Going Deeper...God...How do we get to heaven?

One of the questions that ultimately arises if we say that works have nothing to do with our salvation is "What purpose do good works serve?"

James 2 14-26 says that faith without works is dead. Many times Christ calls us to do good works...in fact, when asked the question in Luke 10:25, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus responds with a line of things to do to inherit eternal life, which gives many the conclusion that we have to do certain things to get eternal life, and in one sense we do.

We are saved by grace through faith as Ephesians 2:8-9 says clearly, but good works do have a role in the life of the Christian. Good works serve a purpose in that they show the world who our God is. They show the world that we have faith. They are a natural result of having faith. Good works flow naturally in the life of a Christian. If a Christian is failing to do good works, then their faith could be in question, which is exactly what James 2 is all about.

God comes to us, gives us faith by his grace, and then good works come. This is the flow of a Christian's life.

Surely others in the world, even those who aren't Christian do things that appear to be good. What do you make of this? Do they have faith in Christ? Is it possible to do good works without having faith in Christ?

I'd love to hear your comments or any other questions you might have when it comes to faith and works and how we inherit eternal life.