How do we know that we fall short of God's standards?

The struggle to meet God's standards is encapsulated in Romans 7, where Paul confesses his inability to do good while acknowledging the sin that dwells within him. He states, 'For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do' (Romans 7:19). This passage reveals the inner conflict faced by believers, demonstrating the reality that, despite our aspirations to live righteously as outlined in God’s commands from Zechariah and Micah, we continually fall short. This realization drives us to Christ, recognizing that our only hope is in His finished work.