Thus far I have been talking about “works” as only one category, but it is actually two. To avoid confusion, I thought I should take a moment to describe these categories, and how each relates to our personal salvation. Today I will examine one type, and tomorrow the other.

Faith-Building Good Works)

The first category of good works is when we do something just because it is a good thing to do. Helping others in need, telling the truth, giving up our vices, singing songs of praise, praying, and other activities like these all fall into this first category.

These practices are important because they help to build our faith in the Almighty. Indeed, they are inseparable from faith. We are motivated to do them by what faith we have and doing them increases our faith over time.

It should be noted, actions like these are available to all people, regardless of their religion. A Hindu from the 7th century could dedicate to himself to good works, and by it develop a heart that is committed to cosmic, universal truth, the same as a modern-day devout Christian. All people can cultivate a soul that is fit for alignment with the author of all good, simply by listening to their conscience and doing as it dictates.

Are These Works necessary?

So, are good works like these necessary for salvation? Well, as we have already noted, these types of works are inseparable with developing our faith in the creator, and in making our hearts submissive to His will, so in a sense, yes. Without these works, we likely won’t be able to accept our Lord and Savior, because our hearts will not have been softened.

But, in another sense, the specific good works are not individually mandatory. Imagine that one man devotes himself to the study of God’s word, hungering for the knowledge of the divine, and by it cultivates a faithful and willing heart, while another man depends primarily on acts of service to keep himself humble and dedicated to the greater good. It is conceivable that while these men grew their faith through different good works, that both will be welcomed with open arms by the Lord. Not because of the specific work they performed, but because of how the work cultivated their faith.

We cannot quantify the significance of each good work. We cannot count the number of prayers offered or the number of hours served and judge a soul by those figures. And of course, no amount of these good works is sufficient to earn a place in heaven.

Thus, believing that good works saves us is wrong. But also thinking that we are saved by faith, and not works, is also wrong. Both views make a categorical error. They both assume that faith and works are separate, when really, they are two sides of the same coin.

We do need to do good works, and we are saved by faith. Both of those conditions are satisfied together. We do good works as part of growing our faith, and having faith in Christ, we become well-aligned to His kingdom and can then be saved by His grace.

Thus, we should tell all people to listen to their conscience and do the work it tells them to do. But they should do it to purify their hearts and to propagate God’s good in the world, with no thought of heavenly transaction. They should do it with their focus on what they are becoming, not on where they are going. They should do good works to be more like Jesus and then leave to Jesus the matter of their salvation.