100 Bible Verses about Works

James 2:14-20 ESV / 110 helpful votes

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ...

Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV / 89 helpful votes

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Titus 3:14 ESV / 62 helpful votes

And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

James 2:20-24 ESV / 55 helpful votes

Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 50 helpful votes

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Titus 3:8 ESV / 46 helpful votes

The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

Hebrews 13:21 ESV / 32 helpful votes

Equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

James 1:22-27 ESV / 31 helpful votes

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. ...

Romans 11:6 ESV / 30 helpful votes

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Hebrews 6:10 ESV / 29 helpful votes

For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

Hebrews 10:24 ESV / 23 helpful votes

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

Titus 2:7 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,

Psalm 90:17 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

1 Timothy 6:18 ESV / 18 helpful votes

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

2 Timothy 3:17 ESV / 17 helpful votes

That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

1 Timothy 5:10 ESV / 17 helpful votes

And having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.

Colossians 3:12-14 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Matthew 19:16-21 ESV / 16 helpful votes

And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” ...

James 2:25-26 ESV / 15 helpful votes

And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

James 1:25 ESV / 15 helpful votes

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Colossians 1:10 ESV / 15 helpful votes

So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 15 helpful votes

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Romans 2:13 ESV / 14 helpful votes

For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

John 3:21 ESV / 13 helpful votes

But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Titus 3:1 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

Galatians 6:15 ESV / 12 helpful votes

For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Galatians 5:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Galatians 2:16 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

John 15:14 ESV / 12 helpful votes

You are my friends if you do what I command you.

Nehemiah 13:14 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.

Revelation 14:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

James 3:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Proverbs 3:6 ESV / 10 helpful votes

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Hebrews 6:9 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.

Hebrews 6:1 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Ephesians 2:8 ESV / 9 helpful votes

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Acts 13:39 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

James 3:18 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 3:17 ESV / 8 helpful votes

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 8 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

2 Timothy 1:9 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

1 Timothy 5:25 ESV / 8 helpful votes

So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

Galatians 3:1-29 ESV / 8 helpful votes

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— ...

2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Romans 9:16 ESV / 8 helpful votes

So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Matthew 18:5 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,

Matthew 10:42 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Isaiah 64:6 ESV / 8 helpful votes

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Revelation 20:11-15 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Hebrews 4:3-10 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” ...

1 Timothy 6:19 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

1 Timothy 5:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband,

1 Timothy 2:10 ESV / 7 helpful votes

But with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

Philippians 2:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Philippians 1:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Galatians 5:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 2:21 ESV / 7 helpful votes

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

1 Corinthians 3:6-9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

John 15:2-8 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ...

Matthew 6:1-4 ESV / 7 helpful votes

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Revelation 22:14 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

1 Timothy 6:17 ESV / 6 helpful votes

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Romans 9:31 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.

John 6:29 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Ezekiel 18:5-9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“If a man is righteous and does what is just and right— if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity, does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, does not lend at interest or take any profit, withholds his hand from injustice, executes true justice between man and man, walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.

Proverbs 3:27 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

James 2:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Hebrews 9:1-14 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. ...

1 Thessalonians 1:8 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

1 Thessalonians 1:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes

So that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

Colossians 2:20-23 ESV / 5 helpful votes

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Philippians 3:3-9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ...

Philippians 2:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

Galatians 6:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.

Galatians 5:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes

You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

Galatians 4:9-11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

Galatians 2:19 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.

1 Corinthians 3:13-15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Acts 26:24 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”

Acts 10:38 ESV / 5 helpful votes

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Luke 13:6-9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Luke 10:25 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Matthew 28:19-20 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 5:20 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Proverbs 24:11-12 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?

James 2:10 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

Hebrews 6:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Galatians 1:15-16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;

Romans 9:32 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,

Romans 8:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

Romans 4:1-22 ESV / 4 helpful votes

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, ...

Romans 3:20-31 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ...

Acts 10:4 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

John 15:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 10:32 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?”

Luke 17:7-10 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

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