[There is no difference between Jew and non-Jew in regard to righteousness,] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. — Romans 3:23-24
No matter how hard we try, how good we are, or how much we work, we can never measure up to the only standard that matters the glorious perfection of Almighty God. Thankfully, God doesn’t require us to pretend to be what we are not yet perfect, spotless, and holy. Instead, God makes us to be these by grace (Colossians 1:21-23) through the gift of his Son, who purchased our pardon and gave us his righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). Praise God. Praise our Savior, Jesus Christ. Now let’s live with Jesus as our Lord, not to earn or secure our salvation, but to thank God for what he has so freely given us by his grace in Jesus!