What does the Bible teach about faith and works in relation to salvation?

In the Reformed understanding, salvation is a matter of God's grace received through faith, not based on human works. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes this clear by stating that we are saved by grace through faith, explicitly noting that this is not of ourselves, emphasizing that it is a gift from God. This teaching asserts that human beings cannot achieve a standing before God through their efforts or decisions; instead, faith itself is a gift granted by God, as noted in John 6:44 where it states that no one can come to Christ unless drawn by the Father. This understanding combats any notion of 'free willism' that suggests salvation can be initiated by human will or effort.