How does God's grace play a role in salvation?

Grace is central to the message of salvation and is often referred to as God's unmerited favor toward sinners. Ephesians 2:8-9 articulates this by stating that we are saved by grace through faith, not through our own works. This grace is not only the catalyst for initial faith but also sustains believers throughout their lives. In John 1:16, we read that 'of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace,' indicating that believers are continually endowed with grace. The doctrine of grace assures us that all of our efforts to attain salvation are futile without God's initiation and empowerment. This reality reinforces our understanding within Reformed theology that salvation is entirely the work of God and is a gift that cannot be earned.