Faith comes ........ "by hearing." Romans 10:17
If your flesh were still in its driver's seat?
The Word that was given to be heard would not have sunk in, even if your soul would have wanted to believe if made free to do so.
Grace takes your flesh and silences it! Shuts it down! Allowing your soul to think for itself.
While your flesh is being contained by God's power to do so (by His grace power)...
That is when your soul was being made free to decide what you are going to do with what was given to be heard.
Without grace?
One could be presented an absolutely perfect preaching.
Without grace? You would be unable to believe.
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires
of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other,
to keep you from doing the things you want to do." Galatians 5:17
That should tell you something..
And, that speaks of the regenerate person having this conflict.
How much more so the case for the spiritually dead unregenerate soul?
grace and peace ................