Romans 4:4-5 (ESV)
Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.
And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is counted as righteousness

This is a verse that I go back to over and over.
It’s in our nature to want to be “good enough” to get to God… to always “try harder”
but this verse makes it so clear what grace is… it’s a gift that God gives us… just because
if we could earn it … it would become our work and it would no longer be grace.

if we could work our way to heaven, Christ would not have needed to die for our sins
and when we put our faith in Him, His death becomes our righteousness.