 Romans 3.23 says, All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. If it were not for Jesus, we would be hopelessly, helplessly lost. The way to be righteous before God and the way to obtain righteousness is revealed in the gospel. Notice Romans 1.17, For in it, that is the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, the just shall live by faith. What does the word live mean?