Yes, and the way to escape the loop is via this insight:
There is no qualitative difference between faith that accepts God’s saving grace at conversion and faith that accepts God’s working grace while walking/living/persevering (EPH 2:8-10, 2CR 5:7), but only a quantitative difference as each additional moment passes–and of course faith remains non-meritorious during the saint’s entire lifetime (RM 1:17).
I sorta knew this from what HB says about God's Sabbath Rest, but I had not connected it in this manner/per this logic.
(divinely inspired? :^)
Perhaps this’ll help:
It’s not our works of righteousness that saves us (Titus 3:5). It’s the righteousness commandments/works of God that do (Ps. 119:172, Rom. 1:16, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Acts 17:30, Rom. 10:9-10, Acts 2:21, Col. 2:12, Acts 2:38, Jms 2:24). It is faith in Christ that does by the power of the gospel (Rom. 3:22, Phil. 3:9, Rom. 1:16).
The works of Christ that save us is His death, burial, resurrection, and what He has commanded us to do—which those are God given commandments to be saved by His grace. The term “works” is sometimes the equivalent of “obedience.” Elsewhere, Jesus promised victory to those who “keep my works,” i.e., the works (commands) prescribed by him (Rev. 2:26)
Take God's grace out of the equation, for just a minute. Now, how much would faith save or avail?
Now, take away faith, have only God's grace. Would anyone be saved without a faith that obeys/works?
We are to “continue in the grace of God” (Acts 13:43). Not “continue in sin” (Rom. 6:1).
Continuing in His grace would be to “continue in the faith” (Acts 14:22; Col. 1:23).
Grace has the answers for salvation when one ask what must we/I do? What do you want me to do? (Acts 2:37-28; Acts 16:30ff; Acts 9:6). Grace tells us what we must do to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 7:21).
I believe God’s grace/goodness makes the unworthy, worthy. We are told to walk worthy (Eph. 4:1; Col. 1:10; 2 Thess. 2:12; cf. Rev. 3:4), and God’s grace helps us to do that.
Every command God gave is by His grace. They are rooted in His grace. The Bible is filled with grace from cover to cover. They are grace-given commands, teachings, etc etc.
Paul says “remembering without ceasing your work of faith..” 1 Thess. 1:3
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent. (Jn 6:29)
There are differing kinds of works which so many people downright refuse to accept.
But none of these are our own works that we devised or came up with. God lovingly gave those works/commands for us. They are of God, because He gave us them. As we obey them, we are allowing Him to work in us (Phil. 2:13), as they are His works/commands that He lovingly and graciously gave mankind to have salvation.
Humble surrender to God's will as revealed in His word shows total dependence on God and not on oneself. A faith that works is one that is centered on doing the will of God.