Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Get set free from that works based fear.
Oh, but the point is it's not just one verse. The point is that when Paul writes "For God will render to every man according to his works," Paul is simply stating a point that every Jew (and Gentile with knowledge of the Hebrew scriptures) would recognize. For this is a point the OT repeatedly makes:
"And loving kindness is Yours, O Lord, For You recompense a man according to his work." Ps. 62:12
"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." Jer. 17:10
"For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." Eccl. 12:14 (Cf, 2 Cor. 5:10)
"And if you say, 'See, we did not know this,' Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?" Prov. 24:12
˜Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong. "For He pays a man according to his work ..." Job 34:10,11
And those hearing accounts of Jesus, Paul's teacher, (the Gospels had not yet been written when Paul wrote Romans) would recognize that Jesus taught this same principle(e.g., Matt. 16:27; John 5:26-29.)
"I, the Lord, do not change." (Mal. 3:6) That point had already been built, so to speak.
So Paul repeats this same principle near the outset of his letter to the Romans. He then spends the next three or so chapters (as we divide them now) explaining the right way and the wrong way to understand "God will render eternal life in accordance with works."