Alot of people do not get what when we are talling about salvation. The only works that matters are the works of God. As our works are filthy rags.
A sign of a pharisee is that they always focus on a persons works or his self righteousness Not the work of God.
A child of God works because he has faith (true faith produces works) you will never hear a true grace believer say a child of God will be void of works. It is other people who say this, and this is the same ploy the pharisees used which is why they are called modern day Pharisees.
I couldn't agree more with your first sentence. The only thing that matters is "Keeping the Commandments of God", as Paul and Jesus declared.
The Pharisees, the mainstream preachers of their time, were pushing their own religious traditions and doctrines of men, not God's "Works" as many falsely preach on this forum..
Yes, they claimed to be children of God, yes they claimed to be following His Laws. But the Messiah clearly said they were not.
Matt. 23:
4 For they (Pharisees, not God)
bind heavy burdens (Yoke) and grievous to be borne, and lay
them on men's shoulders (Necks) ; but they
themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Matt. 15:
7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with
their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me,
teaching for doctrines the
commandments (works) of men (Not God as "many" who come in Christ's name preach)
Acts 7:
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost:
as your fathers did,
so do ye.
52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels,
and have not kept it.
The Messiah, however,
pushed obedience to His Father for Salvation, not obedience to religious men whose traditions transgress the commandments of God, as with the Mainstream Preachers of Christ's time, the Pharisees, but obedience to Him, the Word which became Flesh..
Luke 13:
3 I tell you, Nay: but,
except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Matt. 19:
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good?
there is none good but one,
that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life,
keep (DO) the commandments
Matt. 16:
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples,
If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, (WORK) and
take up his cross, (WORK) and
follow me. (WORK)
John 14:
21 He that hath my commandments,
and keepeth (DOETH) them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him,
and will manifest myself to him
Matt. 7:
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
These instructions from the Christ all command that we "DO" something to receive the Grace God has provided for mankind.
Not our own religious "works" like our own High days, or our own "wonderful works in His name" as did those in Matt. 7.
Everyone has "works". We do works every day, some religious, some not. But as you said, "Man's "work" is a filthy rag". This is why the Messiah said to "DO" the Works created by Him for mankind.
Eve was given instructions as well. But "another voice", using some of God's Words, convinced her she was "Already Saved", therefore, she need not "DO" the instructions the Word which became Flesh gave to her.
The Serpent actually convinced her that God's instructions were there to keep her in prison, keep her Blind. A "burden" to her. This lie is still promoted by those who use parts of God's Word even today as the Word warned.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman,
Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that
in the day ye eat thereof, (Refuse to "DO" as instructed)
then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
She would have been better off rejecting the other Voice and just listening to the Word which became Flesh as did Abraham and Zechariahs, and just trusted Him enough to "DO" as He instructed.
A good lesson rejected by the Mainstream Preachers of Christ's time, and it seems, today as well.