James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Good works and effort are always important in their legitimate sphere, and they ought to be encouraged in everyone, whether they believe or not; but at the end of the day, a person’s good deeds are never a substitute for the gift of God through Christ. In fact, good works and good efforts do not qualify any person to enter heaven even if those efforts are the result of God’s grace in the heart.
Admission to heaven is uniquely the result of a promise and a gift God has made in Christ, to those who believe. The good works are the inevitable byproduct of the Gift when it’s received, but persons can, and will be saved based solely on the merit of God’s gift, and promise in Christ. The thief on the cross didn’t have an opportunity for any good works to be manifested or come to fruition in him.
He repents after the godly sort, as he chooses to receive the free gift, but there is not a single word in the scriptures, suggesting that he had restored fourfold as David once said, and as the Bible states. He did not have opportunity to keep the Sabbath or to return his tithes with a free will offering.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!