How do we know God's will is essential for salvation?

The scripture makes it abundantly clear that without the sovereign will of God, no one can come to faith in Christ. John asserts that those who are born of God are not born of the will of flesh or man, but by God (John 1:13). The Apostle Paul echoes this in Romans 9:16, stating that it is not of him who wills or runs, but of God who shows mercy. This serves as a reminder that no merit or effort on our part can bring about spiritual life; it is exclusively a work of God's grace and sovereignty.