 But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith from my works. Jam 2:19 You believe that there is one God, you do well; even the demons believe and tremble. Jam 2:20 But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Jam 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Jam 2:22 Do you see how faith worked with his works, and from the works faith was made complete?
Joh 5:14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, Behold, you are made whole. Sin no more lest a worse thing come to you.
Joh 8:11 And she said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said to her, Neither do I give judgment. Go, and sin no more.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was enraged over the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Mat 5:20 For I say to you that unless your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.
Mat 18:3 and said, Truly I say to you, Unless you are converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
Mat 19:23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, Truly I say to you that a rich man will with great difficulty enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Mat 19:24 And again I say to you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Mat 19:25 When His disciples heard, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? Mat 19:26 But Jesus looked on them and said to them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Mat 19:27 Then answering Peter said to Him, Behold, we have forsaken all and have followed You. Therefore what shall we have? Mat 19:28 And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Mat 19:29 And everyone who left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. Mat 19:30 But many who are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Mar 9:47 And if your eye offends you, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes to be cast into hell fire
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Act 14:22 confirming the souls of the disciples, calling on them to continue in the faith and that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God.
I heard once that Billy Graham is the best preacher in the world, so long as you die on the way home from the revival. I absolutely agree that the gift of salvation is free, but we must accept it. We must believe, repent, and be baptized in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. But the challenge then comes on the way home from church. Are you really saved if you just add Jesus to your sinful life? Or will you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you to as righteous a life as one can lead?
Check this one out:
Mat 9:20 And behold, a woman, who had a flow of blood for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the hem of His garment. Mat 9:21 For she said within herself, If only I shall touch His robe, I will be whole. Mat 9:22 But turning and seeing her, Jesus said, Daughter, be comforted; your faith has saved you. And the woman was saved from that hour.
Now, Jesus says her faith saved her, and it did, but she risked a whole lot touching a Rabbi while being in a constant state of menstruation, huh?
Here you have a filthy, despised Gentile woman risking her kneck to approach the Lord. Again, her works demonstrate her faith!
Mat 15:22 And behold, a woman of Canaan coming out of these borders cried to Him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is grievously vexed with a demon. Mat 15:23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and begged Him, saying, Send her away, for she cries after us. Mat 15:24 But He answered and said, I am not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Mat 15:25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, Lord, help me! Mat 15:26 But He answered and said, It is not good to take the children's bread and to throw it to dogs. Mat 15:27 And she said, True, O Lord; but even the little dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' tables. Mat 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, O woman, great is your faith! So be it to you even as you wish. And her daughter was healed from that very hour.