Justification By Works?

"These good works are evidence of the true nature of these people. Notice the response of the righteous (Matthew 25:31-40). These believers are clearly not sitting around waiting to be justified by their works. When Jesus commends them for what they have done, they humbly respond by saying, "When did we do this?" That does not sound like folk who are waiting to be justified by works, waiting to be saved by works. Instead they are completely stunned that Jesus would even mention their works." -- J. Ligon Duncan, Fear Not: Death and the Afterlife from a Christian Perspective, page 79