Why is grace necessary for salvation according to the Bible?

Grace is the foundation of our salvation as highlighted in Ephesians 2:8-9, which teaches that we are saved by grace through faith, and not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. This emphasizes that no amount of human effort or adherence to the law can earn salvation. The righteousness that justifies us is not based on our works but on the grace of God, which He freely gives to His people. In Romans 3:24, Paul reiterates that we are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Grace is paramount because it acknowledges our complete inability to overcome sin on our own, thus redirecting all glory to God for our salvation.