I concur with your assessment metmom.
If one simply remains in faith with Christ, and in love for one’s fellow man or any number of situations God’s plan has for us, we will tend to perform good works. But if we focus on the works as good works, we will tend to perform the work on our outside of faith in Him, and slide into a legalistic form of thinking as we perform the works, making God a debtor, rather than through faith allowing Him to work through us.
EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!
God does not owe us salvation just because we do good works to hang over His head to blackmail with.
And it does lead to legalism.