How do we know grace is essential to salvation?

The essential nature of grace in salvation is affirmed throughout Scripture. In Ephesians 2:8-9, it says that we are saved by grace through faith, which is not of ourselves but a gift from God. This divine grace underscores that no one can boast before God, as salvation is dependent on God's will and purpose. Moreover, Galatians 1:4 exemplifies how Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins according to God’s will, reinforcing that salvation entirely originates from divine grace, not human agency.