"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
We are saved through the grace of God - not through any actions and deeds we might perform during this lifetime, nor through any noble traits we may possess. Our salvation rests on our faith and this gift that God has given us, and this should humble us! Therefore, the good works we do here on earth should be out of our love for others and love for God, not out of obligation, pride, or a checklist we need to mark off to win God's favor.
