What does it mean to be saved by the gospel?

Salvation through the gospel denotes that a believer is freed from the bondage of sin and reconciled to God based on Christ's redemptive work. Ephesians 2:8-9 illustrates that salvation is by grace through faith, not from works. This grace is rooted in God's eternal purpose, as seen in 2 Timothy 1:9, where the act of salvation precedes human works. Therefore, to be saved means relying entirely on Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, rather than any personal merit or decision, reflecting the sovereign grace that characterizes the Reformed understanding of salvation.