What does it mean that salvation is by grace and not by works?

Salvation by grace signifies that it is a gift from God, not something we can achieve through our own efforts. This is underscored in Ephesians 2:8-9, where we learn that we are saved by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. This doctrine stresses the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice for our sins, asserting that any attempt to contribute to our salvation diminishes His work on the cross. It is through faith in what Christ has accomplished, not through our own deeds, that we are justified and accepted by God.