Let us be clear on this. There is absolutely nothing, and I mean nothing that a person can do to get saved. It is the gift of God lest any man should boast. You were not saved because of your goodness or any virtue that you had. You were saved only, because he had mercy upon you.
Works are the fruits of our new life.
An apple tree will give apples, not in order to become an apple tree , but because it is one already. Because God first loved me, I am now able to love him back. I am not holy because of my righteousness, But because he is holy. There are so many religious people out there trying to earn their salvation through good works. However even their most righteous actions are like filthy rags.