Grace has been defined as God's unmerited favor.  That is God gives man the greatest gift:  Salvation, and there is nothing that man can do to earn it.  That is true, but does that eliminate responsibility on man's part?  With these things in mind let me illustrate the role of God's grace in salvation in this way.  When I was in my teens the preacher where I attended used this illustration in a sermon on grace.  He held out a dollar from the pulpit and said that anyone could have that dollar, all they had to do was to come forward and did it.  I saw dollar signs.  I believed that he would give me that dollar if I went and got it, so I got out of my seat walked down the aisle to the pulpit and collected my dollar.  Had I earned that dollar?  No.  Through what avenue did I get the dollar?  His grace.  Did I have a responsibility?  If I wanted that dollar I had to follow his directions and go get it, furthermore if I did not believe that he would give me that dollar I would not have gone up to receive it.  How many people in the congregation received that dollar?  Just one!
    If we say that God's grace saves us then we tell the truth, for in the New Testament the terms grace and salvation are inseparable.  But if we say that God's grace alone saves us then we are mistaken!  If God's grace alone saves then all men will be saved (including Hitler, Judas, Stalin, Nero, etc.) and the Bible teaches that such simply will not happen.  Galatians 5:4 simply teaches, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."
    If God's grace alone does not save then man has at least some responsibility.  First, we must believe that God can and will save us.  Second, we must act upon that belief.  We act on that belief by following God's directions (to the letter).  God has directed that for one to be saved he must have the faith previously mentioned, repent of his sins (change the way he has lived), confess that Christ is the Son of God (Matthew 10:32,33), and "be baptized, everyone of you, for the remission of sins."  (Acts 2:38).
    My question is simple.  As you read this article where do you fall?  As one who mistakenly believes that there is nothing that you have to do in order to have salvation thrust upon you, or as one who needs to accept the gift of grace, God's unmerited favor, by following His simple directions?  You cannot earn God's grace but you can accept it.  Won't you?