Good works are a good thing! Works of the law are unnecessary, and not even recommended; but Jesus and his apostles asked that we do good works. These are some of the references:
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Mat 5:16 KJV)
"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." (Mat 16:27 KJV)
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:10 KJV)
"This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men." (Tit 3:8 KJV)
"And let our's also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful." (Tit 3:14 KJV)
"For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (Heb 6:10 KJV)
"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:" (Heb 10:24 KJV)
"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?" (Jam 2:14 KJV)
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (Jam 2:17 KJV)
"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." (Jam 2:18 KJV)
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (Jam 2:26 KJV)
"And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:" (1 Pet 1:17 KJV)
"Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Pet 2:12 KJV)
"Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." (1 Jn 3:12 KJV)
"I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:" (Rev 2:2 KJV)
"I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (Rev 2:9-10 KJV)
"I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth." (Rev 2:13 KJV)
"I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first." (Rev 2:19 KJV)
"And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:" (Rev 2:26 KJV)
"I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." (Rev 3:8 KJV)
"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Rev 22:12 KJV)
BTW, James explained some of the good works that we could do:
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." (Jam 1:27 KJV)
In a nutshell, all good works center around this:
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Mat 7:12 KJV)
"If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well…" (Jam 2:8-9 KJV)
That is not just the law, it is one of the two great commandments.
Philip