We are saved by grace alone through faith alone, but the works we do are the natural evidence of that saving faith. In the Christian life, good works are not the “root” of our salvation, but the “fruit” of it. While we cannot do anything to earn God’s favor or pay for our sins, a person who has truly been transformed by Jesus will naturally begin to live a life that reflects his character and commands.
The Foundation of Grace
To understand where works fit in, we must first be absolutely clear about how we are saved. The Bible teaches that we are spiritually dead in our sins, and a dead person cannot do anything to help themselves. Salvation is a gift from God that we receive by trusting in what Jesus did for us on the cross, not by trying to be “good enough” to impress Him. If we could earn our way to heaven, Jesus wouldn’t have needed to die.
Grace means getting something we don’t deserve. We deserve judgment for our rebellion against God, but instead, He offers us forgiveness and eternal life. This is the heart of the Gospel. Our works do not contribute even one percent to the “payment” for our salvation. We are accepted by God because we are “in Christ,” covered by his perfect record rather than our own messy one.
Ephesians 2:8-9 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast.
Works Are the Proof of Life
If grace is the engine that saves us, good works are the exhaust that shows the engine is running. In the book of James, we are told that “faith without works is dead.” This doesn’t mean that works plus faith equals salvation; it means that a faith that doesn’t produce a change in behavior wasn’t real faith to begin with. When you meet Jesus, you change. You start to care about things He cares about.
Consider a fruit tree. A transformed heart is like a healthy apple tree. The tree doesn’t produce apples to become an apple tree; it produces apples because it is an apple tree. Similarly, we don’t do good things to become Christians. We do good things because the Holy Spirit lives inside us and is producing His fruit—love, joy, peace, and kindness—through our lives.
James 2:18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
Created for a Purpose
While works don’t save us, they are actually the very thing God saved us for. The same passage in Ephesians that says we are saved by grace also says that God has a specific “to-do list” for every believer. He has prepared a path of service and ministry for you to walk in. Your unique gifts, your personality, and even your past struggles are tools God wants to use to bless others and bring glory to Him.
When we serve others, share the Gospel, or live with integrity at work, we are fulfilling our purpose. We aren’t working for God’s love; we are working from God’s love. This takes the pressure off! You don’t have to live in fear that you haven’t done enough to please God. Instead, you can serve Him with a joyful heart, knowing that you are already his beloved child.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Rewards in Heaven
While our works have zero impact on our entry into heaven, the Bible frequently mentions that God rewards his children for their faithfulness. It is helpful to distinguish between “eternal life,” which is a free gift, and “eternal rewards,” which are given based on how we serve Christ after we are saved. These rewards are not about pride or superiority; they are about God’s desire to honor those who have faithfully stewarded the life He gave them.
The New Testament speaks of “crowns” and “treasures in heaven.” These symbols represent the lasting value of a life lived for the glory of God. For the believer, this isn’t a terrifying performance review, but a “Judgment Seat of Christ” where our motives and actions are evaluated. The greatest reward of all will be hearing the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” as we lay whatever crowns we receive back at the feet of the One who gave us the grace to do those works in the first place.
The Takeaway
The relationship between grace and works is simple: we are saved by grace alone, but that grace never stays alone. It always produces a life of good works. You can’t earn your way to God, but once you are His, you will want to live for Him. Good works are the evidence of a living relationship with Jesus, allowing us to fulfill the purpose for which we were created while showing the world the beauty of God’s love.
