How do we know that salvation is free?

Salvation is portrayed in the Bible as a free gift from God, a fundamental aspect of Reformed theology. For instance, in Romans 5:15, Paul discusses the 'free gift' that is given through Christ, contrasting it with the offense of Adam leading to condemnation. This shows that despite our sin, God has graciously provided a way for us to be justified freely through faith in Jesus Christ. The idea that we cannot earn this salvation aligns with the historic Reformed belief in total depravity, which teaches that human beings are incapable of coming to God on their own. Instead, God must initiate and complete the work of salvation.