“Works" don’t have to be taboo. A work is a deed or something that is done. Believing is an action. It's about being doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding our own selves (James 1:22), or doing the truth (John 3:21), or coming to Jesus and hearing his words and doing them (Luke 6:47). We will be judged by our works or deeds or things we have done and that prove that we had faith and that our faith was not "dead" (James 2:26).
Romans 2:4-11
4 Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:” 7 to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality -- everlasting life. 8 But to those who are self-seeking, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness -- wrath and anger, 9 affliction and distress, on every human being who does evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. 10 But glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
That is from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, and he wrote the following in Romans 4:
1-5
1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,
9-13
9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, which he had while still uncircumcised. 13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
We have to take the habit of reading single verses in their context to see what the entire text is about. And we can see that the point made in Romans 4 does not in any way cancel the sense of this:
God will pay back to everyone according to their works (Romans 2:6).
So, faith is not without works of faith or _walking in the steps of the faith_ (Romans 4:12). There is something the believer who is continuing to believe is doing and that is being obedient to God.
Hebrews 5:9
And having been made perfect, He [Jesus] became the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him
Faith implies being obedient to God and that means doing works of faith out of love for God. Those are not "the works of the Law" by which no one is justified or saved (Romans 3:20, Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5). The works of faith are the same good works that the sheep on the right did in the Matthew 25:32-40 parable. Those works they did in faith had everything to do with their continuous right standing with God and ultimately their salvation, as compared to the goat on the left who had done evil works or had failed to believe and to do good works by their faith (Matthew 25:41-46).
Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
John 14:15
If you love me, keep my commandments.
John 15:9-10
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
Jude 1:21
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Being a Christian is a journey of walking by faith and that is a work. Not every use of the word “work” in the Bible is talking about the works of the Law that have nothing to do with getting justified or saved by Jesus.
Revelation 2:2, 9, 19
2 I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
9 I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
19 I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
Matthew 16:24-27
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Everybody is working. Either people are being obedient to God and doing good works of righteousness, which is what true faith produces, or they are being disobedient to God and doing evil works (sinning). Sinning is not the way that leads to eternal life. The way of salvation that leads to eternal life in the age to come is called the way of righteousness (2 Peter 2:21) or the "narrow way" that few find (Matthew 7:14). It just means living for God, in submission to Him out of love, and no longer living for oneself and for sin.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Peter 2:21-25
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, 22 who “committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth.” 23 Who, when he was cursed, did not curse back. When he suffered, did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously; 24 who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose wounds you were healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep; but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 John 3:4-9
4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
May Jesus bless you!
See also:
What does "by grace are you saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8) really mean?
Is Repentance Just a Change of Mind?
The Salvation of the Thief Who Was on the Cross
"Our own righteousness is as filthy rags"
How Do You Love God with All Your Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength?
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