No, I believe it was a wooden cross.
By your statement you have shown us you believe you must earn your salvation. Paul denies this works-based justification, relying instead on the singular act of Christ's atonement, His blood shed for the elect.
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." -- Romans 3:20-28"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
You are confusing being justified with being saved. Once we are "justified" in God's eyes (by faith given to us) we must walk in Christ's footsteps and become Christ-like (theosis), or else our faith (and justification) is null and void.
Saint Paul was referring to the Jewish concept of being "justified" by observing the Law, by giving alms, etc. In other words, if you do ten good deeds, you "earned" ten points that will make you more acceptable to God. Obviously, Christianity does not believe that. But we do believe that faith without works is dead. We are justified by faith, but it takes a lot more than handing us a faith on a silver platter to be Christ-like.
I would imagine you subscribe to the one verse that says that it will be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. I am sure as soon as you were "saved" you sold everything and now live in poverty, love your neighbor as yourself and would slay your own children if God told you to do so, right?
No, of course not! You enjoy the gifts and blessings of the Lord. And you believe, I am sure, that faith alone is all you need to take you to His Kingdom without having to sell everything you have. Aren't we all like that?