this discussion should begin with Abraham because he was saved BEFORE any commandments and yet he HAD TO OBEY nonetheless for if he had not, he would not have been saved
and interestingly, Moses did NOT have the commandments yet when on his way back to Egypt, God sought to 'kill' him because he had not kept covenant by circumcising his own sons
people around here like to speak covenant talk but seem to miss the Abrahamic covenant and the covenant of circumcision BOTH prior to the commandments and sacrificial system in place for the breaking of same
so hang on a minute here and look at this
salvation was NEVER about keeping commandments
but it has always been about obedience and keeping covenant IN faith
and what are works? aren't they simply the 'good' works the NT actually speaks of concerning feeding the poor, looking after orphans, widows and helping those who need it?
like this:
good works are an extension of the work of grace in our lives
we don't manufacture works to be good, we do them because we have a changed nature. that nature should lend itself to helping those who need it, looking after widows and orphans (James 1), feeding the poor etc. now EVERY Christian should be able to do these without a special calling or 'gift', surely?
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
and we have the gifts of the Holy Spirit to build up the body of Christ and so sadly used (if you can use a gift and actually still have God's anointing upon it) for self aggrandizement and worship
we are SUPPOSED to exhibit the life of Christ we say we have and I don't think that is some great mystery. it's actually a pretty practical thing
we are supposed to be doing whatever we are doing TO CHRIST...not to or for or of ourselves
I think many many have forgotten then or retired it to the monologue of old retired prophets who had dust on their feet and fire in their eyes
as far as BELIEVING goes, the devil and his angels believe too and are not saved
faith for salvation is the gospel...not just 'I believe' do you know how many people will say they believe in God and yet are not saved?