Why are good works and mercy connected?

Good works and mercy are inseparably linked in the life of a believer. As Paul teaches in 2 Timothy 1:16-18, Onesiphorus refreshed Paul through his good works, which were motivated by mercy—the mercy Paul himself received from God. The interplay between good works and mercy signifies that while believers are called to perform good works, they must do so in humility, recognizing that their actions do not earn them favor with God, but rather stem from the mercy they have already been given. Thus, engages in good works as a response to God's mercy.