Paul, in Romans, is addressing the demands of the Judaizers that the Gentiles must be circumcised and obey the Mosaic Law. He is not pitting works against faith. If you are to believe in the entirety of Scripture then believe what Paul says here. Everything that he writes in Romans after this is an explanation of this. Let me get this straight...is it your contention that when Paul said we are saved by grace through faith and not by works, he was only talking about the works of obeying the Mosaic law?