Yes, we are saved by Grace and not works because there is no way any one could do enough to earn his way, a man might give his 12 year old son fifty cents or a dollar to fill the wood box, not that he earned it because that should be his job any way but if he don`t do it he won`t get the money.
Mathew 7
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
It appears to me that Jesus is speaking to a whole bunch of people who claim to believe in him and it is pretty plain they are going to hell.
The only ones who will enter heaven is the ones who does the fathers will.
James 2:14-26
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
The works James is talking about is what Jesus plainly told us to do.
And if we are doing what Jesus told us to do maybe we won`t have time to sin as much.
The Matthew 7 passage shows that works without faith will not save you. These are people relying on their works, not their faith.
As for James 2, the questions is do works follow faith, or is it faith + works? c.f. Ephesians 2:8-10. James and Paul are not in opposition, rather they stand back-to-back to antinomians and legalists.
Not sinning is not going to get us into heaven.
Not sinning is not what makes us right with God.
Which as a characteristic is because it is such who are true believers, whose faith is counted for righteousness, and not because their works themselves merited the gift of eternal life. Works justify a person as being a believer, versus merely a professor of faith, but as in conversion God purifies the heart by effectual faith, (Acts 15:9) and makes the believer accepted in the Beloved, and positionally seated together with Him in Heaven, and with direct access into the holy of holies, all on Christ's account, so also it is the faith which effects works which promises final salvation.
Thus the warnings to believers against having an evil heart of unbelief, and casting away their confidence, and the exhortation to persevering faith in the Christ, "whose house are we, if, we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (Hebrews 3:6)
We need to trust the risen Lord Jesus to save us, and works will follow, but the effect is not the actual cause of justification, but which is obtained by the faith which is behind works.
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? (Acts 10:43-47)
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:7-9)
But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (Hebrews 6:8-10)