Under the Law, man was righteous only if he obeyed all the commandments:- this includes the 613 commandments of Moses AND the many demands of Christ in the 3 synoptic Gospels (sell everything, don’t lust, don’t get angry, forgive others, forsake jobs/lands/families, cut off eye/hand that sins, love God with all your heart, love neighbor and enemies, etc…).

Galatians 3 “¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”¹¹ Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.^{” 12} The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.”

The Law cannot save anyone because we have all sinned. But no man can obey everything and that’s why the law brings wrath

Romans 4 “¹⁵ For the law produces wrath”

The law can give righteousness only based on man’s perfect obedience. Nobody is perfect except Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus alone lived the perfect life for our sake and died for our sins to fulfill the law. Christ alone rose from the dead to save us.

The righteousness of the Law is all about “doing” – and Jesus alone did the work – so that we can receive God’s righteousness based on “believing” in what He did.

We trust in what Jesus did and not in what we do.

Romans 10 “⁴ For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. ⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.” ⁶ But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down); ⁷ or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)” ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;” that is, the word of faith which we preach: ⁹ that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. ¹³ For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ¹⁴ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” ¹⁷ So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.“

So if we believe in Christ (trust in Him and not our works) then we are made righteous by His obedience.

Romans 5 “19 For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous.”

Adam’s disobedience brought condemnation but Christ’s perfect obedience made the believer righteous by grace.

We become righteous NOT by doing but simply hearing and believing what Jesus DID for us.

Everyone who believes/trusts in Jesus Christ and not their works, is forgiven ALL sins and made righteous freely as a GIFT.

It’s not about doing but hearing and believing in Christ to be saved.