Works come AFTER salvation, not before. Ephesians 2:8-10: saved by grace through faith, not of works — but created in Christ Jesus FOR good works. You don't earn forgiveness; you receive it and then good works flow from the new life. The danger: thinking you need to be a better person first.

Ephesians 2:8-10: grace through faith, not works, so no one can boast — but created FOR good works prepared beforehand. The order: trust Christ → receive forgiveness → good works follow as evidence of new life. Countless people mistakenly try to earn salvation through goodness first. Luke 18:9-14: the tax collector who said "God, be merciful to me a sinner" went home justified, not the self-righteous Pharisee.