How do we know faith is not a work?

Faith is fundamentally different from human works or actions. The scripture is clear that faith is a gift from God, and it is not something that can be activated or exercised like a muscle (Ephesians 2:8-9). The belief that we must perform faith as a work undermines the gospel and shifts the focus away from Christ, who is the true object of our faith. Everything about faith points to Him, and true saving faith does not consider any merit or effort of man but relies entirely upon the grace and work of Christ.