The Bible is very clear that by works shall no flesh be saved. It is not silent on the fact that anyone who trusts in his or her works for eternal salvation shall have damnation in returns. Salvation comes through a simple faith exercised towards the saving grace of Christ.
I will however love to draw attention to two characters of the New Testament church that through their works positioned themselves for salvation. I have been a student of the Scripture for some time now, and I can easily draw a parallel between true religion and words of mouth. I have consistently seen in the scripture that the true nature of God is revealed in good works. Love is only expressed by good works.
Believers will not go to heaven because of good works but will definitely miss out on the goodness of God here on earth for lack of good works. The unbelievers prosper and flourish because God can count on them where good works is concerned and the believers are too selfish and heaven minded to wake up to earthly realities. I would like to say that God is mindful of everyone whether saved (born again) or not. He rain upon the land of the good and the bad. He sent His Son to die for all not just for the church. He is not just the God of the saved but also of the unsaved. God wants the world saved but knows He has to keep the people of the world alive and going until they would receive that message of salvation; and one of the ways He has planned that this would happen is through good works.
The people that remain on the lips of men after dead are those enriched in good works. The world still celebrate Mother Theresa, Rockefeller is still an issue till date. Abraham, Job, and Nehemiah are few of the Old Testament characters that still remain relevant. Salvation is no substitution for good works; it is actually to reinforce it.
Dorcas died of sickness (Act 9) but her good works would not allow death to hold her captive. She was the joy of the widow. She spent her life ministering in material things to the poor and less privileged. When she died, Peter was called upon, and the people did not have to say anything about Dorcas; they had proofs (things to show) of the largeness of her heart, she became the first recorded story of post ascension resurrection in the Holy Bible.
Cornelius was a religious man without salvation. He loved and feared God but was not saved. Many saved believers till date has never had the kind of encounter Cornelius had. He was a good unbeliever that the heaven had to notice. God had to interrupt the whole heaven to send an angel to an unsaved man. Peter had to experience his first and only recorded trance just to break his religious belief just to go into a sinner’s house; contrary to his highly held belief.
The qualification of Cornelius was that he feared God and give alms; good works. Salvation is by grace not works, but your positioning here on earth is by favour that comes through obedience to God’s Law of well doing. You shall serve the Lord (not church membership) and He shall BLESS your bread…Ex.23:25. If you obey and serve the Lord…you shall spend your days in prosperity and your years in pleasure.Job36:11 Faith without works is dead……James2: by their works shall you know them…. Give and it shall be given…. Luke 6:38
I know we are all favored but there are two kinds of favor. One comes as a result of accepting Christ. This favor grants us access to his throne and gives us privilege to activate the word of God. But the second favour is as a result of your good works. That is what the Bible called …'found favor.' Challenge me on this and start marking favour in your Bible within the context of use. The favour that distinguishes you on earth will have to be earned by your good works-whether with God or man…period!
