How do we know that grace is essential for our salvation?

Ephesians 2:8-9 explicitly states that we are saved by grace through faith, making it clear that our salvation is not the result of any works we have done but rather a gift from God. This grace demonstrates God’s mercy and love for us, especially as we recognize that we were dead in sin before He quickened us together with Christ (Ephesians 2:4). The recognition that we are utterly reliant on God's grace underscores the historic Reformed belief in total depravity—that without His intervention, we can do nothing to warrant salvation. It highlights the beauty and necessity of grace within the believer's life, reinforcing that our identity is not found in our performance but in Christ's finished work.