Romans 11:6
But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that "grace" and "works" are fundamentally incompatible concepts when it comes to salvation; if something is truly by grace, it cannot simultaneously be "of works," because the very essence of grace is its unmerited nature. This means that if salvation were earned by our actions, it wouldn't be grace at all, but a deserved payment.
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Ever felt like you're trying to earn God's favor with your 'good deeds'? Paul lays down a stark truth here: you can't serve two masters when it comes to God's grace.
Paul makes a crystal-clear point in Romans 11:6: If salvation or any part of it (like election, as Paul is discussing in this passage) is based on something you (works), then it can't truly be grace. Why? Because grace, by its very definition, is unearned favor. It's a free gift. The moment you introduce the idea of merit or earning something, you've switched from a gift to a debt. You can't have both. It's like trying to say something is both completely free and also has a price tag – it just doesn't compute!
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Think of it this way:
Paul is emphatic: if it's grace, it's not of works. If it's of works, it's not grace. You have to pick one.
Why did God choose this person and not that one? Paul digs into the ultimate 'why' behind God's choices, showing it bypasses human merit.
In the context of Romans 11, Paul is explaining the 'remnant' of Israel that God has preserved. He makes it clear that this preservation isn't based on Israel's performance or their good deeds. Instead, it's rooted in:
God's Sovereign Purpose
This concept is foundational: God's saving acts, from election to salvation, are initiated by His grace and are not dependent on anything we do.
Understand the original words
charis · Greek Noun
Unmerited favor and divine enablement provided by God to undeserving sinners, whereby He grants salvation and righteous standing through faith alone, apart from human merit.
ergon · Greek Noun
Human efforts or deeds performed in an attempt to earn justification or divine approval, which are fundamentally contrasted with the free gift of grace in the biblical doctrine of salvation.
Paul uses the historical example of Elijah's time, when a faithful remnant existed despite widespread apostasy, to illustrate that God's faithfulness to Israel, even in their rejection of Christ, is rooted in His sovereign choice (election of grace), not their works. This contrasts with the common Jewish belief that salvation and national favor were earned through obedience to the Law.
c. 870 BC
Elijah's Ministry and Confrontation
During a period of widespread idolatry in the northern kingdom of Israel, the prophet Elijah confronted King Ahab and the people, challenging the worship of Baal.
c. 870 BC— this verse
Elijah's Despair and God's Revelation
Feeling utterly alone in his stand against idolatry, Elijah despaired and declared that he was the only faithful prophet left. God revealed to him that a hidden remnant of 7,000 faithful Israelites had not bowed to Baal.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled a significant portion of the Judean population. This marked a period of national crisis and questioning of God's covenant promises.
c. 539 BC
Return from Exile
Under the Persian Empire, some Judeans were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple and city, though not all who were exiled returned.
1st Century AD
Roman Rule and Messianic Expectation
Judea was under Roman occupation, fueling strong Messianic expectations for a deliverer who would restore Israel. Many Jews expected a political and military Messiah.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection
Jesus' life, death, and resurrection offered a spiritual salvation, challenging the prevailing Jewish emphasis on national restoration and adherence to the Law for righteousness.
c. AD 50-60s
Paul's Ministry and Letters
The Apostle Paul's ministry focused on evangelizing both Jews and Gentiles, leading to his writing of letters like Romans to explain the nature of God's salvation through faith in Christ.
This passage powerfully echoes the core idea of Romans 11:6, stating clearly that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Christ. It directly addresses the 'works vs. grace' dichotomy.
Ephesians 2:8-9This is a foundational text for understanding salvation by grace alone. It explicitly states that salvation is a gift of God's grace, not a result of human works, reinforcing the exclusivity presented in Romans 11:6.
Titus 3:5Similar to Romans 11:6, this verse clarifies that salvation is not by our own righteous deeds but according to God's mercy, emphasizing that grace is indeed distinct from works.
Romans 4:4-5Paul revisits this same theological point in Romans 4, arguing that if Abraham's faith was credited as righteousness, it was not because of his works, thus illustrating the same principle that grace and works cannot coexist as the basis for salvation.
ellicottRomans 11:6: "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."
(6) And if by grace. —The true text of this verse differs considerably from that which is translated in the Authorised version, “But if by grace, then is it no more of works, otherwise grace is no more seen to be grace.” The preservation of the remnant cannot be due to grace and works at the same time; it must be due to o…
cambridgeRomans 11:6: "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."
6 . And if by grace , &c.] This verse is wholly parenthetical. Not that its statement is alien to the whole argument, but this is not its logical place. The argument is continuous between Romans 11:5 ; Romans 11:7 ; but St Paul is so desirous to make the truth of Gratuitous Salvation perfectly clear and familiar that he s…
The verse highlights that "grace" and "works" are fundamentally incompatible concepts when it comes to salvation; if something is truly by grace, it cannot simultaneously be "of works," because the very essence of grace is its unmerited nature. This means that if salvation were earned by our actions, it wouldn't be grace at all, but a deserved payment.
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{ "hasHistoricalBackground": true, "events": [ { "date": "c. 875-850 BC", "title": "Elijah's Ministry and Confrontation", "description": "The prophet Elijah confronts the people of Israel during a time of widespread idolatry under King Ahab, lamenting that he alone seems to remain faithful to God.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 875-850 BC", "title": "God's Hidden Remnant Revealed", "description": "In response to Elijah's despair, God reveals that He has preserved a secret group of 7,000 faithful Israelites who have not bowed to the idol Baal.", "isCurrentContext": true }, { "date": "c. 875-850 BC", "title": "The Principle of 'Election of Grace'", "description": "This event highlights that faithfulness and preservation are not based on outward appearances or majority, but on God's sovereign choice and hidden grace.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. AD 50-62", "title": "Paul Writes Romans", "description": "The Apostle Paul writes his letter to the Roman church, addressing complex theological issues about God's relationship with Jews and Gentiles.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. AD 50-62", "title": "Paul Discusses Israel's Rejection and Remnant", "description": "In Romans 9-11, Paul grapples with why many Israelites have not accepted Jesus, affirming that God's promises are not nullified and a remnant remains by grace.", "isCurrentContext": false } ], "summaryInsight": "Paul uses the story of Elijah and the hidden 7,000 to illustrate a profound truth: salvation and God's favor are never earned by our actions. If it's by grace, it can't be by works, and vice-versa. This principle is crucial for understanding why God's plan includes both faithful Jews and Gentiles, not based on who 'deserves' it more, but on His sovereign, gracious choice." }
"But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace." — The verse highlights that "grace" and "works" are fundamentally incompatible concepts when it comes to salvation; if something is truly by grace, it cannot simultaneously be "of works," because the v…
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