It's God's inerrant Word that says:
" For by grace you have been saved athrough faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:8-10
Note where it says 'not as a result of works' -- and is that not Catholic dogma that salvation is by faith and works?
In Romans 4 we read:
"4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,"
So, since all of our works are as "filthy rags" it seems to me that those "wages" and our "due" won't be grace, but what we deserve: death. But, if we believe in Christ, our faith is counted as righteousness.
But, if Paul isn't good enough, how about Christ?:
'He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”'
Luke 18:9-14
So... all the Pharisee did -- not being like the others and tithing... doing works... got him what? It was the tax collector that went home justified; Christ said justified, not "kinda justified until he does some good works...." He went home justified why? Because he called on God to be merciful and believed.
Seems like scripture trumps dogma.
Hoss
GMTA