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I think where people sometimes have a bit of confusion regarding works and grace is with mans tendency to think he is righteous or that he has the ability to make himself acceptable to God.

Scripture makes the distinction between two types of works. One is the works of righteousness, which does nothing for salvation: Titus 3: 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit

The other are good works, which are the result of faith and can make faith perfect: James 2:22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

To condemn all works as contrary to grace goes against Scripture.

"Sin is too great an evil for man to meddle with. His attempts to remove it do but increase it, and his endeavours to approach God in spite of it aggravate his guilt."

... "Only(thread) God can deal with sin, either as a disease or a crime; as a dishonour to Himself, or as a hinderer of man's approach to Himself.'

"He deals with it not in some arbitrary or summary way, by a mere exercise of will or power, but by bringing it for adjudication into His own courts of law. As judge, seated on His tribunal, He settles the case, and settles it in favour of the sinner, -of any sinner on the earth that will consent to the basis which He proposes. Into this court each one may freely come, on the footing of a sinner needing the adjustment of the great question between him and God. That adjustment is no matter of uncertainty or difficulty; it will at once be granted to each applicant; and the guilty man with his case, however bad, thus legally settled, retires from court with his burden removed and his fears dispelled, assured that he can never again be summoned to answer for his guilt."

"It is... righteousness(chapter/book)--that has reconciled God to him, and him to God."