Faith Without Works is Dead
Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Sure enough, the faith that Jesus expects of His true followers includes good works, as He Himself gave us example to do (John 10:32). Jesus even stated that many of His followers would do greater works than He did (John 14:12).
Remember also that God in heaven is glorified by good works done for repentance, spiritual growth and blessings, and this is how true disciples let their lights shine before others (Matt. 5:16). Doing good works is how we imitate Jesus Christ, and how we overcome evil. It is the key that allows Jesus to reside in us and live His life through us in the form of the Holy Spirit (John 14:23). God’s Will in heaven is good works of love and charity (Matt. 6:10). It’s certainly not bad works.
A life of good works is the life true followers are called to live (Eph. 2:10). We are not saved by good works, but we repent by doing good for God in Jesus Christ’s name (Acts 26:20; Col. 3:17). No one can deny that.
What kind of good works should we do? Keep up our personal appearance and hygiene for God so that we can be godly examples to others (Titus 2:7-8). Keep our homes or apartments neat and clean for God to be good examples to others when we entertain or show hospitality (Luke 14:13). Help or do good to an orphan or a widow for God (James 1:27). These are just some of the many examples we can find in the Bible.
Practice doing good continually for others for God. Perform deeds of kindness, deeds of charity, and deeds of good will, like Jesus left us example to do. If we are constantly concerned about doing good for God, then we are leaving a life of evil behind (Job 1:1). By not giving ourselves a moment to do what is evil, we can overcome evil by doing good so we will abide forever (Psalm 37:27; Rom. 12:21; 1 Peter 3:10-11; 3 John 11). When we are zealous for good works, we purify our lives before God, and our faith is not dead but alive in righteousness (Titus 2:14; James 2:14, 26; Heb. 10:20; Rom. 6:18; 8:10; 1 Peter 2:24).