Well, it depends on the type of work and the order of one's works. No man can be accepted by doing their own work (that is guided by human motivation). Also, nobody can put the cart before the horse. Faith has to come first before works. One has to wipe the slate of their past sins clean by Jesus Christ through faith. For a person is initially and ultimately saved by Jesus Christ through faith (without man directed works) (Ephesians 2:8-9).
That is an artificial distinction not made by either Paul or James. Paul disallows works in general as being the means of attaining justification in Titus 3:5, writing to a Gentile, while referring to the "works of the law" in such books as Romans and Galatians, which disallows all systems of salvation attained by law-keeping (but not as the basis for validation of faith), "for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." (Galatians 3:21,22)
Meaning that if there could have been a system of obtaining salvation attained by law-keeping then it would be the Law, and thus its rejection constitutes a disallowance of all such systems, as opposed to salvation by heart-purifying justifying faith.
Nor were the works of the law were not "man directed works," "guided by human motivation," as instead they were commanded by God in order to obtain life.
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 18:5)
For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. (Romans 10:5)
And as such the works of the Law were works of faith, under which a soul believed that that they would obtain salvation by keeping them, by God's grace, as promised. Which is essentially what you preach, including confession of every sin one commits as a believer. The problem is that all fail of both perfect obedience as well as complete confession (see my prior post above
↑).
In what sense then does Paul state, "And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them"? (Galatians 3:12)
Contextually, it is as regards the basis for justification, that of being "justified by faith" which is counted for righteousness, versus becoming actually good enough to be with God as per Catholicism here or in Purgatory.
But, works (i.e. works of the Lord done through the believer) are required as a part of the salvation process after we are saved by God's grace. For Jesus says if you will enter into life, keep the commandments (Matthew 19:17). Paul says, God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
"If you will enter into life, keep the commandments" is simply reiterating what the Law says, which seems to be your basis for salvation, albeit with more grace given to attain salvation by law-keeping, trusting God to save you thereby, versus salvation by faith which effects works, justifying one as being a true believer, but the effect is not the cause.
Thus either the Lord was simply requiring the man to be a better law-keeper, or He was revealing to the man His fallen status and inability to obtain Life by perfect obedience, and thus his need to a Redeemer, who justifies believers on His account.
But we are justified by works. James says we are justified by works and not by faith alone.
"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." (James 2:24).
"Faith only" refers to an inert faith, versus effectual, but does not mean the effect of faith is the actual basis for obtaining justification, which is always and not only initially, by faith. If James is referring to justification in the same sense as Paul, then he is contradicting both Moses and Paul, for both plainly state that Abraham "believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness," (Genesis 15:6) that God could do what Abraham could not effect (which went beyond simply having one child): "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness." (Romans 4:20-22)
In contrast, James speaks of Abraham being justified long after this event, in the offering of his miraculous son, which would mean Abraham was not hitherto counted as righteous, which is untenable. Instead, the justification of James refers to being confirmed as righteous, like as a prophecy is confirmed when the prediction becomes manifest.
For if works or holiness played no part in the salvation process, then we can live however we like and still be saved. We can be axe murdering rapists and still make into heaven because we have a belief on Jesus. But it doesn't work like that.
Not so, for you cannot claim to be a believer in the Lord Jesus and yet have no correspondent change in heart and life. But once again you are confusing the effect of faith with the cause of justification.
You actually have to be good and cooperate with God in order to be saved. This is not an automatic thing. Our free will is not eliminated after we come to the faith. While we do have a new heart with new desires after seeking forgiveness with Jesus and by believing in His death and resurrection on our behalf for salvation, that does not mean we will automatically endure to the end.
"You actually have to be good and cooperate with God in order to be saved," in the sense that we must have Biblical faith, which effects the obedience of faith, evidencing one as a believer, yes, but not as needing to attain perfection in this life or Purgatory, and or know and confess all sin one has committed as a believer, as was explained above.
Otherwise it would not make any sense for Jesus to warn us to forgive (or we will not be forgiven) (See Matthew 6:15) or to help the poor in this life, otherwise one will be cast into everlasting fire (See Matthew 25:31-46).
Such are characteristics of saving faith, as are being meek, peacemakers, hungering and thirsting after practical holiness, etc. but again such are not the cause of it. One is justified by faith out of a humble repentant heart, which is repentant in general about all sin, even those they do not know or remember or confess.
Thus because effectual faith is the actual basis for justification, obtaining purifying of the heart and being counted as righteous, and rendering one accepted in the Beloved and spiritually seated with Him in Heaven, with immediate access into the holy of holiess by the sinless shed blood of Christ, (Acts 15:9; Romans 4:5; Ephesians 1:6; 2:6; Hebrews 10:19) then one cannot "be axe murdering rapists and still make into heaven" and claim to be a believer, but neither must one attain to perfection of character in this life or Purgatory, and or know and confess all sin one has committed as a believer, as instead the same effectual faith out of a humble contrite repentant heart justifies one in both conversion and at death.
