Well, there are some Biblical grounds for that idea. In Matthew 25:31-46, the story of the sheep and goats gathered from all the nations of the world, there's a possible implication that explicit recognition of Christ is not required for salvation, but rather sincere action according to Christ's commands of love and mercy for all humanity. And earlier in Matthew 7:15-23 Christ seems to emphasize salvation is based on the fruits of one's actions, and not the claiming of His name (of which He warns that many false prophets will adopt as wolves in sheep's clothing).
I see the theme of identity running through this...
Just a few chapters prior to 25, in Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus states the first and second greatest commandments are "love God" and "love others." Then, here in Matthew 25, he illustrates those two commandments. Those who love God (greatest commandment) are the sheep, and those who do not are the goats.
Likewise, Matthew 7:21 specifies "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." So, not all who claim their identity in Christ, but only the ones who are not wolves in sheep's clothing.
In either of these passages you cite, knowing Jesus is primary.
He tells someone in the comments that following Christian principles is enough--that he doesn't need to be a follower of Jesus.
Well, there are some Biblical grounds for that idea. In Matthew 25:31-46, the story of the sheep and goats gathered from all the nations of the world, there's a possible implication that explicit recognition of Christ is not required for salvation, but rather sincere action according to Christ's commands of love and mercy for all humanity. And earlier in Matthew 7:15-23 Christ seems to emphasize salvation is based on the fruits of one's actions, and not the claiming of His name (of which He warns that many false prophets will adopt as wolves in sheep's clothing).
I see the theme of identity running through this...
Just a few chapters prior to 25, in Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus states the first and second greatest commandments are "love God" and "love others." Then, here in Matthew 25, he illustrates those two commandments. Those who love God (greatest commandment) are the sheep, and those who do not are the goats.
Likewise, Matthew 7:21 specifies "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." So, not all who claim their identity in Christ, but only the ones who are not wolves in sheep's clothing.
In either of these passages you cite, knowing Jesus is primary.
But in context, those people were identifying with Christ, but they were trying to do it their own way, not God’s way.