How do we know that salvation is through God's work?

The doctrine of salvation by God's sovereign work is clearly articulated in John 3. Jesus points out to Nicodemus that without being 'born of water and the Spirit', no one can enter the kingdom of God. This indicates an entirely divine initiative in salvation, where humans contribute nothing to their regeneration. Instead, they are brought low to see their utter helplessness, allowing them to grasp the fullness of Christ's redemptive work, which fulfills God’s sovereign plan for salvation. Scripture shows that faith itself is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9), further affirming that salvation is not based on human effort but on God's grace alone.