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"…Among the Scripture verses which are frequently twisted by protestants are Romans 11:6, Galatians 2:16, and Romans 4:1-8. These verses have been twisted by protestants, who, through misunderstanding and lack of knowledge, are under the delusion that they refute the Catholic stance on works and salvation. Let us start with Romans 11:6. Permit me to cite the verse in question:
Romans 11:6 [DR] And if by grace, it is not now by works: otherwise grace is no more grace.
If salvation were to come by works, done by nature, apart faith and grace, salvation would not be a grace or favor, but a debt; but such dead works are indeed of no value in the sight of God towards salvation. It is not the same with regard to works done with and by God’s grace; for to such works as these he has promised eternal salvation (see the above-cited verses on this question).
The Church does not say that grace is not necessary for salvation, nor does She say that Faith is not necessary for salvation. And She is most certainly not saying that one can be saved by works alone. All three of the above are necessary for salvation. Faith without grace and works is dead, just as works without faith and grace would be dead. It is through a misunderstanding of Catholic teaching that this verse is commonly used by Protestants against Catholics, and against the necessity of works for salvation.
… to cite Galatians 2:16, which says:
Galatians 2:16 [DR] But knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ; we also believe in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
As the Haydock’s Bible says concerning this verse:
“‘Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law.’ S. Paul, to the end of the chapter, seems to continue his discourse to S. Peter, but chiefly to the Jewish Galatians, to show that both the Gentiles, whom the Jews called and looked upon as sinners, and also the Jews, when converted, could only hope to be justified and saved by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law. – ‘For by the law I am dead to the law.’ That is, says S. Jerome, by the evangelical law of Christ I am dead to the ancient law and its ceremonies.” (Vol. II p. 244)
And as St. Paul said in his Epistle to the Romans, Chapter 3 verse 20, “Because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified before him. For by the law is the knowledge of sin.” What is obviously being referred to here are the works of the Law of Moses. If it were otherwise, we would have a clear-cut example of a contradiction in the Sacred Scriptures. For does not St. James tell us that Faith without works is dead? And do not the Scriptures elsewhere state that Good works and deeds are necessary for salvation (Luke 10:28; 10:25; 18:18. Matthew 19:16)? Here we see that the protestants are pitting Scripture against Scripture… instead of accepting Scripture in its entirety. The protestants claim to be inspired by the Holy Ghost… but one of the many problems with this is the fact that the Holy Ghost would never accept the words of St. Paul over the words of St. James, and discard the words of the latter. Nor would the Holy Ghost ask one to discard the Words of Christ, as listed in the books of Matthew and Luke, chapters and verses listed above.
The third, and, by far, the most frequently used attack on the necessity of works for salvation, is Romans 4:1-8, which says as follows:
“What shall we say then that Abraham hath found, who is our father according to the flesh. For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice. Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned according to grace, but according to debt. But to him that worketh not, yet believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reputed to justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God. As David also termeth the blessedness of a man, to whom God reputes justice without works: Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin.”
As St. James states, referring to the exact same verses to which you are referring above "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God. Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only? "(St. James, 2:21-24) When St. Paul stated “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God” what were, again, referred to were works done for the honor and glory of man, not those of God. As the verse very plainly points out. It is not rejecting works altogether, as St. James pointed out above. In fact, St. James uses the verse following the above as proof for the fact that works are necessary for justification! After all, not only was the offering up of Isaac upon the altar a work (which God required Abraham to do, in order to test Abraham’s Faith… which, in turn, shows, yet again, that Faith alone is not enough), but also Abraham’s own belief, was a work.
It might be very well to point out here that taking Scripture verses out of context (in an attempt to prove an erroneous belief), is a thing which was used by Satan himself against Christ when Satan tempted Christ in the desert.
Thus falls the theory of salvation through faith alone, not to mention the erroneous interpretations which are frequently given to several verses in the Sacred Scriptures.
catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/general/saved.htm
