My Opinion On Works As It Relates To The Gift Of Salvation Paid For By Jesus Christ

There isn't anywhere in the Bible that teaches good works is the evidence of salvation.  Fruit of good works is not easily discerned; and it cannot be reliable proof of salvation.  As Christians, we are created in Jesus Christ to do good works (Eph. 2:10) and expected to do good works (1 Tim. 6:18; Titus 2:7, 14; Heb. 10:24), but good works are never attached to the condition for salvation, which is faith alone in Christ alone (Rom. 4:4-5). I want to also stress that scripture clearly states we are saved by grace and not works (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 3:20, 28; Gal. 2:16 ); while good works can be corroborating evidence for one's faith in Christ, they are not sufficient to prove or disprove it and IMHO absence of good works proves absolutely nothing.

One does not have to do good works to be saved,  maintain it, or to prove one possesses it.  Only faith in God's promise of eternal life through the finished work of Jesus Christ and the acceptance of what He has done for us guarantees and proves our salvation; and Just in case you are wondering; it is after all a related issue (you can't have salvation without it being eternally secure), I also believe in the eternal security of the believer since that is clearly what it says in the Bible.