The idea in the title is that we are not saved by any meritorious means that we generate. That is to say, the faith that we exercise is the means by which we are saved. As Machen puts it, “Faith is merely the means which the Holy Spirit uses to apply to the individual soul the benefits of Christ’s death.” (What is Faith? by Machen)

Furthermore, it is a gift that is imparted to us at regeneration, we that we might exercise it in it’s rightful manner. Ephesians 2:8-9, makes it clear that not only is grace a gift but faith is as well. If we by some means participate in the action of God saving us, then we have had some part and in that part have some way of boasting. This is contrary to Ephesians 2:8-9.

I don’t believe that most Christians run around stating that their faith is what saved them. I believe they understand that God has saved them. But it is an important distinction to draw that, nothing that saved us has anything to do with us. The exercise of faith is simply the natural outcome of receiving it as a gift from God, whereby men are saved by the application of the atonement of Christ on their behalf.

I know this bring up questions of Ordo Salutis (that is the order of salvation), but if indeed God is the lone arbiter of our salvation, He is the one who makes us alive and gives us the faith in order that we may believe.