Salvation through faith in Christ as the only way is absolutely first and nothing comes before that. All else is absolutely secondary...
As Jesus said, what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul....
Thus, salvation is first, first, first...
Good works are often the “bait” on the “hook” so to speak in the fishing of men. My church does charitable outreaches especially at Christmas time but expects that of itself to do no more than get the people to know about us, or the Christian church in general. But God draws further, and so our work in that vein is far from vain.
Did Jesus go up to people and say: “Do you acknowledge me as the Son of God?” and refuse to do anything unless they confessed that? No. He went out and preached and healed, knowing that the miraculous works would bring people around. I don’t think any significant Christian denomination argues for works alone. Do you think there is no difference between Mother Theresa and Barack Obama? Between the Pope and Mohammed? Jesus’ last wishes were that his disciples love one another. He taught that anyone who hurt “these little ones” was evil. Can’t all Christians get together even on that? Who is asking John MacArthur to give up his beliefs just to sign that statement?