Why is God's grace central to understanding salvation?

Grace is central to salvation because it is by God’s unmerited favor that sinners are saved. The doctrine of grace teaches that salvation is given freely and not based on personal righteousness. In Numbers 14, Moses reminds God of His promise to be merciful, revealing that forgiveness stems from God's character and not from our ability to meet certain standards. This is echoed in Ephesians 2:8-9, which states that we are saved by grace through faith, not of works, so that no one can boast. Understanding that our salvation is entirely a work of grace helps believers to live in humble gratitude and dependence on God’s mercy.