If you ask an atheist what gets him/her to heaven and if he/she answers "good works" then he is wrong. But if you ask a FAITHFUL Catholic Christian and he/she answers "good works" then he/she is right. Why? Because you are asking a person of FAITH. He who believes and does good works will go to heaven. I know it's silly to say that an atheist will even think he will go to heaven since he doesn't believe. But I am just trying to prove my point.
Titus 3:14-15 (NAB) wrote:14 But let our people, too, learn to devote themselves to
good works to supply urgent needs, so that they may not be
unproductive.
15 All who are with me send you greetings. Greet those
who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.
Rom 3:24-31 (NAB) wrote:24 They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith,
by his blood, to prove his righteousness because of the
forgiveness of sins previously committed,
26 through the forbearance of God--to prove his
righteousness in the present time, that he might be righteous
and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 What occasion is there then for boasting? It is
ruled out. On what principle, that of works? No, rather on the
principle of faith.
28 For we consider that a person is justified by faith
apart from works of the law.
29 Does God belong to Jews alone? Does he not belong to
Gentiles, too? Yes, also to Gentiles,
30 for God is one and will justify the circumcised on
the basis of faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
31 Are we then annulling the law by this faith? Of
course not! On the contrary, we are supporting the law.
It says that we shouldn't boast. That means that when we do good works, it is not out of our own power but that by the power and GRACE of God. That is why we should not boast when we do good works. We do good works by the GRACE of GOD and not by anything we do on our own. If we have FAITH in Jesus Christ then we will do good works and when we do, it is not on our own but by the GRACE of God.