From beginning "have been saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8) to end "receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:9) salvation is by grace through faith and is not obtained or maintained by works.
In Matthew 12:37, Jesus said - "For
by your words you will be justified, and
by your words you will be condemned." Yet Clement of Rome said we are not justified by our words?
We are justified - "shown to be righteous" by our words and our works because our words and our works reveal the condition of our hearts. Words/works will be evidences for, or against a man's being in a state of righteousness.
Ignatius said "those who profess themselves to be Christians will be recognized by their conduct." In Matthew 7:15-16, Jesus said - “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Likewise, Christians will be recognized by their fruit.
Justin Martyr said -
"Each man goes to everlasting punishment or salvation according to the value of his actions." hmm.. I can see where that statement would tickle the ears of works-salvationists. The value of our actions will be evidences for, or against a man's being in a state of righteousness, yet that still does not mean we are saved by works. Read what Augustine said:
Augustine: "Grace is give to you, not wages paid to you...it is called grace because it is given gratuitously. By no precedent merits did you buy what you have received. The sinner therefore received this grace first, that his sins should be forgiven him...
good works follow after a justified person; they do not go before in order that he may be justified...good works, following after justification, show what a man has received."
Augustine: "Now, having duly considered and weighed all these circumstances and testimonies, we conclude that a
man is not justified by the precepts of a holy life, but by faith in Jesus Christ,--in a word, not by the law of works, but by the law of faith; not by the letter, but by the spirit; not by the merits of deeds, but by free grace."
I often hear Roman Catholics quote the Church Father in their effort to support their unbiblical teachings, so keep in mind that the ECF were not infallible. I have also heard Roman Catholics say that prior to the Reformation, nobody taught "faith alone," yet to the contrary, we find:
Basil: "This is the true and perfect glorying in God, when a man is not lifted up on account of his own righteousness, but has known himself to be wanting in true righteousness and to be justified by
faith alone in Christ."
Jerome: "When an ungodly man is converted, God justified him through
faith alone, not on account of good works which he possessed not."
Chrysostom: "Again, they said that he who adhered to
faith alone was cursed, but he shows that he who adhered to
faith alone is blessed."
Bernard of Clairvaux: "Shall not all our righteousness turn out to be mere unrighteousness and deficiency? What, then, shall it be concerning our sins, when not even our righteousness can answer for itself? Wherefore...let us flee, with all humility to Mercy which alone can save our souls...whoever hungers and thirsts after righteousness, let him believe in thee, who "justified the ungodly"; and thus, being justified by
faith alone, he shall have peace with God."