Maybe I missed something in my world history classes that took from elementary up until well into college… but I thought Catholics were the original Christians. I understood them to be the only Christians up until Martin Luther wrote the 95 Theses and all of the Protestant religions began to start forming in Europe back in the 1500s.To be fair, Catholics are not Christians. But you are right that we are not saved by works. But we must do works as part of our walk. Salvation is able to be attained when one has believed in Jesus, repented of our sins, been baptized (immersed) to have our sins forgiven, and then walk in the light. Being covered by the blood of Christ is what washes our sins away. But we must be born again of water and the spirit. This was from Christ himself.