Romans 11:5-6

I think the main misunderstanding to the premise of many beliefs is Paul's concept of "works" as morality in all it's forms. When he's speaking specifically of covenant signs.. works that separated Jews from Gentiles. Circumcision being his major focal point. It's by faith in Christ that we come close to God. Not because we're being more Jewish or not, and have the outward signs of it.

Paul never bundled works with morality though. Over and over again he gives general ethical teachings. This is the big elephant in the room. It's why he never had any conflict with James either, as some have struggled with. Paul advocated ethics the same as James did. He only made a distinction between racial laws.