While we will be judged by our works; it is also true that we are not saved by our works.
Huh?
Salvation is a work of the Lord within us wherein we become inclined towards doing good works that make us pleasing to the Lord.
The works that we do out of that inclination are not what saves us.
What saves us is the faith that apprehends the Holy Spirit so that we have that inclination.
And the inclination is a major part of what our salvation actually is.
Therefore, since we cannot do works that are worthy apart from that inclination, it is not worthy works that are going to produce that inclination within us.
If that were the case, then we would be doing worthy works before and apart from having the inclination to do them, given to us by the Holy Spirit.
Thing is, we will not do such works unless we are inclined to do them.
I suppose that we might do them if we think that we will be saved by them.
But we cannot be saved by them (Ephesians 2:8-9).
As a matter of fact, any works that we might do in order to save ourselves are counted as filthy menstrual rags before the Lord (Isaiah 64:6).
It is only those works that are done properly out of the salvation that is already given, that could even have any merit before the Lord.
And the fact is, that even these do not carry any merit...we are not saved by them (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Because if we are in fact doing them, we have already been saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the Cross.
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