The problem with Calvin is, of course, that he totally ignores James and his words about faith without works being dead. Calvin opposes James who even cites the passage about Abraham believing God and having it counted as rightousness. Calvin then proposes an interpretation entirely counter to James. And James was friendly with Paul the Apostle. We can only assume that James was out of his friendship with Paul ensuring that Paul was not misunderstood, since he refers to Paul's teaching on this subject.
Calvin did not know Paul as James did. It is better to be guided by James than by Calvin.
There are actions a person must take to cooperate with God in salvation and remaining within that salvation. Those are not burdensome actions: baptism, repentance, obedience. Nor are they part of the old Jewish law which is what Paul meant when he referred to those who desired to be declared righteous by their works.
Good works are the fruit of faith.
We do good works as a result of Christ's regeneration, not as a token for its barter.