Then we have Caths asserting that they do not work to earn salvation, even though in Cath theology they must become actually good enough to enter Heaven.
The soul who truly believes on the Lord Jesus to save Him, as a damned and destitute sinner, by His sinless shed blood, is "accepted in the Beloved" and made to sit together with Him in heaven, (Eph. 1;6; 2:6) - Christ's account. He therefore confesses the Lord Jesus in word and in deed, continuing in the faith, and thus it is both promised that those who believe as well as those who obey (be baptized, confess, etc.) will be saved, for the latter testifies to the former, which is what is counted for righteousness.
Working for salvation is actually selfish. While God does appeal to self-interest in motivating men to repentance, escape from Hell is not to be the supreme motive, but to glorify God. We should be willing to go to Hell if that would glorify God the most. While fear of wrath certainly is valid motivation to be saved (Mt. 25;30-46) and continue in the faith, (Heb. 3; 10) it is the love and mercy of God that is to be the enduring and supreme motivation. Which I need to be far more consistent and increase in.
We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? (1 John 4:19-20)
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
Do you think you can get into heaven some other way? The God of Truth isn't going to be moved by a legal fiction or sleight of hand. Sorry, Mr. Luther, He's smart enough to know the difference between a dungheap covered by snow and a snowdrift.
And He's powerful enough to change the first to the second, too. So no, Daniel, we don't earn salvation -- such a thing is not even possible -- and still less do we work to earn salvation. _God works it in us._ That's the Biblical teaching, not Luther's idea that God works a legal fiction, fools himself (!!), and agrees to ignore our sins.
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure -- Philippians 2:12-13