Romans 3: Our Works or His Work?

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, ithrough the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. - Romans 3:21-26

Talk about an even playing field! No one has a leg up, no one can perform well enough, no one can work their way into righteousness. All humanity has missed the mark, has openly rebelled against God- all that is, save one. Jesus Christ, and His righteousness, is our only ground, our only point of refuge. Knowledge of the Law cannot make one righteous, any more than ignorance of it can save one from it's judgements. Only Jesus can cover us, only the Son of God can save the son's and daughters of Adam, of whose ranks, He Himself freely condescended to join (Philippians 2:5-8).

"Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb" (Revelation 7:10). What great news! This is freedom, that I do not have to spend my life wringing my hands, worrying about whether or not I am making the cut or doing it well enough. There is no room in Biblical scenario for self-righteousness. I, we, have no righteousness to offer, save that which we have been given by God's grace and chosen to receive by faith in the person and work of Christ Jesus.