We CANNOT save ourselves by our own works, our own goodness, even our own attempts to keep His laws and to love Him. We cannot be good or perfect enough, to earn, merit or deserve the Heavenly perfection of His Own Holy Salvation by His Own grace, Love and mercy! It is impossible for anyone to be saved without the miraculous power of God!
Accepting Salvation is a work of God's GRACE. It's free; it can only be received. It's the gift of God, you can't work for it.--You can't EARN a GIFT or else it wouldn't BE a gift! God's Word says, "By GRACE are ye saved through faith--and that NOT of yourselves!--It is the GIFT of God.--NOT of WORKS, lest any man should boast!"--(Eph.2:8,9)
God's idea of goodness, of TRUE righteousness, is a sinner who knows he needs GOD, and depends on HIM for Salvation. God's idea of saintliness is not self-righteousness and sinless perfection. It's a sinner saved by grace, a sinner who has no perfection, no righteousness of his own, but is totally dependent on the grace and the Love and the mercy of God by faith! Those are the only saints there are--there are no others! You haven't got anybody's righteousness except Christ's, and He's the only One that can give it to you! (Phi.3:9)