⁶ And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;^(A) if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

⁹ He has saved^(A) us and called^(B) us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done^(C) but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

⁴ Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift^(A) but as an obligation. ⁵ However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.^(B)

²¹ I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law,^(A) Christ died for nothing!”^[a]

²⁷ Where, then, is boasting?^(A) It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. ²⁸ For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.^(B)

⁵ he saved us,^(A) not because of righteous things we had done,^(B) but because of his mercy.^(C) He saved us through the washing^(D) of rebirth and renewal^(E) by the Holy Spirit,

⁴ You who are trying to be justified by the law^(A) have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.^(B)

¹⁰ But by the grace^(A) of God I am what I am, and his grace to me^(B) was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them^(C)—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.^(D)

⁴ After the Lord your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself,^(A) “The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness^(B) of these nations^(C) that the Lord is going to drive them out before you. ⁵ It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity^(D) that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness^(E) of these nations,^(F) the Lord your God will drive them out^(G) before you, to accomplish what he swore^(H) to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.^{(I) 6} Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.^(J)