I must repond here as your post is misleading in that you say "we are put in line for everlasting life"? Where did that come from?
The very moment you beleive you are born again and sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 1:13In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
You also say "something else is required" now you are bordering on heresy.
Salvation is free and apart from any work of ours whatsoever.
Romans 4:5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Do not confuse salvation and justification with works.
It is all so intertwined, that it is easy to get the way it all works together very mixed up. Spiritual truths are precise and absolutely true, and as in another post, it takes humbleness to hear.
When we are given salvation, the result of our repentance and turning to Christ, that salvation is absolutely free. God doesn't see the sin any more at all. God didn't save you because you worked for it, it was given to you because He is God and when you turn to Him with repentance, God rejoices and welcomes you.
As in Romans, it points this out again. With faith we give ourselves to Christ, and know Christ forgives us and gives us eternal life.
We are not to confuse salvation with works, but we are to know that salvation comes with repentance and turning from sin. Then, it isn't that we are saved because of our works, but by grace.