Dead faith does not save. Faith not evidenced by good deeds (love) does not save.
Faith and works of love are inseparable. Good deeds are the evidence of true faith. A righteous man who does bad things will not be saved from his sinful nature or death. An unrighteous man who heard of Jesus Christ and denied Him will not be saved even if he does some good, because none is without sin and all is need of salvation.
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, to profess faith without showing works? Such faith has no power to save you” (James 2.14).
The apostolic epistles are filled with exhortations unto good works:
"Do not neglect good works and common life, for these are sacrifices pleasing to God" (Hebrews 13.16).
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works (Hebrews 10.24)
This is the truth. I want you to insist on these things, for those who believe in God must excel in good deeds, that is what matters and is profitable to us (Titus 3.8).
Certainly Not!
We were created by God in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works.
For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesian 2.8-10).
We are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus to do good. We obtain salvation by believing in the Son of God for the purpose of good works. God saves man so that man can do good (kind acts and kingdom works). Believers who do good truly belong to God because they are walking according to His purpose.
It is the will of God that we do good. Not all who calls Him LORD shall be saved but only those who do the will of the Father.
Not everyone who says to me: LORD! LORD! will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my heavenly Father. Many will say to me on that day, "LORD, LORD, did we not speak in your name? Did we not cast out devils and perform many miracles in your name?" Then I will tell them openly: I have never known you, away from me, you evil people! (Mathew 7.22-23).
So, you see, doing good is salvation. It is evidence of our faith in Him and seal of our salvation. There is no point believing if we will not do good. The coming world is for those who do good. It is not for evil people. On the judgement day, everyone will be judged by his works.
After that I saw a great and splendid throne and the one seated upon it. At once heaven and earth disappeared, leaving no trace. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before the throne while books were opened. Another book, the Book of Life, was also opened. Then the dead were judged according to the records of these books, that is, each one according to his works. The sea gave up the dead it had kept, as did death and the netherworld, so that all might be judged according to their works. Then death and the netherworld were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. All who were not recorded in the Book of Life were thrown into the lake of fire (Rev 20.11-15)
Salvation is this: Man must accept that he has sinned against God. Then believe in Jesus Christ as Savior for the remissions of his sins. After reconciling with God, he must not go on sinning but do good. He must overcome evil with good. If he continues sinning, the reconciliation becomes void because the element of sin that caused the initial separation from God is still present. The LORD Jesus died to take away sins and to destroy the works of evil. So, those who believe in Him follow His footsteps. The works of darkness give way to the appearance of light. The LORD is holy and good. To believe in Him means to take after His righteousness.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, to profess faith without showing works (works of love)? Such faith has no power to save you. If a brother or sister is in need of clothes or food and one of you says, "May things go well for you, be warm and satisfied," without attending to their material needs, what good is that? So it is for faith without deeds: it is totally dead. Say to whoever challenges you, "You have faith and I have good deeds, show me your faith apart from actions and I, for my part, will show you my faith in the way I act." Do you believe there is one God? Well enough, but do not forget that the demons also believe and tremble with fear! You foolish one, do you have to be convinced that faith without deeds is useless? Think of our father Abraham. Was he not justified by the act of offering his son Isaac on the altar? So you see, his faith was active along with his deeds and became perfect by what he did. The word of Scripture was thus fulfilled, Abraham believed in God so he was considered a righteous person and he was called the friend of God. So you see, a person is acknowledged by works and not by faith alone. Likewise, we read of Rahab, the prostitute, that she was acknowledged and saved because she welcomed the spies and showed them another way to leave. So, just as the body is dead without its spirit, so faith without deeds is also dead James 2.14-26).
The good works of the children of God is light to the world. It is by doing good that we overcome the evil one. Do good and continue to do good no matter the magnitude of evil. For you see, the battle is between light and darkness, good and evil, the obedient and the disobedient, the LORD God and the devil. It is your works that shows whose you are. The people of the dark do not love. They do not know God. Mankind can only see God through the light of God’s children. No one light a lamp and puts it under the table. The righteous nature of God must become our nature so that the people of the dark will see our good deeds and glorify the heavenly Father. The Heavenly Father wants all His children to shine very brightly so that the world will know Him through them.
Our works is what the LORD wants to see. Our works reveals the measure of faith in our hearts. What we say or feel in our hearts will not save us. Goods works done in faith seals our redemption. In the LORD’s letter to the seven churches, He made mention to all of them about their works. The church of Ephesus has left her first works. The church of Smyrna was rich in works. The church of Thyatira’s second works was greater than the first. The church in Sardis had dead works (no works). The church of Laodicea was lukewarm (Rev 1-3).
Great works can be done only in the power of the Holy Spirit. True believers are not naked. They are clothed in white garment of good deeds. The bride of Christ will be dressed in the white linen of good works. Your good deeds will be your white garment. No good deeds, no white wedding garment.
“This is the time to celebrate the wedding of the Lamb, his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, is given her to wear. This linen stands for the good works of the holy ones” (Rev 19.7-8).