How do we know God's sovereignty is essential in salvation?

God’s sovereignty is foundational to understanding salvation as it emphasizes that redemption is not contingent upon human effort but rather the divine purpose. The leper in Matthew 8 exemplifies this by demonstrating faith in Christ’s ability to heal solely on the basis of God's willingness. Salvation is not a product of human choice; rather, it is the Holy Spirit that awakens hearts and creates the desire for God. This aligns with the doctrine of election, where it becomes clear that all who come to Christ do so because they were first taught and drawn by the Father, affirming the sovereign grace of God in the process of salvation.