I really believe that we are justified apart from any good works that we do, so that our justification is not based on our faith and good works, but on our faith alone (alone meaning "without works"). God most certainly did not save me because of the good that I had done; rather, God saved me in spite of the good that I had not done.
You choose to strain at semantic gnats, which is your right, but I cannot ignore the empirical camels of my personal salvation.
Changing the subject from our priority to God's motivation.
If we look at God's motivation the REASON and Motive have nothing to do with your FAITH or WORKs.
The MOTIVATION is MERCY Even Paul will tell you "WHY" he was saved.
1 Timothy 1
13even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
The guy who claims all you need to do is BE IGNORANT has a BETTER CASE than the guy who claims FAITH ALONE.
"God saved me in spite of the good that I had not done."
Sorry this statement is unacceptable for Calvinism. God does not care about you UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION.
IN CALVINISM God's Glory is more important you are merely worthless expendable decoration, He could have picked anyone else, there was no condition whatsoever, Your sinning or not is just another pointless variable like skin color or eye color.
When someone says FAITH WITHOUT GOOD WORKS they need to understand that means FAITH WITHOUT LOVE OF GOD. If GOOD WORKS does not equate with LOVING GOD then one is clueless as to the meaning of GOOD WORKS.
MORE IMPORTANTLY without LOVE = Without GOD. God is Love. 1 John 4