Grace is the exact opposite of earning merit through works. God’s favor cannot be earned and can never be repaid. It is always a free gift, without reference to merit or worthiness.
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace” (Rom. 11:6).
Grace justifies; works can never justify.
“That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Tit. 3:7).
“. . . for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Gal. 2:16)
Grace is given freely; works make us debtors.
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24).
“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt” (Rom. 4:4).
Grace imparts humility and faith to accept Christ’s salvation; works make us boastful and resistant to mercy.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8,9).
Grace glorifies God; dependence upon works seeks to honor man.
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:6).
“So if, through your faith in Christ, you are dead to the principles of this world’s life, why, as if you were still part and parcel of this world-wide system, do you take the slightest notice of these purely human prohibitions-“Don’t touch this,” “Don’t taste that” and “Don’t handle the other”? “This,” “that,” and “the other” will all pass away after use! I know that these regulations look wise with their self-inspired efforts at worship, their policy of self-humbling, and their studied neglect of the body. But in actual practice they do honor, not to God, but to man’s own pride “(Col. 2:20-23 Phillips).
Grace says that Christ did it all for us; dead works declare that we need Christ “and” something else.
Trying to mix grace and dependence on anything else even the law-only nullifies the power of God’s salvation.
“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace “(Gal. 5:4).