I am utilizing a site called Blue Letter Bible ( blueletterbible.org ) because it has commentaries as well as Strong's concordance, and other useful accessories. I am saying this because I want you to know I am not relying on my own personal made-up belief when I say these things, but that I read many sources (not all that I agree with) to come up with my personal belief, and in this matter, they all agree with me, or, more importantly, they all agree with each other, and I with them. The law is not mentioned by any of them. But I'm leaving it here so you can check it out to see what's being said by the biggest scholars.
Romans 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
I'm first going to post the Biblical usage of the word translated as "works" from Strong's.
- business, employment, that which any one is occupied
- that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking
- any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind
- an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work
Now I am going to post some commentary responses to this verse. I'll even stay away from the obvious Reformed/Calvinist theologians.
From David Guzik :
a.
If by grace, then it is no longer of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace: Paul left the previous verse noting that the remnant was chosen
according to the election of grace. Now he reminds us what
grace is by definition: the free gift of God, not given with an eye to performance or potential in the one receiving, but given only out of kindness in the giver.
b.
If it is of works, it is no longer grace: As principles, grace and works don’t go together. If giving is of grace, it cannot be of works, and if it is of works, it cannot be of grace.
From Chuck Smith: We're accepted by God either by our works or by grace; it cannot be both
From Matthew Henry: Whence it takes its rise, from the free grace of God (
v. 6), that grace which excludes works. The eternal election, in which the difference between some and others is first founded, is purely of grace, free grace; not for the sake of works done or foreseen; if so, it would not be
grace. Gratia non est ullo modo gratia, si non sit omni modo gratuita-It is not grace, properly so called, if it be not perfectly free. Election is purely according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph. 1:5. Paul's heart was so full of the freeness of God's grace that in the midst of his discourse he turns aside, as it were, to make this remark,
If of grace, then not of works. And some observe that faith itself, which in the matter of justification if opposed to works, is here included in them; for faith has a peculiar fitness to receive the free grace of God for our justification, but not to receive that grace for our election.
From Bill Acton:
- Grace Cannot Be Mixed with Anything – Expressly Works or Merit
- If there is a mix – there is no more grace
- If there is merit – works, deserving – there is no grace
- Works Cannot Be Mixed with Grace
- If grace is introduced alongside works then there is no more works
- If there is any undeserving favor given then there is no more works
From David Brown: "Now if it (the election) be by grace, it is no more of works; for [then] grace becomes no more grace: but if it be of works," &c. (The authority of ancient manuscripts against this latter clause, as superfluous and not originally in the text, though strong, is not sufficient, we think, to justify its exclusion. Such seeming redundancies are not unusual with our apostle). The general position here laid down is of vital importance: That there are but two possible sources of salvation--men's works, and God's grace; and that these are so essentially distinct and opposite, that salvation cannot be of any combination or mixture of both, but must be wholly either of the one or of the other.
