Why is understanding grace and works important for Christians?

The relation between grace and works is vital for understanding the nature of salvation within biblical theology. As articulated in Romans 11:6, salvation is either entirely of grace or entirely of works; it cannot be a blend of both. If salvation were based on works, it would cease to be grace. The narrative of the Ark of the Covenant reminds us that just as the Philistines mistakenly placed the Ark beside their idol, they failed to comprehend the incompatibility of grace and human effort in salvation. Grace nullifies the basis of works, meaning that God's saving act through Christ is a gift, unearned and unmerited by human effort. This understanding liberates believers to rest in the finished work of Christ while acknowledging that good works are a response to the grace they have received.