freeborn | ἐλεύθερος on Nostr: ...right on: > And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no ...

...right on:

> And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

[Rom 11:6](https://blb.sc/002XTG), KJV

Also see (the entire argument of both) [Romans](https://blb.sc/002StL) and [Galatians](https://blb.sc/002RuZ).

Confusing? Here's one way that (we) Protestants explain it:

> Justification is by faith alone; but the faith which justifies is never alone.

Here's another (and fuller):

> Q. 70. What is justification?
> A. Justification is an **act** of God’s free grace unto sinners, in which he pardoneth all their sins, accepteth and accounteth their persons righteous in his sight; not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ, by God imputed to them, and received by faith alone.
>
> Q. 73. How doth faith justify a sinner in the sight of God?
> A. Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God, not because of those other graces which do always accompany it, or of good works that are the fruits of it, nor as if the grace of faith, or any act thereof, were imputed to him for his justification; but only as it is an instrument by which he receiveth and applieth Christ and his righteousness.
>
> Q. 75. What is sanctification?
> A. Sanctification is a **work** of God’s grace, whereby they whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, renewed in their whole man after the image of God; having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts, and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened, as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.
>
> Q. 77. Wherein do justification and sanctification differ?
> A. Although sanctification be inseparably joined with justification, yet they differ, in that God in justification **imputeth** the righteousness of Christ; in sanctification his Spirit **infuseth** grace, and enableth to the exercise thereof; in the former, sin is **pardoned**; in the other, it is **subdued**: the one doth equally free all believers from the revenging wrath of God, and that **perfectly in this life**, that they never fall into condemnation; the other is neither equal in all, **nor in this life perfect in any, but growing up to perfection.**

[WLC](https://opc.org/lc.html)