"Works" in this passage refer to the works of the law (Gal 2:16; 3:2; Rom 9:32). Works of the law do not come from faith but from a desire to obtain righteousness without the saving works of Jesus Christ. It would be a mistake to say that anything involving physical action is a "work." If that is the case, then confession with our mouths would be a "work." The Lord Jesus Himself commanded the sacraments. Denying the Lord's commands is not faith at all. In receiving the sacraments, it is not the physical action on the part of the believer that saves. It is the mercy of God and the saving work of Christ that brings us the effect. Faith is not just intellectual agreement. Faith without action is not true faith. Such false faith cannot save (Jas 2:14; Mt 7:21-23).
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