What does it mean to be saved by grace and not by works?

Salvation by grace, as taught in Ephesians 2:8-9, underscores that it is solely a gift from God received through faith, apart from works. This doctrine challenges the self-reliance of the human heart and insists that no one can earn God’s favor through their deeds. Instead, God’s grace transforms lives, enabling believers to live righteously. It emphasizes that salvation is entirely an act of God's mercy, illustrating that even faith itself is a result of God’s grace at work within us, making us willing to believe and respond to Him.