In this way, then, also in the present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
And if by grace, it is no longer out of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace
Grace and works are exclusive.
Romans 6:14
Sin will not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Grace and law are exclusive.
If we get these wrong, we are going to get not just the gospel wrong - but our entire Christian life. There are more Christians who believe in some form of works salvation than those who believe in the work of salvation done by God's grace.
And you have forget the third person that belief in both!! We cannot separate them from each other.
The day that you can understand the difference between justified and obey, you can understand the scriptures exactly how you have say it.
James 2:18 ...'Yea a man say, Thou hast faith (you), and I (another) have works: shew me thy faith without thy (you) works, and I (Pipiripi) will shew thee my faith by my works.
James 2:22 ...'Sees thou how faith wrought with his work, and by works was faith made perfect? (Pipiripi).
James 2:24 ...' Ye (you) see then how that by works a MAN IS JUSTIFIED, and not by faith only.
This only I wish to learn from you, did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the message of faith? Are you so mindless? Having been initiated by the Spirit, are you making yourselves mature by the flesh?(galatians 3:2-3)
This is a reminder to the Galatians. He points them back to their conversion. How did you receive the Spirit? Was it because you did the works of the law or was it because of what we preached, what you heard, the message of faith?
How thoughtless and foolish you are! Your life in Christ was produced in you by the Spirit. How can you think that it's possible for you to make yourselves perfect and mature by the flesh?
The works of the law and the flesh are equal here. We did not receive the Spirit by the law. By calling them thoughtless and mindless, he is challenging them to think seriously about this. How do we think that we can become mature by our flesh doing the law?
Hebrews 1:4-2:2 indicates that Christ is greater than angels. God used them to give the law. Galatians 3:19 indicates that angels were the means by which the law was given.
So, paul says, even if we or an angel from heaven should preach any other gospel, they would cursed(galatians 1:8-9). Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, don't you hear what it says?(galatians 4:21)? Are you going to believe an angel?
For you have been saved by grace through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one will boast(ephesians 2:8-9).
I'll say it again. Until we get the foundation if the gospel right, we won't be able to really please God.
Notice what God says. It is by grace you have been saved, in the past, and indeed, that salvation by God continues. It is not of ourselves. We do not save ourselves. This salvation that we have in no way originates from us. It is the gift from God. Then God has paul write, it is not by works or out of the source of works. This salvation that comes from God does not have its origin in works. Why? So no one will be able to boast or glory in him/her self or in any works.
That is the foundation.
Notice verse 10. We might ask the question, why is it the case that we can't boast?
For we are His workmanship, we are the thing He has made. We have been created, we didn't create ourselves spiritually. This goes back to the origin of our salvation, not from us or from works. Having been created in Christ Jesus, yes for good works. We haven't been saved by good works or works of the law, not by works of righteousness. God has prepared beforehand these good works, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-9 come before verse 10.
Don't get the cart before the horse. We aren't the horse. We are in the cart. The rocket doesn't go anywhere without fuel. We aren't the fuel. We are in the rocket. Salvation is totally the work of God. When he gives us the salvation,the horse or the fuel, he has also already prepared the good works. We don't do them to get saved or stay saved. Salvation is a package deal. He who began the good work in you will complete it.