I was previously in a discussion with someone who attends the church of Christ (but can't find the specific post at this time) who made this statement to me: "It is works of obedience that help to save us and not works of the law or works of merit."
I was also previously in a discussion with a Roman Catholic (but can't find the specific post at this time) and I clarified to him that we are saved by grace through faith, not works and the Roman Catholic responded by saying, "I know that." Then after we discussed it a little deeper, it turns out the Roman Catholic misinterpreted Ephesians 2:8,9 as such: Saved by grace through faith "infused" with works, just not by specific works of the law. Saved through faith + "these" works (good works) just not "those" works (merely limited, specific works of the law) is not what Paul was saying. Paul meant works in general. (Romans 4:5-6; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9)
I discovered the ROOT of the problem of the Roman Catholic misinterpretation. That Roman Catholic also made this statement:
We ARE saved by faith - as long as you properly define "Faith". Faith is NOT simply "believing". Faith INCLUDES: Being baptized, eating His body and drinking His blood/partaking the Lord's Supper during Mass, works of mercy and charity, obeying his commandments, doing the will of the Father etc..
His argument about faith being "defined as" and INCLUDES these works above is just sugar coated double talk and equates to salvation through faith (his version of faith) + works. At first this Roman Catholic claimed that the Roman Catholic church did not teach salvation by works, then afterwards, contradicted himself by saying that we are saved by accomplishing this check list of works above.