I will also add this - it’s a seductive thing and at the root of our sinful nature to say we DID something for our salvation. I am NOT a Calvinist Pre-Destination guy - I accept the FIRST-THINGS-FIRST construction of the verse that says “Whom He did foreknow, He did predestine”. So in the context of this thread, Men have a void, they seek for ‘something’ to fill that void. God knows that they will respond to Him knocking on their heart - and He draws them in, tells them the FREE GIFT of His redemption and then the ONLY thing they must DO ‘DO’ is their Free Will to Accept. That to me is NOT ‘works’. Not like Faith and Works as James talks about to the believer. And not like many religions to ‘justify’ themselves by works. As Christians it is also so easy to fall into the trap of “I’m good, I’m better than you, I’m righteous because of how GOOD I live my life” - WRONG. That is again WORKS.
Faith for redemption. Works for reward. Sinner that I am, I'll be happy to serve those more worthy of reward forever.