Those who rely on faith alone but do not have works do not have saving faith, but it is by faith that righteousness is imputed, not works.
As for Mt. 25, one self-evident principal of sound exegesis is that ambiguous texts are interpreted in the light of the clearest teaching, and in this case it is Paul who is laying down systematic soteriology, and most precisely deals with the exact issue of the basis of justification, regarding faith versus works. Mt 25 is not primarily teaching soteriology, but does reveal those whose works manifest they possess saving faith, while text such as “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”, (Mat 5:3) deals with those who have the kind of heart that call upon Christ effectually for salvation.
If you simply form your soteriology out the the gospels, then you will have to reconcile having to require one soul to sell all he has, while another gives only half to the poor, while another shows compassion to the afflicted, while another just humbly cries for mercy, and another just believes and tells others about Jesus, and another is told the word of Gos is to believe. All these are reconciled (primarily) in Paul’s specific teaching, which Peter called scripture, and which reveals that it is faith out of a humble and contrite heart that appropriates justification, and thus is manifested by works of faith, done is response to salvation, not in order to acquire it.
>The truth is that faith and works cooperate with grace and result, hopefully, in salvation.<
Not quite. You first cooperate with grace when you repent and believe, and thus have eternal life, and if so, it will be shown by overall following Christ in obedience.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” (Rom 5:1)
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13)
Because a believer has eternal life, having passed from death unto life by believing, (Jn. 5:24), then he can and will live it out with the right motive. However, the “these things” of 5:13 refer to what John wrote in this letter, delineating “things which accompany salvation”. (Heb. 6:9).
>the strength to resist sin and the grace that saves us is transmitted through the sacraments of the Church, primarily baptism, penance, and the Eucharist. ... scrupture says so<
I dealt with baptism and the Eucharist already, the latter in post 66, if briefly. Your beliefs are the results of very poor exegesis. If i must expand, see below.
Yes, I do form my soteriology from the words of Christ. It is true that depending on one's economic circumstance one hase to give all he has, or all that he has in excess, and yet another has to simply cry out for mercy. Millions of Catholics live that gospel out every day.
St. Paul never taught anything different.
I dealt with baptism and the Eucharist already, the latter in post 66
Your #66 makes no sense,-- would you rephrase it to specifically deal with the quotes I cites as to the sacrament of Baptism and the Eucharist? Note that the doubts that Peter might have at one point have no bearing on the issue.