The 2 passages are not contradictory, as you seem to imply. It is obvious that Salvation only comes through grace extended by God, no one earns anything.
God does require change on our part however. That's the part that many want to ignore.
They desire a Savior but not a LORD, but He is both, and He demands that we obey and bend our will to His.
Far too many people want to 'accept Jesus as their personal Savior' with no expectation that He requires you to surrender to His will and CHANGE.
How would you reconcile these 2 passages? Or are you of the camp that would throw out inconvenient passages that require ACTION on the part of the believer?
***The 2 passages are not contradictory, as you seem to imply. ***
Here is how it was explained to me by a CoC preacher forty two years ago.
Paul says Faith = justification.
James says Works = justification.
Therefore
Faith + works = justification!
Yet Paul says justification is WITHOUT WORKS.
Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he had whereof to to glory, but not before God.
But WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURE? Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness.
NOW to him that worketh is the reward NOT reckoned of grace but of DEBT.
But to him that worketh not, but BELIEVE on him that justifieth the ungodly, HIS FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Rom 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Rom 4:7 [Saying], Blessed [are] they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Rom 4:8 Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
And then this..
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
I’ll say it again in caps!
CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.