Those who have a change of attitude will obey Him. However, other scripture elsewhere teaches us that it is not the obedience that saves; but rather the change of attitude producing the obedience that accomplishes the work of salvation. Iow,
Ye must be born again; as Jesus said.
Quite a few passages teach this, actually (that works don't save): among them Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:4-7, Romans 11:5-6, and Romans 4:1-8.
It is an obedient faith that saves us. The works that result from it cannot be salvational for salvation is "
not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:9).
Again, there is a generic statement in scripture stating that
to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith will be counted to him as righteousness. And a statement after it that the Lord
imputes righteousness apart from works (Romans 4:5-6).
There are people who obey commandments of scripture who do not have a living and saving faith. For they believe that they are saved by their works; and therefore they are not placing their trust in the finished work of the Cross; which is the only means of real salvation.
The only works that matter and end up in reward are those works that are accomplished not in order to obtain salvation; but rather out of thankfulness for that the Lord
has (already) saved you. If you do not
know that you are saved through the finished work of the Cross, no amount of works is going to accomplish salvation for you. See 1 John 5:13. You can know that you have eternal life. But if you are attempting to be saved by works, then you do not know it: there is always one more work that you have to do in order to obtain salvation. Where does it end? My Bible teaches me that when we believe, we have passed from death into everlasting life (John 5:24).
In John 6:28-29, Jesus is indeed speaking to those who, after all argumentation has been made for the truth, want to insist that they will be saved by their works. He says, therefore, that
the only work that will save you is a simple faith in Him: this is the work of God, that you believe on the One whom He hath sent. That's it. Nothing else. Only simple faith in the Messiah Jesus.
It only requires faith; and if you understood your Bible you would know that.
Living and saving faith normally produces obedience; but the obedience is not salvational: because obedience translates into works: and it is clear from holy scripture that
we are not saved by works, lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The Bible teaches us that if anyone is justified, they are justified by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone (if they are trusting in their works in any degree to save them, their faith is not in the right place; and therefore they are not saved)
If repentance is a work, then it does not save (Ephesians 2:9, Titus 3:5,
Romans 11:6 (kjv))
Allow me to quote something.
Mat 7:21, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22, Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23, And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Here, we find people who were doing works that cannot be done apart from the Lord (God); and even these works (that they did) did not save them. Why? Because they were
trusting in their works to save them, rather than fully trusting in
the finished work of the Cross. They were not redeemed from all iniquity by the blood of the Lamb (Titus 2:14). They continued to have a cup and platter that was not clean on the inside; although they did clean the outside of the cup and platter. While they performed many works in Christ's name, they continued to work iniquity: on the inside they were like dead men's bones.
Romans 10:3 is to be interpreted in part by Philippians 3:9. Our own righteousness is the righteousness which is by the law; or the righteousness that comes through
what we do in order to be accepted by the Lord. But the righteousness which is from God by faith (the righteousness that is acceptable to Him; in that we submit to
His righteousness) is on this wise:
The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith which we preach: that if anyone will simply confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in their heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, they will be saved. (Romans 10:8-9). And nothing more is needed than that. If works are done after that, they are not done in order to be saved; but are done as acts
stemming out of a salvation that already exists.
Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of the Lord (Romans 10:17). Salvation which is by faith, therefore, is all of God and none of us.