Why is grace incompatible with works?

The Apostle Paul elucidates the incompatibility of grace and works in Romans 11:6, making it clear that if salvation were to be dependent on works, it would no longer be grace. The essence of grace lies in its unmerited nature; it is a free gift from God that cannot be earned or achieved through human effort. This principle highlights that God's kindness and mercy are given based on His sovereign will, ensuring that no one can boast about their own works in the matter of salvation. When works enter the equation, it transforms salvation into a transaction rather than a gift, fundamentally altering its nature from grace to obligation.