Whereas sola fides is a very serious error, the reverse error, that one can work your way to salvation in the absence of faith, is certainly horrifically grave. But then, just as faith is confirmed by works, faith is also indicated by works. Who would invest a lifetime of work in promoting the gospel, if one did not have faith in the gospel?
What is particularly evil is the replacement of divine work by earthly work: striving to humanitarianism without promoting the gospel, the notion that one merely needs to "strive to improve their community" without taking instruction from the Word as to how to do that. Hence, Christianity is gravely discredited by Catholics like Kennedy and Pelosi, Baptists like Clinton, Gore and Carter, Presbyterians like Mondale, Eisenhower and Dole; Orthodox like Dukakis and Illinois Gov. Blogojevich. Such is the work of the anti-Christ: to take the good-willed efforts of would-be Christians, and confound them by directing them to worldly efforts, which end up opposing the work of Christ.
Very nicely said! Bang, that one hit the 10 ring dead center!
For initial saving faith, sola fides is fine.
He made us to perform good works, and such are only divinely recognized as divinely good when performed through faith in Christ.
I agree with the bulk of you comment, although I also find those who appeal to an obvious sin as proof a person isn;t saved to be more grievous error, than simple faith alone in Christ alone.