How do we know God's mercy is crucial for salvation?

The sermon emphasizes that our salvation is entirely dependent on God's mercy and grace. The apostle Paul illustrates this in Romans by explaining that God chose a people for Himself before the foundation of the world, demonstrating that it's not human merit that leads to salvation but divine election. This mercy allows believers to come out from under God's just wrath and into His favor, reinforcing that God's choice is based solely on His will and purpose, not on any prerogative of the individuals chosen.