When it comes to righteousness, we in our sinful natures cannot make ourselves righteous in God’s sight. We will always come up short of God’s ideal for us.
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Romans 3:20
The function of the Law is to reveal to us that we are sinners in need of God’s Grace. By trying to keep God’s Ten Commandment Law to earn our salvation can never happen.
As Ellen G White wrote in “Steps to Christ.” He who is trying to become holy by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith, that can make us holy. – {SC 59.4
Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. Galatians 2:16
The only way in which we can be Justified before God is to put all our faith in Jesus Christ because no-one can be Justified by keeping the Law.
Ellen White wrote in “Steps to Christ” It was possible for Adam, before the fall, to form a righteous character by obedience to God’s law. But he failed to do this, and because of his sin our natures are fallen and we cannot make ourselves righteous. Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey the holy law. We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to take our sins and give us His righteousness. If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ’s character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned. – {SC 62.2}
We serve a wonderful God who loves us so much that He did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but the world through Him might be saved. John 3:17.
