Salvation
Romans 2:6-8
Who will render to every man according to his works: To them indeed, who according to patience in good work... eternal life: But to them that are contentious... wrath and indignation.
Context of the passage
Paul addresses Jews who presumed on God's favor while judging Gentiles, teaching that final judgment is impartial and based on deeds, in line with the whole counsel of Scripture.
Catholic reading
Paul teaches final judgment 'according to works,' harmonizing perfectly with James: initial justification is by grace through faith, but the final verdict of eternal life or wrath reflects a life truly transformed and lived out in good works empowered by grace.
Common objection
Paul is describing a hypothetical standard of judgment to show that no one can be saved this way, in order to point everyone to faith in Christ instead.
Response
Paul repeats this same standard of judgment by works throughout his letters without qualification (2 Cor 5:10, Gal 6:7-9), and Christ himself teaches the same in Matthew 25, showing this is not a rhetorical foil but Scripture's consistent teaching on the final judgment.