not to have good works.  The Bible clearly tells us that if we claim to be Christian and we do not have good works, then we are not saved (1 John 2:4).  Furthermore, the Bible also says that once we are saved, we are not free to be bad (Rom. 6:1-2).  On the contrary, we are obligated to be good.   In John 14:15 Jesus says, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." Also, 1 John 2:3 says, "And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments." Confused?  Don't be.  We are not saved by our works because we cannot be.  The only way to be saved is to trust in the finished sacrificial work of Christ on the cross.   But, once saved, the person is now changed.  He is a new creation and the old things have passed away (2 Cor. 5:17).  This means that our old sinful ways are gone (or on their way out as we struggle against them).  It also means that we then do good works to honor God.  We don't do good works to be saved or stay saved.  We do good works because we are saved.  I once heard it said that you are not saved by good works, but you aren't saved without them.  This means that our good works don't save us in any way, but once we are saved we naturally obey God's law and do good works which is a