Does God's Word say that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works?

The idea that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus is a central tenet of Christian theology, and is rooted in the teachings of the Bible. According to the Bible, salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned through good works or personal effort.

One of the most famous passages in the Bible that speaks to this idea is found in Ephesians 2:8-9, which says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast."

This passage makes it clear that salvation is a gift from God that is given freely to those who believe in Christ Jesus. It is not something that can be earned through good works or personal effort, but is instead a result of God's grace and mercy.

This idea is further reinforced throughout the New Testament, where we see numerous examples of Jesus and the apostles emphasizing the importance of faith and trust in God as the key to salvation. In John 3:16, for example, Jesus declares that "whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Similarly, in Romans 3:22-24, Paul writes that "there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."