Relationship with Christ is what matters. Just “following the rules” doesn’t slide, because Christ doesn’t actually know you through relationship that way. “On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’” Matthew 7:22-23 NLT
You don’t just follow the rules you have to have a relationship with god. You have to know him. Yes breaking gods law and not repenting will land you in eternal death but so will not knowing god. In fact the negative afterlife is commonly called eternal death which just means spending eternity without knowing god or being separated from god. It’s all about have a healthy relationship with our god not just doing what he says.