Hi Brent,
You wrote that "good works does not equal following the law".
I must admit I had never heard that concept of works and law. But let's consider that statement.
First of all, for the sake of clarity let's leave out the word "good" because it COULD complicate things. The dictionary definition of "works" tells us to see the defintion of "work". The definition of "work gives several definitions of which number 11 best suits our subject. That reads, "Performance of moral duties, prescribed ceremonial acts, or both".
According to the dictionary, the observance of the law IS "works".
You also wrote, "But our salvation has nothing to do with following the Law, it's all about grace through faith".
I agree that our faith in the present dispensation has nothing to do with following the law, but you are forgetting what Paul wrote in Ph. 2:12, "work our your own salvation with fear and trembling". The Greek word translated "work out" means, basically "accomplish" (let me know if you would like to see the Scriptural use of that Greek word which proves my point).
So yes, we today do not follow the law, but our works are made "perfect" by our works (James 2:22). The Greek word translated "perfect" means, "consummate", "finish", "fulfill".
In other words, our faith is not complete without works. The only difference in this dispensation and the last is that the works of BELIEVING Jews as described in the Law were what made their faith complete. But in the present dispensation our works are not centered in the law.
In Christ,
Joyce
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