It only makes my point stronger that Luther was siding with Ambrose and Augustine, as well as with Paul, in stating his own description of the same: justification by faith and not by our works. Only the *works of Christ* could redeem us. Therefore, our works, apart from Christ, cannot bring Salvation.
Now, I'm one who probably departs a little from Luther in saying that our Works are necessary to justify our Faith. Our faith must be justified as genuine, and this is done by demonstrating through our faith in Christ the works of Christ.
But Luther's point made, most strongly and quite responsibly, is that any effort to do Christian works for justification *apart from Christ is inadequate for our Salvation. It is when we choose to put our faith in Christ that we are enabled to justify our faith as genuine by demonstrating the works of Christ. Therefore, we are saved not by our own works, but rather, by the works of Christ alone.
James 2.14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ...
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
Luther did have a problem understanding this because he was so insistent on disqualifying Catholic efforts at good deeds apart from faith in Christ. He was just trying to establish the primacy of faith in order for us to operate *through Christ.* Apart from Christ, all our works are worthless!
In saying this, I think the Catholic leaders knew he was right. But they couldn't bear the repercussions with respect to the loss of indulgences money. That's a black eye in Catholic history. Martin Luther should've been listened to, and respected for the point he was trying to make. He was trying to make a *Catholic point.* But instead, they tried to murder him!
I'm not saying all Catholics are guilty for trying to kill Luther. But even today, Catholics are maligning him, as you so ably represent to us on this forum.