Again, this notion of "earning" is a "Straw Man". It isn't possible to "earn" infinity!!
Your claim is incorrect. Paul never uses the word "works" alone in Galations ... he uses the phrase "works of the law", (other than in Gal 5, discussing the works of the flesh, which NO ONE claims leads to salvation). Paul was combating those who were demanding obedience to the Mosaic Law.
NEVER does Paul conclude "it cannot be both", in fact the word "both" is never used in Galatians.
Again, you are arguing against the notion of "EARNING" salvation, because you aren't listening.
I am already convinced man cannot "EARN" salvation!
This discussion is about the NECESSITY of works, NOT that works
EARN salvation.
A great analogy is, getting a Social Security number does NOT "EARN" you a check. But you have NO chance of getting a Social Security check without one! You MUST do the "works" of getting a number, that does NOT mean you have EARNED anything.
You correctly included my points in quotes .... and then you artificially truncated my points in your comment!
You then quote Galatians 2 ... so I emphasized the "of the law" phrase that clarifies Paul's point;
Galatians 2:16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works .......
of the law
...... but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works
of the law,
because by works
of the law
no one will be justified.
This verse doesn't help your point.