We don’t do works to earn salvation we do works because we abide in Christ and He abides in us. If we abide in Him and He in us we will bear much fruit. John 15:1-10
Romans Four, and Works of Earning Money vs. Works of Responsibility in Owning a Free Gift:
To him that works his reward is not of grace but it is of debt as if it was some kind of obligation like at a job whereby he works so as to earn money.
"Now to a laborer, his wages are not counted as a favor or a gift, but as an obligation (something owed to him)." (Romans 4:4) (AMPC).
So yes. I agree. Works Alone or trading dollars for hours like at a job involving salvation is wrong. Muslims are wrong because they have no grace or rest ever. It is purely a works based system of salvation in the Muslim religion and no grace or mercy (like with Christ) if they mess up. Their good deeds have to outweigh their bad deeds.
But this is not the same thing as "Works of Responsibility in Owning a Free Gift."
I believe God's grace is a free gift as Scripture says (Ephesians 2:8). Gifts are received, and then we do works of responsibility to take care of those gifts.
Let me give you an example:
If Rick received a car as a free gift from his dad, does that mean he can run red lights, drive drunk, and hit pedestrians? No. If he were to do that, he would not have his gift for very long. Now, was his car any less a free gift because he had to do works of responsibility in possessing his free gift? No. Did Rick have to work at a job and get a loan to buy this car? No. It was a free gift from his dad.
So working like at a job (trading dollars for hours) is not the same as doing "Works of responsibility in owning a free gift." Paul is not talking about responsibility in possessing Jesus Christ (Who is our gift). Paul is talking about trying to earn your salvation by a system of "Works Salvationism Alone" that did not include God's grace at all.
But make no mistake, if we choose not to love God, or not love our neighbor we will not inherit eternal life because Luke 10:25-28 says we need to do these things so as to live. We need to keep the moral law (like do not murder, do not steal, etc.) if we want to enter into life as per the words of Jesus (Matthew 19:17-19). We need to help the poor in this life, otherwise, will be cast into everlasting fire (Matthew 25:31-46). God expects us to obey, and if we refuse, we will not be saved. Grace gives us the opportunity to obey in this life. For the grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness, and that we should live righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11-12). The grace of God does not teach us to just believe on Jesus and minimize sin. So yes; It is true, we do not earn our salvation in the sense that we are in a Works ALONE Plan of Salvation Type System (without God's grace), but we do need to do works of responsibility as a part of the salvation process after we are saved by God's grace. For we are not our own. We are bought and paid for with a price.
Side Note:
I believe Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, and Romans 4:1-4 is talking about Initial Salvation or Ultimate Salvation. These pieces of Scripture is to help refute Works ALONE Salvationism that did not include God's saving grace because Paul was fighting against the heresy of "Circumcision Salvationism" that was starting to gain in popularity during his time.