From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded

Luke
Luke 12:48 says "But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."  I took this to mean that some people, if they haven't heard about Jesus, would still be able to get to heaven.  This verse reminded me of the passage in 1 Corinthians 3 where Paul said that those people who build on a foundation other than Christ will suffer loss, although they themselves will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.  So there would be a bit of harm, but in the end they are saved.
Here's a question for you - the more you know, the more you're able to avoid sinning, but the more you are punished if you do sin, which is really inevitably since we are fallen individuals.  Is it better to know more or less?

What's your motive?

1 CorinthiansIn the second half of chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians, we read about the need to regulate the use of the gift of tongues.  What Paul discusses here can be applied to any gift of the Holy Spirit.  That is to say, when we use our gifts, we should be glorifying God and helping others to grow closer to Him.  If we're just speaking in tongues to feel important, there's no point.  Likewise, if you're playing an instrument in worship to God, but are really focusing on how much people look up to you for that, there's no point.  You need to do these things for the glory of God and to help others to see His glory.  That's the point!  What's your motive?

Many gifts and one Spirit

1 Corinthians
The first part of 1 Corinthians 12 discusses how there is one Spirit (the Holy Spirit) but he gives many gifts.  Paul lists out a number of gifts, such as healing, prophecy, knowledge, and tongues.  But he didn't mean for this to be an exhaustive list of the gifts that are available through the Holy Spirit.  Rather, these are examples of the abundant gifts that God has given us to grow in Him.  How has he gifted you to do his work?

A life of discipline

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 - "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

Suggested reading: Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.

Use good sense

1 Cor 6:12 - "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything.

The secret things of God

1 Corinthians

What are the secret things of God?  Google leads you to more than a million different sites that suggest the answer or provide a definition of their own version of the secret things of God.  The top hit is a book by Henry Cloud - The Secret Things Of God: Unlocking The Treasures Reserved For You.  That book actually sounds kind of interesting.

I'm inclined to follow Barnes's interpretation that the secret is the gospel, the good news that God will save all mankind through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ.  God's plan was hidden in a mystery until the time of Christ, but now it has been made known to those he calls.  It's still a mystery to unbelievers, and sometimes seems kind of mysterious to those who do believe!  Justice is achieved through grace and mercy, and that is a mystery.

Fortunately, we don't need to try and solve the mystery or the secret anymore.  That's what is life-changing - God has clearly shown us the way to salvation, if we care to see the truth.  If we already have discovered the secret things of God, I believe it's our job to help others unlock the secrets for themselves.