In Ephesians Paul says it is NOT OF WORKS. In Romans and Galatians he speaks of being justified by Faith. Please don't try to explain away Paul's clear teaching. It couldn't be more clear.
Nobody advocates going out and being a big sinner (including Luther), but NOTHING we do can get us or contribute to our being saved.
Do you really thing that Jesus Christ would say that all that the Father gives him will come to Him and of them who come to Him he will lose nothing if it were somehow dependent upon us? Even the Apostle Paul did the things he didn't want to do and didn't do the things he wanted to do.
Galatians is NOT just about circumcision. That was the particular enslaver plaguing the Galatians. The Judaizers. However, Paul is explicit that trying to make one somehow be justified by the works of the FLESH after being perfected by the Spirit is anathema. Paul wanted them to go the whole way and emasculate themselves for trying to ENSLAVE the Galatians again.
He isn't promoting libertinism either. He is saying your faith has saved you. The Spirit works in you. Don't seek to be justified by the flesh any more because it doesn't work. Walk in the Spirit.
If Paul's work to the Galatians has no practical application today (since nobody is compelling us to be circumisised) then cut it out! Throw out all of Paul. That's what it seems some on this thread want to do. Ignore all of his teachings about Grace and Faith and Salvation - cherry pick a few scriptures that could be construed a certain way and then claim church authority makes it so. Sorry, it doesn't work that way.
Christ made a special appearance to the Apostle Paul when Paul was persecuting the church. Paul was already zealous in good works. He knew what that life was all about. He desired people to be free. The message Christ gave is that His grace was all that mattered and that grace was obtained through FAITH alone which was a work of the Spirit of God in one's life. The Spirit then would produce good works - not us.
Can you be so caught up in your religious fervor to think that ANYTHING you offer to God in way of your works is good enough to stand before the holiness of God? ALL of our righteousness is as filthy rags before him. There is NO GOOD in us. You simply can not be justified by your works. But if you are saved, your works will be evidence of the Spirit working in you. Charity only comes through the Spirit. You have to have the Spirit before you can do the acts of Charity which are pleasing to God.
Come out from your chains. Freedom awaits.
You prooftext, then you sloganeer.
Ephesians 2:9 speaks of works for social reward. Galatians speaks of works of ceremonial obligation. Romans speaks of work of any obligation, social, ceremonial or for earthly gain. Catholics do not discard these teachings: they listen to them and obey them. Nothing in these areas has any salvific value. James speaks of works of charity or love, done after the obligations have been satisfy. These works show the man's heart. They were called for directly by Christ in Matthew 5f, Matthew 25, Luke 17:5, Luke 18:18f, 2 Peter 2:2f.
brethren, labour the more, that by good works you may make sure your calling and election (2 Peter 1)Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect? ... Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only? (James 2)
St. Paul knew the salvific value of faith. Nowhere does the Bible say that faith is alone of salvific value. But it says one every page that good works working in faith and with grace have salvific value.