I didn’t mean to imply anything, but I am glad that you agree that Faith without Works is dead.
We both agree that you need Faith. And we both agree that Faith without works is dead.
Catholics would also agree with you that works alone are insufficient.
I don’t entirely know what you mean when you say “God gives us our good works as evidence of our faith.” I hope you are not implying that we somehow lose our free will - seems like you are trying to say Faith alone. Certainly God gives us grace, but are the ones running the race, obeying His commandments, and otherwise walking worthy.
“Free will” is never mentioned in scripture except in one (maybe two) verses in regards to an offering. There is God’s will and there is man’s will. They are at odds with each other.
Man is evil and will never do the things of God. John 2:25 tells us Christ did not trust Himself to man because He knew man was evil. Ezekiel 11:19 tells us God has to give us a new heart and spirt. Ephesians 2 tells us that we are created (reborn) for good works. John 15 tells us Christ is the vine and without Him we cannot do anything pleasing to God.
Anything good that we might do comes from the Father because of Christ working through His Spirit. Someday we will cast our crowns down before His feet because we will realize that without Him we are nothing. Anything that is not pleasing to God is the result that we are wretched sinners.