By Faith = By Works?

A common argument by Hardshell Baptists says that "if salvation is by faith then it is by works." And, since salvation is said to be "not of works," then it is also not by faith. However, the following verse shows this argument is invalid.

"But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness." (Rom. 4: 5 nkjv)

That shows us that a person is saved by faith and not saved by works. Ergo, faith is not a work. In the same chapter the apostle Paul also says:

"Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace" (vs. 16).

When I was a Hardshell this verse caused me all kinds of problems. I wanted the text to say "therefore it is of grace that it might be according to faith." But, it did not read that way. The same apostle wrote "for by grace are you saved through faith" (Eph. 2: 8). 

These verses uproot all the argumentation of the Hardshells about how faith is a work and destroys their contention that salvation cannot be "by faith." 

See my posting "Hardshell Anti Faith Preaching" (See here) for more on this denial of the role of faith in salvation.