Some then, as now, argue that accepting grace has nothing to do with a changed life. Paul devotes all of Romans 6 to refuting such falsehood. He reminds the Christians in Rome how their new life in Christ began: In baptism they died to sin and rose with Christ (Romans 6:3-4). Obedience, then, was the pivot, the turning point that separated “slaves to sin” from “slaves to righteousness.”
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:16-18).
“You…have become obedient from the heart” (Romans 6:17).
Yes, “obedience… leads to righteousness” (Romans 6:16). They escaped slavery to sin when they became “obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching” (Romans 6:17). This so often happens in Paul’s writings. While his letters condemn legalistic “works,” they also stress active, striving, working faith (1 Corinthians 3:8, 14; 9:24-27; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 9:13; 10:5; Romans 2:8; 10:16; Galatians 5:7; 6:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 1:27; 2:5-8, 12; 4:9; Colossians 3:17, 23-24; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 11; 3:13-14; 1 Timothy 4:16; 6:18-19; Titus 2:11-12; 3:5-8).
All this explains why Paul, like James, can say things that surprise some people. For example, Paul says,
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury (Romans 2:6-8).
In the same book, Paul clearly rejects any idea of earning merit. Therefore “works” of “well-doing” are simply faith that is obeying.