At the end of Matthew, Jesus gives the great commission. He doesn't tell his disciples to convince people of the status of his deity and his work on the cross, instead he tells them to make disciples of Christ and to teach them everything Jesus
commanded them to do. There is still an expectation that we take Jesus' commands seriously.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to
observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus clearly said unless you are willing to take up your cross, give up your life, you cannot be my disciple. Jesus puts a high demand on discipleship, yet that's what he wants. This is the message we should be including in the gospel.
Ohio, what you're pointing to may have a lot of truth to it. A lot of people meet Jesus at the door to eternity expecting to get in but they can't. The scenario you described perfectly fits this narrative.
Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=havd_RVXOEM