Works naturally follow in the life of a saved person.
But, it has nothing to do with salvation.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Faith without works is dead.
Why, then, does St. James say "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?" (Jas 2:21)?
Eph. 2:8-9 is talking about initial justification. Catholics agree that we do not merit the initial grace of justification. Trent says:
And whereas the Apostle saith, that man is justified by faith and freely, those words are to be understood in that sense which the perpetual consent of the Catholic Church hath held and expressed; to wit, that we are therefore said to be justified by faith, because faith is the beginning of human salvation, the foundation, and the root of all Justification; without which it is impossible to please God, and to come unto the fellowship of His sons: but we are therefore said to be justified freely, because that none of those things which precede justification-whether faith or works-merit the grace itself of justification. For, if it be a grace, it is not now by works, otherwise, as the same Apostle says, grace is no more grace.
That does not exclude further justification, through the grace of God, after one has been justified: else we must practically discard James, as Luther did. Thus, Eph. 2:10: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus in good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in them." and "God: Who will render to every man according to his works. To them indeed who, according to patience in good work, seek glory and honour and incorruption, eternal life;" (Rom. 2:5b-7)
Let me add that the statement made earlier on this thread that you only go to Hell if you have "so many mortal sins ... outstanding" is not quite correct: anyone who has committed any mortal sin and has not repented by death will go to Hell.
I agree we are not SAVED by works, but Scripture has it time and again that we WILL be judged according to our deeds:
21 Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that DOETH the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. 24 Every one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock, 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these my words and doth them not, shall be like a foolish man that built his house upon the sand, 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall thereof.