Grace and Works

 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God— not because of works, lest any man should boast". Ephesians 2:8-9

Does this mean that works are unimportant?
Well, no. Because Paul isn't talking about doing good works.

Consider this parallel passage.
"A man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified". Gal 2:16

The Law of which Paul speaks is, of course, the Law of Moses. But, we read in Hebrews 10:1, "For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices which are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near".

The Law is fulfilled in Christ, but, under the New Covenant, it has also been changed. "For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well." (Heb 7:12)

What? The priesthood wasn't abolished?
No, it was changed. We now have an eternal high priest, Jesus.

So, the priesthood of all believers is the new priesthood, right? (1 Pet 2:9)
Well, no.  Because that priesthood of all believers was also part of the Old Covenant (Exodus 19:6).  And, that priesthood had no high priest.

The new priesthood is the ministerial priesthood we find today, in the Catholic and various Orthodox churches.  It is the priesthood of Melchizedek, a priest who offered Bread and Wine (Gen 14:18).

So, it seems to me, to be fully a part of that New Covenant, one has to receive the Bread and Wine (i.e. the Eucharist - which is the Body and Blood of Christ).