Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-10 that our salvation is entirely a gracious gift from God, received through faith and not by our own efforts, so that no one can boast. Yet having received this gift, we are described as God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of doing the good works that He prepared beforehand. Thus the Christian life is marked both by gratitude (we don’t earn God’s favor) and by obedience (we live out the purpose for which we were saved). In short: we are saved by grace, for works.