Works without faith, counts for nothing. You cannot be justified without faith in Christ, who enlightens all men in the world.

Faith without works, counts for nothing. You cannot just say "I believe" and live in your sinful nature without obedience.

Works of love energized by faith, are esteemed and required by God.

I have been challenged with the question: how many works are necessary for salvation?
The answer is: as many acts of repentance as are necessary to crucify your sinful nature.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature, with its passions and desires. Gal 5:24
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13

So you may be asking, how is me crucifying my sinful nature a work?
Answer: It is work to carry your cross, hard work - required work - a work of obedience.
It is loosing your life to save it, the one true sacrifice, required by God and pleasing to him.

But the false prophets say you need do nothing; for we are not saved by works, we are saved by faith and grace. They say if you do works, (even carry your cross), you are trying to be justified under the law, and therefore you lose salvation.

Of course we are saved by faith and grace, but after repentance and after carrying our cross in faith for a time - works, through and energized by, faith. We cannot be justified by works alone without faith in Christ, but unless our faith energizes and prompts us to do many good works in obedience, our faith is imagined - make believe Christianity. We cannot be justified by following the Mosaic law, with its hundreds of commands relating to ceremonies, rituals, washings, sacrifices, etc., but you had better be sure, that without works of obedience to the moral core of the law, you will never see the Kingdom of Christ.

Surely you don't think you are moral, pure, and without greed, until you have repented of all, and have received the changing grace of God to become moral, pure, and without greed. You can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person..has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Eph 5:5-6. Repentance is the beginning of works.

James said, "faith without works is dead." James 2:17
James further said, " You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." James 2:24
Paul said, "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Philippians 2:12
Again Paul said, the purpose of grace, results in a people zealous for good works. Titus 2:14
Peter said: whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. Acts 10:35
Paul again: I declared.. that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:20
Jesus said, unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:3. Repentance requires effort on your part.
And, As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Rev 3:19 (Zealous is -ardent desire, enthusiastic).
Jesus further said, Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. Mat 11:29
Jesus said, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23
Jesus said, I have not found thy works perfect before God. Rev 3:2-3. He wants perfect works, energized by faith.
Hear! Jesus said: Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.  Luke 13:24
The gospel of grace would have you believe striving is unnecessary, yet Jesus ordered us to strive, (to exert much effort or energy).
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded,
nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. 1 Tim 6:17-18
If you live in a prosperous industrialized nation, you are rich relative to the rest of the word. So be rich in good works.

But he who practices truth - who does what is right- comes out into the Light; so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are--wrought with God - divinely prompted, done with God's help, in dependence upon Him. John 3:21. A true believer does truth, or practices truth - does what is right. (He is finished with sin, doing what is wrong.) A believer comes out into the light, (without fear) to show that his deeds ( or works) have been: wrought in God; or divinely prompted, done with God's help, in dependence upon God.

Now ask yourself: How many works, or deeds, have I done that have been wrought, or prompted by God and with his help? How many works have I done that God has specifically told me to do, and then helped me to do them?
The first works for all are repentance - with God prompting or showing you what to repent from, and then you through sorrow, resolving to do do better - repentance. As Paul said: I declared.. that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:20