How do we know salvation must be of the Lord?

The reality of salvation being entirely of the Lord is rooted in the understanding of human depravity. As we see from Romans 5:6, Christ died for the ungodly, highlighting our utter inability to contribute to our salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 stresses that it is by grace we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works. This underscores that our salvation is a deeply rooted act of sovereign grace, where God alone takes the initiative to redeem His people from their sins.