What role does God's grace play in our salvation?

God's grace is central to the Christian understanding of salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 states that we are saved by grace through faith, and this is not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. Grace not only saves and justifies us but also continually empowers and preserves us in our faith. In 1 Peter 1:13, Peter exhorts believers to set their hope fully on the grace that will be brought to them at the revelation of Jesus Christ, indicating that grace is an ongoing resource for living a holy life. Thus, God's grace is both the starting point and sustaining force for the believer's life in Christ.