“Works and faith are inseparable in Paul, for good works are always the fruit of faith. Faith looks outside itself to Jesus Christ as the crucified and risen Lord for salvation. It anchors itself to the God who gives life where there is death, trusting that God will raise believers from the dead on the last day.
Hence, the call to good works in Paul’s writings does not focus on the inherent power of human beings to do what is good and right and true. Every good thing is the fruit of faith and the power of God. Perseverance cannot be equated with perfection; it is nothing less than continuing to trust in God’s grace until the final day.”
–Thomas R. Schreiner, New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008), 584-585.
