The Relationship Between Good Works And Salvation

Salvation is NOT BY WORKS (Ephesians 2:8-9)	Salvation is UNTO GOOD WORKS (Ephesians 2:10)
Good works are not the MEANS of salvation (Titus 3:5).	Good works are the RESULT of salvation (Titus 3:8).
Good works are not the CAUSE of salvation.	Good works are the CONSEQUENCE of salvation.
Good works are not what a person must do to be saved. "But to him that WORKETH NOT, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Romans 4:5).	Good works are what a saved person does. "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works" (Titus 3:8).
The unsaved person performs good works to try to obtain and merit God's favor.	The saved person performs good works because he has obtained God's favor (Titus 2:11-14).
(Why do believers perform good works?) Believers do not work in order to be saved.	Believers work because they are saved!
FLESHLY WORKS: that which an unsaved person tries to produce in order to be saved.	FAITH WORKS: that which God produces in the saved person (Hebrews 13:21).
FLESHLY WORKS cannot please God (Romans 8:8).	FAITH WORKS are pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:6; 1 Thessalonians 1:3).
The unsaved boaster: "Look what I have done!" (see Matthew 23:5--"to be seen of men").	The saved person: "Thank you Lord for what You are doing in me" (Philippians 2:13).
The works of an unsaved person are grounds for boasting. "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory [boast]; but not before God" (Romans 4:2).	The works of a saved person are cause for praise to God. "Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:11).
DEAD WORKS (Hebrews 6:1; 9:14; Eph. 5:11) Working apart from God's LIFE. Works produced by the old nature (Galatians 5:19-21)	FRUITFUL WORKS (Colossians 1:10) Works which flow out of a right relationship to the living God.
The unsaved person boasts in SELF ("I") (Luke 18:11-12).	The saved person boasts in GOD (1 Corinthians 1:29-31).
A person cannot WORK FOR his salvation (Romans 4:5).	A saved person can WORK OUT the salvation that he has (Philippians 2:12).
EMPTY: "Nothing in my hands I bring; simply to Thy cross I cling."	FULL: "that ye may abound to every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8; 1 Corinthians 15:58)

Faith alone saves (Rom. 3:28).	The faith that saves is not alone (James 2:14,20,22,26).
The error Paul corrected in Romans 3-4: SALVATION IS BY WORKS. This is the error of legalism.	The error James corrected in James 2: Works are unnecessary after we are saved. This is the error of antinomianism.
You can't be saved by works (Romans 3:28; 4:6; 2 Tim. 1:9).	You can't show that you are saved without works (James 2:18).
How can I be saved? ONLY BY FAITH (Ephesians 2:8; Galatians 2:16).	How can I show that I am saved? ONLY BY WORKS (James 2:14-26).
Faith without works is essential for salvation (Galatians 2:16).	Faith without works is detrimental and evidences death (James 2:26).
Faith is the ROOT (Galatians 5:6).	LOVE (expressed by good works) is the FRUIT (Galatians 5:6,22; Hebrews 10:24).
Faith is unseen (even as a root)	Works are visible (Matthew 5:16). Works are faith made visible (James 2:18).
Good works REJECTED (Matthew 7:22-23).	Good works REMEMBERED (Hebrews 6:10).
The works of an unsaved person will be an issue at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).	The works of a saved person will be an issue at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15).
God's message for the unsaved: "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (John 6:29).	God's message to the saved: "[God's grace] teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world...a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:11,12,14).
Impossible requirements for the unsaved: "Run, John, run," the law commands but gives me neither feet nor hands...	Supernatural enabling for the saved: ...far grander news the Gospel brings, It bids me fly and gives me wings! --attributed to John Bunyan
LORDSHIP SALVATION ERROR: Adding requirements to saving faith. To be saved you must submit, obey, surrender to Christ's Lordship, fulfill the conditions of discipleship, etc.	GRACE EVANGELICAL SOCIETY ERROR: Insisting that a true believer can be barren and devoid of good works even to the point of totally abandoning the faith and denying Jesus Christ.
I do not work my soul to save-- That my Lord hath done...	...But I would work like any slave For love of God's dear Son!

1st Corinthians 9:16, “...woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God,
and that obey not THE GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ.” —2nd Thessalonians 1:8