HELEN SANDERS
2-27-2026
WORKS FOLLOW FAITH

There are those that believe that if they do enough good in the world that God will let them in to heaven. They believe their “works” will save them.

This is contrary to scripture. In Ephesians 2:8-9 it says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

The word “works” means those things that we do in our own effort to appease God. In other words, one believes if they are “good enough” and do enough “good things” then God will love them.

You see, God loves us in spite of our sin. He cannot love us anymore than he already does. He is God. He is sinless, holy, and almighty. He cannot be “bought” by our works because Jesus did the only good works that counts. While we were yet sinners, he shed his sinless blood for us, so that we can escape hell.

Our salvation is based on what Jesus did, and not upon what “we do.” So, where do our “works” fit in? Once we are saved, we are motivated by our love for God to do things that please him. We do not do those things to get saved, or stay saved. We do it out of love. This then leaves no room for boasting.

James 2:17 says, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone [in itself].”

Many take this out of context and imply it says that without works we are not saved. This is not the case. Works follow salvation, and if there are no works in one’s life, their Christian life is shallow. If we truly love God, we will want to please him by doing what pleases him.

Our salvation is based entirely on what God has done for us, not what we can do for God.