What are “works of righteousness” – “good works” that honor the Father?

“Good works” are only possible through the Holy Spirit as our works are only interpreted by the Father from the vantage point of “relationship.” If you are not born again by faith in Jesus as Lord having established covenant relationship with the Father and you’re therefore absent the Holy Spirit, your works of self-righteousness are NOTHING to the Father – your works done in the flesh void the Holy Spirit are filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6); It’s NOT until such time you have become the Father’s child by faith in His Son that you become “family” and the works done by the anointing of the Spirit given the redeemed in Jesus become profitable; otherwise, you are an enemy of God irrespective of heritage, race, creed, color.

Works of condemnation…

Those who reject Jesus as Lord, rejecting the suffering and death of Messiah Jesus as blood atonement for their sin, are absent the Spirit and are therefore enemies of the Father; these will stand in the resurrection and Judgment of the Condemned and face adjudication in accordance with their “works” done in the body while constrained by Time…these will be adjudicated “guilty” and lose both body and soul in the “second death” in Hell as one’s “works” do not equate to “righteousness” with God (John 5:29; Revelation 20:11-15; John 3:18; Ephesians 2:8-9).

Works of righteousness…

Those who have trusted in Messiah Jesus as their Redeemer and LORD believing that Jesus died to pay their sin-debt owed the Father and have subsequently received the Holy Spirit as Guarantor of covenant relationship (John 3; Ephesians 1:13-14), these are declared “not guilty” by covenant promise (Hebrews 8:12) and they will NOT stand in the Judgment of the Condemned for sin but their “good works” of righteousness performed in the Spirit SUBSEQUENT to redemption will be judged at the BEMA Seat Judgment of Jesus Christ and these works will be tested for authenticity, rewards given for selfless works done in the Spirit and an absence of rewards for works done via selfishness and self-righteousness but they themself will be saved by covenant promise through their faith in Jesus as Lord.