Ok let me try to explain it this way. Both our justification and our salvation are by the blood of Jesus. Our "good works" come about by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit living in us.
Those who "claim" to say they are saved but don't do any "good works" obviously don't have the Holy Spirit in them and thus are not truly saved. (These would be the "Christians" we see as falling away from God)
If we truly accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour our "good works" will be shown thru our faith.
That is why Paul phrases Eph 2:8-10 the way he does. Notice how specific he is about his statement. By grace (from God) thru faith (gift of God) not by works (basically so we can't try to "fake" our way into heaven). He also adds that God has set apart good works for us (the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit).
So it all ties together but it is by grace that we can have a "chance at being saved", but it is by faith only that we can be justified. Not by our works because then we could boast about how we saved ourselves. And Because God already knew who would accept Him he has set apart good works for us to do. God has a plan and nothing we do can stop that plan. God has no contingencies based upon what we do because He already knows everything.
you are explaining your opinion...and do not understand scripture...we are sanctified by the spirit but is our responsibility to remain sanctified....
1 Thessalonians 4:3
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification,
that ye should abstain from fornication:
1 Thessalonians 4:4
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
ask Ananias and Sapphira.....are you saying they were not saved?....if they were not saved then they were not guilty of lying to the Holy Ghost...
5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
[SUP]2 [/SUP]And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
Grace is not a chance....grace is a perfect work ...man who has to be saved through faith is the weak link in the equation
Man is not justified by faith alone...scripture says so...
James 2:24
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.