“Reward and Merit
Paul tells us: “For [God] will reward every man according to his works: to those who by perseverance in working good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. There will be . . . glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality” (Rom. 2:6–11; cf. Gal. 6:6–10).”
This is a rather contradictory view of scripture, since if we are rewarded for our works, which you already denied, then grace is the reward for works.
Paul’s purpose in these verses is not to demonstrate that any man is saved by his works, since he says immediately after:
“For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” (Rom 2:11-12)
And again, in the third chapter, when he has finished showing both the Jews and the Gentiles as guilty under the law:
“What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.”
(Rom 3:9-11)
His purpose in those original verses was merely to demonstrate that there is no partiality with God, but that He judges both Gentiles and Jews as equally condemned under the law (or outside of it):
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
If one is to be saved by the law, then one must follow the law perfectly, with no sins:
Gal_3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Therefore we are saved by grace, because we cannot save ourselves. Exactly as Chrysostom pointed out: ““For this is [the righteousness] of God when we are justified not by works, (in which case it were necessary that not a spot even should be found,)”
Therefore salvation cannot have anything to do with works, because unless one performs perfect works, they cannot profit you in any way.
“Therefore salvation cannot have anything to do with works, because unless one performs perfect works, they cannot profit you in any way.”
Christ’s work of redemption on the cross WAS PERFECT. Anything we lack He supplies.