I think there is a very basic misunderstanding of the difference between choosing to do good works and doing the works that saves Mankind. Only Christ could do the works necessary to save Mankind. But Mankind was called to do good works even before he lost his Salvation, even before he Fell into sin.
When we choose to do good works as a non-Christian, we obey God's call upon our conscience to obey His word, to live in His image. But this choice to do good works, as much as it pleases God, does not save us.
It's the same with the Christian. When we choose to accept Christ, or when we choose to obey Christ and do righteousness after we have been saved, we are not saving ourselves. We are just obeying God's word to our conscience to do good, and to live in God's image.
There is nothing Man can do to earn his own Salvation. But we are *always* called upon to do good, to obey God's word. We should not conflate the choice to obey God and to do good with earning Salvation. Not the same thing!
When we choose to do good works as a non-Christian, we obey God's call upon our conscience to obey His word, to live in His image. But this choice to do good works, as much as it pleases God, does not save us.
It's the same with the Christian. When we choose to accept Christ, or when we choose to obey Christ and do righteousness after we have been saved, we are not saving ourselves. We are just obeying God's word to our conscience to do good, and to live in God's image.
There is nothing Man can do to earn his own Salvation. But we are *always* called upon to do good, to obey God's word. We should not conflate the choice to obey God and to do good with earning Salvation. Not the same thing!