What is the primary reason good works are not necessary for salvation?

The primary reason good works are not necessary for salvation is that they are a necessary result of salvation. This perspective emphasizes that salvation is fundamentally an act of grace rather than something that can be earned through human effort. According to Christian doctrine, salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ, and this faith transforms a person's life, leading them to pursue good works as an expression of their faith and gratitude for the salvation they have received.

When someone truly experiences salvation, the natural outcome is that they will produce good works—not to attain salvation, but as a manifestation of their transformed heart and faith in Christ. This aligns with passages in the New Testament that speak about faith being alive and active, often illustrated by the good deeds one does. Thus, while good works are important and demonstrate the genuineness of one's faith, they are not the means by which a person is saved; rather, they flow from the authentic experience of that salvation.