We are in agreement that there is nothing we can do to atone for our sin except bind ourselves to Christ. That being said its not by faith alone we are saved, but by faith and works.

I think you are confused about what works mean, or what you think they mean in the Catholic Church. Works are not about building up merit which atone for our sins. This is impossible... As we can never atone for our sins. Scripture dictates this clearly. In no way shape or form is the Catholic Church trying to merit its way into heaven by works.

Works are examples of love. I explained this in a post earlier how parents sacrifice themselves for their children. There is no way a child can repay their parents for all that they were given. But if a child comes to their Mother and tells them that they love them, followed by a kiss... The Mother will melt at the love being reciprocated by the child. Adversely if the child merely grows up and writes a cheque to their mother for the cost of raising them, their Mother will likely cry in anguish.

To fulfill the law we must love the Lord our God with all our Heart, Soul, and Strength. Followed by loving our neighbour as ourself. It's not enough just to have Faith. It is clear that we must also demonstrate our faith. It's like a Marriage, a person cannot simply tell their spouse that they love them... But must show it by their actions.

By their fruits ye shall know them.

James 2:14-26
Faith Without Works Is Dead
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your[a]works, and I will show you my faith by my[b] works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?[c] 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”[d] And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead

Yes Christ died for our sins... But this does not mean we will not be held accountable for our sins. Otherwise as I stated earlier you can throw out all of the other Commandments God put before us, and you don't have to do anything Jesus tells us except believe in him. This is clearly wrong as stated by the following in the Gospel.

Matthew 5:17-20
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it, and every last sin will be accounted for. Please answer me how we won't be held accountable for our sins as Christians when Jesus clearly states we will be held accountable for every last one.

Jesus Expects us to do three things in the Bible.

#1. Fast
#2. Pray
#3. Partake in the Body and Blood of Christ

If we are saved just by partaking in the Body and Blood of Christ, why does Jesus call us to Fast and Pray? Does he call us to do this for fun?

You say you have a new nature under Christ, and perhaps you do. Perhaps you also changed your thinking in regards to sin. But this does not take anything away from the fact that Jesus tells us that we will be held accountable for each last sin. Please tell me how you will not be held accountable for your sins when Christ says every last one must be accounted for. Do you deny the words of Christ? I believe you are suffering from a case of wishful thinking.

Christians sin from time to time? Christians sin all the time! We often do it willingly as well! Christians break every last commandment all the time. How many Christians believe in birth control, abortion, euthanasia, lie, cheat, steal, commit adultery, fornicate with p 0 r n o g r a p h y... Etc. You think because we love Jesus that it makes the sin ok? Christ is still suffering on the Cross for us, every time we sin we wound Jesus.

Look at the world today, every law and commandment in the bible is under attack. Every single last one. You think Christians will be given a free pass because they believe in Christ? Jesus tells us we will be held accountable, and you better believe it.

You don't confess your sin to God, you confess your sin through a Priest. Scripture clearly states this. You think your sins are forgiven and it might be true, because I am not God. But I suspect it is a case of more wishful thinking.

John 20:21-23:

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

This is exemplified by the fact that exorcists state that the sacrament of confession is much more effective than the rite of exorcism itself. Want to get rid of demonic oppression, go see a Priest for confession. It is often said by exorcists that half of all the people in mental hospitals are under diabolical influence. I wonder how many sick people on this website who cannot get well are under diabolical influence.

"Eternal life and heaven do not depend on my own righteousness or living a perfect sin free life."

You are foolish to believe this... You are not perfect, no one expects you to be. But your salvation and eternity absolutely depends on what manner you live your life. The person who lives a life of sin and immorality is going to hell.

Yes God gives us the free gift of salvation, but it's not just as simple as accepting it and moving on. This is demonstrated by how Christ gave up his life for us. We must also give up our lives following the what Christ taught us.

Luke 17:33

"Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it."

:
"…those who receive abundance of grace and THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:17

- What is your point with this verse? This does nothing to take away from the fact that we will be held accountable for every last sin. This does not prove Purgatory does not exist.

"I count all things but loss…that I may win Christ, And be found IN HIM, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." 
Philippians 3:8-9
 

- The same point as before. This verse does not prove Purgatory does not exist, and that we will not be held accountable for every last sin. Yes we are saved... Absolutely, but we are also held accountable. It is not mutually exclusive.


"I say, you are quoting a verse from a book from the Catholic Bible.  I understand that the Catholic Bible has some extra books in it that are not accepted by Protestants as being the inspired word of God or real scripture. I do not believe in praying for the dead.  I believe there is nothing wrong with reading these extra books.  I'm sure one can learn from them, however, I do not believe they are scripture. There was a time in history when even Catholics did not except these books as scripture from what I understand"

I have given you more than enough scripture that points to Purgatory that you have not been able to refute. Now it's time to show you the truth about the Protestant bible, or rather the scandal of it.

The Catholic Bible is the only true Bible as it is the Catholic Faith is the only True faith. Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, and Baruch were all removed from the Protestant bible because they went against the belief system of Luther. Prior to Luther Catholics had been using those same books for 1100 years. It's the same reason that luther tried to remove Hebrews, James, Jude and Revelation from the bible. Those books couldn't be removed by Luther because there was too much opposition to it.

It should also be noted that the first-century Christians--including Jesus and the apostles--effectively considered these seven books canonical. They quoted from the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures that contained these seven books. More importantly, the deuterocanonicals are clearly alluded to in the New Testament.

One of the two "pillars" of the Protestant Reformation (sola scriptura or "the Bible alone") in part states that nothing can be added to or taken away from God's Word. History shows therefore that Protestants are guilty of violating their own doctrine.

http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/didnt-the-catholic-church-add-to-the-bible