Grace Not Works!

“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” -Romans 11:6

Paul here emphasizes the fact that grace has no part of works. It leaves nothing for it. It is all of God. Since God’s choice is determined by his divine wisdom and immense gratuitousness before the world began, it must be, by necessity, independent of any human works. 

Considering what Paul has already established back in 9:30–10:4, it follows that the use of the term works here refers to attempts by the Jews to establish their own righteousness by the works of the law.

If we were to consider his letters to other churches, this was obviously a struggle for many first-century Churches. See Paul’s letter to the Galatians (Cf. 1:6–9 and 3:1-5).

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—”