Do Catholics believe in salvation by works?

Salvation is understood as a free gift from God, given by grace and received through faith. This means that no one can achieve salvation by their own merit, as it is an unmerited gift from God. The Bible in Ephesians 2:8-10 teaches us that we are saved by grace, not by our own works. However, good works are prepared by God as a response to the grace received.

Faith is essential for salvation because it is through faith that we open ourselves to receive God's grace. However, true faith must manifest in concrete actions. James 2:17 states that "faith without works is dead", meaning that if someone claims to have faith but their actions do not reflect it, that faith is sterile. Galatians 5:6 adds that faith works through love, and love is expressed in good deeds.

Good works are therefore the natural consequence of a living faith. They are not the cause of salvation but the evidence that grace is acting within us. In Matthew 7:21, Jesus teaches that it's not enough to just believe or invoke His name; it's necessary to do God's will. Thus, works demonstrate that faith is authentic.

In Philippians 2:12-13, we are encouraged to "work out your salvation" by cooperating with divine grace. In this way, grace, faith, and works work together: grace saves us, faith opens us to salvation, and works are the fruit of that living faith.