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Paul says ‘works’ and also ‘works of the law’ to refer to things that can’t save us.

He makes no reference at all to ‘works of the ceremonial law’ that can’t save us; he in fact refers to the Ten Commandments as works of the law.

Works can’t save us. Period.

Therefore, you are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment. For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things. We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true. Do you suppose, then, you who judge those who engage in such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God would lead you to repentance? By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God, who will repay everyone according to his works: eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works, but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness. Yes, affliction and distress will come upon every human being who does evil, Jew first and then Greek. But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and then Greek. There is no partiality with God.
All who sin outside the law will also perish without reference to it, and all who sin under the law will be judged in accordance with it. For it is not those who hear the law who are just in the sight of God; rather, those who observe the law will be justified. For when the Gentiles who do not have the law by nature observe the prescriptions of the law, they are a law for themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the demands of the law are written in their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even defend them on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge people’s hidden works through Christ Jesus. (Romans 2:1-16)

Clearly here Paul is using the term "law" in two different ways. The Judaizers were insisting that the Gentiles needed to be circumcised and follow the Jewish Mosaic Law, something that Paul rejects. But when he says that the Gentiles are observing the prescriptions of the law, he cannot mean the same thing, for they were not being circumcised or following the Mosaic Law. This was the complaint of the Judaizers. Rather, here Paul is commending those Gentiles who are following the law described by the Ten Commandments, which merely restated what was already the universal law for all mankind.

Romans and Galatians is addressing the call for the new Gentile believers to be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law. Protestants are misusing them to separate faith from the need to keep the moral law found in the Ten Commandments.